38 Uniquely American Desserts

Read Time: 12 mins

38 Uniquely American Desserts2/38 Baked Alaska 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Spumoni Baked Alaska Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For a refreshing end to a rich meal, try this freezer finale. Its intriguing interior and pretty color scheme are bound to garner oohs and aahs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 3/38 Apple Crisp 19 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Easy Apple Crisp Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Here’s an

easy apple crisp!

easy apple crisp! This is a delicious dessert perfect for young cooks to prepare. It’s super simple to make since there’s no crust—just a crumbly topping. Plus, with apples and oats, it’s a wholesome treat. —Sheri Hatten, Devil’s Lake, North Dakota 4/38 Homemade Boston Cream Pie 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Homemade Boston Cream Pie Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This elegant-looking Boston cream pie is so easy to prepare. Our dinner guests always seem to enjoy it. —Jane Uphoff, Cunningham, Kansas 5/38 Homemade Confetti

Cake 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Homemade Confetti Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is a moist and fluffy vanilla cake with lots of sprinkles and a whipped vanilla buttercream. It’s almost impossible not to feel happy when you see the fun pop of rainbow confetti! —Courtney Rich, Highland, UT 6/38 New York Cheesecake with Shortbread Crust 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved New York Cheesecake with Shortbread Crust Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 2 hours 20 min Servings 16

servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Light, creamy and smooth, this traditional New York cheesecake will melt in your mouth. I rely on a tender change-of-pace shortbread crust instead of graham cracker crust. This recipe takes time, but it’s not difficult, and the result is well worth the effort. —Karen Nielson, St. George, Utah 7/38 Bourbon Pecan Pralines 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 1 pound (about 16 pralines) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Like authentic pecan pralines found in New Orleans, these treats are sweet, crunchy and rich!

If you’re looking to learn how to make a cherry pie, this recipe is the place

—Taste of Home Test Kitchen 8/38 Ambrosia Salad 44 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Ambrosia Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: During last-minute menu planning, I often include this classic ambrosia salad recipe because I keep the ingredients on hand. —Judi Bringegar, Liberty, North Carolina 9/38 Fresh Cherry Pie 20 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If you’re looking to learn how to make a cherry pie, this recipe is the place

The cherries peeking out of the lattice crust makes it so pretty, too

to start. This ruby-red cherry pie is just sweet enough, with a hint of almond flavor and a good level of cinnamon. The cherries peeking out of the lattice crust makes it so pretty, too. I like to make a few of these cherry pies throughout the summer. —Josie Bochek, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin 10/38 Best Angel Food Cake 37 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved AUDREY ROMPON FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 50 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For our daughter’s wedding, a friend made this lovely, angel food cake from a recipe she’s used

for decades

for decades. It really is one of the best angel food cake recipes I’ve found. Serve slices plain or dress them up with fresh fruit. —Marilyn Niemeyer, Doon, Iowa 11/38 Buckeyes 19 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 5-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These chocolate peanut butter balls (no bake!) are always popular at my church’s annual Christmas fundraiser. They resemble chestnuts or buckeyes—hence the name. —Merry Kay Opitz, Elkhorn, Wisconsin 12/38 Watergate Salad 35 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 10 min Servings

It’s easy to mix up, and the flavor gets better the longer it stands

12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This fluffy pistachio salad is a real treat since it’s creamy but not overly sweet. It’s easy to mix up, and the flavor gets better the longer it stands. It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, served in a green bowl. -Pattie Ann Forssberg, Logan, Kansas 13/38 Icebox Cake 20 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You don’t have to bake to serve a wonderful dessert! This “cake” is made from chocolate wafers and whipping cream. It is so delicious.—Cindy

Hawkins, New York, New York 14/38 Hummingbird Cake 21 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 14 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This impressive hummingbird cake is my dad’s favorite, so I always make it for his birthday. It makes a memorable dessert for any celebration and is lovely with a summer meal. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey 15/38 Chocolate Chiffon Cake 17 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chocolate Chiffon Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 25 min Servings 20 servings Go to Recipe From the

This make-ahead strawberry pretzel salad will disappear quickly at any potluck

Recipe Creator: If you want to offer family and friends a dessert that really stands out from the rest, this is the cake to make. Beautiful high layers of rich sponge cake are drizzled with a succulent chocolate glaze. —Erma Fox, Memphis, Missouri 16/38 Strawberry Pretzel Salad 131 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Need to bring a dish to pass this weekend? This make-ahead strawberry pretzel salad will disappear quickly at any potluck. —Aldene Belch, Flint, Michigan 17/38

Funnel Cakes 32 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 8 cakes Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This funnel cake recipe is simpler to make than doughnuts, and it’s just as good. Funnel cakes have been a favorite of ours since we came across them living in the Ozarks. —Mary Faith Yoder, Unity, Wisconsin 18/38 Carrot Sheet Cake 19 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Carrot Sheet Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 30 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We sold pieces of this to-die-for carrot cake

at an art show and before long, sold out of the 10 cakes we had made!

at an art show and before long, sold out of the 10 cakes we had made! —Dottie Cosgrove, South El Monte, California 19/38 Banana Pudding 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Banana Pudding Cups Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Creamy and rich, this homemade banana pudding recipe is so easy. Layer it in a trifle bowl for a pretty presentation. —Ruth Kizer, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 20/38 Old-Fashioned Whoopie Pies 36 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Old-Fashioned Whoopie Pies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45

Mom has made these for years

min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Who can resist soft chocolate sandwich cookies filled with a layer of fluffy white frosting? Mom has made these for years. They’re a treat that never lasts very long with me and my two brothers around. —Maria Costello, Monroe, North Carolina 21/38 Sweet Potato Pie 73 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This creamy sweet potato pie is subtly spiced and slices beautifully! We suggest baking up a few sweet potato pies around the holidays

to give to friends and family

to give to friends and family. — North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission 22/38 Hermits 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 35 min Servings 14 cookies Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Dress up a cookie plate with these old-fashioned spice bars full of raisins, molasses, cinnamon, ginger and nuts. Then dip the chewy treats in coffee or hot cocoa on frosty days. It’s said the cookies are called “hermits” because you can hide them out of sight, just like hermits, for days. They’ll be just as good—maybe even better as the flavors blend and develop! —Jeri Tirmenstein, Apache

My grandmother, mother and aunts always made this recipe for family gatherings

Junction, Arizona 23/38 Mississippi Mud Pie 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 45 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This southern favorite is one my family can never get enough of and there are never any leftovers. My grandmother, mother and aunts always made this recipe for family gatherings. Now I make it for everyone because it’s so easy to prepare and everyone loves it! —Elizabeth Williston, Thibodaux, Louisiana 24/38 Berger Cookies 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 35 cookies Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

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