There’s something magical about the desserts Grandma made every Christmas—timeless recipes that filled the house with warmth and the sweet smell of the holidays. From crunchy, buttery peanut brittle to rich chocolate peanut clusters, these treats were the highlight of every holiday gathering. She’d whip up snickerdoodles dusted with cinnamon, creamy grasshopper parfaits, and a perfectly spiced pumpkin pie that made everyone ask for seconds. These nostalgic desserts aren’t just delicious—they’re full of memories, love, and a little bit of holiday magic.

Snickerdoodle Cookies

A stack of sugar-coated cookies sits on a dark plate, one on top with a bite taken out. More cookies and a basket with autumn leaves in the background. A glass of milk wrapped in twine is placed beside the cookies on a checkered cloth.
Snickerdoodle Cookies – Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

The smell of cinnamon always brings back memories of Grandma’s snickerdoodles. Soft, chewy, and coated in cinnamon sugar, these cookies were the ultimate comfort treat after school. > Get The Full Recipe: Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies

Peach Cobbler Recipe

homemade peach cobbler with store pie crust
Easy Peach Cobbler Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Summer was never complete without Grandma’s peach cobbler. Fresh peaches, sweet syrup, and that golden, flaky crust made it a family tradition that everyone looked forward to.
Get the Recipe: Easy Peach Cobbler Recipe

Peanut Butter Cookies

peanutbutter cookies without egg on a silver plate, cookbook pages under it
Peanut Butter Cookies. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Fork-tined marks were the signature of Grandma’s peanut butter cookies. They were slightly crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and always full of peanut butter flavor—perfect with a glass of milk.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Cookies

Old Fashioned Rice Pudding

A close-up of a glass bowl filled with creamy rice pudding topped with golden raisins. A spoonful of the pudding, including a few raisins, is lifted from the bowl, highlighting the texture and consistency of the dish.
Really, Really Good Old Fashioned Rice Pudding. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This comforting and creamy rice pudding is more like a rich vanilla custard that’s topped with next level bourbon-soaked raisins. This old-fashioned dessert is simple to prepare and brings back fond memories.
Get the Recipe: Really, Really Good Old Fashioned Rice Pudding

Molasses Cookies

Soft and Chewy Blackstrap Molasses Cookie with bowl of molasses
Chewy Molasses Cookies Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Soft, chewy, and full of warm spices, Grandma’s chewy molasses cookies were a comforting treat during the colder months. The rich flavor of molasses combined with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves made these cookies perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot tea or cocoa. > Get the Recipe: Chewy Molasses Cookies

Classic Pound Cake

sweet buttery pound cake slices with blueberries and mint
Classic Pound Cake Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

There’s nothing quite like Grandma’s pound cake, perfectly moist and buttery, a staple at every family gathering. This timeless recipe is simple yet divine, with just the right touch of vanilla.
Get the Recipe: Pound Cake Recipe

Homemade From-Scratch Praline Pumpkin Pie Recipe

A slice of pumpkin pie topped with pralines.
Praline Pumpkin Pie Recipes – Image Credit: Easy Southern Desserts

Grandma’s praline pumpkin pie was a delightful twist on the classic pumpkin pie. The rich, creamy pumpkin filling was enhanced with a layer of sweet, crunchy pecan praline on the bottom, adding a unique texture and flavor to this traditional dessert. It was always a must-have at Thanksgiving. > Get the Recipe: Homemade From-Scratch Praline Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Strawberry Angel Food Cake

A plate with a slice of pink strawberry dessert topped with whipped cream, a strawberry slice, and a mint leaf sits in the foreground. In the background, a glass dish filled with more of the same dessert shows additional strawberries and whipped cream on top. Fresh strawberries and a pink striped cloth are also visible.
Dreamy No-Bake Strawberry Angel Food Cake – Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

This beautiful Strawberry Angel Food Cake dessert recipe is so easy to make. Plus, it’s a no-bake recipe with only 4 basic ingredients: angel food cake, jello, whipped topping, and fresh strawberries. > Get The Full Recipe Now: Dreamy No-Bake Strawberry Angel Food Cake

Banana Pudding Brownies

A white square dish holds two stacked slices of banana pudding cake, topped with vanilla wafers. In the background, a yellow ceramic bowl filled with more wafers and two ripe bananas are placed on a white and yellow checkered cloth.
Banana Pudding Brownies Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

Creamy, sweet, and layered with Nilla wafers, banana pudding is a comforting dessert that feels like a hug from Grandma. Every spoonful brings back cherished memories of family dinners. > Get The Full Recipes: Banana Pudding Brownies

Pecan Pie

A close-up of a pecan pie with a slice being removed. The pie has a golden-brown crust and is topped with whole pecans, showcasing a rich and glossy filling. A white plate and a striped cloth are partially visible in the background.
Pecan Pie Image Credit: Insanely Easy Recipes

With a perfectly gooey center and a crunchy top of roasted pecans, Grandma’s pecan pie was always a favorite at holiday dinners. It’s the kind of dessert that makes you feel at home with every bite. > Get The Full Recipe: Pecan Pie

Cashew Brittle

A stack of peanut brittle pieces with a golden-brown color, featuring visible peanuts embedded in the caramelized sugar. The background includes a blurred bowl and scattered peanuts on a light surface.
Cashew Brittle – Image Credit: Insanely Easy Recipes

Sweet, salty, and delightfully crunchy, cashew brittle was a treat that Grandma made on special occasions. It’s the kind of heirloom recipe that’s passed down for good reason—simply irresistible. > Get The Full Recipe: Cashew Brittle


Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

A close-up of hands breaking a chocolate chip cookie in half. The cookie is filled with melted chocolate chips, and its texture appears soft and gooey.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Image Credit: Insanely Easy Recipes

Grandma knew how to make the perfect oatmeal chocolate chip cookies—crispy edges, soft centers, and just enough chocolate to make every bite a delight. These cookies were a staple in the cookie jar. > Get The Full Recipe: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Classic Bread Pudding

A serving of bread pudding with a spoon.
Classic Bread Pudding – Image Credit Easy Southern Desserts

Nothing went to waste in Grandma’s kitchen, and her bread pudding was the perfect example of this. Made with leftover bread, cinnamon, and a rich custard, this dessert brought warmth to chilly evenings. > Get the Recipe: Classic Bread Pudding With Vanilla Sauce

Old Fashioned Southern Pecan Praline Recipe

A rack of cooled praline pecans.
Old Fashioned Southern Pecan Pralines Recipe – Image Credit Butter and Baggage

Rich, buttery, and filled with toasted pecans, Grandma’s old-fashioned Southern pecan pralines were the perfect sweet treat to share. These melt-in-your-mouth confections were a true Southern classic, combining the perfect balance of caramelized sugar and crunchy nuts.
> Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Southern Pecan Praline Recipe

Sweet Potato Pie

A pumpkin pie with a slice removed, topped with dollops of whipped cream arranged in a circle. The crust is golden brown, and the table surface features some dessert forks nearby.
Sweet Potato Pie – Image Credit: Butter and Baggage

Smooth, creamy, and spiced just right, Grandma’s sweet potato pie was always a family favorite during the holidays. The sweet, earthy flavor of the sweet potatoes combined with cinnamon and nutmeg made this pie a comforting and irresistible dessert. > Get The Full Recipes: Sweet Potato Pie

Cherry Delight

A close-up of a partially eaten cherry cheesecake in a white dish. The dessert has a crumbly crust, a creamy filling, and a vibrant red cherry topping. A spoon with some cheesecake and cherries is resting in the dish. A striped cloth napkin is visible nearby.
Cherry Delight Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

A layered dessert made with a buttery graham cracker crust, creamy cheesecake filling, and topped with sweet cherry pie filling, Grandma’s cherry delight was always a refreshing treat after a hearty meal. This no-bake dessert was a family favorite, especially during the warm summer months. > Get The Full Recipes: Cherry Delight

Chocolate Peanut Clusters

A tray of chocolate-covered peanut clusters on parchment paper with a few clusters and scattered peanuts on a gray surface. Some clusters are sprinkled with sea salt flakes.
Chocolate Peanut Clusters Image Credit: Insanely Easy Recipes

Grandma’s peanut clusters were a simple yet irresistible treat. Made by combining roasted peanuts with melted chocolate, these clusters were always a favorite for holiday gatherings and special occasions. The perfect balance of salty and sweet made them an instant hit with everyone. > Get The Full Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Clusters

Grasshopper Parfait with Thin Mint Cookies

A dessert glass filled with layers of crushed chocolate cookies and light green mint mousse, topped with a sprig of fresh mint. The glass is set against a blurred background.
Grasshopper Parfait with Thin Mint Cookies Image Credit: Intentional Hospitality

A cool, minty dessert that Grandma loved to make, the grasshopper parfait was a fun and delicious treat. Made with layers of mint-flavored cream and crushed Thin Mint cookies, this parfait was both refreshing and indulgent. The combination of chocolate and mint made it an instant family favorite, especially during the holidays. > Get The Full Recipes: Grasshopper Parfait with Thin Mint Cookies