Classic Pig Pickin' Cake

Layer cakes are formative for Southerners: They grace wedding tables, shiva gatherings, quinceañeras, baptisms and funerals. Because of this — and because layer cakes may be as close as some will ever get to a holy experience — they’re often called church cakes. This chocolate one is a perfectly moist and stacked rendition of a pudding cake, with just the right amount of richness from the frosting. This formula needs no alterations, but there’s no sense in breaking the tradition of Southern bakers, who personalize recipes as a point of pride. Add pulverized praline to the center, or cinnamon or instant-coffee granules to the batter. Don’t be afraid to make it your own. To make it a true church cake, serve it to those you hold in the highest regard, for celebrations or to simply indulge in the good glory of company.

This is a cake to stop traffic. The layers are an improbable red that can vary from a fluorescent pink to a dark ruddy mahogany. The color, often enhanced by a full bottle of food coloring, becomes even more eye-catching set against clouds of snowy cream cheese-mascarpone frosting or ermine (also known as boiled-milk) frosting, like a slash of glossy lipstick framed by platinum blond curls. Even the name has a vampy allure: red velvet. These days this Southern favorite is found in just about every bakery, but perhaps for a special occasion (like the very red and white Valentine’s Day) you could try your hand at baking it.

Moist Southern Butter Pecan Cake loaded with pecans and frosted with a pecan brown sugar cream cheese frosting!

Southern pound cake with a moist and velvety crumb!

One bite of my Old-Fashioned Southern Pecan Pie made without corn syrup, and your taste buds will be swooning with crunchy, sweet, caramelly goodness. Classic and simple, it's a holiday tradition, and it's also one of the easiest homemade pecan custard pies you will ever make!

Southern Pecan Praline Cake is about as southern as you can get and if you like pecans and pralines you will love this easy to make, decadent and delicious dessert.

There’s a certain kind of magic that comes alive in the kitchen when the scent of toasted pecans fills the air. I remember my grandmother’s small country kitchen, where a warm loaf of butter pecan cake would sit cooling on the window ledge, its golden top promising something special. What made it truly unforgettable was the thick layer of cream cheese icing she spread on once it cooled—just the right amount of tang to balance the nutty, buttery richness underneath. This cake loaf isn’t just dessert; it’s a story, a comfort, and a celebration all in one. Rooted in Southern hospitality, the butter pecan cake loaf has long been a cherished favorite at family gatherings, potlucks, and holidays. Whether enjoyed with coffee on a quiet morning or as the sweet finale to a festive dinner, it delivers old-fashioned goodness in every bite.   With its moist crumb, crunchy pecans, and smooth cream cheese icing, this recipe will earn its place in your rotation—not just for the flavor, but for the cozy, contented smiles it brings to every table.

A Southern gem, our classic Hummingbird Cake Recipe was submitted in 1978 by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins and boasts three incredibly moist layers flavored with canned pineapple and bananas.