25 Texas Desserts

The most popular and delicious Texas desserts and our favorite tried and true recipes.

Texas is renowned for its delectable desserts that celebrate the state’s culinary legacy and ingenuity. With a vast range of traditional favorites and contemporary innovations, the Lone Star State’s dessert menu offers something for everyone. Let’s delve into 25 popular Texas desserts that will tantalize your taste buds and introduce you to the remarkable flavors and varied ingredients of the region.

Texas Desserts

Texas Sheet Cake

This moist, rich chocolate cake is a Texas favorite, made with cocoa powder and topped with a fudgy chocolate frosting. It’s baked in a large pan, making it perfect for feeding a crowd. 

The best thing about Texas sheet cake? The easy ingredients. All you’ll need for this recipe is:

• Butter 
• Eggs  
• Sour cream 
• Vanilla 
• Flour 
• Sugar 
• Cocoa powder  
• Baking soda and baking powder 
• Salt 
• Frosting 

Pecan Pie

A classic Southern dessert, this sweet and gooey pie is made with a filling of corn syrup, eggs, and plenty of pecans. Texans often add a splash of bourbon for an extra kick of flavor.

Hummingbird Cake

This flavorful cake features a blend of bananas, pineapple, and pecans, with layers of moist cake and a sweet, tangy cream cheese frosting.

Hummingbird Cake is a classic Southern dessert known for its delightful combination of sweet and fruity flavors. It’s a moist, spiced cake typically made with mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, and pecans, all topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting.

German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake is a rich and decadent dessert, featuring layers of moist chocolate cake filled and topped with a gooey coconut-pecan frosting. Despite its name, this American creation has become a beloved classic, known for its sweet and nutty flavors that perfectly complement the deep chocolate notes in the cake.

Texas-Style Peach Cobbler

A delicious summer dessert, this cobbler features juicy peaches covered in a sweet, buttery biscuit topping and is often served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. What we love about this recipe is that it’s made in a Dutch oven. So easy! 

For the best peach cobbler, use fresh, ripe, and juicy peaches, such as the Freestone variety. Freestone peaches have flesh that easily separates from the pit, making them perfect for baking.

Sopapillas

A popular dessert in both Texas and New Mexico, sopapillas are fried pastries dusted with cinnamon and sugar, served with honey for dipping.

Sopapillas have become a well-liked dessert and snack food that originated in Latin America, with Mexico, Argentina, and Chile being the most popular countries. The indigenous peoples of these areas had a tradition of making deep-fried dough treats, which is where the roots of sopapillas can be traced back to. 

When the Spanish colonizers arrived in the 16th century, they brought with them recipes for comparable fried pastries that gradually developed into the sopapillas that we enjoy today.

Funnel Cake

This deep-fried pastry is a staple at Texas state fairs, served warm and dusted with powdered sugar. If you’re not familiar with funnel cakes, you’ve probably never been to a state fair. With that said, they’re becoming more popular and more easily available. 

Ideally, they’re easiest to make using a deep frier, but there are a few hacks to making them at home.

Texas Banana Pudding

A classic Southern dessert, this version features layers of vanilla pudding, Nilla wafers, and sliced bananas, topped with whipped cream. 

When making banana pudding, it’s important to select bananas that are ripe but not overly ripe. Opt for bananas with a bright yellow color and minimal brown spots for a perfect balance of sweetness and firmness. Overripe bananas may be too soft and mushy, which isn’t ideal for banana pudding. On the other hand, underripe bananas won’t provide the desired sweetness and flavor. It’s best to save your mushy bananas for banana bread instead.

Classic Southern Buttermilk Pie

Classic Southern Buttermilk Pie is a traditional dessert originating from the Southern United States, known for its rich, creamy, custard-like filling made with buttermilk, sugar, eggs, and butter. The smooth, tangy filling is baked in a flaky pie crust, resulting in a delightful balance of sweetness and tanginess.

Coca-Cola Cake

This moist chocolate cake is made with Coca-Cola, giving it a unique flavor and extra sweetness, and is topped with a rich chocolate frosting. A decadent chocolate cake infused with the iconic soft drink originated in the Southern United States during the mid-20th century. This dessert gained popularity as a creative way to incorporate the beloved beverage into a rich, moist cake, becoming a staple at gatherings and celebrations in the South. It’s also just plain delicious!

Texas Cowboy Cookies

These hearty cookies are packed with oats, chocolate chips, and pecans, making them the perfect treat for Texans on the go. The best thing about these cookies is the added texture. The chewy oats and crispy cornflakes bring these cookies to a whole other level!

Chocolate Pudding

A classic dessert that never goes out of style, Texas-style chocolate pudding is made with cocoa powder, sugar, and vanilla extract for a rich, creamy treat. Nothing beats chocolate pudding in our humble opinion. With a dollop of whipped cream, you’re set for life. Or at least until your next meal…

Lemon Bars

These tangy, sweet treats are made with a buttery crust and a tart lemon filling, making them a refreshing dessert option. This lemon square recipe call for fresh lemon juice, which we highly recommend. Lemon curd, a popular addition to desserts, is also often found as an ingredient in these sweet and refreshing treats. 

Frozen Banana

A simple yet delicious treat, frozen bananas are dipped in chocolate and rolled in nuts or other toppings for a cool, satisfying snack. You might see frozen and dipped bananas in the freezer section of your local grocery store, but trust us, they’re worth making at home.

Texas Brownies

Not quite brownies and not quite sheet cake. A classic chocolate treat, Texas-style brownies are made with cocoa powder, butter, and sugar, resulting in a rich, fudgy dessert. If you can’t make up your mind if you want cake or brownies, this recipe is your best bet!

https://plowingthroughlife.com/texas-brownies/

Donuts

Texans love their donuts, with a wide variety of flavors and toppings available throughout the state. From classic glazed to more adventurous options, there’s a donut for every taste. But sometimes, donuts hit better when made from home. Check out this recipe we love for homemade sugar donuts.

Cinnamon Roll

These rolls are a beloved Texan dessert consisting of soft, tender dough filled with a delicious cinnamon-sugar mixture and topped with sweet icing. Cinnamon rolls are a baked treat that are both delectable and aromatic, made with buttery dough and a sweet mix of cinnamon and sugar. These delightful spirals are commonly topped with a smooth and creamy icing. They make for a perfect indulgence at breakfast, as a dessert, or as a comforting snack.

Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet Cake is a visually striking dessert, known for its vibrant red color and velvety texture, contrasted against a rich, creamy white frosting, often made with cream cheese or buttercream. Its unique flavor comes from a delicate balance of cocoa powder and buttermilk, resulting in a mildly chocolatey taste and a moist, tender crumb. This elegant cake features layers of deep red cocoa-flavored cake and a creamy cream cheese frosting, making it a popular choice for special occasions and celebrations in Texas.

Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches Cake is a deliciously moist and rich Latin American dessert made from a sponge cake soaked in a heavenly mixture of three types of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. The result is a delightfully sweet and creamy cake with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, often garnished with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon or fresh fruit to complete the indulgent experience.

Pralines

Pralines are a classic Southern candy, originating from New Orleans, made with a combination of sugar, butter, cream, and pecans, cooked together to create a creamy, fudge-like confection. These sweet and nutty treats are known for their irresistible, melt-in-your-mouth texture, and make for a perfect homemade gift or a delightful dessert to enjoy with a cup of coffee.

Churros

This popular Mexican dessert has made its way to Texas, featuring fried dough covered in cinnamon sugar and often served with a warm chocolate dipping sauce.

Fruit Cobblers

In addition to peach cobbler, Texans enjoy a variety of fruit cobblers, such as blackberry, cherry, and mixed berry, all featuring a sweet, buttery topping. This delicious dessert is timeless, featuring a deliciously sweet and juicy fruit filling, such as peaches, berries, or apples, topped with a buttery and golden-brown biscuit or pie dough crust. This warm and comforting dish is often served with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, making it a perfect end to a cozy meal or an enjoyable treat at potlucks and gatherings.

Blue Bell Ice Cream

Blue Bell Creameries, founded in Brenham, Texas, in 1907, has a long history of producing high-quality ice cream using fresh milk from local farms. Today, Blue Bell offers a variety of over 50 different ice cream flavors, ranging from classic favorites to unique seasonal offerings, all of which contribute to the brand’s immense popularity in the South. 

Though you can’t make it at home, you can go visit!

Fried Pies

These handheld treats, a Southern classic, feature a delectable fruit filling that is folded into a flaky pastry dough and fried until it reaches a golden brown hue. They’re the perfect dessert option for anyone looking for a portable treat that encompasses all the scrumptiousness of a traditional pie in a convenient, handheld package. These crispy, golden pockets of goodness are ideal for indulging in while you’re on the move, allowing you to quench your pie cravings at any time and in any place.

Bread Pudding

This comforting dessert is made with stale bread soaked in a rich, custard-like mixture and baked to perfection, often served with a warm, sweet sauce. There are so many versions of bread pudding, but sometimes the classic is best. We love this recipe for its simplicity and deliciousness.

Texas Desserts FAQS

What dessert is Texas known for?

Texas is known for several iconic desserts, including Texas Sheet Cake, Pecan Pie, and Texas-Style Peach Cobbler.

Texas-Style Sheet Cake: This delicious dessert is a rich, moist chocolate cake topped with a fudgy chocolate frosting and often sprinkled with pecans. The cake is baked in a large, shallow pan, resulting in a thin, dense layer that is perfect for serving at potlucks, picnics, and family gatherings. it’s believed to have originated in the Southern United States during the mid-20th century. The cake’s exact origins are unclear, but it is thought to have been inspired by German Chocolate Cake, which was gaining popularity in the U.S. during that time. 

The name “Texas Sheet Cake” is thought to have come from its large size, which is reminiscent of the expansive state of Texas, as well as the inclusion of pecans, a popular ingredient in many Texan desserts.

Pecan Pie: This quintessential Texas dessert that has won the hearts of locals and visitors alike. This delectable treat features a buttery, flaky crust filled with a rich, gooey mixture of brown sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla. The star of the show, however, is the generous layer of crunchy, toasted pecans that adorn the top of the pie. With its delightful combination of textures and flavors, Pecan Pie is a true Southern classic that has become synonymous with Texan hospitality and indulgence. Perfect for holiday gatherings or simply to satisfy your sweet tooth, Pecan Pie is a must-try when exploring the famous desserts of Texas.

Texas-Style Peach Cobbler: A mouthwatering dessert that showcases the Lone Star State’s love for comfort food and fresh, juicy peaches. This iconic dish features a delicious blend of sweet, ripe peaches bathed in a cinnamon-spiced syrup, nestled under a blanket of tender, golden-brown biscuits. The cobbler is baked to perfection, allowing the fruity filling to bubble and caramelize around the edges, while the biscuits develop a light, flaky texture with a satisfyingly crisp exterior. With its heavenly aroma and irresistible combination of flavors, Texas-Style Peach Cobbler is a beloved dessert that embodies the warmth and generosity of Texan hospitality, making it a must-try for anyone exploring the state’s scrumptious dessert offerings.

What is the most popular dessert in Texas?

The most famous dessert in Texas is arguably the Texas Sheet Cake. This scrumptious dessert consists of a moist, rich chocolate cake topped with a fudgy chocolate frosting and, often, pecans. Its thin, dense layer, baked in a large, shallow pan, makes it an ideal choice for potlucks, picnics, and family gatherings across the Lone Star State.

What are three famous foods in Texas?

Three famous foods in Texas include barbecue, Tex-Mex cuisine, and chicken-fried steak.

Texas-style barbecue: Slow-smoked meats like brisket, ribs, and sausages are the stars of Texas-style barbecue. The focus is on the flavor of the meat, with minimal seasoning and a simple, tangy barbecue sauce on the side.

Tex-Mex cuisine: A fusion of Texan and Mexican culinary traditions, Tex-Mex dishes include favorites like fajitas, nachos, and chili con carne. It typically features ingredients like cheese, beans, and spices that create rich, flavorful dishes. Try this delicious walking taco casserole that embodies Tex-Mex perfectly!

Chicken-fried steak: A classic Texan dish, chicken-fried steak is a tenderized beef cutlet coated in seasoned flour and fried until golden brown. It’s often served with creamy country gravy and sides like mashed potatoes and green beans.

More Texas-Inspired Recipes

Copycat Texas Roadhouse Steak

Smoked Corn on the Cob

Million Dollar Pie

Texas Roadhouse Shrimp

Blueberry Buckle

Grandma Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie

Cowboy Caviar

Leftover Fried Chicken Recipes

Texas is a state with a rich culinary heritage, and its desserts are no exception. From classic Southern treats like Pecan Pie and Hummingbird Cake to Texas originals like Texas Sheet Cake and Texas-Style Peach Cobbler, there’s no shortage of mouthwatering sweets to enjoy in the Lone Star State. Next time you’re craving something sweet, give one of these Texas desserts a try – you won’t be disappointed!