17 Old-Fashioned Desserts Grandma Always Cut a Little Too Big

17 Old-Fashioned Desserts Grandma Always Cut a Little Too Big

Old-fashioned desserts never believed in small portions, especially when Grandma was holding the knife. These 17 desserts are the kind that landed on plates a little heavier than expected, filled with fruit, custard, spice, and comfort baked into every slice. They take their time, rely on familiar pantry staples, and taste like the desserts people lingered over at the table. If a dessert ever made you quietly hope for seconds, it probably looked a lot like these.

17 Old-Fashioned Desserts Grandma Always Cut a Little Too Big
Basil Peach Cobbler. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Raspberry Ricotta Cheesecake

A slice of raspberry cheesecake topped with raspberries, mint leaves, and crumbled topping is placed on a decorative plate with a fork beside it.
Raspberry Ricotta Cheesecake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Raspberry Ricotta Cheesecake is a baked dessert that takes about 1 hour and cools into clean slices. Ricotta cheese, eggs, sugar, and raspberries create a lighter cheesecake with gentle richness. The raspberries bring tartness that cuts through the creaminess. It tastes fresh, balanced, and quietly indulgent.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry Ricotta Cheesecake

Apple Olive Oil Cake

Apple cinnamon bundt cake.
Apple Olive Oil Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Apple Olive Oil Cake is a tender, lightly dense dessert that bakes up in about 1 hour and feels right for slow afternoons. Made with fresh apples, olive oil, eggs, sugar, and warm spices, it balances fruit sweetness with a gentle richness. The crumb stays moist without being heavy, while the apples soften into the batter. Each slice tastes lightly sweet with a subtle depth that lingers after the fork is down.
Get the Recipe: Apple Olive Oil Cake

Argentinian Flan (Bread Pudding) With Caramel Sauce

An Argentinian flan in caramel sauce on a white plate.
Argentinian Flan (Bread Pudding) With Caramel Sauce. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Argentinian Flan with Bread Pudding texture is a baked dessert that comes together in about 75 minutes and serves generously. Built from soaked bread, milk, eggs, sugar, and finished with caramel sauce, it leans into simplicity and comfort. The interior stays soft and custardy while the caramel adds sweetness without overpowering. It tastes rich, warm, and familiar in a way that encourages an extra spoonful.
Get the Recipe: Argentinian Flan (Bread Pudding) With Caramel Sauce

Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

A slice of bread pudding on a decorative plate with a fork, topped with whipped cream. A baking dish with more bread pudding and a small bowl of cream with a spoon are in the background. A brown cloth is partially visible on the side.
Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins bakes in about 70 minutes and serves a crowd comfortably. Egg noodles, cottage cheese, cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and raisins come together into a custardy bake. The raisins add sweetness with a subtle depth from the cognac. The finished dish tastes creamy, lightly sweet, and deeply familiar.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

Cherry Cobbler

side view of slice of cherry cobbler with ice cream.
Cherry Cobbler. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Cherry Cobbler is a classic baked dessert that takes about 55 minutes and fills the kitchen with familiar aromas. Made with juicy cherries, sugar, butter, and a simple topping, it delivers a fruit-forward bite every time. The cherries stay soft and jammy beneath the crust. The flavor lands sweet with a slight tart edge that keeps slices disappearing quickly.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Cobbler

Basil Peach Cobbler

Overhead of peach cobbler on baking sheet.
Basil Peach Cobbler. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Basil Peach Cobbler is a baked fruit dessert ready in about 1 hour that highlights ripe summer peaches. Fresh peaches, sugar, basil, and a buttery topping come together into a filling that bubbles beneath a golden crust. The basil adds a quiet herbal note that keeps the sweetness balanced. Each serving tastes bright, buttery, and softly sweet with plenty of fruit.
Get the Recipe: Basil Peach Cobbler

Gluten Free Pecan Pie With Maple Syrup And Maple Dulce De Leche Cream

Close up of pecan pie with dulce de leche cream.
Gluten Free Pecan Pie With Maple Syrup And Maple Dulce De Leche Cream. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Gluten Free Pecan Pie with Maple Syrup bakes in about 75 minutes and leans into classic Southern flavors. Pecans, maple syrup, eggs, butter, and a flaky gluten free crust create a filling that sets up rich and glossy. The maple dulce de leche cream adds sweetness without heaviness. Every bite tastes nutty, sweet, and deeply satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Pecan Pie With Maple Syrup And Maple Dulce De Leche Cream

Baked Cranberry Cheesecake

A slice of cheesecake with cranberry sauce on top.
Baked Cranberry Cheesecake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Baked Cranberry Cheesecake is a smooth, oven-baked dessert that takes about 1 hour plus cooling time. A buttery crust supports a creamy filling made with cream cheese, eggs, and sugar, finished with cranberry sauce. The cranberries add brightness against the rich base. It tastes tangy, creamy, and balanced from first bite to last.
Get the Recipe: Baked Cranberry Cheesecake

Gingerbread Loaf

A festive loaf cake topped with icing, rosemary sprigs, and gingerbread men decorations.
Gingerbread Loaf. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Gingerbread Loaf is a baked cake that comes together in about 60 minutes and slices easily. Molasses, ginger, cinnamon, butter, and eggs give it structure and warmth. The crumb stays soft while the spices deepen as it rests. Each slice tastes warmly spiced, lightly sweet, and steady rather than flashy.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Loaf

Gluten-Free Chocolate Pie With Chocolate Custard and Whipped Cream

A chocolate cream pie in a metal pie tin, topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. A slice has been cut and a metal pie server is visible under the empty space.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Pie With Chocolate Custard and Whipped Cream. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Pie is a chilled dessert that sets in about 45 minutes plus cooling time. Built with a chocolate crust, rich chocolate custard, and whipped cream, it keeps ingredients simple and focused. The custard stays smooth and sliceable. Each bite tastes deeply chocolatey with just enough sweetness to linger.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Chocolate Pie With Chocolate Custard and Whipped Cream

Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie

Overhead view of apple pie with apples.
Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie is a traditional baked dessert that takes about 90 minutes from start to finish. Packed with sliced apples, sugar, cinnamon, and a flaky crust, it feels rooted in decades of family tables. The apples soften while holding their shape inside the pie. Each slice tastes warmly spiced, lightly sweet, and unmistakably comforting.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Lattice Top Apple Pie

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

A pan of freshly baked and frosted apple cinnamon rolls on a dark blue background.
Apple Cinnamon Rolls. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Apple Cinnamon Rolls are a baked breakfast-style dessert ready in about 90 minutes from start to finish. Filled with fresh apples, cinnamon, butter, and topped with cream cheese frosting, they lean into comfort. The apples soften into the dough as it bakes. The flavor is sweet, spiced, and rich without feeling overwhelming.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Tiramisu

Close-up of a slice of tiramisu with layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone cream.
Tiramisu. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Tiramisu is a chilled, no-bake dessert that comes together in about 40 minutes plus resting time. Espresso-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone, eggs, cocoa powder, and sugar build layers of flavor. The texture stays creamy with soft cake layers. It tastes balanced between bitter coffee notes and gentle sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Tiramisu

Butterscotch Pie

A butterscotch pie with meringue on a wire cooling rack.
Butterscotch Pie. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Butterscotch Pie is a classic custard dessert that takes about 60 minutes plus cooling time. Brown sugar, butter, milk, eggs, and a flaky crust form its rich base. The filling sets smooth and sliceable. The flavor is deep, sweet, and unmistakably nostalgic.
Get the Recipe: Butterscotch Pie

Apple Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Closeup of a pan of apple sour cream coffee cake.
Apple Sour Cream Coffee Cake. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Apple Sour Cream Coffee Cake is a baked dessert ready in about 75 minutes and perfect for slicing thick. Sour cream, apples, butter, sugar, and cinnamon keep the crumb moist and tender. The apples soften while baking without losing shape. It tastes lightly sweet, rich, and meant to be served generously.
Get the Recipe: Apple Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Sugar Cream Pie

A slice of sugar cream pie on a white and floral plate.
Sugar Cream Pie. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Sugar Cream Pie is a baked custard dessert that sets in about 60 minutes and cools into clean slices. Made with cream, sugar, butter, vanilla, and a simple crust, it relies on pantry basics. The filling stays silky and smooth. The flavor is gently sweet and comforting without excess.
Get the Recipe: Sugar Cream Pie

Peach Pandowdy

Overhead shot of peach pandowdy with fresh peaches.
Peach Pandowdy. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Peach Pandowdy is a rustic baked dessert that takes about 65 minutes and encourages big servings. Fresh peaches, sugar, spices, and pie crust bake together until bubbling and golden. The fruit breaks down into a soft, spoonable filling. It tastes sweet, juicy, and warmly spiced in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Peach Pandowdy

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