36 Grandma-Approved Classic Dessert Recipes
It’s time to thank Grandma for feeding you all those treats when she baby-sat you when you were little. Or to impress your new roommates by filling the kitchen with the smell of fresh baked goods. Or to flatter your new roommate’s grandma with dessert when she visits. Your choice.
MORE: What Your Favorite Dessert Says About You
Cinnamon + banana = heaven. Recipe here.
MORE: Ditch the Banana Bread for This Snickerdoodle Loaf
2. Pumpkin Pie With Sugar Cookie Crust
Literally screams g-ma’s house. Learn how here.
MORE: Pumpkin Pie in a Mug
3. Maple Browned Butter Bacon Cupcakes
Hell yes. Here’s how.
MORE: 23 Muffin Recipes That Are Better Than Cupcakes
4. Frozen Chocolate Chip Cookies
Paper thin and melt in your mouth? Sign me up. Learn how here.
MORE: Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies
She definitely would approve. Here’s how.
MORE: Nutella Banana Grilled Cheese
6. Three-Ingredient Pretzel Shortbread Cookies
Dayum. Recipe here.
7. Lemon Cupcakes With Blackberry Frosting
Sugar? Yes, please. Recipe here.
Grandma’s recipe with a new take. Here’s how.
Decadent AF. Learn how here.
Literally Grandma approved. Recipe here.
Ohmagah. Recipe here.
12. Monkey Bread
The best invention since sliced bread. Here’s how.
13. Rugelach
Just like in the old country. Here’s how.
14. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
AND it’s vegan. Whoa. Learn how here.
15. Cinnamon Brown Sugar Bread Pudding
Look at that drippage. Recipe here.
Samoas for all. More recipes here.
Grandma’s favorite candy now in scone form. Recipe here.
Creamyyyyyy. Learn how here.
19. Caramelized Nectarines With Bacon and Ice Cream
How could she NOT approve? Recipe here.
20. Classic Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Sometimes you just need a classic. Recipe here.
S’cute. Recipe here.
22. Salted Caramel Chocolate Bread Pudding
And guess what, it’s made from leftover bread. Learn how here.
23. Brownie Parfait
Gimme. Recipe here.
24. Cranberry Pistachio Dark Chocolate Bark
The name just sounds like grandma’s house. Learn how here.
25. Lemon Bars
Bars of heaven. Recipe here.
26. Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies
Look at that FLUFF. Learn how here.
So good, it might make you cry. Recipe here.
28. White Chocolate–Dipped Molasses Cookies
Nom. Recipe here.
29. Great Grandma’s Banana Bread
Recipe here.
Nothin’ like homemade. Make ‘em like this.
Fancyyy. Recipe here.
32. Lemon and Fresh Cranberry Scones
Talk about gourmet. Recipe here.
A la mode is the only way to do it. Make it like this.
34. Toasted Coconut and White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Grandmas love coconut. Recipe here.
Grandmas freakin’ LOVE linzer tarts. Learn how to make ‘em here.
36. Chocolate Chip Caramel Peanut Butter Bars
Ooey gooey goodness. Make it like this.
Or check out the recipe below.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 4 dozen bars
Ingredients:
2 (16.5-oz.) packages of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
½ cup evaporated milk
60 whole caramels, unwrapped
½ cup peanut butter, melted (you can melt it in microwave)
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375° F and grease 9 x 13-inch jelly-roll pan (baking sheet or pan with rims).
2. Spread one package of cookie dough into prepared pan and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and set aside.
3. In a double boiler (a metal bowl set over a saucepan of boiling water) melt caramels with ½ cup evaporated milk.
4. When melted and combined, add ½ cup melted peanut butter and pour over cookie base. Sprinkle chocolate chips as evenly as you can over the caramel.
5. With the second package of cookie dough, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls evenly onto caramel and chocolate chips mixture; press down lightly.
6. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and edges are set. Cool in pan on wire rack.
Photos courtesy of Emma Delaney, Kelda Baljon, Molly Yeh, Vedika Luthra, Emma Delaney, Amanda Shulman, Phoebe Melnick, Jessica Sion, Analiese Trimber, Adam H. Weiss, Naib Mian, Phoebe Melnick, Lisa Gong, Sarah Stettin, Jeanne Kessira, Annie Trimber, Amanda Shulman, Claire Thompson.
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