25+ Cajun Desserts for Home Chefs

Cajun desserts are impressive and can conquer people’s hearts once they have a chance to try them.

For those who wonder about the “Cajun” term, the Cajuns are an ethnic group found in Southern Louisiana. They are originally the Acadians living in Canada. Their ancestors were banished by the British and immigrated to the States.

Both Cajun and Acadian cuisines are distinguished by cajun spices and always use locally available food to create signature dishes.

The same thing goes for cajun desserts. They are mostly made quite simply with basic ingredients, but the taste is fresh and fabulous.

If you’re looking for cajun dessert recipes, I suggest you start with my list because I’ve spent time selecting the 26 most popular dishes, including their recipes and highlights.

26 Cajun Desserts Including Cake, Pastry, And More

Below are some cajun dessert recipes you might need in your back pocket for potlucks, parties, and other occasions.

Cake Recipes

1. Old-fashioned Cajun Cake
2. New Orleans Praline Brownies
3. Carnival Funnel Cake
4. Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
5. Red Velvet Cake Roll
6. Bananas Foster Upside-Down Cake
7. Louisiana Stranger Bundt Cake
8. Heavenly Hash Cake

Pastry Recipes

9. Mardi Gras King Cake
10. Cajun Sweet Dough Pies
11. Crème Brûlée Tarts
12. New Orleans-Style Beignets
13. Cinnamon Roll Wreath
14. Southern Sweet Potato Pie

Beverage Recipes

15. Easy Cajun Bloody Mary
16. Peaches Foster Ice Cream
17. Boozy King Cake Milkshake

Others

18. Pecan Pie Egg Rolls
19. Southern Pecan Pralines Cookies
20. New Orleans-Style Bread Pudding
21. Lemon Coconut Ooey Gooey Bars
22. Peach and Blackberry Cobbler
23. Dessert Crepes
24. Fruit Pizza
25. Praline Oatmeal Cookies
26. Cornbread

26 Delicious Cajun Desserts Of All Time

No meal is complete without a good dessert. If you want to find a more creative way to end your party, try Cajun desserts.

Amazing Cake Recipes For A Taste Of Louisiana

Classic yet tasty recipes are listed below, so you can easily choose from them. This way, you don’t have to stop yourself from satiating your cravings when it comes to desserts.

1. Old-Fashioned Cajun Cake

The old-fashioned cajun cake is known as a classic and tasty sweet treat in the South. This moist and tropical treat is made from crushed pineapples, coconut, pecans and is suitable for potlucks, family gatherings, get-togethers, and BBQ parties.

Although it has “cajun” in its name, it doesn’t contain any spice like other Cajun dishes you might have known; therefore, it isn’t spicy at all.

Feel free to make a large batch and store the leftovers in the freezer for several months.

2. New Orleans Praline Brownies

New Orleans praline brownies are made to satisfy the sweet tooth because they are so decadent and satisfying. They feature a fudgy, gooey texture and a delicious taste of praline. Chopped pecans are added to enhance the flavor and make them even more palatable.

Many people said that this recipe is one of the most favorite brownies they have ever tasted.

3. Carnival Funnel Cake

Let’s bring back your childhood memories by recreating a yummy and easy-to-make cake this summer. The smell of a freshly made batch in the kitchen can make me feel excited, as it did to me since I was a kid.

It’s crispy outside and soft inside with a slightly sweet flavor which you can’t have enough of. Pairing them with fresh fruits or whipped cream is always a good idea.

The batter of carnival funnel cake is much like pancake’s batter with flour, milk, vanilla extract, eggs, and baking powder.

4. Carrot Cake With Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

To my surprise, this carrot cake tastes incredible thanks to the rich and flavorful frosting type that comes with it – cream cheese. Moreover, it’s made with plenty of spices consisting of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger which highlights its unique aroma.

For people who are curious about how good it is, it’s soft, creamy, moist, and light.

5. Red Velvet Cake Roll

It’s undoubtedly a red velvet dessert to impress someone else because when you’re done, this dish looks amazing. It brims with vanilla flavors and a hint of chocolate.

In my opinion, a red velvet cake roll is a perfect combination of beautiful aromas with which you surely fall in love. The good news is that it’s simple to make and takes only less than an hour to complete.

6. Bananas Foster Upside-Down Cake

Bananas foster upside-down cake is scrape-the-pan good! The secret is that the winning combination of rum, cinnamon, and bananas. It’s said that this recipe is a further step from the traditional upside-down cake.

This decadent cake is loved by all my family members thanks to its stunning look and naturally sweet flavor.

7. Louisiana Stranger Bundt Cake

Louisiana stranger bundt cake is the very kind of sweet you’ll proudly bring to a potluck party like church events. It might be the moistest bundt cake you’ve ever tried. In terms of flavor, it’s nutty and sweet.

In addition, this yummy dessert is straightforward to make, and no matter your baking skill level, you can’t go wrong with it.

8. Heavenly Hash Cake

If your high-quality cocoa powder is on the verge of expiration and you’re running low on ideas about using it, the heavenly hash cake can be an excellent candidate. It tastes similar to my favorite candy and is not too sweet.

This brownie-like dessert features an out-of-the-world glaze, a combination of butter, sugar, cocoa mixture, and milk mixture. Don’t forget to pour the topping when it’s still warm to get the best result.

For me, it’s a safe bet that this simple hash cake is an all-time party show-stopper.

Yummy Cajun-Inspired Pastry And Tarts Recipes You Can Try Today

These pastry recipes taste as good as they look. Let’s discover each of them in detail in the following part and tell me your favorite one.

9. Mardi Gras King Cake

King cake is a sweet pastry that is baked to celebrate Three Kings Day. The first king cakes were made in Europe, but today the cake is familiar to people worldwide.

First, pastry dough is braided and shaped into a circle, then after being baked, it’s sugar-coated and sprinkled with green, purple, and gold sugars.

10. Cajun Sweet Dough Pies

Some sweet dough pies and a cup of hot coffee might be a perfect combo to start a day. This treat is essential in any party and event in South Louisiana.

The filling of sweet dough pie is varied, and you can add your favorite things from chocolate to fresh fruit pie filling.

11. Crème Brûlée Tarts

Crème Brûlée tarts can be such a crowd-pleasing treat that definitely makes you feel comforted and satisfied. Needless to say, it’s an excellent way to end a meal.

In this recipe, crème brûlée is placed into a tart shell and covered with a caramelized sugar layer. Let’s break up the surface and scoop up some smooth and luscious custard.

12. New Orleans-Style Beignets

First, let’s talk a bit about the beignet. These deep-fried pastries originated in France with a couple of variations in Europe and America. 

While the original recipe uses pâte à choux, other variations might feature chestnut flour or yeast pastry. Interestingly, banana beignets are a widely consumed dessert in Haiti.

New Orleans-Style beignets are among the most popular variations, and they are totally addicting. You will be surprised how easy it is to make these beignets which only require a handful of basic ingredients.

This delightful and airy pastry is coated with sugar powder and is the best food for Mardi Gras. Don’t hesitate to try beignets at home and impress your guests.

Discover the best authentic New Orleans beignets recipe with me. You can see this video to know more:

13. Cinnamon Roll Wreath

How about treating your guests with this cinnamon roll wreath on the holiday brunch? It surely pairs well with a cup of hot tea and coffee. The cinnamon roll often comes in different varieties. Once you’re familiar with the classic recipe, you feel free to tailor it to your liking.

14. Southern Sweet Potato Pie

This sweet potato pie is the right recipe to use up the sweet potato left untouched in the fridge. It’s a fact that this recipe is quite popular in the South because there are always a lot of sweet potatoes in the pantry. As far as I can tell, it’s fuss-free, filling, and delectable.

Don’t forget to add extra whipped cream when having this sweet potato pie because everyone knows sweetness pairs well with creaminess.

Simple But Divine New Orlean-Styled Beverage Recipes For Everyone

Discover your new favorite cajun drinks here with tried and true recipes, and have fun. Cheers!

15. Easy Cajun Bloody Mary

This classic cocktail is straightforward and flavorful with an attractive color. It’s different compared to other cocktails I have ever tasted in my life, thanks to Cajun spice. To be more specific, it’s made of three popular Cajun ingredients known as celery, bell pepper, and onion.

Believe it or not, this beverage won’t let you down.

16. Peaches Foster Ice Cream

As some of you might not know, the original recipe is made with bananas, and in this recipe, you switch bananas for peaches and still get a fantastic result.

Peaches are sliced and immersed in caramel sauce, then topped with ice cream balls. It’s rich, creamy, luscious, and fresh. I definitely make it again and again this summer.

17. Boozy King Cake Milkshake

This recipe is a fool-proof formula that you can experiment with for the next Mardi Gras holiday. Boozy king cake milkshake is an exciting way to indulge yourself. Just mix Blue Bell King cup ice cream and rum in the blender, and put some decorations, then everything’s ready.

Other Cajun Dessert Recipes Worth Your Try

In terms of desserts, you can find numerous recipes coming from Southern Louisiana. Although they don’t belong to any category, they are great combinations of delicious ingredients.

18. Pecan Pie Egg Rolls

The Pecan pie egg roll recipe is another variation of traditional pecan pie. The wonderful thing about it is that you can enjoy it with your hands.

To get the best result, you might want to prepare pecan filling the night before and keep it in the fridge so that the filling becomes easier to work with.

For me, the filling tastes impressive and even more delicious when being wrapped in crunchy egg rolls, which makes you can’t have enough.

19. Southern Pecan Pralines Cookies

Praline is a versatile baking ingredient and turns a plain cookie into a great-tasting one. Southern pecan pralines cookies are generously drizzled with a layer of praline and pecans. This recipe is surprisingly easy to follow.

When it comes to flavor, this snack has a gently sweet and nutty taste which is so irresistible.

20. New Orleans-Style Bread Pudding

Bread puddings are popular in Louisiana restaurants, and you can find them right on the dessert menu, so make sure to give it a try when you’re here, or you can make it at home. The flavor is guaranteed to be superb.

In short, this decadent pudding is anything but boring. Although it is a bit sweet, the taste of bourbon helps balance it out so you can feel more and more excited when eating this cake.

21. Lemon Coconut Ooey Gooey Bars

Lemon coconut ooey gooey bars are simply irresistible with citrus flavor and a hint of coconut. It’s a safe bet that if you’re a fan of lemony bars, you will love this recipe a lot. These bars are moist, chewy, soft, and sweet.

It’s a perfect dessert and snack which surely satiates your taste buds and boosts your mood.

22. Peach And Blackberry Cobbler

Enjoy this peach and blackberry cobbler with a scoop of your favorite ice cream, and your mood will be boosted immediately. They are such a good dessert.

As you might not know, it tastes like summer in every bite with an intriguing flavor of fresh and juicy fruits.

Basically, this recipe is a combination of peach juice, blackberries, and a layer of biscuit batter.

23. Dessert Crepes

These dessert crepes taste so fresh and good, so I keep making them again and again in the morning. My kids love this recipe and always ask me for more.

The mixture of a thin crepe crust, creamy berry cheesecake, and fresh fruits is so hard to resist, especially if you’re craving something light and sweet.

24. Fruit Pizza

This fruit pizza is an all-time favorite dessert at any BBQ parties because it looks so catchy and tastes yummy. Like store-bought pizza, it consists of 3 layers: pizza crust, cream cheese, and fresh fruit toppings.

The cream cheese frosting is the best way to combine all the parts of this amazing dessert and makes all flavors blend together.

25. Praline Oatmeal Cookies

If you’re into crispy cookies, you will love these praline oatmeal cookies. This recipe doesn’t involve any baking, and all you need is a saucepan.

The reason why I love praline oatmeal cookies is that it’s healthy and scrumptious. Let’s make a large batch and munch them whenever you want.

26. Cornbread

My favorite thing about baking cornbread is that the whole kitchen is filled with the aroma of the cake. When you bite your teeth into it, you feel a crisp edge, then a soft and fluffy center. If you follow this recipe correctly, your cornbread will have a golden color, buttery flavor, and grainy texture.

Why Don’t You Try Something New?

Life is short. You might not want to limit yourself to the same desserts every day. Therefore, learning to make new ones is an incredible way to maximize your life and live to the fullest. Cajun desserts can be one of them.

Making the dishes listed above is quite enjoyable because they’re not too challenging for me. Moreover, some of them are flexible, which you can improvise depending on what you have in the pantry.

Stock some pecans, praline, fresh fruits (pineapples, peaches, blackberries), all-purpose flour, and you’re ready to bake some pies at home whenever your craving hits.

You might want to start with simple recipes such as dessert crepes, peach foster ice cream, cornbread, then move to more complicated ones, including bananas foster upside-down cake, New Orleans-style bread pudding, and lemon coconut ooey gooey bars.

Keep in touch and share with me your thoughts about Cajun desserts.