Funny Named Desserts: 16 Grandma Classics Like Possum Pie and Heaven on Earth Cake, Plus Their Stories

Funny named desserts were the stars of every church potluck, and the names alone made the kids giggle. Possum Pie. Better Than Anything Cake. Heaven on Earth. Nobody asked twice once they took a bite, and most of these sweets are cheap, make-ahead and built from a few pantry staples. One video of Heaven on Earth Cake alone has been shared about 14,000 times on Facebook, and comment sections fill up with the same question: why is it called that? Below are 16 old-fashioned desserts with silly names, the story behind each name and an easy recipe for each, so you can bring them back to your Thanksgiving and Christmas table. Which one did your grandma make..

Funny Named Desserts Start With Heaven on Earth Cake

Heaven on Earth Cake earns its name in one spoonful: soft angel food cake, sweet cherry pie filling, creamy vanilla pudding and clouds of whipped cream, layered in a glass dish. It needs no oven, costs very little and tastes better after a night in the fridge, which is why church ladies loved it. Tip: tear the cake by hand instead of cutting it. The rough edges soak up more pudding and cherry juice. Would you serve it in a trifle bowl or a 9×13 pan?

You will need: 1 store-bought angel food cake, 1 box (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding, 1 1/2 cups cold milk, 1 cup sour cream, 2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling, 1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping, 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds.

How to make it: 1. Tear the cake into bite-size pieces. 2. Whisk the pudding mix with the milk for 2 minutes, then stir in the sour cream. 3. Put half the cake in a trifle bowl or 9×13 dish. 4. Spoon over half the cherry filling, then half the pudding. 5. Repeat the layers. 6. Spread the whipped topping on top and sprinkle with almonds. 7. Chill at least 4 hours or overnight.

Funny Named Desserts: Possum Pie Plays Possum

Possum Pie is an Arkansas favorite and one of the most loved funny named desserts in the South, yet it is rarely seen anywhere else. The name comes from a joke: the pie is “playing possum,” because its chocolate and cream cheese layers hide under a blanket of whipped cream until you cut a slice. Underneath you find a buttery pecan crust, a sweet cream cheese layer and rich chocolate pudding. Tip: chill the crust well before adding the cream cheese, so the layers stay neat and pretty.

You will need: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup cold butter, 3/4 cup chopped pecans, 8 oz cream cheese softened, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping divided, 2 boxes (3.9 oz each) instant chocolate pudding, 3 cups cold milk, chocolate curls for the top.

How to make it: 1. Mix the flour, butter and 1/2 cup pecans and press into a 9 inch pie dish. 2. Bake at 350 F for 15 to 20 minutes and cool completely. 3. Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar and 1 cup whipped topping and spread over the crust. 4. Whisk the pudding with the milk until thick and spread over the cream cheese. 5. Top with the rest of the whipped topping, pecans and chocolate curls. 6. Chill 4 hours.

Hummingbird Cake, Named for Jamaica’s Doctor Bird

This banana and pineapple spice cake began in Jamaica, where it is called doctor bird cake after the island’s national bird, a hummingbird. A reader recipe in the February 1978 issue of Southern Living made it a Southern legend, and it won the Favorite Cake Award at the Kentucky State Fair that same year, as this history of hummingbird cake explains. This bakery slice is topped with toasted coconut, a pretty extra. Tip: use very ripe bananas with brown spots for the softest crumb.

You will need: 3 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt, 3 eggs, 1 cup oil, 1 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple with juice, 2 cups mashed ripe bananas, 1 cup chopped pecans, cream cheese frosting.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease three 9 inch cake pans. 2. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. 3. Stir in the eggs and oil just until moist, then the vanilla, pineapple, bananas and pecans. 4. Divide into the pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes. 5. Cool completely. 6. Stack the layers with cream cheese frosting between them and on top.

Shoofly Pie and the Flies That Probably Never Were

Ask anyone in Pennsylvania Dutch country and they will tell you the sweet molasses filling drew flies, and bakers had to shoo them away. It is a great story, but historians say the name was most likely borrowed from a popular molasses brand of the late 1800s. Either way, this pie has a gooey “wet bottom” of molasses custard under a crumbly brown sugar top. Tip: serve it with vanilla ice cream or a mug of strong coffee, the Amish way.

You will need: 1 unbaked 9 inch pie crust, 1 cup flour, 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup cold butter, 1 cup molasses, 3/4 cup boiling water, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 egg beaten, pinch of salt.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 375 F. 2. Rub the flour, brown sugar and butter together into crumbs. 3. Dissolve the baking soda in the boiling water, then stir in the molasses, egg and salt. 4. Pour the molasses mix into the crust. 5. Sprinkle the crumbs evenly on top. 6. Bake 10 minutes, lower to 350 F and bake 30 minutes more, until set. 7. Cool before slicing.

Better Than Anything Cake, the Potluck Show Stopper

Some funny named desserts got their names from pure joy. This cake has gone by a few cheeky names over the years, but church cookbooks politely call it Better Than Anything Cake, and one bite explains why. A warm chocolate cake gets poked all over, then soaks up sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce before it is buried in whipped cream and toffee bits. It is a make-ahead dream, because it gets even better after a night in the fridge. Poll time: is the best part A) the caramel, B) the toffee or C) the whipped cream?

You will need: 1 box chocolate cake mix plus the eggs, oil and water it needs, 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk, 1 jar (12 oz) caramel sauce, 1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping, 1 cup toffee bits.

How to make it: 1. Bake the cake in a 9×13 pan as the box says. 2. While it is still warm, poke deep dents all over the top with the handle of a wooden spoon. 3. Pour the condensed milk evenly over the cake, then most of the caramel. 4. Let it cool, then chill 2 hours. 5. Spread the whipped topping on top. 6. Sprinkle with toffee bits and drizzle with the last of the caramel.

Funny Named Desserts: St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake

Gooey butter cake was born by accident in the 1930s, when a St. Louis area baker mixed up the amounts of butter and flour in a cake. Instead of throwing it out, the bakery sold it, and the city fell in love with one of the most famous funny named desserts in America. Today most home cooks make the easy version with a cake mix base and a soft cream cheese layer that bakes up golden and gooey. Tip: it should still jiggle a little in the middle when you take it out of the oven.

You will need: 1 box yellow cake mix, 1/2 cup melted butter, 3 eggs divided, 8 oz cream cheese softened, 1 tsp vanilla, 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar plus more for dusting.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease a 9×13 pan. 2. Mix the cake mix, butter and 1 egg and press into the pan. 3. Beat the cream cheese, 2 eggs and vanilla until smooth. 4. Beat in the powdered sugar a little at a time. 5. Pour over the base. 6. Bake 35 to 40 minutes until golden on the edges but soft in the center. 7. Cool, dust with powdered sugar and cut into squares.

Wacky Cake, Made Right in the Pan

Wacky Cake, also called crazy cake or Depression cake, has no eggs, no milk and no butter. Families made it when those were expensive or hard to get, during the Great Depression and again during wartime rationing. Like many funny named desserts, the name describes the method: you stir the dry ingredients right in the baking pan, make three wells and pour in oil, vinegar and vanilla. The vinegar reacts with the baking soda and makes a light, moist chocolate cake. Did your family call it wacky cake or crazy cake?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/3 cup oil, 1 tbsp white vinegar, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 cup cold water.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F. 2. Whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt right in an ungreased 8 inch square pan. 3. Make three wells. 4. Pour the oil in one, the vinegar in another and the vanilla in the third. 5. Pour the water over everything and stir with a fork until smooth. 6. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. 7. Dust with powdered sugar or add a simple frosting.

Pig Pickin’ Cake From Carolina Barbecues

In North Carolina, a pig pickin’ is a big outdoor party where an entire hog is slow roasted and everyone pulls the meat right off. This light, sunny cake was the dessert people brought along, so it took the party’s name. Mandarin oranges go into the batter, and the frosting is a cool mix of crushed pineapple, vanilla pudding and whipped topping. Tip: keep it in the fridge until serving, because the frosting is soft on a hot day. For more Southern heirlooms, see these forgotten Southern desserts from grandma’s kitchen.

You will need: 1 box yellow cake mix, 4 eggs, 1/2 cup oil, 1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges with juice, 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple with juice, 1 box (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding, 1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping, extra orange segments.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease two 9 inch pans. 2. Beat the cake mix, eggs, oil and mandarin oranges with their juice for 2 minutes. 3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes and cool. 4. Stir the pineapple and dry pudding mix together, then fold in the whipped topping. 5. Frost between the layers and all over. 6. Decorate with orange segments and chill.

Funny Named Desserts: Magic Bars

These bars have more names than any other recipe in grandma’s box, from seven layer bars to magic bars. The magic name comes from what happens in the oven: loose layers of crumbs, chips and coconut melt into one chewy bar, like a trick. Best of all, they are the easiest bake sale treat ever: you just layer everything in a pan and let the oven do the work. Tip: line the pan with foil so you can lift the bars out and cut clean squares.

You will need: 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 1/2 cups fine graham crumbs, 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup chocolate chips, 1 cup butterscotch chips, 1 1/3 cups shredded coconut, 1 cup chopped pecans.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F. 2. Pour the butter into a 9×13 pan and sprinkle the crumbs over it, pressing down. 3. Pour the condensed milk evenly over the crumbs. 4. Layer the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut and pecans on top. 5. Press down gently with a fork. 6. Bake 25 minutes until golden. 7. Cool completely before cutting.

Earthquake Cake With a Broken, Bumpy Top

Earthquake Cake looks like the ground after a big shake, and that is exactly how it earned its place among the funny named desserts. Coconut and pecans go in the bottom of the pan, then chocolate batter, then spoonfuls of a sweet cream cheese mixture. In the oven the cream cheese sinks and the top splits open in gooey ripples, so no two cakes ever look the same. Tip: do not stir the cream cheese in. Just drop spoonfuls and let the oven make the mess.

You will need: 1 cup shredded coconut, 1 cup chopped pecans, 1 box German chocolate cake mix plus the eggs, oil and water it needs, 8 oz cream cheese softened, 1/2 cup melted butter, 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease a 9×13 pan. 2. Sprinkle the coconut and pecans in the bottom. 3. Make the cake batter and pour it over them. 4. Beat the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. 5. Drop big spoonfuls over the batter. 6. Bake 40 to 45 minutes. 7. Cool before cutting, since the center stays soft.

Dirt Cake, the Kid Favorite With Gummy Worms

Dirt Cake is one of the newer funny named desserts, the star of many birthday parties in the 1980s and 1990s. Crushed chocolate sandwich cookies make the “dirt,” a creamy pudding layer hides underneath, and gummy worms wiggle out of the top. Some moms even served it in a new, clean flower pot with a silk flower on top. It is a no-bake dessert kids can help make, and it is perfect for a crowd. Quick question: did your family make it in a pan or a flower pot?

You will need: 1 package (about 15 oz) chocolate sandwich cookies, 1/4 cup butter softened, 8 oz cream cheese softened, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 boxes (3.4 oz each) instant vanilla pudding, 3 1/2 cups cold milk, 1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping, gummy worms.

How to make it: 1. Crush the cookies into fine crumbs. 2. Beat the butter, cream cheese and powdered sugar. 3. Whisk the pudding mix with the milk, then fold in the whipped topping. 4. Combine the pudding and cream cheese mixtures. 5. Layer crumbs and pudding in a 9×13 pan, ending with crumbs. 6. Tuck gummy worms on top. 7. Chill 3 hours.

Funny Named Desserts: Sock It to Me Cake

Sock It to Me Cake took its name from a famous 1960s TV catchphrase, “Sock it to me!” from the comedy show Laugh-In. It is a tender sour cream bundt cake with a hidden ribbon of brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans in the middle and a simple vanilla glaze on top. Like most funny named desserts from that era, it became a church supper staple in the 1970s and is still a favorite for holiday brunch. Tip: grease the bundt pan very well, then let the cake rest 10 minutes before turning it out.

You will need: 1 box butter yellow cake mix, 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup oil, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water, 4 eggs, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 cup chopped pecans, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tbsp milk.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 375 F and grease a bundt pan. 2. Beat the cake mix, sour cream, oil, sugar, water and eggs for 2 minutes. 3. Mix the brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans. 4. Pour two thirds of the batter into the pan and sprinkle the pecan mix over it. 5. Add the rest of the batter. 6. Bake 45 minutes. 7. Cool, then drizzle with powdered sugar mixed with milk.

Tomato Soup Cake, Once Called Mystery Cake

Of all the funny named desserts here, this is the one people refuse to believe. Yes, there is a can of tomato soup in this cake, and no, you will not taste it. Recipes for it first showed up in the 1920s, and it went by fun names like Mystery Cake and You’ll Be Surprised Cake, because guests could never guess the secret. The soup keeps the spice cake moist and gives it a warm reddish color. With cream cheese frosting, it tastes a lot like carrot cake. Would you dare to serve it and make your family guess?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1 1/3 cups sugar, 4 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp allspice, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp cloves, 1 can (10.75 oz) condensed tomato soup, 1/2 cup shortening, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 cup raisins, cream cheese frosting.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease two 8 inch pans. 2. Whisk the dry ingredients. 3. Add the soup and shortening and beat 2 minutes. 4. Add the eggs and water and beat 2 minutes more. 5. Stir in the raisins. 6. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. 7. Cool and fill and frost with cream cheese frosting.

Apple Brown Betty, a Civil War Era Classic

Apple Brown Betty is one of the oldest funny named desserts in America, first mentioned in print in 1864. Nobody knows who Betty was, but her dessert is simple and cozy: sliced apples layered with buttery, sweetened breadcrumbs and baked until soft and golden. It was also one of Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s favorite desserts at the White House. Tip: use day-old bread and a mix of tart and sweet apples for the best flavor.

You will need: 6 cups sliced apples, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 3 cups fresh breadcrumbs from day-old bread, 6 tbsp melted butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 cup apple cider, whipped cream for serving.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease a 2 quart baking dish. 2. Toss the apples with lemon juice. 3. Mix the breadcrumbs with the butter. 4. Mix the brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. 5. Layer a third of the crumbs, half the apples and half the sugar mix, then repeat, ending with crumbs. 6. Pour the cider over the top. 7. Cover and bake 40 minutes, uncover and bake 20 minutes more.

Funny Named Desserts: Mississippi Mud Cake

Mississippi Mud Cake is dark, dense and gooey, and Southern cooks say it looks just like the muddy banks of the Mississippi River. A fudgy chocolate sheet cake comes out of the oven, gets covered with mini marshmallows and then a warm chocolate frosting that melts them into soft swirls. It is rich, so cut small squares. Funny named desserts like this one are perfect for a crowd. Poll: do you like it A) warm with ice cream, B) cold from the fridge or C) at room temperature?

You will need: 1 cup butter melted, 2 cups sugar, 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 cup chopped pecans, 1 bag (10 oz) mini marshmallows. Frosting: 1/2 cup butter, 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/3 cup milk, 4 cups powdered sugar.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease a 9×13 pan. 2. Mix the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, cocoa, vanilla and pecans. 3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. 4. Right away, cover the hot cake with marshmallows and bake 2 minutes more. 5. Melt the butter, cocoa and milk, then whisk in the powdered sugar. 6. Pour over the marshmallows and cool before cutting.

Buckeyes, the Ohio Christmas Candy

Our last sweet is a no-bake holiday candy from Ohio. Buckeyes are peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate, with a round patch of peanut butter left showing on top so they look like the shiny brown seed of the Ohio buckeye, the state tree. Families in Ohio make big batches every Christmas for cookie trays and gifts. Tip: chill the balls before dipping and use a toothpick to dip them. Thank you for reading. Which of these 16 funny named desserts will you make first?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter, 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 tsp vanilla, 4 cups powdered sugar, 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, 1 tbsp shortening.

How to make it: 1. Beat the peanut butter, butter and vanilla until smooth. 2. Beat in the powdered sugar until it forms a soft dough. 3. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a parchment lined sheet. 4. Chill 30 minutes. 5. Melt the chocolate with the shortening. 6. Dip each ball with a toothpick, leaving a circle of peanut butter on top. 7. Chill until set and smooth over the toothpick mark.