20 Dessert Recipes That Tasted Like a Post-Church Treat From the ’70s

Dessert tables after Sunday service used to mean something. You could count on something sweet, made from scratch, and probably passed down from someone’s aunt. These 20 recipes bring back the kind of treats that showed up in casserole dishes and on cake stands, no fanfare needed. They’re simple, familiar, and always worth a second helping.

A dessert pavlova topped with whipped cream, a blueberry, and a raspberry, surrounded by strawberries on a white plate—perfect for post-church treats or those who love classic 70s desserts. — Mini Pavlova Nests. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Banana Bread Muffins

Banana Bread Muffins take approximately 30 minutes to prepare and utilize ripe bananas, brown sugar, and cinnamon. They’re moist, lightly sweet, and easy to grab and go. The texture hits that soft-but-sturdy middle ground. They’re the kind of muffin you’d spot on every church potluck table.
Get the Recipe: Banana Bread Muffins

Wild Blackberry Muffins

Wild Blackberry Muffins bake in 25 minutes with juicy berries and a lemon glaze. The crumb is tender, and the berries add a bit of tang. The lemon glaze gives it just enough zip to keep things interesting. They taste like something your neighbor brought in a Tupperware dish.
Get the Recipe: Wild Blackberry Muffins

Mini Apple Pies

Mini Apple Pies take approximately 40 minutes to prepare and are filled with spiced apples and dates. The crust stays crisp while the inside is soft and warm. Each one feels like a personal dessert moment. You can picture them cooling on a church basement windowsill.
Get the Recipe: Mini Apple Pies

Peach Crumble Bars

Peach Crumble Bars take 45 minutes with fresh peaches and a buttery topping. The base holds together but melts in your mouth. The topping has just enough crunch to contrast with the soft fruit. It’s the kind of dessert you’d see more than one person claim they made.
Get the Recipe: Peach Crumble Bars

Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Apple cinnamon fritters on a plate with apples. — Air Fryer Apple Fritters. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Air Fryer Apple Fritters come together in just 20 minutes, featuring diced apples and a cinnamon glaze. They’re crisp on the outside and pillowy inside. The sweetness is balanced, not overdone. They’d sit right next to a tray of deviled eggs and disappear twice as fast.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

A stack of three lemon bars on a plate with more lemon bars in the background. — Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Easy Lemon Bars take just 35 minutes to prepare, featuring a shortbread base and a citrusy topping. The crust is firm, and the lemon filling is tart and smooth. They’re cut into perfect little squares for easy sharing. They taste like something that’s always been part of the rotation.
Get the Recipe: Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

Butterscotch Peach Crisp with Fresh Peaches

Butterscotch Peach Crisp bakes in 35 minutes, blending peaches with brown sugar and oats. The top is golden and crumbly, and the filling turns syrupy. The butterscotch adds a deep, caramel flavor. You’d probably hear someone call it “sinful” before going in for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Butterscotch Peach Crisp with Fresh Peaches

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp takes approximately 40 minutes to prepare, using fresh fruit and an oat topping. The flavor is tart, jammy, and just sweet enough. The top browns up while the inside bubbles. It tastes like summer from the church cookbook.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Sugared Cranberries

Sugared Cranberries are ready in under an hour and are made with simple syrup and sugar. They’re crisp on the outside with a pop of tartness inside. They work as a snack or garnish. The kind of thing someone’s aunt made to make the table feel fancy.
Get the Recipe: Sugared Cranberries

Glazed Strawberry Brownies with Frozen Strawberries

The image showcases moist pink dessert bars topped with a creamy glaze and fresh strawberry slices, arranged on a cooling rack with scattered strawberries. — Glazed Strawberry Brownies with Frozen Strawberries. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Glazed Strawberry Brownies bake in 35 minutes and are filled with berries and topped with glaze. The base is dense and fudgy with a fruity twist. The glaze adds a little sweetness without making it too rich. They’re a fun surprise that feels both nostalgic and new.
Get the Recipe: Glazed Strawberry Brownies with Frozen Strawberries

Blackberry Crumble Pie

Blackberry Crumble Pie takes about an hour and layers juicy berries under a crumbly top. The crust stays flaky, and the filling is soft and sweet with a little bite. It tastes like someone baked it with berries from their backyard. The kind of pie you slice before the meal ends.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Crumble Pie

Apple Galette

Apple Galette takes 45 minutes to prepare and features thin-sliced apples over a rustic crust. The fruit caramelizes as it bakes, and the crust crisps at the edges. It’s simple but feels special. You’d expect to see it dusted with sugar and served on someone’s best platter.
Get the Recipe: Apple Galette

Colombian Fruit Salad

Colombian Fruit Salad takes 15 minutes and mixes tropical fruit with shredded cheese and condensed milk. It’s creamy, sweet, and slightly tangy. The textures make every bite different. The kind of dish that drew questions and compliments from the potluck crowd.
Get the Recipe: Colombian Fruit Salad

Marshmallow Fruit Salad

Marshmallow Fruit Salad takes just 10 minutes to prepare with canned fruit, mini marshmallows, and whipped topping. It’s creamy, cool, and lightly sweet. The marshmallows retain their shape and add a slight chewiness. Feels like the dessert you weren’t supposed to like—but always did.
Get the Recipe: Marshmallow Fruit Salad

The Best Asian Fruit Cake: Chinese Bakery Style

Asian Fruit Cake takes about an hour to prepare and combines sponge cake with whipped cream and fresh fruit. The cake is light, the cream isn’t too sweet, and the fruit adds just enough contrast. It feels bright and special. A showstopper on any dessert table without needing frosting, roses.
Get the Recipe: The Best Asian Fruit Cake: Chinese Bakery Style

Strawberry Shortcake with Brown Sugar Biscuits

Strawberry Shortcake comes together in 30 minutes with juicy berries and sweet biscuits. The biscuits are crumbly and just salty enough. The berries soak in and soften the center. It’s the kind of treat that makes people ask who brought it.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake with Brown Sugar Biscuits

Chewy Banana Mochi Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free!)

Banana Mochi takes 45 minutes with mashed bananas and glutinous rice flour. It’s chewy, soft, and just a little sticky. The banana flavor comes through without overpowering. It’s a fun bite that makes people ask if there’s more.
Get the Recipe: Chewy Banana Mochi Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free!)

Filipino Banana Turon Lumpia

A white plate with several golden-brown, crispy spring rolls stacked on top of each other—perfect as a unique post-church treat or a fun twist on classic 70s desserts. — Filipino Banana Turon Lumpia. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Banana Turon takes 30 minutes and wraps a banana in lumpia wrappers with sugar. The outside gets crisp while the inside turns gooey. The taste is sweet and slightly caramelized. Feels like something a friend’s grandma always brought, whether you asked or not.
Get the Recipe: Filipino Banana Turon Lumpia

Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas

A dessert plate with two halved baked bananas topped with ice cream, caramel sauce, and chopped nuts—this 70s-inspired post-church treat is surrounded by whole bananas, cinnamon sticks, and a checkered napkin for classic dessert recipes nostalgia. — Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas take just 10 minutes to prepare, using sliced bananas, butter, and sugar. They’re warm, soft, and lightly crisp on the edges. The flavor is rich and simple. Something you could throw on pancakes or just eat straight with a fork.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas

Mini Pavlova Nests

Mini Pavlova Nests bake in just under an hour and hold cream and fruit in crisp meringue shells. The outside is crunchy, the inside is soft. The filling is up to you, but the structure makes it feel neat and special. It’s the kind of treat you remember for how light it felt.
Get the Recipe: Mini Pavlova Nests