12 Nostalgic Diner Desserts For Your Sweet Tooth

By Jenn Segal

From marble cake to lemon meringue pie, old-fashioned desserts are the holy grail of diners. These favorite diner desserts will have you wanting to swivel on a red-vinyl counter stool.

Marble Cake

Crazy moist, flavorful, and with ribbons of vanilla and fudgy chocolate, you’ll be transported by this marble cake.
Blueberry Coffee Cake (aka Boy Bait)

Buttery, tender coffee cake is studded with blueberries (and the cinnamon streusel topping is hard to resist).
Coconut Cream Pie

This coconut cream pie will thrill all coconut lovers. Toasted coconut tops whipped cream and a lovely coconut custard. You’lll likely want seconds!
Classic Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

With a generous coating of frosting and dotted with carrots, currants, and nuts, this warmly spiced carrot cake is a classic.
Chocolate Cream Pie

The combo of a cookie crust, chocolatey pudding center, and whipped cream to top it off – this chocolate cream pie may be the best chocolate dessert you’ve ever had.
Strawberry Shortcake

This strawberry shortcake is simple yet perfect with tender biscuits sandwiching juicy strawberries and whipped cream.
Perfect Apple Pie

Tender, flaky crust? Check. Juicy, sweet apples? Check. Baked to perfection? Check. You’ll just love this apple pie.
Banana Pudding Parfaits

Banana pudding has been slightly elevated here with rum-spiced pudding and shortbread cookies layered in parfait glasses — both pretty and delicious
Lemon Meringue Pie

With a homemade crust, tart yet sweet filling, and topped off with pillowy meringue, this lemon meringue pie is a foolproof family favorite.
Peach Cobbler

This rustic peach cobbler is filled with ripe peaches and topped with a buttermilk biscuit topping — a wonderful way to use up your bounty of peaches.
Classic New York Cheesecake

With this recipe, a smooth, creamy, decadent, crack-free New York-style cheesecake is really achievable, even for beginner bakers.
Key Lime Pie

Made with ordinary limes, this “Key lime” pie tastes every bit as authentic as the real deal — plus it’s easier to make.