If you’re a fan of classic potluck desserts, you’ll LOVE this simple Punch Bowl Cake!! They are layers of yellow cake (from a mix for simplicity!), shredded coconut, crushed pineapple, cherry pie filling and Cool Whip. Perfection!

The Punch Bowl Cake is a Southern potluck classic!

I don’t know about where you live, but here in the South, we get really excited about desserts that combine cake with pudding.

Or Cool Whip.

Or pie filling.

I don’t really know who started it or why, it’s just a thing.  And seriously, it’s delicious.

There’s just something about cake layered with a whole bunch of other messy stuff that tastes amazing.  Honestly, I can’t think of a single cake/fruit filling/Cool Whip combo that doesn’t make me jump for joy.

What is Punch Bowl Cake?

There are lots of different Punch Bowl Cake recipes around the land, and they’re all universally loved at Southern potlucks.  Unless you try to incorporate browned butter or Biscoff spread or whipped goat cheese or something.

I mean…fancy ingredients are perfectly delightful, but there’s a time and a place, people.  Time and a place.

This ol’ reliable dessert would be perfectly at home at a church potluck, Easter dinner, cook out, or Mother’s Day brunch.  It’s just layers of yellow cake, coconut, Cool Whip, cherry pie filling, and crushed coconut.

Most people serve these in a giant punch bowl (hence the name) but I love putting them in individual jars.  First off, they’re way prettier.  Because the punch bowl thing is fine until about four people have picked through it and then a delightful dessert looks like a hot mess.

These little jars solve that whole issue.  Plus, you’re not hauling a nasty punch bowl full of cake crumbs and pie filling home in the back of your car.  Gross.

How to assemble these Punch Bowl Cakes in a jar

• Bake your cakes and let them cool completely, then chill in the freezer until you’re ready to assemble.
• Once the cakes are chilled, cut the cake into 1″ cubes.
• Begin layering your ingredients in the jars. Start with the cake cubes, then a sprinkle of coconut, a spoonful of pineapple, a dollop of Cool Whip. Repeat, this time subbing cherry pie filling for the pineapple.
• Refrigerate for several hours, preferably overnight!

This is one of my favorite desserts and is so simple to put together. It’s sure to be a hit at your next potluck!

Enjoy!

Wanting more potluck recipes? Check these out!

• Pineapple Upside Down Cake
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Butterfinger Bars
• Lemon Meringue Jar Cakes
• Key Lime Pie Meringue Bars
• No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

I used a yellow cake mix for this recipe.  If you’re looking for a great yellow homemade cake, feel free to use the base recipe HERE.

My FAVORITE Brownies recipe! If you are looking for a no-fail, dense, fudgy, chewy brownie — this one is for you!

My Favorite Brownies

The other day I promised I’d share the recipe for my FAVORITE brownies in the entire universe. And now here I am, sharing it days later than I intended because I got busy doing shopping chores and things.

Why does it seem like there are things that need done EVERY day?  Also, errands can go jump off a cliff.

For serious.  Errands– I drop kick you and your multiple stops in my vehicle, unloading the toddler from the car seat, waiting in lines, boring ways.  We are NOT friends.

Also, do you ever notice how at the post office, there is always that ONE person who has no idea how to mail things? How on earth do you reach adulthood and not grasp the concept of a simple box with addresses on it? Instead of calculus, I propose that Mailing Things be a subject in school. Along with Writing Checks, Interest Rates,and How to Fold Towels (THE RIGHT WAY).

Why These Brownies Are My Favorite Brownies

I have been making these brownies for years and years and years. They are a must have Jon David’s birthdays (he doesn’t eat cake because he’s an alien or whatever), and regardless of what new “best brownie recipe” I try from a cookbook or a blog, I always come back to these.

1. They’re thick and slightly cakey, but dense and fudgey too.
2. They’re chocolatey, but not so dark chocolately bitter that a kid won’t eat them.
3. THEY HAVE FROSTING. The frosting is the best kind of frosting, which pours smoothly onto the brownies and sets up like a thin layer of fudge.

Also?  My Favorite Brownies, they’re from a mix. But no one will ever know. If I got a dollar every time someone asked me for the recipe for these brownies, I’d have a lot of dollars.

Just kidding. I would have spent all the dollars on shoes already.

Thank the Cake Mix Doctor.  She’s basically a rocket scientist. Enjoy!

Wanting More Brownie Recipes?

1. Butterfinger Brownies
2. Cookie Monster Brownies
3. Twix Brownies
4. Oreo Cheesecake Brownies
5. Sno Ball Brownies

You will never need another brownie recipe again — trust me on this.

Enjoy and have a very happy Thursday!!