The Lady & Sons Just Desserts: More Than 120 Sweet Temptations from Savannah's Favorite Restaurant

by Paula H. Deen

As Paula Deen will tell y'all, there's just no satisfying way to finish a delicious meal without a scrumptious, mouthwatering dessert!

In this beautiful hardcover edition of The Lady & Sons Just Desserts, Paula—author, restaurateur, and Food Network star—devotes her trademark southern charm to a tempting collection of more than 120 delightful recipes, guaranteed to indulge any sweet tooth. Whether you're baking for the holidays or an after-dinner treat, there are crowd-pleasers here for any occasion.

These are the classic down-home recipes that have made Paula beloved to her fans everywhere, from her signature Gooey Butter Cake and Key Lime Grits Pie to Pecan Shortbread Bars, Hidden Mint Cookies, and Iron Skillet Brownies. Whether you're whipping up an Old South Jelly Roll Cake for a weekday treat or baking the Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie or Christmas Nut Pie for a holiday celebration, these treats are as easy to create as they are to enjoy. The Basic 1-2-3-4 Cake—in coconut (Jamie's favorite), caramel (Bobby's favorite), or chocolate—makes a wonderful birthday surprise, and the Tennessee Banana-Black Walnut Cake with Caramel Frosting is a southern favorite sure to become one of yours as well. There is also a wide array of cookies, bars, and candy, including Savannah Cheesecake Cookies, Orange Brownies, Chocolate Brickle, and Creamy Caramels. Even the most time-pressed cook will find it a snap to create these from-scratch recipes, using Paula's tips for reliable convenience ingredients and time-tested shortcuts that will impress and delight family and friends.

Filled with warm baking memories and family stories, The Lady & Sons Just Desserts is already a kitchen classic. There are also helpful baking tips for measuring ingredients, storing leftovers, and even cutting a few calories, as well as tasty flavor variations and unique serving suggestions throughout. So bring the folks together to create your own memorable meals and occasions and remember to save room for dessert!

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Southern, Reference, Foodie

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Paula Deen (born Paula Ann Hiers) is an American cook, restaurateur, author, actress and Emmy Award-winning television personality.

Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates The Lady & Sons restaurant with her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen. She has also published five cookbooks. Though married in 2004 to Michael Anthony Groover, she continues to use the surname Deen from her first marriage professionally.

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I own several Paula Deen cookbooks all of which were given to me as gifts. Mostly, I find the recipes in some mid-area between hit and miss, sort of meh. I'm southern and already cook southern, and I don't think adding butter to a recipe always makes it better, especially when other seasonings are ignored. When Deen has a miss, it is usually the kind where we throw it in the trash before finishing it (the salmon baked with strawberries from an earlier cookbook). But...BUT....when she has a hit, it's the kind where we just keep eating long after we're full and lick the bowl at the end. This cookbook, a cookbook of just desserts, sums up all these feelings in one 176 page hardcover package.

All of Deen's recipes in this one can be found online. Some she has become known for such as Eclair Cake, Gooey Butter Cake, or Not Yo Momma's Banana Pudding are here. The added bonus are the recipes from friends and family chosen to be included...well...I'm not really sure why but most were good. I made every variation of Gooey Butter Cake given (known historically to southerners as Chess Cake). My husband's office had a really good month getting all the leftovers. The classic is OK, but I find it too rich for more than a bite or two at a time. The pineapple and lemon versions are excellent! The fruit helped cut the sweet just a bit and I think either variation are big improvements. The peanut butter was surprisingly a dud. Usually, I'll eat anything peanut butter but this was just meh, wouldn't make again. There is an error in the Éclair Cake recipe. The frosting calls for 3 Tbs milk. This is not even close to enough. If you look her recipe up on the Food Network site, you will see it calls for 1/3 cup milk, with all other ingredients exactly the same. I didn't find any other errors, but as I didn't make every single recipe, I can't guarantee there aren't more. One surprising highlight was the Benne Candy. This is one submitted by a friend and is essentially a sesame brittle. I'm not that skilled at candy making but found this easy and tasty. It would make a great food gift. I frequently found myself thinking I would make several recipes again but with modifications to my personal taste, such as the Sour Cream Pound Cake that needed much more flavor and the Orange Brownies that do not need to be left gooey in the center as the recipe indicates (may or may not be another error).

All of the recipes are incredibly easy to make, although some basic cooking knowledge is required - such as how to prepare a cake pan for baking. Each uses basic, easy to find ingredients. Most recipes make very large portions, so best for a pot luck, large family, or if you're like me, an office that likes getting leftover baked goods.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yum!!!

A few of these dessert recipes have been in my arsenal recently but I am so glad to Now have this dessert book on kindle so I can keep surprising my family and work family with more delicious goodies. 😊

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing really stood out to me. I didn't find any recipes I would use. A lot of the recipes involve shortcuts, and I prefer to do everything from scratch. Also, there were no pictures. Sometimes seeing something makes me want to make it, more so than the recipe. This was disappointing.

[Artina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the very first edition of this book and it was very much like a church cookbook with the spiral binding and all. I loved the feel of it. Like I was taking a peek into my Grandma's secret recipes.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This cookbook was a disappointment. Not only were there very few pictures, but many of the recipes used boxed mixes or other store-bought shortcuts. Having said that, many of the recipes sound delicious!

[Jacqueline Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great recipes that you will enjoy making.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have made a few of the recipes included in here, mostly for holidays.

[Nita Hulbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good traditional southern recipes. Would recommend.

[Barry Huddleston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently, Paula Deen has been taking some heat after announcing that she suffers from diabetes. While I understand questions about some of the dishes that she prepares, I struggle to understand to understand the personal attacks. Being one of the most politically incorrect people you will ever meet, I decided to review Paula Deen’s dessert cookbook.

I enjoyed the glossy color pictures of what the desserts could look like, but I would like to have seen a lot more of them. The desserts were fabulous and I couldn’t help but think of some of the desserts served at my own family gatherings. Paula gives you more than just recipes, she also shares her personal anecdotes.

Douglas’ Dark Rum Pecan Pie

1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup dark Karo syrup
3 large eggs, beaten
1/2 to 2 cups pecan halves, according to taste
2 tablespoons Myers Original Dark Rum (1 for the pie and 1 for you!)
1 unbaked deep-dish 9-inch pie shell

Preheat oven to 375F.
Combine sugar and butter in a bowl; stir in syrup, eggs, pecans, and rum. Pour into unbaked pie shell; place on heavy-duty cookie sheet. Bake at 375F for 10 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 350F and continue to bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until pie is set. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

I was surprised to read the section on healthier calorie cutting tips. “You may substitute skim milk for whole milk [...] A great substitute for sour cream is nonfat plain yogurt [...] Lean towards angel food or sponge cake instead of butter cake.”

All in all, I really enjoyed the book, and I highly recommend it.

[Virginia Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The real sweetness found in "The Lady & Sons Just Desserts" lies not only in the delightful recipes, but also in the the family stories and the genuine love of cooking that prevails throughout the pages. The introduction written by Paula Deen is a fascinating mini-autobiography that follows Paula's early years through her young first marriage, the start of her restaurant business, her introduction to TV Land, and how she met Michael Groover, who would later become her second husband. Paula Deen's personal struggles and her desire to be a success and provide for her family will resonate with many women. The recipes range from simple sweet-tooth satisfaction to satiation for serious sugar addicts. Many of the recipes are accompanied by charming anecdotes. Do these titles sound tempting: "Brown Sugar Pound Cake"; "White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pie"; "Paula's Loaded Oatmeal Cookies"; "Eggnog Pudding"; "Mama's Divinity"; and "Blueberry Cream Cheese Tarts"? "The Lady & Sons Just Desserts" is just peachy--Georgia peachy, that is!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I was staring at my lovely cookbook shelf the other day (as I often do...), I realized that I've never rated this book. Truth be told, I'm not really a fan of Paula Deen. At one point in time I was crazy about my fellow southern lady. Now? Not so much, but that's ok. Her dessert recipes are still the bomb.com. I don't rate cookbooks unless I've tried multiple recipes that have proved successful. I can firmly say that this cookbook has never let me down. I've used it for wedding showers, family get-togethers, holidays, etc. Every dessert I've made has been a huge hit and has led to multiple people demanding the recipes. Even though I'm not crazy about you anymore, Paula, I'll always love your ooey gooey butter cake.

[Christy Hertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome, thanks to my sister Heidi for this delicious dessert book! Made the Italian creme cake for an Italian themed Bunko party at a friend's house who is a chef/ attended the NY Culinary Institute. I was a little "scared," but she loved it and she said it was a hit with her dad too, who ate the leftover cake.

[Amy the book-bat · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many of the recipes sound so delicious and they appear to be easy to make. I am definitely going to have a good time cooking from this one. I particularly loved the shout out to the Savannah College of Art and Design in one of Paula's little essays. I went to school there! I wish I would have known about Paula Deen and her restaurant when I lived in Savannah.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another treasure of recipes. I think I love this one because it's full of recipes that my grandmothers/family have been making for years but also has a lot of different types of recipes I've never heard of or made.

[Danalee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could be biased just from loving Jamie and Bobby so much, but honestly some scrumptious recipes to be found inside this treasure. Of course my book rocks because it has Paula's signature inside the front cover.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have made several recipes from this book, including cookies (Stick to Your Teeth Cookies) that a coworker now makes for potlucks and a cake (Better than Sex Cake) that I've given as a gift. I was unhappy with the peanut cluster recipe because it used bark, but I should have known better.

[Megan Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. great recipes, great stories. AND A great author. Her recipes were delicious. Southwest Georgia pound cake was my favorite. all the recipes were delicious!!!! if you love sweets, buy this book. it's a great finish for any meal. And you'll NEVER regret it, I promise.

[Alexi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the personal stories that were sprinkled through this book. It didn't have any pictures and many of he recipes weren't something I'd actually make, but if you're also someone who just enjoys reading through cookbooks, I'd give it a try.

[stephanie patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

i'm a sucker for the deen family...mostly for bobby.

[Camie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can Paula do anything wrong?
I just adore the stories in the front of this book, not to mention the delish recipes inside! :)

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

gotta love butter!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweeeeet!

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of purely Southern classic desserts! This makes a terrific gift, too.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some yummy, fattening recipes in this book - all containing one major ingredient - BUTTER!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this when we ate at The Lady & Sons restaurant for the first time. There are so many yummy looking recipes in this book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can you say Gooey Butter Cakes? Enough! I've made probably 1/2 of the desserts in this cookbook, and only one didn't turn out. (I can NEVER get jelly-rolls to work!)

[Samantha (Nicky's Mom) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her recipes, especially her desserts, are to die for! They're filled with butter, butter, and more butter. Don't forget, she's the Butter Queen!

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah, I know, you can't really read a cookbook... but... I'm trying to up my average, a little.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this cookbook! It has the best ever cream cheese cut out cookies!!!

[Jennifer Ware · Rating 3 out of 5]

mmmmmmmmmmmm.....butter..........!