Kentucky has creative cooks and plenty of sweet ingredients, which paved the way for some mouthwatering desserts over the centuries. There is a lot to be said for southern cooks, especially when it comes to the sweets department. I can remember standing in the kitchen as a child while my Momma made quite a few of these from scratch. Store-bought is good, but nothing beats homemade, as southern cooks put a little love in every bite. I can easily testify to the truth in that, as over the years I’ve had the pleasure of trying each one of these. Here are 10 mouthwatering Kentucky desserts you’ll want to try at least once:

1. Modeska

This is a chewy, gooey caramel candy with a sweet oozing marshmallow center. It was created in the 1880s by Anton Busath in Louisville and named to honor the 19th-century Shakespearian Polish actress, Helena Modjeska. Other candy shops have since taken to the recipe and made their own variations of it, but the original will always be the most amazing.

2. Rhubarb Pie

If you love cherry pie, Rhubarb will be a close second. Though it resembles deep-red celery with green leaves, it is actually very sweet when baked in a pie with some sugar. Some people mix cherries or strawberries with their rhubarb, but it is not necessary if done right. Those unfamiliar with Rhubarb would likely not be able to tell the difference between it and cherry in taste.

3. Chess Pie

This is a cross between a butter kuchen and a vanilla pie, but better. It has been described as a more vanilla version of pecan pie filling. It is simple to make, using only butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and milk. It is absolutely wonderful to eat, warm or chilled.

4. Fruit Cobbler

A lot of states have cobbler but many do not have the variety we do. You can have Blueberry, Blackberry, Cherry, Peach, Apple, Elderberry, Pear, Strawberry, and more. Cobbler is good warm or cold, but my personal favorite way is with a dollop of vanilla ice cream while it is still warm.

5. Banana Pudding

This is another one of those versatile desserts. My Momma always started hers with homemade vanilla pudding she made stove top with fresh sugar, vanilla, milk, and flour. She would layer vanilla wafers, chopped fresh bananas, and pudding until she reached the top of the glass dish. She finished it off with meringue, which she lightly browned in the oven. Mouthwatering is an understatement.

6. Fried Pies

There are several ways to make fried pies, and none of them are wrong. This has been a staple in Kentucky households long before I was born. The fried pie was made by making homemade biscuits, then rolling each biscuit flat. Next, we fill it with your fruit of choice, a little sugar, and then fry it in butter till lightly browned. An easy cheat is using canned biscuits instead of homemade. Some people fill them with apple butter and sliced apples, cherries, strawberries, peaches, or other berries.

7. Mint Julep Fudge

The easiest way to describe how this tastes is; creamy chocolate fudge with crème de menthe liquor, white chocolate, dark chocolate, and a shot or three of bourbon. It is the bourbon ball of fudge and is often found in Louisville sweet shops around Derby time.

8. Bourbon Balls

Bourbon balls are a Kentucky delicacy, and Rebecca Ruth Candy Factory makes the best in the Bluegrass! This confectioner is best-known for their Bourbon Balls, a Kentucky delicacy invented by Miss Ruth Booe herself in 1938. Today, folks come from far and wide to try this chocolatier's iconic treat: a truffle with a creamy bourbon center (with the kick of real bourbon!), covered in dark chocolate and topped with a Southern pecan.

9. Thoroughbred Pie

This is a different take on the famed Derby Pie. The differences are that it contains walnuts instead of pecans, and adds a healthy shot of Kentucky bourbon. The combination with chocolate and the caramel-type center melts in your mouth, other than the walnuts.

10. Derby Pie

Though Derby is in the name, this pie is not just for the Kentucky Derby, but can be served all year round. It is not a fruit-oriented dessert, but it does have pecans, chocolate, a caramel-type cream, and is wonderful warm, with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream on top. Some people call it Chocolate Pecan Pie, but it is usually served under the name Derby Pie. Whatever you choose to call it, the pie is an insanely delicious Kentucky favorite.

Each and every one of these unique Kentucky desserts hold a special place in my heart and my stomach. The memories of watching my elder relatives create these sweets, and then enjoying the finished products are unforgettable. I can still imagine the scents wafting through the air and the anticipation of getting a slice or a piece. These are just 10 of my personal favorites, but I know every Kentuckian has their own. What are your favorite Kentucky desserts?