In the Southern half of the east coast, there's a unique tradition that has always found its roots in the culinary background of some of the first established states. The tradition is baking, and it's something that has been part of dessert hour, friendly gatherings, picnics, and social events for centuries. Many pastry recipes have been handed down through the generations which is why they're so highly valued for both families and those who have the pleasure of indulging in one of these prized baked dishes.

Out of all the delicious sweets that come out of the south, cakes are among some of the most famed both for their flavor, authentic Southern ingredients, and charm. The culinary cuisine in the south is one with its own flair, complete with every aspect one would need to truly fall in love with the food scene just south of the Mason-Dixon. And out of all of those cakes, according to Southern Living, these are the ones that were once forgotten but are now coming back to steal the show.

Ocracoke Fig Jam Cake

Ocracoke is an underrated vacation destination and while not many people are familiar with its sandy shores, low-key, quiet atmosphere, and remote beauty, they should be familiar with this cake that comes from the same place.

Fig cakes are not overly common unless one is speaking of Ocracoke where figs grow in abundance and quite unlike many other places in the US. Figs are subtly sweet and have a flavor that's not overwhelming but provide enough sugar content to make for the perfect dessert. The cake itself is a spice cake and when fig jam is mixed into the batter, it creates a unique and balanced flavor that's quite unlike any other. A simple white glaze over the top of this cake is the perfect touch on what's already a moist, delicious, and light cake, perfect for hot summer days or a sweet treat in the off-season.

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Georgia Pecan Mist

Georgia is famous for its pecans and while that's not exactly a secret, this cake might as well be. It takes a bit of finesse to create the correct texture for this cake, which is actually flour-free. Instead, pulverized pecans take the place of what would normally be flour and the cake gets its leavening from whipped egg whites.

The beautiful thing about this cake is that while it does take some work to create such a masterpiece, it only has four ingredients: Eggs, powdered sugar, pecans, and salt. The eggs are separated and the whites are whipped into pillowy perfection while the yolks are whipped until they become smooth ribbons, all mixed together with lighter than air powdered sugar. For those who love pecan pie, this cake is a must-try simply because the flavor of the pecans is on full display in a way that doesn't allow any other pecan cake to even come close.

Brownstone Front Cake

There's some debate over where the name of this cake came from. The term brownstone would imply that it came from the apartments that line the streets of older cities such as Brooklyn, and since the cake is indeed brown, it makes sense that with so many layers, it would represent a small, old-world apartment building. Regardless of its namesake, this cake was one of the original staples of Southern cooking and was made for dinners and parties before fancier options came along.

It could almost be called the first version of a chocolate cake as it does contain chocolate, but similar in a way that a red velvet cake would. The actual cake itself is similar to a pound cake and cooked in separate cake pans before being cut in half to create a minimum of four layers, which are then filled with a simple frosting. The exterior of the cake is left wholly uncovered so that the layers are visible, making it just as pretty to look at as it is delicious to eat.

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Busy Day Cake

This cake is exactly as its name implies - a busy day cake! With such a simple recipe and ingredients that most everyone should have on hand, it could be easier to whip up in a flash. In fact, it only takes about ten minutes to do so.

This would have been an important staple recipe to have in the south as social gatherings often left little time to prepare if they were midday among all the other household chores, so a cake such as this could fit perfectly into a busy schedule. It also didn't take much effort on days when the temperatures were sweltering and baking in a hot kitchen was the last thing many people wanted to do.

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