To some people, dessert is a must-have after a meal, and to others, they might indulge in desserts every once in a while. The bottom line is that desserts are delicious, especially if you're from Louisiana. Here are my top eight desserts that I miss from home.

1. Apple pie with vanilla ice cream

My absolute favorite apple pie is the Granny Smith brand that is found in the frozen section. Whenever my Nana bakes an apple pie, she sprinkles sugar on top before she puts the pie in the oven. It is PERFECTION. Of course, eating apple pie isn't complete without a couple scoops of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream!

2. Beignets

I could literally eat these for days! For anyone who doesn't know what beignets are, they are square pieces of fried dough covered with powdered sugar. Whenever you eat them, make sure to wear a shirt that you don't mind getting dirty or have a lot of napkins close by since beignets can be very messy. A cup of coffee pairs well when eating beignets. Of course, the best place to get beignet is the original Cafe Du Monde located in the French Quarter of New Orleans!

3. Sno-Balls

Oh how much I miss eating these almost every week during the scorching summer! Sno-Balls are NOT snow cones or shaved ice, for they are called Sno-Balls for a reason. The ice is fine, soft as snow, and literally melts in your mouth when you take a bite. Sno-Ball flavors are endless, and you can also get toppings like gummy bears, condensed milk (my personal favorite), and whipped cream. There are also stuffed Sno-Balls that you can get as well. They are snowballs with soft-served ice cream in the middle. Some famous Sno-Balls stands in New Orleans are Hansen's, Plum St., Pandora's, and Sno-La. Sno-Ball stands are only open for a few months during the year, so be sure to get one while you can!

4. Caramel popcorn

I always crave the caramel popcorn that my Nana makes because she makes it herself. Her caramel popcorn is the perfect combination of sweet and salty, and my friends and family would definitely agree. Whenever I would tell them that Nana's making caramel popcorn, they would shout for joy and dance around the room. It's extremely hard to just take and eat two handfuls, so just enjoy eating it because it does go away fast!

5. Cheesecake

Cheesecake must have been sent from heaven. I'm boring with my cheesecake because I love just the plain cheesecake. It's so simple yet so delicious. If I go to Cheesecake Factory, I typically get the vanilla bean cheesecake, but as you can imagine, there are so many flavors to choose from!

6. Bread pudding

Whether you like it warm and cool, it's still scrumptious! Bread pudding is a New Orleans tradition. French bread is the main ingredient, so no, regular bread from the grocery store is unacceptable and simply will not do. Bread pudding is one of the few foods I will eat that has raisins in it. Of course, you don't have to add raisins if you don't want to. Don't forget the rum sauce on top!

7. Very Berry Chantilly Cake

This cake is berry perfection. It has blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. The best Chantilly cake I believe is at Whole Foods. Just about every party that I go to back home has Chantilly cake. What I love about this cake is that it has whipped cream icing, and it's not too sweet. If you're looking for a lighter, healthier, and delicious cake option, Chantilly cake is the best!

8. Pralines/ Pecan candy

This list wouldn't be complete without pralines! If you haven't figured it out yet, my Nana is an amazing baker. Her pralines are the absolute best, and by the way, she makes them from scratch. She only makes two flavors: vanilla and dark chocolate. Every dinner or get-together that she has, her famous pecan candy is always present. Her kitchen is always stocked with pecans, so she is always ready to make some pecan candy. One bite, and your life will be changed forever!