Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, these 37 fun things to bake at home are super easy to make and will have you cooking up some tasty treats for your family in no time.
Comfort Baking Cookies Bread Sourdough
Baking is a fun and delicious way to spend time with friends and family.
There are so many different things that you can bake, from cakes and cookies to pies and bread. There’s always something new to learn when it comes to baking.
And this list of comforting things to bake is curated with delicious recipes in mind that are easy to make and that’s sure to keep your whole fam happy.
And since you’ll likely be taking these treats with you on the go, we’ve made sure that they’re all easy to transfer. Whether you make a big batch of blondies and sell slices individually or package up your favorite cookie recipes in cellophane for a grab-and-go treat, these ideas are perfect for any situation. With this collection of bake sale recipes, you’ll find crowd-pleasing favorites like cowboy cookies and peanut butter blossoms, plus plenty of fall treats that are perfect for the start of the school year. Try the apple pie bars, the Halloween cheesecake bars, or the pumpkin spice muffins—and any leftovers can double as an after-school snack! No matter which bake sale recipe you choose, these goodies are sure to become instant bestsellers.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Even realtors know that there’s nothing that makes a house feel like a home as much as the smell of freshly baked goods. That’s why they always use cookie-scented candles or pop a pie in the oven right before showing a new listing. A plate of fancy and delicious stuffed cookies sitting on the counter is oh-so inviting, and who can resist an artsy watercolor cake? But just like we sometimes can’t resist classic comfort foods like mashed potatoes or mac and cheese, nothing hits the spot like old-fashioned baked goods made from scratch. Learn how to make these 17 bakery favorites, and even your walk-up studio apartment will feel like the cozy home of your dreams.
Sourdough Bread
Everyone loves a good sourdough, and it’s one of the most popular breads for making at home. This beginner-friendly recipe is perfect for anyone who wants to give homemade breadmaking a try. (Brit + Co)
Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
Nothing tastes or smells as good as a freshly baking batch of chocolate chip cookies. Master the recipe for yourself, and you’ll never suffer through mediocre grocery store cookies again. (viaPinch of Yum).
Chocolate Cake
We dare you to find someone who wouldn’t have a difficult time resisting this chocolate cake. It looks fancy, but it’s a go-to for any baker who loves chocolate and wants to impress a crowd. Did we mention it’s made with red wine and pears for an uber-romantic vibe? (via Brit + Co)
One Bowl Chewy Brownies
Clear your cupboards of those old boxed mixes, because it’s all about brownies made from scratch. This one-bowl recipe makes it easy to churn out batch after batch of chewy, chocolaty brownies. (via Nourish and Fete)
Blueberry Muffins
Save money at the coffee shop by learning how to make blueberry muffins at home. Top them with a tangy and sweet yogurt glaze and they’ll taste like the work of a pro. (viaSue Bee Homemaker)
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Perfect for when you have guests in town, this easy cinnamon coffee cake can be snacked on all day. Set it out at breakfast, but don’t be surprised if you end up eating some with your afternoon tea and as a midnight snack too. (via Sugar Spun Run)
Lemon Bars
Tangy lemon curd nestled on a buttery shortbread crust will brighten up any dessert table. The blend of sweet and tart flavors and creamy and crispy textures makes it hard to stop snacking. (via I Knead to Eat)
Banana Bread
Banana bread is a good recipe to have up your sleeve. Not only does it make for an easy but impressive addition to brunch; it’s also the best way to use up any bananas that are past their prime. (via Saving Room for Dessert)
Maple Pecan Sticky Buns
Sweet enough to be dessert but full of breakfast flavors, sticky buns transform even the dullest mornings into a celebration. And once you taste them made from scratch (no canned dough here, people), there’ll be no turning back. (via Sally’s Baking Addiction)
Classic Yellow Funfetti Cake
Homemade baked goods don’t have to be a serious culinary affair. This colorful funfetti cake will bring back childhood memories, and remind you that eating the cake is just as fun as making it. (via Neurotic Baker)
Parker House Rolls
Make your meals better by serving them with a side of fluffy homemade rolls. Parker House Rolls have buttered tops that are sprinkled with salt, contrasting with their slightly sweet insides. (via Chef de Home)
Butterscotch Blondies With Walnuts
After you learn to make brownies, you’ve got to get a handle on their chocolate-free counterpart. Sweet like toffee, chewy butterscotch blondies are best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. (via Munaty Cooking)
Snickerdoodles
Snickerdoodles are one step above a plain sugar cookie. A sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar somehow renders them even more irresistible than the classic frosted lofthouse cookie. (viaVeronika’s Kitchen)
Homemade Soft Pretzels
Soft pretzels are the bomb, but when you get them at ballgames or carnivals, they’re often dried out and stale. Not so when you make them at home — every bite is moist, soft, and chewy, and best served with plenty of mustard. (via Chef de Home)
From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Looking for easy baking recipes that even beginners can master? From cookies to cakes to chocolatey brownies, these tasty treats will inspire you to get cooking!
If you’re like me, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as freshly baked cookies right out of the oven. Ooey, gooey, and cooked to perfection.
Want to save this recipe? Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox!
Baking is a fantastic way to have some fun in the kitchen or spend quality time with your kids.
So I’ve rounded up some of my favorite baking recipes below. Looking for melt-in-your-mouth cookies? We’ve got it!
Sinfully good chocolate cake? Of course. Chocolate chip muffins to die for? You got it.
These baking recipes are fun to make and even more satisfying to eat.
So preheat your oven and get ready to whip up something delicious!
Easy Baking Recipes & Homemade Treats
Do you love peanut butter? If so, you’ve just found the perfect recipe.
These sweet and chewy bars are packed with creamy peanut butter, peanut butter chips, and quick oats.
But it get’s better! There’s also layer of peanut butter fudge swirled in the center. Mind-blown.
Perfect for family get-togethers, holidays, and potlucks.
Paula Deen’s Peach Cobbler
Queen Paula knows her southern comfort food better than anyone.
I particularly love this recipe because it’s just so easy.
Juicy, fresh peaches baked under a bubbly, golden crust – what could be better?
Serve with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for the perfect summer treat.
Easy Focaccia Bread
Focaccia is one of those breads that I just can’t get enough of.
I like to top mine with good olive oil, red onions, and a little cheese for a simple and tasty side.
But I’ve also been known to go all-out with sun-dried tomatoes, olives, chicken, and prosciutto.
Focaccia is the best beginner bread because there’s no real shaping involved.
After a fast mix with a spoon, it needs a couple of rest periods before being pressed into a baking tray.
Don’t be shy with the oil and always sprinkle with good quality sea salt.
Chocolate Brownies
When it comes to baking recipes, brownies are at the top of my list!
With just 7 ingredients, it’s the perfect recipe to make with kids.
Just throw all the ingredients into a bowl, blend until smooth, then bake and enjoy!
Deliciously Moist Banana Bread
Banana bread is one of those classic comfort foods that everyone seems to love. And for good reason – it’s moist, fluffy, and packed with flavor.
It’s perfect for breakfast, snack time, or even dessert!
Spread some butter on top, pour a cup of coffee, and you’ll have the perfect weekend treat.
Apple Pandowdy
This cobbler-like apple dessert comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch and has a few variations.
Some recipes will have a layer of spiced apples under a puff pastry layer or torn pastry pieces.
This recipe uses a pastry dough that gets dolloped over the fruit for a biscuit-pastry hybrid.
If you like the flavor of pastry but hate to roll it out, this is for you!
Cranberry Pudding Cake with Warm Butter Sauce
This moist, tart cake is loaded with cranberries and orange zest.
It makes for a wonderfully festive cake that is a little lighter than all those cinnamon treats we’ve been devouring.
But the star has to be the sauce!
Served warm, this buttery, creamy sauce would honestly make any cake pop, and you’ll probably want to make double.
Cheddar Cheese Scones
I’ve talked about my love of scones before, though it’s usually when they’re covered in strawberry jam and clotted cream.
These cheddar scones are an amazing alternative, and when served warm with plenty of butter, they make an incredible breakfast option.
Be sure to use mature cheddar for these, so you get a really cheesy flavor boost.
Or maybe a combination of cheeses, such as Gruyere and parmesan?
Louisiana Crunch Cake
If you’ve made a bundt cake before, you know they are easy to overbake.
This recipe uses sour cream and buttermilk to keep it moist. And the key is to not over-mix the batter.
Before you add the batter to the tin, this cake gets a sugary coconut top that will caramelize and toast up during the bake.
When you turn the cake out, the crunchy top is all you need, though the glaze is pretty delicious!
Pistachio Oat Squares
I know they can be a little expensive, but I’m a sucker for that green color!
Roasted, salted, with sweet chili, or just plain, I have a weakness for pistachios.
This recipe makes such a fantastic granola bar, combining pistachios with oats and coconut.
The simple recipe is perfect as is, but you could always throw in some extra dried fruits to bulk it out if you want.
Blueberry Buckle
This blueberry lemon coffee cake is a winner any time of the day.
The cake comes together much like any other, with lemon zest and blueberries folded through the batter.
I like to add extra blueberries to the top, which will sink into the cake during the bake.
The streusel top is the best part, though, and makes it totally acceptable for breakfast.
Kitchen Sink Cookies
I’m a firm believer that chocolate chip cookies are basically perfect, but my mind was blown the first time I tried these cookies.
Thick, chewy, and loaded with chocolate, pretzels, and toffee bits, they are the perfect salty-sweet treat.
I especially love the combination of semi-sweet and milk chocolate, though I wonder how amazing they would be with white chocolate!
Crescent Rolls (Amish Butterhorn Rolls)
But since we’ve all been stuck at home trying new things, why not give these homemade crescent rolls a go?
You can make them up the night before and keep in the fridge until morning, or spend a couple of hours before dinner.
Either way, you’ll feel such accomplishment and might not want to turn to the tube again.
Portillo’s Chocolate Cake Recipe
There are plenty of decadent and fancy desserts out there.
But is there really anything better than chocolate cake?
This insanely easy cake uses a boxed mix and just a handful of ingredients, and it will give you perfection every time.
Nutella Filled Hand Pies Recipe
My only issue with hand pies is having to let them cool down enough to bite into!
With store-bought pie crust, you can have a batch of these babies ready to go in under 30 minutes.
The trick to keeping these from becoming a mess is to freeze them for around 20 minutes before baking.
It will stop the Nutella from melting too quickly and let the pastry turn golden.
Spaghetti Pie
From the first time I saw this spaghetti pie, I knew I had to try it.
It’s whimsical, unnecessary, and absolutely worth your time.
Cutting into it and pulling a perfect slice with a big pull of melted cheese will bring a smile to your face every time!
I love the marinara and beef filling, but you could use any pasta sauce you prefer.
I’ve even used chicken carbonara and topped it with bread crumbs and extra cheese.
Best Ever One Bowl Chocolate Cake
Looking for baking recipes that you can prep in 10 minutes or less? This simple recipe is sure to impress.
As far as homemade chocolate cakes go, this one is at the top of the list.
Serve with a scoop of ice cream for a truly decadent treat.
The BEST Easy Seven Layer Cookie Bars Recipe
There’s a reason they call these Magic Bars!
Using just seven ingredients, you’ll be making a cookie bar that is chewy, sticky, sweet, and incredibly moreish.
The best part? It takes just five minutes to have everything ready to bake!
Bisquick Peanut Butter Cookies
If there’s one thing we all have in the pantry, it’s a jar of peanut butter.
But sometimes, you’re low on sugar, eggs, or flour just as the mood to bake cookies strikes.
These cookies are soft, moist, super flavorful, and made with just peanut butter, Bisquick, condensed milk, and vanilla.
If you have chocolate to add in, go for it. But they’re pretty amazing on their own.
Strawberry Cobbler Recipe
Strawberry cobbler is often overshadowed by peach or apple, but you should really give it a fair shot.
Not only is it beautifully vibrant, but the sweet juicy strawberries also make the perfect base for the cobbler topping.
Not only that, they work well with everything from blueberries to rhubarb.
The Easiest Lasagna Recipe Ever
I can’t be the only one that craves mom’s lasagna?
Somehow mine never tastes quite the same, so I had to find something just as good that is nice and easy.
No time to make a marinara sauce? Grab a jar!
Don’t want to cook the pasta sheets? There’s no need!
You can even use pre-shredded cheese.
Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake (Copycat Recipe)
In the same way that coffee can enhance chocolate, the deep caramel notes of Coca-Cola can do the same thing.
Found in both the batter and the frosting, your guests won’t be able to put their finger on what’s so great about this cake, but they’ll know it’s something special.
Warming the cocoa with the cola activates the rich flavors just right and creates a moist, fudgy chocolate cake that you’ll want to make at least once a month.
Broccoli & Cheese Hand Pies
Known as ‘pasties’ in the UK, hand pies can be filled with anything you like.
The Brits are known for their Cornish pasties, but you can often find chicken, beef, and lamb in most bakeries throughout the country.
Be sure to soften your vegetables so that once baked. You’ll get just the right texture in every bite.
Easy Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal cookies get such a bad rap, and I think it has a lot to do with their regular filling.
Listen, I love dried fruit and raisins as much as the next gal, and I will throw in all kinds of fruits and citrus to my cakes.
But cookies are an indulgence. Cookies need chocolate!
These are perfectly chewy like you want from chocolate chip cookies. But they also have a great texture from the oats that is something special.
Sprinkle with a little sea salt, and you’ll have a batch of great cookies in just 10 minutes.
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
A match made in heaven, the only nuts I like even more with white chocolate are pistachios.
I like to use way more brown sugar than white for these babies to give a caramel flavor and ultra-chewy cookie.
When buying white chocolate, be sure to get cook quality chocolate, as cheaper white chocolate will often burn and split when heated.
Frosted Cranberry Cookies
We’re all drawn to colors, and these cookies are beautiful.
As much as I love simple sugar cookies, I can’t get enough of these vibrant cookies topped with sugared cranberries.
With cranberry in the dough, too, they are not overly sweet, though the glaze makes up for it!
I like to chop my cranberries small and coat them with sugar to make them look like crystal sprinkles.
To Die For Blueberry Muffins
Looking for the best blueberry muffins? Save this recipe and thank me later.
These muffins are crazy delicious! They’re soft, fluffy, and bursting with fresh blueberries.
But my favorite part is the sugar-cinnamon streusel crumble.
That buttery, crumbly topping makes for a decadent treat.
Chocolate Chip Muffins
Nothing beats a warm chocolate chip muffin right out of the oven. Ooey, gooey and simply irresistible.
They’re soft, fluffy and packed with chocolatey goodness. Plus, they’re super easy to make – no fancy baking skills required!
Tastykake Tandy Cake (Copycat)
This classic Tastykake is the stuff of dreams.
It is simple and delicious with a light and buttery yellow cake topped with a thick layer of peanut butter and chocolate.
Let each layer chill entirely before adding the next, and don’t be afraid to over-do it with the peanut butter. How much is too much, anyway?
Pecan Pie Bars
Pecan pie will always be a favorite. A buttery pastry with an indulgently sweet and sticky filling? I’ll just take a fork and the dish, please!
These bars are everything you love about pecan pie, turned into an easy to pick up treat that travels well.
If serving at home, why not go all-out and drizzle with some bourbon salted caramel?
Popeye’s Biscuits Copycat Recipe
I think we’re all craving familiar favorites after the year we’ve had, and sometimes all you can do is make them yourself!
And people LOVE Popeye’s Biscuits.
Be sure to use cold butter in the dough and don’t skip the folds. It’s how they get those glorious flakes.
Savoury Cheese Muffins
If you thought the cheese scones sounded good, wait until you try these!
The garlic and cheese butter is out of this world and coats each muffin in a golden crust that is jam-packed with flavor.
Try not to over-mix the batter and don’t be shy with the butter before baking.
Though they’re amazing as is, you can also add to them with jalapeno and bacon. Mmm!
Chocolate-dipped biscotti
These chocolate-dipped biscotti are a great choice if you want fun things to bake with to bake your kids.
They are easy to make with just 15 minutes of prep time required and minimal kitchen equipment.
The biscotti are dipped in melted chocolate and then sprinkled with chopped pistachios. Perfect served with tea and coffee.
Edible Cookie Dough
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: gluten free, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
On the worst of days, there’s no cure quite like raw cookie dough. Do yourself a favor and indulge safely in this egg- and wheat-free take instead of the store-bought kind.
Cookies-and-Cream Shortbread Cookies
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead
Think of them as classy homemade Oreos. Your kids will love finding one in their lunchboxes.
Classic Banana Bread
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, kid-friendly
Just in case quarantine hasn’t turned you into a total pro yet, this banana bread is impeccably moist and pretty darn foolproof.
Related Comfort Food Recipes
Try one of these delicious comfort food recipes including my thumbprint cookies recipe ready in 30 minute!
Subscribe Now
Never miss a recipe!
Try one of my comfort recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I’m here to help!
Spiced Palmiers
- Time Commitment: 4 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
On the hunt for a weekend baking project? Look no further than this impressive pick, starring homemade puff pastry.
Apple Pie Bars
Serving pie at a bake sale isn’t always easy (and it requires plates). But with these apple pie bars, you can grab a slice without the fuss.
Get the Apple Pie Bars recipe.
Cinnamon Sheet Cake with Cider Frosting
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
The key to this fall-inspired cake is boiling apple cider until it reduces into a highly concentrated, flavorful syrup. One bite, and it’ll become your new favorite lazy Sunday baking project in the fall.
Ginger Sandwich Cookies
These sandwiched ginger snaps are a delicious and easy dessert to make at home with your kids.
They’re made with a soft and chewy ginger snap cookie, filled with a tart lemon cream cheese filling and topped with a dusting of powdered sugar.
They make a great snack or dessert, and they’re sure to be a hit with the whole family.
Blackberry-Raspberry Skillet Cobbler
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Way less work than crimping and blind-baking a homemade pie crust, but every bit as satisfying. It’s a great way to use your farmers market berry haul come summer.
Salted dark chocolate truffle cake
This salted dark chocolate truffle cake is an ultra-decadent dessert perfect for a special occasion.
It’s made with buttery chocolate and almond graham cracker crust, topped with a thick layer of chocolate ganache and finished with a sprinkling of flaked sea salt.
This cake is rich and delicious and will satisfy even the most die-hard chocolate lover.
Vegan and Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Ginger Tart
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes (plus chilling time)
- Why We Love It: gluten free, dairy free, vegan, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
We fell hard for both the gingersnap crust and the candied ginger-pistachio topping, but they merely gild the chocolate lily.
Brookies
Don’t make your customers decide between brownies and cookies (that’s just cruel!). Instead, make this popular mash-up that combines the best of both worlds.
Get the Brookies recipe.
Chocolate-covered cherry cookies
These chocolate-covered cherry cookies are a delicious and easy dessert.
They’re made with a soft, chewy sugar cookie dough, filled with maraschino cherries and topped with a rich chocolate ganache.
They’re fun to bake with the kids, and they make a great gift for the holidays.
Rosé Poached Pears with Ginger and Vanilla
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, gluten free, no-bake, special occasion-worthy
Table this pear-y chic idea (sorry) for your next fancy dinner. All it takes is simmering the fruit in spiced wine until tender.
Caramel Coconut Macaroons
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
A simple caramel sauce sweetens the cookies and gives them a killer burnt sugar flavor. Feel free to dip them in dark chocolate or top them with flaky salt.
Turtle cheesecake
Baked turtle cheesecake is a delicious and decadent dessert that is perfect for any occasion.
The crunchy sweet crust with pecans and the caramel-flavored cheesecake batter combined with the silky chocolate sauce on top is mouth-wateringly good.
It’s fun to make and sure to please anyone with a sweet tooth!
Giant Brown Sugar Snickerdoodles
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, kid-friendly, make ahead
They’re soft and chewy like the O.G., but also rolled in sugar before baking for crunchy, caramelized bottoms.
Triple Cookie Skillet Pie
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, one pan, beginner-friendly
Something tells us your kids won’t want birthday cake for their next party once they catch wind of this triple threat.
Lemon raspberry pound cake muffins
These lemon raspberry pound cake muffins are a delicious and easy way to enjoy a classic flavor combination.
They’re made with a moist and fluffy pound cake base, filled with raspberry jam, and topped with a tart lemon glaze.
They’re perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a snack and are ready in 45 minutes!
Easy Peanut Butter Fudge
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes (plus chilling time)
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, no-bake, gluten free
The best impromptu baking recipes are those that require no baking at all. We’re looking at you, cheater’s fudge.
Pumpkin muffins with cream cheese
If you want to try a new muffin recipe, try these pumpkin muffins with a delicious cream cheese topping!
The muffins are perfectly moist and flavorful, and the topping is rich and creamy.
They are made with a simple muffin batter, a crunchy streusel topping, and a cream cheese coating. Pumpkin muffins are the perfect fall treat.
Mississippi mud cake
This Mississippi mud cake is a classic recipe perfect for any chocolate lover.
The brownie base is dense and fudgy, making it all the more indulgent, and then it’s topped with marshmallows, semi-sweet chocolate chips, walnuts, and chocolate drizzle.
You’ll be in chocolate heaven with this cake!
Grapefruit Meringue Stacks
- Time Commitment: 3 hours
- Why We Love It: gluten free, special occasion-worthy
Sweet, airy meringues layered with tart, five-ingredient grapefruit curd? Don’t mind if we do.
Rich brownies with rocky road topping
One of my favorite desserts is brownies, but they have to be gooey and rich in chocolate, and these rich brownies with a rocky road topping are truly unique.
They’re made with a dense and fudgy brownie base, topped with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and walnuts.
Some people say they are the best brownies in the world! And I wouldn’t argue with that statement!
Cranberry orange zucchini bread
Using zucchini in bread helps keep it moist and soft during baking, and the flavor combinations are endless, like this fruity cranberry and orange zucchini bread.
This bread combines two of my favorite flavors, cranberry, and orange. The orange juice and zest give the bread a lovely citrus flavor that goes so well with the sweet cranberries. The bread is also studded with chopped walnuts for some texture and crunch.
This bread is perfect for breakfast, snack time, or even dessert. It’s moist, flavorful, and packed with nutrients.
Almond joy brownies
These almond joy brownies are similar to the other fudge brownies on our list but with tropical coconut and crunchy almond topping to with the chocolate goodness.
The brownie base is still dense and fudgy, but the addition of shredded coconut, chopped almonds, and chocolate chips make these brownies even more delicious.
You could make these brownies and the others on the list to give guests a variety of brownies to choose from!
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Who can resist the classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter? Roll the dough in sanding sugar (using your school colors) for even more school spirit.
Get the Peanut Butter Blossoms recipe.
Lemon Pie with Blueberry Meringue
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Apple Tart with Soft-Pretzel Crust
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
If you’re a sucker for all things sweet and salty, add this stunner to your to-bake list, stat.
Whether you’re selling entire loaves or just individual slices, you can’t go wrong with this healthy-ish recipe. It’s a great way to sneak some veggies onto the table of sweets.
Get the Zucchini Bread recipe.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
This recipe comes together in just 20 minutes. Then, all you have to do is pop the bars in the fridge so they’re ready for your next bake sale. It couldn’t be easier!
Get the No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars recipe.
Applesauce Cake
From the tender apple-spiced cake to the maple brown butter frosting, there’s so much to love about this simple snack cake. You might even want to make an extra to round out your holiday desserts.
Get the Applesauce Cake recipe.
SHOP BAKING TOOLS
Baked beef empanadas
First on the list of fun things to bake is these beef empanadas are packed with flavor and easy to make. The filling is made with a delicious ground beef mixture of boiled eggs, onion, garlic, and jalapeno pepper.
The filling is placed in the middle of each circle, and the dough is then sealed and crimped. The empanadas are then brushed with egg yolk and baked until golden brown.
These beef empanadas are the perfect party food. They’re flavorful, easy to eat, and can be made ahead of time. If you’re looking for a new recipe to try, this is it!
Graduation Brownie Bites
These chocolate-glazed brownie bites are so good, it’ll be hard to eat just one. If your bake sale is happening later in the school year, turn the brownies into graduation hats using chocolate squares and sour candy belts.
Get Ree’s Graduation Brownie Bites recipe.
Ruby Red Grapefruit Panna Cotta
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, no-bake, gluten free
You only need six ingredients and a couple hours to pull off this sophisticated Italian treat. We feel a dinner party coming on.
Chrissy Teigen’s 3-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
Crowned with salted crisped rice-hazelnut crackle for good measure (and whipped cream, of course).
Homemade Milano Cookies
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead
Neapolitan Pie
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
This tri-flavored custard pie, layered with chocolate, vanilla and strawberry fillings, is peak nostalgia.
Salted caramel Samoa bars
These gluten-free salted caramel Samoa bars are guaranteed to be a huge hit with your family and friends.
The chewy cookie base with coconut and the salted caramel sauce is pure heaven in every bite.
You’ll want to make a double batch of these because they will go so fast!
Pumpkin cheesecake
This is a classic pumpkin cheesecake recipe with a graham crackers crust and a creamy pumpkin filling.
It’s easy to make and can be made ahead of time, so it’s perfect for entertaining. It’s also a great way to use up any leftover pumpkin puree you might have from making pumpkin pies.
The combination of pumpkin pie and cheesecake together in one dessert that everyone can enjoy.
Strawberry Pie with Strawberry Crust
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Food coloring? You can do better than that. Pulse freeze-dried strawberries and sugar in the food processor instead to turn the crust pink.
No-Bake Sugar Cookie Truffles
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, no bake
Otherwise known as the tastiest way to repurpose leftover sugar cookies. (The secret is cream cheese, BTW.)
Cardamom Crème Brûlée
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients, gluen free
Be sure to steep whole cardamom pods—not ground cardamom—in the cream to give the custard its warm, soothing flavor.
Mini Key Lime Pies
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes (plus chilling time)
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
What’s sweet, sour, silky and crunchy in every bite? These lime-kissed cuties, which come together in mess-free muffin tins.
Dense and chewy oatmeal fudge bars
They’re chewy, nutty, chocolaty, and so good that you’ll need to make a double batch of these oatmeal fudge bars!
One is never enough! The buttery chewy base with Bisquick and oats sets these fudge bars apart from all the other recipes, and the smooth chocolatey, nutty center is extremely indulgent.
Be careful though, because they are moreish and calorific at the same time.
Peanut butter chocolate pie
And this dessert right here is my number 1 foolproof peanut butter chocolate pie recipe to make that tastes and looks amazing every time.
This pie has a store-bought pie crust, a rich and creamy peanut butter filling, and is decorated with chocolate ganache and creamy peanut butter.
It’s easy to make and can be made ahead of time.
Giant Cinnamon Roll
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
Less is more—unless we’re talking about breakfast pastries. (And two-ingredient vanilla icing.)
These rich, nutty, caramel-y bars are a classic bake sale treat. They’re easy to make ahead and they’re a hit with anyone who has a sweet tooth.
Get the Blondies recipe.
Puff Pastry Plum and Thyme Galette
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
It’s as easy as crinkling store-bought dough into a skillet, plopping in fresh plums and letting your oven do the rest.
Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
You’ll have two dozen of ’em ready to eat in less time than it takes to watch an episode of Love Is Blind.
10-Minute Caramel Apple Baked Brie
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, gluten free
Keep this Brie recipe in your back pocket for the next time your in-laws make an unexpected visit—it’s just fancy-looking enough.
No-Knead Cinnamon-Swirl Bread
- Time Commitment: 3 hours and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
And just like that, we’re craving buttered toast. This peasant bread recipe is mind-blowingly easy to pull off (and it’s hiding a generous layer of cinnamon sugar).
Cherry pie chimichangas
These cherry pie chimichangas are the perfect blend of sweet and tart.
The filling is made with cherry filling, sugar, and cream cheese, then it’s all wrapped up in a flour tortilla and fried to perfection.
You can use apple pie filling to make apple pie chimichangas if you wanted or a even with a crushed pineapple filling. Whichever flavor you choose, you won’t be disappointed with this Chimichangas recipe.
Traditional Yorkshire pudding
These Yorkshire puddings are perfect if you have a weekend baking project and need a few ideas on fun things to bake that are beginner-friendly.
Yorkshire puddings are used in meat dishes with vegetables and gravy. The idea is to make a big one and fill it with the mean veg or make small ones.
They are easy to make with equal quantities of white/wheat flour, egg, and milk. They’re light and airy with a lovely chewy dough, perfect for a Sunday roast dinner.
Botanical Shortbread Cookies
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Violets, pansies, lavender, roses—the garden is your oyster. (P.S.: You can find dried edible flowers at Gourmet Sweet Botanicals.)
Oreo Truffles
Here’s a fun bake sale idea: Top these no-bake truffles with pretty sprinkles or nonpareils, then wrap a few of them up in cellophane bags with ribbon for an impressive presentation.
Get Ree’s Oreo Truffles recipe.
Skillet Peach Cobbler
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, one pan
Make this for every summer barbecue you ever throw and boom: You’re the hostess with the mostest.
Oreo-Stuffed Brownies
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Because no baker (or eater) should ever have to choose between cookies and brownies.
Easy one-dish Blueberry cake
This easy one-dish Blueberry cake is perfect for those who want a quick and easy dessert.
The cake is made with a buttery cake base and fresh blueberries. It’s so simple to make and only requires one cast-iron skillet to combine the batter and bake it.
The cake is best served warm with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.
Coconut Cookies
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, <10 ingredients
They taste like a blissful combo of sugar cookies and coconut macaroons, and we’re here for it.
Sugar cookies
I absolutely love making homemade sugar cookies because it is a great baking activity to get your kids involved and entertained.
These fun sugar cookies are sure to be a hit with the whole family and satisfy your sweet tooth.
Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Mug
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
In case you simply can’t be trusted around a whole fresh batch, this quick confection will hit the spot without tempting you for days.
Fudge dark chocolate brownies
Delicious recipes don’t get much better than fudge brownies, and these fudge dark chocolate brownies are ultra-rich and decadent!
They’re made with a combination of bittersweet chocolate, espresso powder, and cocoa powder, and they’re absolutely delicious.
These brownies are not for the faint of heart, but if you’re looking for a truly indulgent dessert, these are the brownies for you.
Lemon raspberry sour cream pound cake
This lemon raspberry sour cream pound cake is a delicious and easy dessert.
It’s made with a Cake Mix, sour cream, eggs, raspberry jam, and lemon juice. It’s then topped with a raspberry sauce and a lemon glaze.
This cake is moist and flavorful, and the raspberry and lemon combination is delicious. It’s the perfect dessert for any occasion.
Cranberry Apple Danish
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Warning: Your brunch guests will think you scored these at a posh local café. Let the compliments roll in.
Chocolate chip peanut butter cookies
These chocolate chip peanut butter cookies are classic cookie that is perfect for those who love peanut butter and chocolate.
The cookies are made with, brown sugar, peanut butter, and chocolate chip dough that is then rolled into balls and baked until golden brown.
The result is a chewy and delicious nutty flavor cookie that is perfect for any occasion.
Easy Chocolate Marshmallow Cups
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, kid-friendly
These have Valentine’s Day goody bags written all over them, but they’d also make a great hostess gift for any occasion.
Cowboy Cookies
These Texas-sized cookies are loaded with tasty mix-ins, like chocolate chips, coconut flakes, chopped pecans, and rolled oats. If you like a salty-sweet treat, try topping them with flaky sea salt.
Get the Cowboy Cookies recipe.
Halloween Cheesecake Bars
With an Oreo cookie crust and a pumpkin cheesecake filling, these bars are the ultimate fall treat. You can make them with or without the fun sprinkles and Halloween candy depending on the time of year.
Get the Halloween Cheesecake Bars recipe.
Dessert Nachos
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Trade baking for frying and you’ve got cinnamon-sugar tortilla chips with a slew of sweet fixings.
Mini Mason Jar Apple Pies
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
Not only are tiny desserts more fun to eat, but they’re also more fun to bake. Your guests will gush over these mini treats.
Fig Tarte Tatin
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Store-bought puff pastry meets sticky-sweet, caramelized produce. Bookmark this now to wow the relatives at Christmas dinner.
Cardamom Cream-Filled Bundt Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
This dessert is inspired by light-as-clouds semlor, a yeasted Swedish cake. Cardamom makes the cake delightfully fragrant.
Cream cheese banana bread
This cream cheese banana bread is a delicious twist on classic banana bread.
It’s packed with walnuts to give it a crunchy texture, and the creamy cheese makes it fluffy and moist.
It’s perfect for breakfast or a snack, and great for freezing and eating later.
Broiler S’mores
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
Craving this summer staple in the off-season? Trade the bonfire for your oven’s broiler and a cast iron skillet.
Texas roadhouse rolls
This Texas roadhouse rolls copycat recipe is absolutely fantastic!
The milk, honey, and butter used to make these copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls are what makes them so soft, light, and a little sweet.
These rolls goes with just about any classic American meal, whether it is hand-cut beef steaks, barbecue pork ribs, a burger bun with cinnamon honey butter, or deep-fried chicken.
Brown Sugar-Pear Puff Pastries
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
They’re destined to be the finale of your Thanksgiving feast. Can you believe they start with store-bought dough?
Blueberry buttermilk banana bread
We have quite a few banana and zucchini bread recipes on this list simply because they are easy to make for any home chef.
And they’re great for mixing different ingredients like nuts, dried fruits, chocolate, and fresh fruits like this recipe with blueberries.
It’s soo good and filled with juicy sweet blueberries. It’s in my top 3 banana bread recipes of all time.
Cinnamon rolls
Fun things to bake like cinnamon rolls are a classic breakfast treat served with a coffee!
They’re made with fluffy cinnamon-sugar dough and topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting.
These cinnamon rolls are easy to make and taste even better than they look.
Ginger Cherry Pie
- Time Commitment: 3 hours and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
We hope you like things a lil’ spicy, because this pie calls for fresh, ground *and* crystallized ginger.
Peanut Butter Bread
This peanut butter bread is the perfect afternoon snacks or even breakfast. They’re light and packed with the peanut buttery flavor.
This bread pairs phenomenal with any jam and a glass of milk.
Best part? It only takes 50 minutes to make from start to finish. Yum!
Starbucks pumpkin bread
This Starbucks pumpkin bread is a clone of the popular coffee shop’s fall favorite.
It’s just as delicious as the one we’re accustomed to eating with a spiced latte, and it’s easier than you think to make it too, with pantry staples and some pumpkin puree.
It has a lovely sweet pumpkin flavor, and it’s the perfect cake to treat your friends with on your next coffee cate.
Sticky Toffee Honeycomb Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
Sticky toffee pudding, a holiday date spongecake from Britain, was long overdue for an upgrade. This one boasts thick honey-butter caramel.
Frozen Chocolate Soufflé
- Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, no-bake, gluten free
If you’ve been devastated by deflated soufflé before, fret not. This one comes together in the freezer instead of the oven.
No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
These chewy, chocolate-y oatmeal cookies are loaded with peanut butter and chocolate hazelnut spread. If you’re not a fan of coconut flakes, simply swap them out for any chopped nuts.
Get the No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies recipe.
Oatmeal cream pie
These oatmeal cream pies has an amazing texture, the molasses, cinnamon, and vanilla extract give them a delicious flavor and they pair perfectly with a glass of milk.
These cookies are sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike!
If you’re looking for easy and fun things to bake for a party these oatmeal cream pies are a perfect choice.
Gluten-Free Apple Rose Tart
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: gluten free, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
Well, well, well. Aren’t you ambitious? (JK, the apple roses are easier to assemble than you’d think.)
Glazed Doughnut Cookies
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly, make ahead
C’mon, how ridiculously adorable are these Homer Simpson doughnut doppelgangers? They’re basically edible emojis.
Homemade Toaster Pastries
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
Pillsbury has nothing on these beauties. Consider them your picky kids’ new favorite breakfast.
Pumpkin Spice Muffins
The cream cheese frosting on these fall muffins is completely optional, but it also happens to be a very good idea. Either way—they’re delicious!
Get the Pumpkin Spice Muffins recipe.
Berry Galette
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Do fresh summer berries some justice by showing them off atop store-bought pie crust. Bonus points for topping it with vanilla ice cream.
Lemon Meringue Cookies
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Rubbing lemon zest into the sugar helps release more of its natural citrus flavor into the cookies.
Carrot cake
Last on the list of things to bake is this festive carrot cake is moist, flavorful, and topped with a rich and creamy cream frosting.
The cake is made with a mixture of fresh carrots, raisins, and warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to pair with the shredded carrot and orange zest.
It’s one of the best cakes on this list and definitely carries a punch in flavor and light texture.
Tomato soup cake
This cake is made with a can of tomato soup and is surprisingly moist and flavorful.
The cake is super light and fluffy from the baking soda and flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. It’s also studded with raisins for a bit of sweetness.
The cake is then iced with a delicious buttercream frosting made with brown sugar, condensed milk, and vanilla extract. It’s perfect for a summer picnic or potluck. It’s easy to make and transport, and it’s sure to be a hit with everyone.
Chocolate Skillet Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
The secret ingredient in this ooey-gooey masterpiece? Freshly brewed coffee, for a bold kick. It enhances the rich cocoa flavor.
No-Bake, Gluten-Free Rose Petal Brownies
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: no-bake, gluten free, vegan, special occasion-worthy
A sprinkling of rose tea is a great substitute if you don’t have dried rose petals in the spice cabinet (or don’t feel like searching for them at the store).
Blueberry muffins with maple crumble
These blueberry muffins are made with a pancake mix and topped with a maple streusel crumble.
They’re easy to make and perfect for a fall breakfast or brunch.
The muffins are moist and fluffy, with a hint of cinnamon and plenty of blueberries in every bite. The maple crumble topping is sweet and crunchy, and it’s the perfect finishing touch to these delicious muffins.
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: gluten free, dairy free, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
These sweet-and-salty handhelds, made with sugar-free peanut butter, keep in the freezer for up to three months. (That means you can bake some whenever you get a craving.) Bonus: You probably have everything you need to make them already on hand.
Easy Cherry Skillet Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, one pan, crowd-pleaser
Your cast iron skillet basically guarantees crispy edges and a fluffy center, aka the perfect cake.
3-Ingredient Brigadeiro
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes (includes chilling)
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, gluten free, <10 ingredients
These Brazilian sweets are dangerously poppable, not to mention a breeze to make. Take your pick of classic chocolate and unexpected strawberry milk.
Tie-Dye Sugar Cookies
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
Believe it or not, the marbled design is such a breeze to pull off that even your kids can help decorate. Start with store-bought sugar cookie dough to save time.
OREO cheesecake
This OREO cheesecake is a clone of the popular Cheesecake Factory dessert. It’s rich and creamy, with a layer of OREO cookies on top and easy to make.
The Oreo moist crumb crust is crunchy, and the cheesecake filling is smooth and fluffy.
This dessert is perfect for a special occasion or a crowd, and it can be made ahead of time and frozen, so it’s perfect for entertaining.
Chocolate eclairs
If you ever wanted to make those delicious eclairs you always buy at the local patisserie, now is your chance with this homemade chocolate eclairs recipe.
They are made with a simple choux pastry that is filled with vanilla pastry cream and then dipped in a chocolate glaze.
They are light, fluffy, and so delicious! The perfect treat for any chocolate lover.
Microwave Double Chocolate Cake Bowl
Cassava flour, maple syrup and coconut whipped cream keep this 10-minute wonder Paleo-friendly.
Brownie Cupcakes
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead
Let your kids top them off with marshmallows right before they finish baking, so they can watch them melt in the oven.
Jack Daniels pumpkin pie with oat streusel
This Jack Daniels pumpkin pie is a delicious twist on the classic Thanksgiving dessert.
It’s made with a flaky pie crust, rich and creamy pumpkin filling, and topped with an oat streusel.
The pie is then finished with a maple whiskey whipped cream, making it the perfect dessert for any holiday gathering.
Blackberry Jam Pie-Crust Straws
For those days when you’re craving pie but have no time to bake one. (Store-bought puff pastry to the rescue!) You can thank us later.
Caramel Almond Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
Slivered almonds + sugar = a sweet, crunchy caramel crust that will impress every guest imaginable.
Oatmeal raisin cookies
If you’re running out of things to bake, give oatmeal raisin cookies are go. They’re the perfect mix of chewy and crunchy, with a hint of cinnamon and plenty of raisins.
They’re a classic cookie that’s always a hit and easy to make too, using pantry staples.
Oatmeal raisin cookies are a great choice for a snack or any time you’re craving a classic cookie.
