53 Easy Desserts for Those Last-Minute Sugar Cravings

Need a sweet treat that’s easy to make? These simple desserts do just the trick.

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Chocolate Billionaires

Everyone raves about these chocolate and caramel candies. I received the recipe from a friend while living in Texas. When we moved, I made sure this recipe made the trip with me! —June Humphrey, Strongsville, Ohio

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Everyone who tries these beloved gems is amazed that they use only five ingredients. Baking cookies doesn’t get much easier than this. —Dee Davis, Sun City, Arizona

Semisweet Chocolate Mousse

Frozen Banana Cereal Pops

When we want a healthy snack, we dip bananas in yogurt, roll ’em in cereal, then freeze. Ta-da! —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia

Vanilla Meringue Cookies

Want to learn how to make meringues? This meringue cookie recipe creates light, airy morsels. It’s the perfect fat-free treat to really beat a sweets craving. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Oklahoma Coconut Poke Cake

Whipped Shortbread

These whipped shortbread cookies melt in your mouth. Mostly I make them for the holidays, but I’ll also prepare them year-round for wedding showers and afternoon teas. —Jane Ficiur, Bow Island, Alberta

Pecan Caramel Candies

Salty and sweet, these candies are the perfect little snack. Form a kitchen assembly line with your kids, and the making becomes just as fun as the eating. —Julie Wemhoff, Angola, Indiana

Coconut Pistachio Pie

We simply love the lightly toasted coconut crust that pairs so well with the pistachio pudding in this quick pie. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Devil’s Food Cookies

Most people don’t realize that these cookies are low in fat. You actually get more than 2 dozen of the treats from a cake mix and just four other common ingredients. —Melanie Van Den Brink of Rock Rapids, Iowa

Easy Peanut Butter Balls

These simple saucepan cookies are a snap to make. In fact, I can whip them up in 10 minutes for school lunches. The little treats are a big hit with any crowd—young or old. —Marg Mitro, Grafton, Ontario

Mini Blueberry Tarts

I served this recipe to my family while we were on vacation and they were all amazed! The best part: I didn’t spend tons of time on it thanks to refrigerated pie crust. Watch your mini tarts around the 13-minute mark to make sure they don’t brown too quickly. If you’d like, sprinkle the tops with coarse sugar for a beautiful finishing touch.—Allison Bell, Hillsdale, New Jersey

Quick and Easy Baklava Squares

I love baklava but rarely indulge because it takes so much time to make. Then a friend of mine gave me this simple recipe. I’ve made it for family, friends and co-workers—they can’t get enough. I’m always asked to bring these squares to special gatherings and parties, and I even give them as gifts during the holidays. —Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania

No-Bake Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprints

Years ago, a friend gave me a recipe for chocolate peanut treats that didn’t require baking. I thought it was a quick and clever way to whip up a batch of sweet snacks without heating up the kitchen, and I started making different variations. This one includes luscious Nutella and crunchy hazelnuts. Yum! —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida

Rainbow Gelatin Cubes

These layered jello cubes are fun to serve and to eat! I vary the colors to match the occasion. Kids of all ages snatch them up. —Deanna Pietrowicz, Bridgeport, Connecticut

Coconut Joys

If you like coconut, you’ll love these no-bake, no-fuss sweets. They are cute as can be and make a satisfying after-school snack to keep in the fridge. —Flo Burtnett, North Gage, Oklahoma

Mom’s Fried Apples

Mom often made these fried apples for me while I was growing up. The recipe is very dear to me. —Margie Tappe, Prague, Oklahoma

Chocolate Banana Bundles

Banana with chocolate is such an irresistible combo that I make this quick dessert often. You can also top these tasty bundles with the butter and brown sugar mixture left over from coating the bananas, or sprinkle on a dash of sea salt. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey

Quick Mango Sorbet

One summer I decided to try my hand at making a passion fruit and mango sorbet. But fresh fruits require more prep and are difficult to find ripened at the same time. So I experimented using frozen fruit and juice, and voila! Both are readily available and inexpensive too. —Carol Klein, Franklin Square, New York

Cranberry Pecan Cookies

These are so tasty and simple to prepare! Each delightful little cookie is loaded with cranberries, nuts and vanilla, giving them the taste of a treat that’s been slaved over. —Louise Hawkins, Lubbock, Texas

Fresh Blackberry Pie

I grew up on a farm, and we always picked fruits in early summer and used them to make desserts. This blackberry pie is a real stunner. —Gladys Gibbs, Brush Creek, Tennessee

Peanut Butter Cup Trifle

Using just five ingredients makes this recipe so simple. You can add a little extra decoration with chocolate jimmies, too. —Chris Nelson, Decatur, Arkansas

Strawberry-Rosemary Yogurt Pops

We planted strawberries a few years ago and these tangy-sweet frozen yogurt pops are my very favorite treats to make with them! The options are endless. Try using other yogurt flavors like lemon, raspberry or blueberry. You may also substitute your favorite herb for the rosemary—or simply omit it. —Carmell Childs, Ferron, Utah

Easy Cake Mix Bars

Ice Cream Kolachkes

These sweet pastries have Polish and Czech roots and can also be spelled “kolaches.” They are usually filled with poppy seeds, nuts, jam or a mashed fruit mixture. The ice cream is a unique twist on traditional kolachkes, and it’s simplest to use a square cookie cutter to cut the dough. —Diane Turner, Brunswick, Ohio

Rhubarb Fool with Strawberries

A fool is a classic British and Irish dessert that’s usually made with whipped cream and cooked fruit. Try my quick version with rhubarb and berries. —Cheryl Miller, Fort Collins, Colorado

Elegant White Chocolate Mousse

Simply elegant is a fitting description for this smooth treat. Whipped cream teams up with white chocolate to make this easy white chocolate mousse recipe extra special. —Laurinda Johnston, Belchertown, Massachusetts

Double-Chocolate Toffee Icebox Cake

My mother-in-law taught me that anything tastes good if you use enough chocolate or cream. This no-bake dessert proves she was right. Sometimes I use chocolate graham crackers and stack up the layers in a 9-inch square pan. —Bee Engelhart, Bloomfield Township, Michigan

Layered Lemon Pie

This is a great ending for almost any meal. Kids and adults all enjoy it, and the creamy lemon filling is always a hit with my husband. —Elizabeth Yoder, Belcourt, North Dakota

Raspberry Sorbet

With an abundant crop of fresh raspberries from the backyard, it’s no wonder why I rely on this dessert for a tasty, no-fuss frozen dessert. —Karen Bailey, Golden, Colorado

Rocky Road Cookie Cups

Traditional rocky road ice cream has nuts, marshmallows and chocolate. Using prepared cookie dough makes it easy to put the flavors together in these fast, kid-friendly rocky road cookis. —Charlotte McDaniel, Jacksonville, AL

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses

Eat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea.—Amy Tong, Anaheim, California

No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

I have to be super careful when cooking for my daughter because of food sensitivities, so I make these no-bake peanut butter oatmeal bars with certified gluten-free oats. Everyone loves these bars when we go to picnics or potlucks, and I know there will be a dessert for my daughter! —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas

Macadamia-Coffee Bean Cookies

Nearly anyone who loves coffee will perk up for this java-infused cookie. What hot beverage would you pair these treats with? There’s only one answer! —Kathleen Specht, Clinton, Montana

Cake & Berry Campfire Cobbler

This warm Dutch oven cobbler is one of our favorite ways to end a busy day of fishing, hiking, swimming or rafting. It’s yummy with ice cream—and so easy to make! —June Dress, Boise, Idaho

Quick Icebox Sandwiches

My mother liked making these cool, creamy treats when I was growing up in the States because they’re so quick to fix. Then I made them for my three kids.—Sandy Armijo, Naples, Italy

Pecan Roll-Ups

This recipe is so delicious and is sure to become a favorite of your family. The pecans make them so rich.—Lee B. Roberts, Racine, Wisconsin

Grilled Angel Food Cake with Strawberries

One night I goofed, accidentally using the balsamic butter I save for grilling chicken on my pound cake. What a delicious mistake that my entire family loved! For a patriotic look, add a drizzle of blueberry syrup. —Tammy Hathaway, Freeman Twp, Maine

Coconut Creme Chocolates

I’m a proud wife, mom of three and grandma of many. I’ve cooked many things over the years, including these marshmallowy chocolates. —Dolores Wilder, Texas City, Texas

Caramelized Baked Custards

Creme brulee is our favorite dessert and we love Irish cream liqueur, so I decided to put them together for a dinner finale we truly love. With a last name like Moynihan and a husband named Patrick, you can tell St. Patrick’s Day is a very big holiday in our house! —Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota

Refreshing Rhubarb Ice Cream

No matter where my military family is stationed, this ice cream always makes me think of my parents’ backyard rhubarb patch in Rochester, New York. —Rachel Garcia, Honolulu, Hawaii

Easy Oatmeal Cream Pies

These easy cookies use only five ingredients and taste very similar to a store-bought cookie. Of course, everything’s better from your own kitchen! —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado

S’mOreos

My son introduced us to this twist on classic s’mores when we were camping. Have a jar of Nutella around? Slather on the inside of the graham cracker halves before you build this one-of-a-kind treat. —Christina Smith, Santa Rosa, California

Confetti Cake Batter Cookies

Mom and I took up cake decorating. Funfetti was our favorite cake, so we used the mix to make cutout cookies. Plain or decorated, they’re a fave at parties. —Danielle DeMarco, Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Texas Tumbleweeds

Tumbleweeds blow across the roads in some parts of Texas, and I think these cute stacks look like them. I’ve been making these sweets with my sister for years. —Karen Lemay, Seabrook, Texas

Berry White Ice Pops

Nothing says summer like an ice pop. Kids and adults alike love this fruit-filled version. —Sharon Guinta, Stamford, Connecticut

Black Forest Dump Cake

I make a Black Forest cake the easy way: Dump everything into a dish and let the magic happen. Give it a cherry topping by reserving two tablespoons of juice from the canned cherries and stir into whipped cream. —Meghan McDermott, Springfield, Missouri

Haystack Cookies with Peanut Butter

Peanut butter haystacks are one of my favorite desserts. I love to serve them to guests because they marvel at how something so simple tastes so good! —Starrlette Howard, Ogden, Utah

Soft Chewy Caramels

One of my first experiences with cooking was helping my mother make these caramels. We’d make up to 12 batches each year. Today, I do at least 95 percent of the cooking at home, but my wife does much of the baking. —Robert Sprenkle, Hurst, Texas

Chocolate-Dipped Apple Rings

These apple treats are a staple in my Christmas goody packages. Sometimes I add an 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne to the cinnamon mixture for a little extra kick. —Laurie Bock, Lynden, Washington

Strawberry-Hazelnut Meringue Shortcakes

In summer the strawberry farms are open for picking. I serve strawberries with a crunchy hazelnut meringue cookie. —Barbara Estabrook, Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Frozen Greek Vanilla Yogurt

It’s so simple and easy to make your own frozen Greek yogurt, you might even want to get the kids in on the fun. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Blueberry Pie with Graham Cracker Crust

We live in blueberry country, and this pie is a perfect way to showcase these luscious berries. A neighbor first made this pie for us when we had a death in the family several years ago. Our whole family enjoys it. —R. Ricks, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Butterscotch Toffee Cookies

With its big butterscotch and chocolate flavor, my cookie stands out. I like to enjoy it with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. It’s my fallback recipe when I’m short on time and need something delicious fast. —Allie Blinder, Norcross, Georgia

Rainbow Sherbet Angel Food Cake

Talk about a dessert that pops off the plate! Sometimes I make this easy cake even more eye-catching by tinting the whipped cream. Use whatever sherbet flavor combination you like. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin

Quick Double Chocolate Biscotti

Refrigerated cookie dough gives you a head start on making biscotti from scratch. For true chocolate lovers, substitute chocolate chips for the vanilla. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Peanut Butter Cereal Treats

Sopaipillas

Light, crispy pastry puffs, sopaipillas are a sweet way to round out a spicy meal. We love to serve them warm and to top them off with honey or sugar. —Mary Anne McWhirter, Pearland, Texas

Macaroon Ice Cream Torte

My family loves frozen treats. With chocolate four ways, this one is so beautiful, people think it came from an ice cream shop. —Barbara Carlucci, Orange Park, Florida

Frozen Berry & Yogurt Swirls

I enjoy these frozen yogurt pops because they double as a healthy snack and a cool, creamy sweet treat. —Colleen Ludovice, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Apple Pie Bites

These apple pie bites are fun for kids to make. Simply wrap strips of pastry around apple wedges and shake on some cinnamon-sugar. Then just bake and watch them disappear! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Mocha-Pecan Ice Cream Bonbons

These bite-sized bonbons may sound tricky to make, but you’ll find that fashioning them is a breeze. What’s more, our cooking experts advise that you keep this recipe handy when you serve them—as soon as folks sample the treats, they’ll be asking how to make them. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Chocolaty S’mores Bars

Heavenly Filled Strawberries

These luscious stuffed berries are the perfect bite-sized dessert. —Stephen Munro, Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia

Chocolate Lover’s Pizza

I created this after my dad said that my graham cracker crust should be topped with dark chocolate and pecans. It’s easy to customize by adding your favorite chocolate and toppers. Dad thinks the whole world should know about this pizza! —Kathy Rairigh, Milford, Indiana

Lemon Crisp Cookies

Here’s a quick-to-fix delight that’s perfect to make when you’ve forgotten a treat for a bake sale or potluck. They take only 10 minutes to whip up! The sunny yellow color, big lemon flavor and delightful crunch are sure to bring smiles. —Julia Livingston, Frostproof, Florida

Grilled Honey-Balsamic Glazed Fruit

One summer my mother-in-law made us grilled peaches basted with a sweet and tangy sauce. These are so good I’m always tempted to eat the whole batch. —Kristin Van Dyken, West Richland, Washington

Flourless Chocolate Torte

Here’s the perfect dessert for chocoholics—like me! I bake this melt-in-your-mouth torte all the time for special occasions. For an elegant finish, dust it with confectioners’ sugar. —Kayla Albrecht, Freeport, Illinois

White Candy Bark

This speedy candy recipe can be varied depending on the type of fruit or nuts you have on hand. Since we have a walnut tree, I use walnuts, but pecans could also be substituted, as well as dried cherries in place of the cranberries. —Marcia Snyder, Grand Junction, Colorado

Strawberry Angel Trifle

I always get compliments when I bring this attractive and tasty trifle out of the refrigerator. Not only does it serve a big group nicely, I can make it ahead of time, too. —Lucille Belsham, Fort Fraser, British Columbia

Apple-Spice Angel Food Cake

I dressed up an angel food cake mix with some nuts, spice and applesauce to make an easy and light dessert. I serve it with a dollop of whipped topping mixed with a half cup of sour cream. —Joan Buehnerkemper, Teutopolis, Illinois

Peach Bavarian

Fruit molds are my specialty. This one, with its refreshing peach taste, makes a colorful salad or dessert. —Adeline Piscitelli, Sayreville, New Jersey

Yummy Cracker Snacks

These treats are my family’s favorite. In fact, it seems no matter how many I make, they always disappear too soon! —D. Weaver, Ephrata, Pennsylvania

Mini Brownie Treats

I like to take these quick and easy treats to potlucks and family gatherings. They’re always well received! —Pam Kokes, North Loup, Nebraska

Blackberry Frozen Yogurt

You could also use boysenberries, raspberries or strawberries for this delicious dessert. — Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah

Frozen Mud Pie

Here’s one of those “looks like you fussed” desserts that is so easy it’s become a standard for me. I love the mocha version, but pure chocolate lovers may prefer using chocolate chip ice cream. The cookie crust is a snap to make.
—Debbie Terenzini-Wilkerson, Lusby, Maryland

Peanut Butter Cookie Cups

I’m a busy schoolteacher and pastor’s wife and I wouldn’t dare show my face at a church dinner or bake sale without some of these tempting peanut butter treats. They’re quick and easy
to make and always a hit. —Kristi Tackett, Banner, Kentucky

Apple Kuchen Bars

This recipe is about family, comfort and simplicity. My mom made this delicious sweet treat many a winter night and served it warm with some of her famous homemade ice cream. I like to make a double batch and pass on the love! —Elizabeth Monfort, Celina, Ohio

Birthday Cake Freezer Pops

On my quest to find birthday cake ice cream—my favorite flavor—I came up with these easy ice pops. Now, instead of going to the store whenever a craving hits, I just head to my freezer. —Dawn Lopez, Westerly, Rhode Island

Chocolate Peanut Treats

When I was in high school, I took these sweet and crunchy squares to bake sales— and they were the first to sell out. I still make them for family and friends who love the classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter. —Christy Asher, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Cherry-Chocolate Pudgy Pie

Here’s an ooey-gooey treat that’s just right for campfires and cookouts. —Josh Carter, Birmingham, Alabama

Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy

With only three ingredients, these chocolate-swirl treats take just moments to whip up! If you have little ones visiting for the holidays, have them help you with the stirring. —Holly Demers, Abbotsford, British Columbia

Lime-in-the-Coconut Almond Bark

I love the combination of flavors in this tropical treat, and it takes mere minutes to make. If you need something for a school or church bake sale, this will get you out of the kitchen in a flash. —Julie Beckwith, Crete, Illinois

Buckeyes

These chocolate peanut butter balls (no bake!) are always popular at my church’s annual Christmas fundraiser. They resemble chestnuts or buckeyes—hence the name. —Merry Kay Opitz, Elkhorn, Wisconsin

Creamy Hazelnut Pie

I’ve always been a big fan of peanut butter. Then I found chocolaty Nutella hazelnut spread and I was hooked! I even changed one of my all-time favorite pie recipes by substituting that ingredient. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas

Blueberry Ice Cream

The wild blueberries on our property spark recipe ideas. When my daughter and I made this ice cream at a Girl Guide meeting, it was well received. Even today, our 10 children, 19 grandkids and 4 great-grandchildren think it tastes great. —Alma Mosher, Mohannes, New Brunswick

Rocky Road Fudge Pops

These sweet frozen treats are simple to prepare and guaranteed to bring out the kid in anyone. The creamy pops feature a special chocolate and peanut topping.—Karen Grant, Tulare, California

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.

Blackberry Jam Pie-Crust Straws

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Homemade Milano Cookies

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Microwave Double Chocolate Cake Bowl

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, gluten free

Cassava flour, maple syrup and coconut whipped cream keep this 10-minute wonder Paleo-friendly.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

56. 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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

Lemon Pie with Blueberry Meringue

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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When you want something sweet and you want it now, look no further than these quick-fix treats.

We love rolling up our sleeves and making a weekend project out of an elaborate cake, pastry, or pie recipe, but easy desserts are crucial when we get hit by a sudden, unstoppable sugar craving—or when we need to end a quick dinner on a sweet note. (Or heck, when dinner was a marinated, stewed, and labored-over coq au vin and we just can’t bear to turn on the oven for the final course.) For situations like these we like to turn to something semi-homemade or otherwise no-fuss: Ice cream made in a ziptop bag, one big deliciously gooey chocolate chip cookie baked in a skillet, pastries that make the most out of our favorite freezer staple (spoiler: It’s frozen puff pastry). Scroll on for these and 50 more quick and easy desserts you can pull together with minimal effort.

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Quick and easy baking ideas

Easy chocolate brownies

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Triple chocolate chip cookies

You can’t beat the smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through your kitchen – these luxurious ones combine dark, milk and white chocolate.

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Fairy cakes

For an easy spot of afternoon baking, you can’t go wrong with light and spongy fairy cakes. Jazz them up with extra decorations of your choice, if you like.

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Chocolate drip cake

Take your love of chocolate cake one step further with this impressive chocolate drip cake, where chocolate sponge is slathered in chocolate buttercream and topped with a layer of glossy ganache.

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Biscoff cupcakes

A batch of these malty, biscuity cupcakes are easy to whip up – they require less than an hour of hands-on time. Check out more Biscoff recipes for you to try.

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Sugar cookies

Taking just 30 minutes to make, check out these charming vanilla-flavoured biscuits topped with a light frosting.

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Vanilla cupcakes

Bake these sweet and fluffy vanilla cupcakes for a celebration or simply as a treat with your afternoon cuppa.

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Chocolate chip banana bread

Take banana bread to the next level by topping with an indulgent chocolate sauce and caramelised bananas. Even better when served with a morning brew.

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Chocolate mug cake

This nifty microwave mug cake recipe is the perfect bake for impatient chocolate lovers, ready in just five minutes.

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Cardamom buns

Check out this cheat’s version of classic spiced buns. Bread mixes make a genius shortcut – just add butter and spices for the ultimate swirl bun.

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Fudge

Silky, creamy fudge is offset by a smattering of chunky sea salt flakes in this speedy recipe.

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White chocolate, tahini and pretzel cookies

Tahini gives a lovely sweet/salty kick to these crisp, grown-up cookies, while pretzels add extra crunch.

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Rock cakes

A rustic version of scones, have a go at baking these easy-to-make rock cakes for a sweet treat to enjoy at the weekend.

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Classic Swiss roll

Enjoy a light and airy sponge, coated in crunchy sugar and bursting with fruity jam for a vintage teatime treat.

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Classic millionaire’s shortbread

This is the perfect trio of buttery shortbread, gooey caramel and thick, sweet chocolate. Ideal for enjoying with an afternoon cup of tea, keep you biscuit tin filled to the brim with these moreish beauties.

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Classic vegan carrot cake

Invite your vegan friends for afternoon tea and bake this British classic, ready in just 1 hour! Our frosted carrot cake is made with a surprising (vegan) ingredient that guarantees a moist sponge every time.

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Quick and easy chocolate fudge cake

Need to bake a last-minute birthday cake? Our chocolate fudge cake recipe is super quick and easy to make so it is perfect for a simple yet decadent cake for a special occasion. You don’t need to use a chocolate with a high % for this, just standard dark chocolate is fine.

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Biscoff cookies

Chewy, golden cookies with crunchy biscuit crumbs and a melting Biscoff middle. These mouth-watering cookies will disappear in a flash.

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Vegan lemon loaf cake

A delicate, zingy vegan lemon cake made without eggs, milk or butter! The key to that lemony tang is a decent lemon extract (we use Nielsen-Massey), ready in just 1 hour!

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Quick Victoria sponge

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Chocolate muffins

Is there anything better than a soft, spongy, oven-warm chocolate muffin with melting milk chocolate chunks? Our foolproof recipe shows you how to make them in just 35 minutes.

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Portuguese custard tarts

Portuguese custard tarts made easy with with step-by-step help from the olive test kitchen. Use ready-made puff pastry to make this recipe ready in under an hour. Dusting the pastry with icing sugar gives the tarts a golden, caramelised crust when cooked.

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Ultimate chocolate fudge cake

Enjoy a slice of heaven in under an hour! Our decadent chocolate cake is covered in silky smooth frosting and we teach you how to create dark chocolate curls for an artisan finish.

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Cheat’s ginger, salted caramel and rum cake

Transform simple ginger loaf into this boozy cake in just 25 minutes by soaking in rum and caramel then layering with boozy caramel cream.

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Quick cinnamon buns

Check out our easiest ever cinnamon buns that are quick to make because they use ready made puff pastry. Bake and enjoy now or save for a weekend breakfast – just make sure to eat them warm from the oven.

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Apricot and white chocolate cookies

These apricot and white chocolate cookies are really quick and easy to make but taste delicious. They are ideal for a bit of baking and only take 40 minutes. Try our biscuit recipes here.

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Salted caramel and pear blondies

Check out these moreish blondies with salted caramel and pears. Whip these up in under an hour for an easy treat to serve friends or family.

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Cherry bakewell tart

Our cherry bakewell tart is an exceedingly good tart – serve with a cup of builder’s tea for a proper English teatime treat, perfect to serve when guests come for tea last minute.

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Quick coffee cake

Classic coffee cake is one of our all-time favourite afternoon treats. In this recipe, we’ve given it a modern twist to include deliciously crunchy pecan brittle. It makes a quick baking recipe that’s really impressive.

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Croissant cinnamon buns

Check out these easy-to-make, moreish cinnamon buns. This simple cinnamon bun recipe uses Jus-Rol croissant dough making them extra flaky and extra crispy.

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Jammie Dodger blondies

Check out these super easy super fun blondies using a children’s classic biscuit, Jammie Dodgers. These fudgy moreish white chocolate blondies are a great alternative to a traditional chocolate brownie, and will go perfectly with your afternoon cuppa.

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Chocolate chip cookie pizza

This chocolate chip cookie pizza is super easy to make and great fun with all the family. Crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, this giant cookie makes for a great alternative to a birthday cake that’s quick to make.

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Salted caramel shortbread

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Quick apricot and hazelnut pastries

Check out these flaky apricot pastries with creamy fresh custard and sweet apricots, the perfect weekend breakfast treat ready in 35 minutes.

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Texas sheet cake

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Jaffa cupcakes

Check out these fun and easy orange cupcakes with silky smooth chocolate frosting and old school Jaffa cakes. Make these cupcakes for an impressive alternative to a showstopping birthday cake.

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Easy white chocolate fudge cake

Our white chocolate fudge cake is easy to make, looks fantastic and is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

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Peanut butter and jelly scones

Peanut butter and jelly is a classic American flavour combination. This combined with an English classic to make peanut butter and jelly scones is sure to be a new favourite.

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Sticky honey cakes

This recipe for sticky honey cakes is really easy to make and they look great. The combination of honey, lemon and ginger works really well together and they’re surprisingly low-cal.

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Ginger shortbreads

Try our easy shortbread recipe for triple ginger biscuits. These crumbly ginger shortbreads are perfect for elevenses with a hot cup of tea or alternatively with strawberries and cream for dessert.

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Salted maple brownies

How do you make brownies even better? Add sea salt and maple of course! This recipe is really easy to make but looks impressive and delivers big flavours. Our top brownie recipes are here

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Jam tarts

This is a perfect tea-time recipe for the whole family. Recruit the kids to help you dolloping jam into the delicate pastry cases and use different jams to get a multicoloured plateful.

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Piña colada tarts

Add a Caribbean twist to your baking with pineapple, coconut and rum flavours of piña colada. Use ready-baked tarts if you want to make this dessert even easier.

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Peanut butter thumbprint cookies

These peanut butter thumbprint cookies use the classic peanut butter and jam (or jelly) combination in a fun new way. They’re best eaten the day they’re made.

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Bourbon biscuit brownies

What’s better than a chocolate Bourbon biscuit? Chocolate Bourbon brownies! This is one of our favourite recipes of 2016 – trust us, you’ll need to make a double batch.

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Frosted lemon fairy cakes

These cute little lemon cupcakes would work equally well for a kids party, baby shower or just a treat to serve with afternoon tea. If you are short of time make the sponges ahead and store in an airtight box then ice on the day.

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Cobnut and chocolate shortbreads

Chocolate shortbreads, our favourite biscuit already, but add cobnuts (part of the hazelnut family) and your teatime treat just got a whole lot better.

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Coffee and walnut cupcakes

Coffee and walnut cake is a teatime favourite. With this recipe, we’ve given it a modern makeover by giving it the cupcake treatment. Pipe the icing sky-high for maximum cake drama.

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Custard cream blondies

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Salted peanut and honeycomb rocky road

These salted peanut and honeycomb rocky road squares are a great twist on a classic and will please everyone. Plus, they’re really easy and only take 15 minutes of work.

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Classic banana bread

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olive magazine podcast ep77 – giant cookie pizzas, Christmas drinks and wild adventures in Sweden

This week on the olive magazine podcast, the cookery team talk about next-generation food gifts, including gin and tonic dip dabs and giant pizza cookies.