There’s nothing like the joy that comes from ending your meal with a sweet, homemade dessert. They make any occasion feel extra-special, from birthdays to anniversaries to potlucks and everyday dinners. But what if you’re, ahem, not super confident in the kitchen? Fear not, these desserts look like a professional made them, but are actually so easy to put together! From cakes to bars to pies and even dessert dips, you’ll be able to master these recipes in no time.
What makes these recipes so easy, you may ask? We've included many desserts that are ready in under an hour (some even in 10 minutes!), so you're not slaving away in the kitchen prepping a towering dessert all day long. Our no-bake desserts couldn't be easier to prep ahead of time, with the majority of their time spent chillin' in the fridge 'til you're ready to serve. Of course, we didn't forget one of our favorite easy desserts: poke cakes. If you're unfamiliar, it's all in the name—they’re baked, poked, then filled with a sweet syrup or milk to add extra flavor. Basically, they're foolproof delicious and a super way to impress without all the fuss of a layer cake.
With these recipes, we've found plenty of ways to create stunning-looking desserts without any finesse, from simple marbling to fruit toppings that don't need anything else for a stunning finish (well, some whipped cream never hurt). Want more dessert recipes? Check out our list of easy fruit desserts for when you're looking for something fresh and fruity. Need more chocolate in your life? Peruse our list of chocolate desserts too.
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE
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Flourless Chocolate Coconut Cake
This gluten-free cake is a perfect last-minute dessert to whip up that is so gorgeous, people will think it took you days to make. The flourless cake is made out of butter, semisweet chocolate, and eggs, PLUS fragrant toasted coconut in the batter and on top. The signature cracked topping dusted with cocoa powder make this easy dessert into a stunning centerpiece.
This take on Key lime pie has all of the refreshing tartness and buttery crumble of the classic dessert, but in an adorable, individual container. Turning the pie into a crumble ensures that every single bite gives you that delicious sharp tang of the Key lime with the crumbly oat topping. This just might be your new fave party dessert!
These little pots of chocolatey goodness defy explanation. While they are technically a custard, they fall somewhere in the middle between a pudding and a mousse. All you really need to know is that these ultra-chocolatey cups are a rich, sweet dream, topped with fluffy whipped cream.
What makes a peach crumble different than a peach crisp or peach cobbler? It's all in the topping. A crumble is defined by the crumbled, buttery topping usually made out of clumps of butter, flour, and sugar. In our crumble, we pile the topping on high so every bite gets a perfect balance of juicy peaches and warm cinnamon topping.
Adding instant coffee is one of our favorite hacks to add a boost of richness and something a lil extra to our chocolatey desserts. To get that flavorful boost and a stronger coffee taste in these soft and fudgy cookies, we added even more instant coffee to really get that chocolate and espresso taste.
The buttery, gluten-free base to these versatile cookies pair well with just about any filling. Pair them with raspberry, blackberry, strawberry—the world is your oyster when it comes to these adorable, bite-sized treats.
Switch it up from normal brownies with these nutty, rich blondies. You can switch up this base recipe however you desire, but if you're aiming for a classic blondie, there are a few necessities. Make sure you're browning the butter to get that signature nutty flavor, and don't forget the white chocolate chips and toasted, crunchy walnuts!
Everyone knows the best part of carrot cake is the cream cheese frosting, and this carrot cake dip does not skimp on the good stuff. While many other cake dip recipes use boxed cake mix, this version is gluten-free and uses toasted pecans, caramelized cinnamon, carrots, and plump rum raisins to bring out that signature flavor.
These no-bake cheesecake bars are not only delightfully light and fluffy, but the fruity swirled topping is almost a work of art. The creamy middle is complemented perfectly by the tart blackberry topping which doubles as a dipping sauce as well as a stunning swirl!
Soft, chewy, slightly golden crispy edges with crispy toasted coconut strewn throughout, these coconut cookies are not too shy to highlight their star ingredient. Topped with even more coconut right before baking, these chewy cookies with a crispy edge are a coconut lover's dream.
Ground pistachios give a nutty flavor, added crunch and an appealing, light green hue to this layered cake. Paired between layers of tangy cream cheese icing, this warming, textured cake is perfection in every bite.
This homemade chocolate bark couldn't be easier (ready in under 30 minutes!), and also is so sweet and crunchy that no store-bought bar could compare. We love the sharp taste of dark chocolate and crunchy almonds in this recipe, but feel free to experiment with your favorite combos!
These may look fancy, but they really are a breeze to whip up. The pastry base of this is a dough called pâte à choux, the king cream puffs, eclairs and more! The staple dough is then filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with sweet, runny chocolate sauce—all ready in under an hour!
These might just be the easiest (and most customizable) dessert on this list. To make these sweet bars, simply layer various chocolate and nuts over a graham cracker crust with sweetened condensed milk before baking, and voila! We love the classic ingredients chosen for this recipe (we're looking at you toasted coconut), but we encourage you to find your ideal combinations to discover the true magic of these bars.
These colorful squares are a perfect last-minute party pleaser, only requiring 20 minutes of baking time before chilling! We used rainbow marshmallows for an extra-fun pop of color, but feel free to use regular marshmallows for a more toned-down treat.
Peanut butter pie just got a major upgrade. We added a quick, easy and super fluffy marshmallow cream on top instead of traditional whipped cream. The best part? This no-bake pie is a perfect make-ahead dessert, requiring little effort and a few hours of chilling time.
Don't be intimidated by these fancy cookies—turns out they're surprisingly easy to make and customize! We filled our light and buttery cookies with a simple yet rich chocolate ganache, but feel free to add in some mint extract for a fresh, minty version.
We gave the classic flourless chocolate cake an upgrade in the form of LOTS of peanut butter. The chocolate and PB combo make it even richer than the original, while being just as easy to make. The fancy stripes are optional—but who doesn't love a little extra peanut butter?!
This four-ingredient dessert will look like it took you hours, when it's really ready in under an hour! Store-bought puff pastry is the secret behind this quick and easy tart, but don't fret, the pastry will be just as flaky and delicious as if it were homemade, in half the time.
If you're feeling nostalgic for diner days, no worries—it's surprisingly easy to make a deliciously creamy milkshake at home! This basic vanilla recipe is a great base for endless mix-ins, like chocolate syrup, candy, or even fruit.
Marshmallow fluff makes this shortcut fudge just as good as the real thing. We love this fudge for how easy it is to whip up, and how customizable it is! You can top these rich pieces with anything your heart desires, from classic candy like Oreos or other cookie pieces to nuts like pecans or walnuts. Get creative with it!
Pssst: You don't need a fancy ice cream maker to make ice cream at home, all you need is a plastic baggie and 15 minutes! This recipe works for practically any flavor your heart desires. Add a different extract, throw in a little chocolate syrup, or top with candy for the sundae of your dreams.
Sweet fruit danishes are delicious anytime of day, but especially when they're topped with sweet icing glaze. We used raspberry jam as the filling in this recipe, but feel free to experiment with your favorite fruits and jams!
We skipped the actual frying of ice cream in this recipe and instead opted for a quicker and easier (and equally delicious) version. Our vanilla ice cream (but feel free to pick any flavor you'd like!) is coated in buttery, crunchy cornflakes that we toast separately ahead of time. This way we get that crispy, fried taste with none of the hassle.
Oreos, cream cheese, and white chocolate chips are a match made in dessert heaven. Plus, these truffles are about as no-fuss as a dessert could be—simply mold, freeze and coat with white chocolate and you're ready to get snacking! Fair warning: These bite-sized treats go fast.
Switch it up from the usual chocolate-covered strawberries by making your own chocolate-covered cherries! Not only dipped in shiny chocolate, these sugars are first coated in a buttery sugar and almond layer. These sweet bites are so easy to eat, you're not careful, these two dozen cherries might be gone in a blink!
If you're intimidated by getting that perfect swirl, never fear! We've included our best tips for ensuring your sweet pumpkin roll comes out as perfectly as possible—no cracks and clear swirls every time.
This fudge is for the cookie dough lovers of the world. Only taking 10 minutes to prep, the rest of the time for this fudgy treat is simply spent chilling in the fridge!
This beyond-simple campfire dessert is like survival food, but in the most delicious way possible. Top tip: Don't wait until the center turns golden—the rest will burn before it does! Plus, the top will continue to firm up as it cools. Serve it warm, scooped into bowls topped with your ice cream of choice.
A slice of this six-ingredient pie is mandatory on a warm summer day. There's no oven involved for this no-bake dessert, making it the perfect thing to cool down with to beat the heat. It's sweet, simple, and full of strawberry flavor—we'll take two slices!
Taylor WordenAssistant Digital Food ProducerTaylor Worden is Delish's Assistant Digital Food Producer, where she creates recipe galleries, recipe updates and more.
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