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.
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.
Key Lime Pie Mousse
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!
Get the Key Lime Pie Mousse recipe.
Chocolate Pots De Crème
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.
Get the Chocolate Pots De Crème recipe.
Peach Crumble
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.
Get the Peach Crumble recipe.
Espresso Cookies
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.
Get the Espresso Cookies recipe.
Gluten-Free Almond Thumbprints
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.
Easy Blondies
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!
Get the Easy Blondies recipe.
Carrot Cake Dip
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.
Get the Carrot Cake Dip recipe.
No-Bake Blackberry Cheesecake Bars
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!
Coconut Cookies
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.
Get the Coconut Cookies recipe.
Pistachio Cake
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.
Get the Pistachio Cake recipe.
Chocolate Almond Bark
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!
Get the Chocolate Almond Bark recipe.
Easy Profiteroles
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!
Get the Easy Profiteroles recipe.
Magic Cookie Bars
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.
Get the Magic Cookie Bars recipe.
Confetti Squares
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.
Get the Confetti Squares recipe.
Chocolate Fluffernutter Pie
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.
Get the Chocolate Fluffernutter Pie recipe.
Homemade Milano Cookies
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.
Get the Homemade Milano Cookies recipe.
Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake
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?!
Caramel Apple Tart
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.
Get the Caramel Apple Tart recipe.
Milkshake
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.
Get the Milkshake recipe.
Taylor Worden is Delish's Assistant Digital Food Producer, where she creates recipe galleries, recipe updates and more. She was previously a freelance editor on the food team for Good Housekeeping, where she also contributed entertainment and culture pieces as a freelance writer. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism and a lifelong love of writing. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading, testing out a new pasta recipe, or rewatching one of her favorite shows.
