85 Easy Dessert Ideas
Looking for something sweet? We've rounded up our top-rated dessert ideas from home cooks across the country.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Delight
This is a simple chocolate delight recipe for any type of potluck occasion, and the pan always comes home empty. —Diane Windley, Grace, Idaho
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Prep: 20 min. + chillin
For a taste of paradise, try this no-bake Key lime pie recipe! It's low in fat, sugar and fuss. Dessert doesn't get any easier! —Frances VanFossan, Warren, Michigan
Featured In: 30 Recipes for No-Bake Pies
Fluffy Key Lime Pie
For a taste of paradise, try this no-bake Key lime pie recipe! It’s low in fat, sugar and fuss. Dessert doesn’t get any easier! —Frances VanFossan, Warren, Michigan
Pineapple Orange Cake
This is one of my favorite cakes. It’s moist and light yet so satisfying. I’ve been adapting it for years and now it’s almost guilt-free. —Pam Sjolund, Columbia, South Carolina
Easy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
This easy buttercream frosting has unmatchable homemade taste. With a few simple variations, you can come up with different colors and flavors. —Diana Wilson, Denver, Colorado
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
I like using pretty mini muffin liners and topping these peanut butter cups with colored sprinkles to coordinate with the holiday we’re celebrating. People can’t believe how simple it is to make this irresistible candy with gooey, peanut butter centers. —LaVonne Hegland, St. Michael, Minnesota
Speedy Brownies
Since you “dump” all the ingredients together for these brownies, they take very little time to prepare. There’s no mistaking the homemade goodness of a freshly baked batch—they are rich and fudgy! —Diane Heier, Harwood, North Dakota
Cherry Pudding Cake
A cross between a cake and a cobbler, this dessert is a hit whenever I make it to share at a potluck. My family insists I make an extra batch to leave at home. A neighbor shared the recipe over 30 years ago. —Brenda Parker, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Bake-Sale Lemon Bars
The recipe for these tangy lemon bars comes from my cousin Bernice, a farmer’s wife famous for cooking up feasts. — Mildred Keller, Rockford, Illinois
Chocolate Chip Blondies
Folks who love the flavor of the classic cookie will enjoy that same great flavor in these chocolate chip cookie bars. They can be mixed up in a jiffy, taste wonderful, and are perfect for occasions when company drops by unexpectedly or you need a treat in a hurry. —Rhonda Knight, Hecker, Illinois
Easy Peanut Butter Fudge
My sister shared this recipe for this unbelievably easy peanut butter and marshmallow fluff fudge. I prefer using creamy peanut butter for the mouthwatering fudge, but the chunky style works just as well. —Mary Jane Rummel, Linglestown, Pennsylvania
Pina Colada Bundt Cake
We named this bundt a “pina colada” because it has coconut, pineapple and rum. It’s a soothing finish at the end of a big spread. —Debra Keil, Owasso, Oklahoma
Buttermilk Pound Cake
Now that I’ve retired from teaching, I have more time to bake. This buttermilk cake is the one I make most often. It is a truly Southern recipe, and one I think can’t be topped—once people taste it, they won’t go back to their other pound cake recipes. —Gracie Hanchey, De Ridder, Louisiana
First Place Coconut Macaroons
These coconut macroon cookies earned me a first-place ribbon at the county fair. They remain my husband’s favorites—whenever I make them to give away, he always asks me where his batch is! I especially like the fact that this coconut macaroon recipe makes a small enough batch for the two of us to nibble on. —Penny Ann Habeck, Shawana, Wisconsin
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
Need to bring a dish to pass this weekend? This make-ahead strawberry pretzel salad will disappear quickly at any potluck. —Aldene Belch, Flint, Michigan
Chocolate Pretzel Rings
If you like chocolate-covered pretzels, you’ll love these simple snacks. They’re fun to make any time of year because you can color-coordinate the M&M’s to each holiday. —Kim Scurio, Carol Stream, Illinois
Saltine Toffee Bark
These salty-sweet treasures make great gifts, and their flavor is simply irresistible. The bark is like brittle, but better. Get ready for a new family favorite! —Laura Cox, Brewster, Massachusetts
Pear Bundt Cake
Next time you make cake from a mix, try my easy and delicious recipe. The pears and syrup add sweet flavor and prevent the cake from drying out. And since there’s no oil added to the batter, this tender fall-perfect cake is surprisingly low in fat. —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Lemon Berry Dump Cake
This sweet-tart cake recipe is so much fun to make with my grandkids. They love just “dumping it all in” and watching it magically become a pretty, delicious dessert. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Heavenly Filled Strawberries
These luscious stuffed berries are the perfect bite-size dessert. —Stephen Munro, Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia
Creamy Caramels
I discovered this recipe in a local newspaper years ago and have made these soft buttery caramels ever since. I make them for Christmas, picnics and charity auctions—and they are so much better than store-bought caramels. Once people have a taste, they ask for the recipe. —Marcie Wolfe, Williamsburg, Virginia
Apple Snickerdoodle Dump Cake
With an apple farm just down the road, I’m always looking for creative ways to use up those bushels. We love this cozy cake with caramel drizzle and a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. —Rachel Garcia, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Baking cookies to share doesn’t get much easier than this. Stir together four ingredients. Bake. Top with a Kiss. —Dee Davis, Sun City, Arizona
Toffee Brownie Trifle
This decadent combination of pantry items is a terrific way to dress up a brownie mix. Try this trifle with other flavors of pudding or substitute your favorite candy bar. It tastes great with low-fat and sugar-free products, too. —Wendy Bennett, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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
Best Fudgy Brownies
I love to use this fudgy brownie recipe when bringing treats to work. When I was growing up, I helped my mother make delicious, hearty meals and desserts like this for our farm family of eight. —Judy Cunningham, Max, North Dakota
Old-Fashioned Rice Pudding
This comforting dessert is a wonderful way to end any meal. As a girl, I always waited eagerly for the first heavenly bite. Today, my husband likes to top his with a scoop of ice cream. —Sandra Melnychenko, Grandview, Manitoba
Light Strawberry Pie
People rave about this luscious strawberry pie. Best of all, it’s a low-sugar sensation that you won’t feel one bit guilty to eat. —Lou Wright, Rockford, Illinois
Cool and Creamy Watermelon Pie
This simple pie is so refreshing that it never lasts long on warm summer days. Watermelon and a few convenience items make it a delightful dessert that doesn’t take much effort. —Velma Beck, Carlinville, Illinois
Scottish Shortbread
Scottish settlers first came to this area over 150 years ago. My mother herself was Scottish, and—as with most of my favorite recipes—she passed this on to me. I make a triple batch of it each year at Christmas, to enjoy and as gifts. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba
Slow Cooker Chocolate Lava Cake
Everyone who tries this dessert falls in love with it. Using a slow cooker liner makes cleanup a breeze. —Latona Dwyer, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Pecan Meltaways
These sweet, nutty treats are a tradition in our house at Christmastime, but they are great any time of the year. —Alberta McKay, Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Molten Mocha Cake
When I first made my decadent slow cooker chocolate cake, my husband’s and daughter’s expressions said it all. She says it’s one of her “most favorites.” Later, I brought one of these to our next-door neighbors. Their teenage son, who answered the door, ate the whole thing without telling anyone else about it! —Aimee Fortney, Fairview, Tennessee
Ribbon Pudding Pie
Cool, smooth and creamy, this pretty pie is a slice of heaven for people with diabetes and anyone who likes an easy yet impressive dessert. The lovely pudding layers feature a yummy combination of vanilla, chocolate and butterscotch. —Doris Morgan, Verona, Mississippi
Shoofly Cupcakes
These moist old-fashioned molasses cupcakes were my grandmother’s specialty. To keep them from disappearing too quickly, she used to store them out of sight. Somehow, we always figured out her hiding places! —Beth Adams, Jacksonville, Florida
Iva’s Peach Cobbler
My mother received this recipe from a friend of hers many years ago, and fortunately she shared it with me. Boise is situated right between two large fruit-producing areas in our state, so peaches are plentiful in the summer. —Ruby Ewart, Boise, Idaho
Cherry Dream Cake
I serve this cake for holidays because it’s so festive and easy. No one will know your secret is adding a package of cherry gelatin to a boxed cake mix! —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee
Bite-Sized Apple Pies
These little 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
Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy
With just 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
Favorite Pecan Pie Bars
This pecan bar recipe is the perfect little gift this winter. Send your favorite holiday travelers on their way with a package of these nutty little bars to eat when they get home. —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri
Banana Pudding
I didn’t see my son, Lance Corporal Eric Harris, for more than two years after he enlisted in the Marines after high school. And when I saw him for the first time at the airport last fall, I just grabbed hold of him and busted out crying. When we got home, the first thing he ate was two bowls of my easy banana pudding. He’s a true southern boy! It’s a dessert, but you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. —Stephanie Harris, Montpelier, Virginia
Cream Wafers
My sons used to help me make these cookies, and now my oldest granddaughter helps. When the smaller grandchildren are home, they help, too. The cute little sandwich cookies are tender, buttery and melt-in-your-mouth good! —Linda Clinkenbeard, Vincennes, Indiana
Flourless Dark Chocolate Cake
Here’s a simple cake that’s rich, elegant and over-the-top chocolaty. For finishing touches, add powdered sugar, cocoa or liqueur-flavored whipped cream. —Marie Parker, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Zucchini Dessert Squares
We planted one too many zucchini plants a few summers ago and harvested a lot of zucchini that year. I was looking for ways to use them, and this delicious dessert is the result. —Nancy Morelli, Livonia, Michigan
Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
I’m a busy schoolteacher and pastor’s wife. I wouldn’t dare show my face at a church dinner or bake sale without these tempting peanut butter treats. They’re quick, easy to make and always a hit. —Kristi Tackett, Banner, Kentucky
Slice ‘n’ Bake Lemon Gems
Rolled in colorful sprinkles, these melt-in-your-mouth cookies are pretty enough for a party. I make a lot of them for holiday cookie trays. (Complete your cookie tray with Chocolate Pretzel Rings.) —Delores Edgecomb, Atlanta, New York
Triple Fudge Brownies
When you’re in a hurry to make dessert, here’s a “mix of mixes” that’s so convenient and quick. The result is a big pan of very rich, fudgy brownies. Friends who ask me for the recipe are amazed that it’s so easy. —Denise Nebel, Wayland, Iowa
Apple Crumble Pie
The crumb topping of this apple crumb pie recipe is awesome, which may explain why dessert always disappears fast. Or maybe it’s the chunky apple filling. Either way, it’s a family tradition. —Vera Brouwer, Maurice, Iowa
Creamy Peppermint Patties
These smooth chocolate candies fill the bill for folks who like a little sweetness after a meal but don’t want a full serving of rich dessert. —Donna Gonda, North Canton, Ohio
Chocolate Swirl Delight
I made a few updates to a great recipe and ended up with an impressive dessert. Everyone loves its light texture and chocolaty flavor. —Lynne Bargar, Saegertown, Pennyslvania
Mother Lode Pretzels
I brought these savory-sweet pretzels to a family gathering, and they disappeared from the dessert tray before dessert was even served! My family raves about how awesome they are. —Carrie Bennett, Madison, Wisconsin
Sugar Cream Pie
I absolutely love creamy sugar pie; especially the one that my grandma made for me. Here in Indiana, we serve it warm or chilled. —Laura Kipper, Westfield, Indiana
Sparkling Cider Pound Cake
This pound cake is incredible and completely reminds me of fall with every bite. Using sparkling apple cider in the batter and the glaze gives it a delicious and unique flavor. I love everything about it! —Nikki Barton, Providence, Utah
Vanilla Wafer Cookies
These buttery cookies bake up chewy and crispy at the same time. Sprinkle these vanilla wafers with colored sugar or leave them as-is. Their simplicity is beauty enough! —Edith MacBeath, Gaines, Pennsylvania
Vanilla Meringue Cookies
This meringue cookie is light, airy morsels and the perfect fat-free treat to really beat a sweets craving. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
No-Bake Cereal Bars
With crisp rice cereal and peanut butter, these bars taste almost like candy. —Pauline Christiansen, Columbus, Kansas
Chocolate Billionaires
I received this recipe from a friend while living in Texas. When we moved, I was sure to take the recipe with me. Everyone raves about these chocolate and caramel candies. —June Humphrey, Strongsville, Ohio
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
We don’t want to brag, but this homemade ice cream recipe really is the best ever. And with only four ingredients, it just might be the easiest, too. No ice cream maker? No problem. Just follow the directions below. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Jam-Topped Mini Cheesecakes
Presto! We turned cheesecake into irresistible finger food with these cute little treats. For fun, make them with an assortment of jams and preserves, such as strawberry, blackberry and apricot. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Homemade Gumdrops
Your friends and family will remember these chewy, fruity candies long after they’ve licked the last bit of sugar off their fingers! They’re a great gift any time of year. —Christin Holt, Kingsburg, California
Key Lime Mousse Cups
Light, lovely and laced with a splash of tart key lime juice, these fancy little phyllo cups are so refreshing served as an after-dinner dessert treat…and they take just minutes to whip up! —Suzanne Pauley, Renton, Washington
Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
My mother insisted that my grandmother write down one recipe for her when she got married in 1942. That was a real effort because Grandma was a traditional pioneer-type cook who used “a little of this or that ’til it feels right.” This treasured recipe is the only one she ever wrote down! —Janet Hall, Clinton, Wisconsin
Cookies ‘n’ Cream Fudge
I invented this confection for a bake sale at our children’s school. Boy, was it a hit! The crunchy chunks of sandwich cookie soften a bit as the mixture mellows. It’s so sweet that one panful serves a crowd. —Laura Lane, Richmond, Virginia
Chewy Peanut Butter Pan Squares
With seven of us in our family, including two teenage boys, these peanut butter cookie bars never last long! It’s hard to believe how simple these peanut butter squares are to prepare. —Deb DeChant, Milan, Ohio
Potato Chip Clusters
Just three offbeat ingredients add up to one unique, delectable, no-bake treat. These super-easy, sweet-and-salty candy clusters make for merry munching during holiday trips or parties. They travel well in containers without melting or getting soft. —Donna Brockett, Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Minister’s Delight
A friend gave me this recipe several years ago. She said a local minister’s wife fixed it every Sunday, so she named it accordingly —Mary Ann Potter, Blue Springs, Missouri
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
Grandma’s Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
This is from a collection of family recipes. My granddaughter, Riley, likes that it tastes like lemons, but is sweet. It’s always moist and wonderful. —Phyllis Harmon, Nelson, Wisconsin
Buckeyes
This recipe for Buckeyes is always popular at my church’s annual Christmas fundraiser. They resemble chestnuts, or buckeyes, hence the name. —Merry Kay Opitz, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
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
5-Ingredient Fudge
You’re moments away from a pan of creamy fudge. Just microwave, stir and spread. —Sue Tucker, Edgemoor, South Carolina
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
Mexican Ice Cream
“I made this ice cream for my grandma and her friends and they said it was so good.” This simple, flavorful dessert is a perfect way to get kids involved in the kitchen. —Ben Phipps, Lima, Ohio
Easy Cake Mix Bars
I take these bars to work for Friday pick-me-ups. I love to share them because they’re so easy to eat, easy to make and easy on the wallet. —Amy Rose, Ballwin, Missouri
Lemon Meltaways
Both the cookie and the frosting are spiked with lemon in these melt-in-your-mouth goodies. —Mary Houchin, Lebanon, Illinois
Swedish Creme
This thick and creamy dessert is my interpretation of my mother’s recipe for Swedish “Krem”. It has just a hint of almond flavor and looks spectacular with bright-red berries on top. Serve it in glasses to match the occasion. —Linda Nilsen, Anoka, Minnesota
Quick Cherry Turnovers
Refrigerated crescent rolls let you make these fruit-filled pastries in a hurry. My family loves these turnovers for breakfast, but they’re so delicious, they’d be welcome any time of the day. Feel free to experiment with other pie fillings as well. —Elleen Oberrueter, Danbury, Iowa
Black & White Cereal Treats
When my daughter was just 7 years old, she had the brilliant idea of adding Oreo cookies to cereal treats. Now 24, she still asks for them on occasion; they’re that good. —Tammy Phoenix, Ava, Illinois
Candied Pecans
I pack these candy pecans in jars tied with pretty ribbon for family and friends. My granddaughter gave some to a doctor at the hospital where she works, and he said they were too good to be true! —Opal Turner, Hughes Springs, Texas
Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies
These buttery 3 ingredient cookies are so simple to prepare, with only a few ingredients. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire
Banana Cake
When our daughter, Robbyn, married Ronald Slavin, two boot-shaped cakes flanked their traditional cake. Ronald requested that one be his favorite— banana.
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
Pecan Tassies
These tarts are very good for parties and special occasions. You’ll probably want to double the recipe, because they’ll disappear in a hurry! —Joy Corie, Ruston, Louisiana
Nutella-Stuffed Strawberries
Gourmet strawberries are pricey to order but easy to make. We serve strawberries with hazelnut spread as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or dessert. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Aunt Rose’s Fantastic Butter Toffee
I don’t live in the country, but I love everything about it—especially good old-fashioned home cooking! Every year, you’ll find me at our county fair, entering a different recipe contest. This toffee is a family favorite. —Kathy Dorman, Snover, Michigan
Palmiers
It takes just two ingredients to make these impressive but easy-to-do French pastries, which are often called palm leaves. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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