When it comes to dessert, sometimes we want something that looks impressive but doesn’t take hours to make. These 19 desserts are easier than skipping the line at the bakery, but they’ll still make you feel like a pro in the kitchen. Whether you’re craving something sweet for a special occasion or just because, these treats are simple, delicious, and sure to impress.
Blueberry Crumb Bars. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Banana Boats
Ripe bananas get stuffed with marshmallows, chocolate chips, or whatever’s on hand, then warmed until everything turns soft and gooey. It’s a sweet way to turn plain fruit into dessert without a lot of work or dishes. These are desserts that are easier than skipping the line at the bakery and just as fun to eat.
Get the Recipe: Banana Boats
Butterscotch Brownies
These brownies are soft in the middle with just the right mix of chocolate and sweet butterscotch flavor. They come together fast and use simple ingredients you probably already have in the kitchen. Keep this one in your back pocket for an easy dessert that’s just different enough to surprise people.
Get the Recipe: Butterscotch Brownies
Classic Brownies
These rich, chewy brownies use basic ingredients but come out tasting like something from a bakery. You don’t need anything fancy—just mix, bake, and cut big squares. For dessert that never lets you down, this one’s as easy as it gets.
Get the Recipe: Classic Brownies
German Plum Kuchen
This soft, golden cake gets topped with slices of plum that sink into the dough as it bakes. It looks like something that took all day, but only takes a few steps and one bowl. This is a great pick when you want something easy that still feels like you really made an effort.
Get the Recipe: German Plum Kuchen
Blueberry Crumb Bars
These bars are filled with blueberries and topped with a buttery crumble that bakes up golden. They use simple pantry stuff and come together quicker than most pies. Cut a pan into big squares and serve up dessert that tastes like it took way more work than it really did.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Crumb Bars
S’mores Cereal Bars
These chewy bars mix cereal, melted marshmallows, and chocolate chips for an easy dessert that skips the oven. It’s all stirred in one bowl and pressed into a pan—no baking needed. These are fun to eat, quick to make, and way easier than waiting at the bakery.
Get the Recipe: S’mores Cereal Bars
Molten Chocolate Cakes for Two
These small chocolate cakes have a soft center that stays warm and gooey after baking. They look fancy, but only take a few ingredients and a couple of ramekins. Make this when you want dessert to feel specia,l but don’t want to deal with a lot of cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Molten Chocolate Cakes for Two
Frosted Banana Bars
Extra bananas turn into soft, frosted bars that taste a lot better than banana bread. They’re easy to mix and bake in one pan, then topped with sweet frosting once they cool. This is one of those desserts that’s quick to make and great for using up what you’ve got.
Get the Recipe: Frosted Banana Bars
Blueberry Peach Crisp
Blueberries and peaches bubble up under a crunchy, buttery topping that’s easy to mix with your hands. The fruit softens while the topping turns golden, all in the same baking dish. It’s a simple dessert with big flavor, and you don’t even need to measure perfectly.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Peach Crisp
7 Layer Bars
Layers of coconut, chocolate, and nuts bake together into a rich, gooey bar that takes almost no effort. You just pour everything into a pan and let the oven do the work. These are easy dessert bars that look like you spent way more time than you really did.
Get the Recipe: 7 Layer Bars
Copycat Girl Scout S’mores Cookies
These cookies bring together chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallow in a way that tastes just like the ones from the box. They’re quick to assemble and bake, and you don’t need a campfire or a badge to enjoy them. It’s an easy dessert recipe that looks like more work than it really is.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Girl Scout S’mores Cookies
Grilled S’mores Pizza
Pizza dough gets topped with melted chocolate, gooey marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers for a big, sweet slice of fun. You toss it on the grill and let everything melt together until it’s warm and messy in the best way. This is a great and easy dessert recipe when you want something different that still hits the spot.
Get the Recipe: Grilled S’mores Pizza
Dessert Nachos
Cinnamon-sugar chips get loaded with chocolate drizzle, fruit, and anything else that sounds good at the time. It takes minutes to throw together and makes dessert feel more like a party. Try this when you want a dessert that’s fun, easy, and doesn’t take much planning.
Get the Recipe: Dessert Nachos
Cherry Crumb Bars
A buttery crust, sweet cherry filling, and crumbly topping make these bars feel like a slice of pie in your hand. They cut clean, travel well, and come together with just a few basic steps. These are one of those easy dessert recipes that always get people asking for the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Crumb Bars
English Toffee
Butter and sugar cook into a golden toffee that snaps when it breaks but melts as you chew. It only takes a few ingredients and makes enough to share or stash away for later. Make a batch when you want dessert that’s simple, sweet, and disappears fast.
Get the Recipe: English Toffee
Strawberry Lemonade Icebox Cake
Layers of cookies, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries soften in the fridge into something cool and creamy. It slices like cake but doesn’t need the oven or even a mixer. Chill a pan and slice it up when you want an easy dessert that looks like you put in extra effort.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Lemonade Icebox Cake
Blueberry Pudding Cake
This soft cake bakes with a warm blueberry sauce that forms underneath, all in one dish. It’s quick to mix and makes its own topping while it cooks. Scoop it straight from the pan for a dessert that feels cozy without being complicated.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Pudding Cake
Ultra Moist Chocolate Cake
This cake is rich, soft, and packed with chocolate flavor that makes every bite feel worth it. It’s made from scratch without any fancy tricks or tools. Try it when you want a chocolate dessert that’s easy to bake but still feels like something to celebrate.
Get the Recipe: Ultra Moist Chocolate Cake
Mango Mousse
This light and fruity mousse only needs a handful of ingredients and no baking at all. It’s smooth, sweet, and ready fast, making it a smart pick when you’re short on time. This is one of those easy dessert recipes that look nice on the plate but barely take any effort.
Get the Recipe: Mango Mousse