50+ Easy Desserts to Make at Home

Whether you need to take a delicious dessert to a party, potluck, or just to brighten someone’s day, this list of easy desserts to make at home will have the perfect recipe for you!

While desserts aren’t a daily thing around here, it’s helpful to have some quick and easy dessert recipes that you can make at home for times when cravings strike. If chocolate’s your thing, you’ll find brownies to bars to a delicious chocolate tart. In the mood for lemon, fresh berries, or perhaps pumpkin? We got you. There are even a few thrown in that are perfect for the holidays.

Love using an air fryer? Check out our list of Easy Air Fryer Desserts to make at home.

Complete List of Easy Desserts to Make at Home

1. Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Bars

With just 8 ingredients in these delicious bars, they come together in no time. A layer of chocolate and caramel sits between sweet, crisp oats for the perfect salty-sweet combination.

You can make your own homemade caramel sauce or pick up a jar to speed things up even more.

2. Whipped Hot Chocolate

This 3 ingredient dessert is all you need to make Whipped Hot Chocolate: hot chocolate mix, heavy cream, and chocolate milk. No chocolate milk on hand? Make a quick glass of chocolate milk for one.

I’ve made this easy dessert for my kids in the summertime. It’s fun to surprise them with “hot” chocolate after a day at the pool!

3. Sopapillas

A sopapilla is puffed, fried dough that’s traditionally drizzled with honey. Powdered sugar or cinnamon and sugar are also great topping choices, or try them drizzled with chocolate sauce. 

This is an authentic recipe that’s still easy and definitely delicious!

4. Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats

Rice Krispies Treats have been around forever and are a beloved childhood favorite for many. There’s certainly nothing wrong with the original recipe, but adding peanut butter and chocolate take things up a notch!

5. Candy Apple Snickers Salad

This unique, easy dessert recipe has just 5 ingredients and tastes like a candy apple, but it’s much easier to eat! All you need are green apples, Snickers bars, heavy cream, sugar, and caramel sauce.

The recipe is so easy, in fact, that you don’t really need to use precise measurements (although the recipe does provide them). It’s a perfect last-minute dessert that everyone will love!

6. Heavenly Oreo Dessert

Oreos are no stranger to easy dessert recipes but this one might take first prize in that category. With just 7 ingredients, the hardest part is crushing the Oreos! That’s pretty amazing considering it serves 12 people, making it perfect to take to a party.

7. Nutella Hot Chocolate

This might just be the easiest dessert recipe on our list. It has just 2 ingredients – Nutella and milk – and only needs to be heated and stirred together! Skip the packets of hot cocoa powder and make this for a treat the entire family will love.

8. Turkish Cake – Revani

Revani is a Turkish cake that’s made with semolina flour, soaked in a lemon-flavored simple syrup, then topped with chopped pistachios. It’s light, extremely moist, and a very popular Turkish dessert. It’s also very easy to make!

9. Cheesecake Brownies

Warm, fudgy brownies with a swirled layer of cheesecake? It’s the best of both worlds in one easy dessert you can make at home. This one is a bit more time-intensive but we promise you it’s worth every delicious bite.

10. Easy Apple Cake

Here’s another one with just 5 ingredients: a box of yellow cake mix, cinnamon, oil, eggs, and apple pie filling is all you need. Just toss it all in a bowl, beat it until it’s combine, and bake! Enjoy it on its own or top it with ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

11. Meringue Christmas Trees

Who wouldn’t be proud to serve these cute meringue cookies on their Christmas cookie tray? Making meringue cookies can be finicky but they’re also incredibly simple, especially if you use the tips and tricks provided.

12. Lemon Lush

Since the only actual baking required for this Lemon Lush is the crust, this definitely qualifies as the perfect easy dessert recipe. Topping the cookie crust is layers of sweetened cream cheese, lemon pudding, and a fluffy whipped topping. It’s perfect for spring or summer, plus it yields 18 slices of deliciousness!

13. Chocolate Cups

Although you’ll need a mold to make these gorgeous chocolate cups, once you have one in hand you’ll be making these for every holiday. Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, even kid’s birthday parties! Check, check, check, and check.

14. Berries with Honey Lemon Mascarpone Cream

The mascarpone cream is delicious enough to enjoy on its own, but layering it with fresh berries is nothing short of stunning. This one is especially good with fresh, in-season berries, and it’s also a bit healthier since it uses greek yogurt in place of heavy cream.

15. Lemon Cake Mix Cookies

With just 6 ingredients that are all mixed in the same bowl, these easy cake mix cookies couldn’t get any simpler! Adding fresh lemon juice and zest to the cake batter is all it takes to get this homemade dessert ready in no time.

16. Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cups

You don’t need any fancy molds to make these, but you do need 3 ingredients: dark chocolate, unsalted butter, and dulce de leche. A sprinkling of sea salt on the top makes them even better, but that still brings the ingredient total to just 4!

These would be perfect on a Christmas cookie tray or just to keep in the freezer for emergency cravings.

17. Chocolate & Toffee Skillet Cookie

Using your cast iron skillet for desserts results in crispier edges and perfectly gooey insides. This one is perfect served warm from the oven with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

18. Caramel Apple Nachos

Why mess with dipping individual apples into caramel when you can serve these easy apple “nachos” instead? Just cut apples and layer them on a plate, drizzle with melted chocolate and caramel, and top it all with chopped nuts.

19. Chocolate Spoons

If you’re looking for the perfect easy dessert to give as an edible gift, this is the one for you! They’re perfect for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or even for kid’s birthday parties (or even as a craft they can make themselves on the big day). Stir them into hot chocolate, coffee, or espresso, or give them as homemade gifts. They’re incredibly simple and always impressive!

21. Grilled Pineapple No-Bake Cheesecakes

If grilling fruit is one of the best things about summer, then grilled pineapple has to be the best of the best. And when you add it to no-bake cheesecake it’s even better.

22. Salted Caramel Mocha

Did you know you can make a salted caramel mocha at home – that’s even better than the coffee house version – with just a few simple ingredients?

This easy dessert recipe gives instructions for making it both with and without coffee. It uses just 6 ingredients and will make you an expert barista in just 7 minutes!

23. Cast Iron Skillet Brownies

Here’s another vote for desserts baked in a cast iron skillet. Not much beats homemade brownies fresh out of the oven, but this version topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, and pecans is a major contender.

24. 4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge

This quick and easy dessert recipe has no refined sugar! All you need is peanut butter, rice malt syrup, butter and salted peanuts. There’s no need for a candy thermometer; all you do is heat the ingredients and stir them until they’re combined. You’ll get 14 squares to snack on whenever you feel like it!

25. Pumpkin Pie Cake

If there’s one dessert you simply must make from this list, it’s this easy Pumpkin Pie Cake! It’s also known as “Pumpkin Dump Cake”, and for good reason since it’s as simple as dumping the ingredients together, mixing, and baking.

26. Super Easy Twix Pound Cake

4 ingredients, 15 minutes prep, and 15 minutes cook time is all you need for this amazingly easy dessert! The recipe creator also provides peanut butter, mint and coconut versions to truly make this one almost any way you like.

27. Sopapilla Cheesecake

If those sopapillas we talked about are delicious, then combining those flavors with this easy cheesecake recipe is over the top. A creamy cheesecake filling that pairs with a slightly crunchy top from a mix of butter and cinnamon & sugar, with a base made from crescent rolls. That’s right – you don’t even need to make your own crust for this one!

28. Flan Cupcakes

Okay, so this one has quite a few more steps than the other recipes on this list. But we promise that each one of those steps is very easy and, as you can see, the end result is something truly special. Save this one when you have a bit more time and want a show-stopping dessert for that WOW! factor.

29. Coconut Rum Balls

Hello, Christmas…you just wouldn’t be the same without a batch or two of coconut rum balls. There are few ingredients needed plus you’ll save time since there’s no baking involved. This one might be for the grownups, but isn’t it time there was a dessert made just for us?

30. 5-Ingredient No-Bake Strawberry Mousse Recipe

You’ll only need five ingredients to make this quick and easy dessert at home: strawberry jello, buttermilk, cool whip, and some fresh raspberries for the top. Serve it in pretty glasses or dessert cups for an impressive end to any meal.

31. Almond Crescent Cookies

Crescent cookies might be a classic but they still deserve a spot on this list. Their crumbly yet melt-in-your-mouth texture is irresistible and they always fly off the cookie try. The recipe was created by the impressive Dorie Greenspan, so you know it’s going to be good!

32. Chocolate Turtle Poke Cake

No list of easy dessert recipes would be complete without at least one poke cake! This version has the flavors of chocolate and caramel and is a decadent treat that everyone will love. The sauce seeps into the cake, then it’s topped with chocolate frosting, chopped pecans, mini chocolate chips, and even more caramel.

33. Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods

Dipping pretzels into chocolate isn’t a new thing, but there are a few tips and tricks to making them as pretty as the ones you see below. This easy, no-bake dessert can be easily made at home and tailored for any holiday, served as-is or wrapped up in cellophane for a wonderful edible gift.

34. No-Bake Banana Cream Pie Bars

These banana cream pie bars are what dreams are made of. If you love banana cream pie, you will love these, because they have all the same layers and more!

This is an easy no bake dessert, all the way down to the crust. Which means you don’t have to heat up your oven at all for this one, but you still get a delicious dessert.

35. Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Strawberries dipped in chocolate – is there anything better or simpler to make? Stop there or drizzle on a second layer of chocolate, sprinkle on some nuts or sprinkles, or even try some finely crushed candy canes.

Don’t save these Chocolate Covered Strawberries for a special occasion; they’re so much cheaper than store-bought and couldn’t be simpler to make.

36. Chocolate Dipped Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Fill store-bought ice cream cones with cake batter, bake it, pipe the tops with whipped cream, then dip them in colored candy melts. Don’t forget the sprinkles!

These fun desserts are so simple to make but will be the highlight of any kid’s birthday party. You can serve them right away or make ahead up to 3 days before enjoying.

37. Chocolate Truffles

A chocolate truffle is a soft, smooth, silky and typically round “candy” that’s coated in either melted chocolate, nuts, cocoa, sprinkles or coconut. It has a soft center that melts in your mouth and is a common homemade or store-bought gift during the holidays.

You can buy truffles but they’re such an easy dessert to impress while making at home, that it’s worth the small amount of effort. Keep them all for yourself or gift them in little candy boxes for the ultimate homemade edible gift.

38. Oreo Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut butter cookies are easy to make on their own (especially if you make this flourless 3-ingredient version) and stuffing them with Oreos is only one extra step. The recipe creator uses peanut butter Oreos but says that regular Oreos will work, too. With just 8 ingredients – including the Oreos – this is a fun dessert recipe you don’t want to miss.

39. Peppermint Bark

Here’s another one that’s perfect for the holidays! With two layers of chocolate that’s topped with crushed peppermint candies, it makes a fantastic and easy gift.

Don’t miss the tips for how to easily keep the layers together. Then just package it up in pretty Christmas tins!

40. Brownie Batter Chocolate Tart

A brownie batter cookie crust is filled with a luscious chocolate ganache that’s made in the microwave. Can you believe it takes just 6 ingredients to make such a gorgeous dessert??

Whew, you made it through our list of 50 + easy desserts to make at home! If you know of one that should be one the list, be sure to let us know in the comments below so we can include it.

More Easy Desserts to Make at Home

• Buttermilk Texas Sheet Cake – This chocolatey, rich sheet cake recipe can be prepared in just 20 minutes plus bake time.
• Chocolate Banana Brownies – These brownies come together in 10 minutes plus bake time.
• Easy Chocolate Fudge – This no-bake dessert is perfect for gift-giving during the holidays!
• Easy Crescent Cinnamon Rolls – This 5-ingredient dessert is gooey-delicious.
• Easy S’mores Pie – This easy kids dessert requires just 3-ingredients and even the kids can assemble in just 5 minutes.
• Healthy Poached Pears – This easy healthy dessert is ready to enjoy in 30 minutes with just 5 minutes prep time.
• Homemade Chocolate Pudding – This 5 minute dessert is easily made with a few pantry ingredients.
• Homemade Marshmallows – Homemade marshmallows are fun dessert to make with kids and takes just 10 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to bake.
• Ice Box Cakes – Ice box cakes take just 15 minutes to prepare: Strawberry, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Raspberry, Chocolate Mint 
• Marzipan Chocolates – This Christmas time favorite is surprisingly easy to make whether you’re using store bought marzipan or making your own 10 minute homemade marzipan.
• Monkey Bread – Warm, soft & gooey, monkey bread is a perfect for make ahead dessert to serve in the morning.
• Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies – It’s no secret that these cookies can be served hot and out of the oven in 20 minutes.

More Dessert Recipe Lists

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• Christmas Cookie Recipes
• Crescent Roll Dessert Recipes
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• Thanksgiving Pies