10+ Baking Recipes Desserts to Sweeten Your Day

Baking desserts is honestly one of those simple joys—fun, a little messy, and super rewarding. You don’t have to be an expert to whip up something delicious. Just grab a few basic ingredients and dive in.

Whether you’re into gooey cookies or something more decadent, baking gives you the freedom to play with flavors and share the results with people you care about. Plus, who doesn’t love a kitchen that smells like sugar and butter?

Let’s check out some baking recipes for all kinds of desserts. There’s a little something for every skill level and craving, so you can try something new or stick with an old favorite.

Baking is honestly a great way to unwind and make something special at the same time.

1) Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Classic chocolate chip cookies really never get old. You can go for soft and chewy or let the edges get a little crispy—totally up to you.

You just need the basics: butter, sugar, flour, and of course, chocolate chips. Nuts are optional, but they add a nice crunch if you’re into that.

Baking these fills the house with that unmistakable cookie smell. Once they’re out of the oven, try not to eat half the batch right away.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
3. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
4. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to wet ingredients.
5. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Drop rounded spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.
7. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are golden.
8. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

2) Heavenly Praline Cake

This cake is super moist and packed with caramel flavor. The candied pecans on top give it a satisfying crunch.

You can keep things simple by using a yellow cake mix. The coconut pecan frosting is what really makes it stand out.

It’s easy enough for a weeknight but still feels a bit fancy. The mix of soft cake and crunchy topping is hard to resist.

Ingredients

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 container coconut pecan frosting
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix cake mix, oil, water, and eggs until smooth.
3. Pour batter into a greased 9×13-inch pan.
4. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
5. Cool cake completely.
6. Spread coconut pecan frosting evenly over the cake.
7. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top.
8. Serve and enjoy!

More details are over here.

3) 7UP Pound Cake

This cake is a breeze. The 7UP gives it a gentle citrus kick and keeps it really moist.

You’ll get a slightly crunchy outside and a soft, tender inside. It’s a classic Southern treat—kind of nostalgic, honestly.

No need for anything fancy. Just butter, sugar, 7UP, and a few pantry staples.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 5 large eggs
• 1 cup 7UP soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. Grease and flour a bundt or tube pan.
3. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
4. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
5. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
6. Stir in vanilla and lemon extracts.
7. Add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with 7UP.
8. Pour batter into the pan and smooth the top.
9. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
10. Let cool before removing from the pan.

Here’s the 7UP Pound Cake recipe if you want more info.

4) Cinnamon-Raisin Bread Pudding

Cinnamon-raisin bread pudding is the definition of cozy. It’s a great way to use up leftover bread and turn it into something soft and sweet.

The raisins plump up while soaking in the egg and milk mixture. When it’s baked, you get a golden top and a custardy, melt-in-your-mouth center.

Serve it for breakfast or dessert—no one’s judging. It’s simple but feels a little special.

Ingredients

• 1 loaf cinnamon-raisin bread, cubed
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional, for extra plumpness)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Place bread cubes in a baking dish.
3. Whisk eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and melted butter.
4. Pour mixture over bread evenly.
5. Let sit 10 minutes to soak.
6. Bake 45-50 minutes until golden on top.
7. Cool slightly before serving.

Need more ideas? Check this Cinnamon-Raisin Bread Pudding recipe page.

5) Giant Buckeye Cookie

The Giant Buckeye Cookie is ridiculously easy and always a crowd-pleaser. It’s basically a big chocolate cookie with a creamy peanut butter center.

Start by mixing chocolate cake mix, eggs, and oil. Stir in chocolate chips, then add the peanut butter filling for that soft, gooey bite.

Once it’s baked, spread the peanut butter mixture on top and throw on a few extra chocolate chips. Let it cool (if you can wait).

Ingredients

• 1 package chocolate cake mix
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix cake mix, eggs, and oil until smooth.
3. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips.
4. Spread dough in a greased 9×13-inch pan.
5. Bake for 18-22 minutes until edges are set.
6. Mix peanut butter and confectioners’ sugar.
7. Spread peanut butter mixture over warm cookie.
8. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips on top.
9. Let cool before serving.

6) Easy Depression/Wacky Cake

This cake is a lifesaver if you’re out of eggs, milk, or butter. It’s called Depression Cake or Wacky Cake—born from tough times, but still totally worth making.

You only need basic pantry stuff, and the result is moist, chocolaty, and quick to make. You can frost it or just eat it plain.

It’s a forgiving recipe, and beginners can handle it without stress.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup water

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
3. Add vinegar, vanilla, oil, and water. Stir until smooth.
4. Pour into a greased 8-inch square pan.
5. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
6. Check doneness with a toothpick; it should come out clean.

7) Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

Chocolate and peanut butter—what’s not to love? These brownies are fudgy, gooey, and have the perfect swirl of peanut butter.

You can toss in some peanut butter chunks or just swirl it on top. Either way, they’re a hit.

They’re great for sharing, or just for those nights when you need something sweet and comforting. More details at Cloudy Kitchen.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup peanut butter
• ½ cup peanut butter chunks (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Melt the butter and mix with sugar.
3. Add eggs one at a time, stirring well.
4. Mix in cocoa powder, flour, and salt.
5. Pour batter into a lined pan.
6. Drop peanut butter and chunks over the batter.
7. Swirl peanut butter gently with a knife.
8. Bake for 30-35 minutes until set.
9. Cool before slicing and serving.

8) Homemade Vanilla Cupcakes

Homemade vanilla cupcakes are simple and always a win. You get soft, moist cupcakes with that classic vanilla flavor everyone likes.

Using oil instead of butter keeps them extra tender. You can top them however you want—sprinkles, frosting, berries, whatever’s around.

They stay fresh for a few days if you store them right. Bake at the right temp, and you’ll have cupcakes that are just the right amount of fluffy.

Baking cupcakes at home is honestly kind of therapeutic, don’t you think?

Ingredients

• 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

3. In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. In another bowl, beat sugar, oil, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla.

5. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Stir until the batter looks smooth.

6. Fill each liner about two-thirds full.

7. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Check with a toothpick—if it comes out clean, they’re done.

8. Let them cool completely before you frost them.

For the full recipe, you can check out the moist vanilla cupcake instructions at Life Love and Sugar.

9) Old-Fashioned Apple Pie

You can make a classic old-fashioned apple pie with a flaky, buttery crust. The filling comes together with fresh apple slices, sugar, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

It’s a simple pie, but it really feels like home. The crust works well with butter or shortening, whatever you like or have on hand.

No need to cook the apples first—just mix and bake. The filling stays juicy and thickens up as the pie bakes.

Bake it until the crust turns golden and the filling bubbles a bit. This one’s perfect for sharing with people you care about.

Ingredients

• 6 cups thinly sliced apples
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 package double pie crust (or homemade crust)
• 1 egg (for egg wash, optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).

2. Toss apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, flour, lemon juice, and salt in a bowl.

3. Roll out one pie crust and fit it into a pie pan.

4. Pour in the apple mixture and spread it out a little.

5. Cover with the second crust, seal the edges, and cut a few slits for steam.

6. Brush the top with a beaten egg if you want a shinier finish.

7. Bake for 15 minutes, then drop the heat to 350°F (175°C) and bake another 35-40 minutes.

8. Let the pie cool before slicing so the filling can set up nicely.

You can find a similar recipe at Allrecipes: Old-Fashioned Apple Pie.

10) Decadent Chocolate Fudge Brownies

If you’re after brownies that are rich and fudgy, this recipe’s got you covered. The inside stays soft, and the top gets that irresistible crackly finish.

You can whip these up from basic ingredients you probably already have. Melt some butter, then mix it with sugar and cocoa powder.

Add your eggs and flour, but don’t overmix—just enough to pull it together. You’ll get brownies that are moist and chocolatey, whether you eat them warm or after they’ve cooled.

Honestly, tossing in a handful of chocolate chunks makes them even better. Share them if you feel generous, or keep the whole batch—no judgment.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Crank your oven up to 350°F (175°C).

2. Grab an 8×8 inch baking pan and grease it up.

3. Melt the butter, then mix it with sugar in a bowl.

4. Toss in the eggs and vanilla, and give it a good stir.

5. Add the cocoa powder, flour, and salt.

6. Stir everything together until it looks smooth.

7. Pour the batter into your pan and try to spread it out evenly.

8. Bake for 20-25 minutes. The top should look set, but don’t worry if the center still feels soft—it’s better that way.

9. Let the brownies cool down before you cut them into squares.

If you want to check out a super rich version, here’s a recipe: Decadent Chocolate Fudge Brownies.