10+ Dessert Recipes You’ll Love to Try Today

Dessert recipes can bring a sweet finish to any meal—or just be a treat when you feel like it. Whether you want something quick or a little more special, there are tons of options to play with.

You’ll find desserts for every taste and skill level, so it’s actually fun and not intimidating to whip something up.

If you’re not sure where to start, picking the right dessert makes things easier. You really don’t need to be an expert to make something satisfying.

With a bit of guidance, you’re ready to bake, mix, or chill your way to a tasty treat.

1) Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Classic chocolate chip cookies are the gold standard of desserts. They come out soft, thick, and chewy—basically perfect for any occasion.

No need to chill the dough, so you can make them fast. Go plain or toss in walnuts for a little extra crunch.

The combo of brown and white sugar gives these cookies a balanced sweetness and a nice texture. You can bake them all in one bowl, which saves on cleanup, and they stay soft for days.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Optional: 1 cup chopped walnuts

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
3. Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla in a large bowl until creamy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well.
5. Gradually add flour mixture.
6. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts if you want.
7. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto baking sheets.
8. Bake 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.
9. Cool for 2 minutes, then move to wire racks.

2) Blueberry Lemon Bars

Blueberry lemon bars are bright and tasty, mixing tart lemon with sweet berries. You get a buttery shortbread crust for crunch, and the filling pops with lemon juice and juicy blueberries.

Some people go for a creamy layer, kind of like cheesecake, if you want extra richness. The blueberries burst in your mouth, and the lemon gives a zingy finish.

These bars are perfect for summer—or really, whenever you want something light and sweet. They’re easy to make and look pretty on a plate.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 2 lemons (juice and zest)
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup flour

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla for the crust. Press it into a baking pan.
3. Bake crust for 15 minutes.
4. Whisk eggs, lemon juice, and zest.
5. Gently stir in blueberries.
6. Pour filling over crust.
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes until set.
8. Cool before slicing into bars.

For more, check out blueberry lemon bars.

3) Maple Walnut Candied Bacon

If you like a sweet-and-salty combo, maple walnut candied bacon is a wild treat. Coat bacon with maple syrup and walnuts, then bake until it’s crispy and caramelized.

The salty bacon, sweet maple, and crunchy walnuts all work together. Try it on ice cream, brownies, or pancakes, or just eat it straight—no judgment.

Ingredients

• 8 slices of bacon
• ½ cup pure maple syrup
• ½ cup chopped walnuts

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Line a baking sheet with foil and set a cooling rack on top.
3. Lay bacon on the rack.
4. Brush with maple syrup, sprinkle walnuts.
5. Bake 20-25 minutes until crispy.
6. Cool before serving or chopping.

4) Greek Yogurt Carrot Cake

Greek Yogurt Carrot Cake is super moist and tender, thanks to the yogurt. The tang from the yogurt and warm spices like cinnamon play well with the fresh carrot.

It’s topped with pecan cream cheese frosting, which adds creaminess and crunch. Toasted pecans give it a little extra something.

Serve this for birthdays or just because you want a dessert that’s rich but not too heavy.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups finely shredded carrots
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk yogurt, sugars, oil, eggs, and vanilla.
4. Stir in dry ingredients, then fold in carrots and pecans.
5. Pour into a greased pan and bake 35-40 minutes.
6. Cool before adding frosting.

5) Red, White & Berry Sheet Pan Shortcake

This sheet pan shortcake is a simple, crowd-pleasing dessert. You bake a fluffy biscuit layer on a sheet pan, so it’s easy to slice and serve.

Top it with strawberries, blueberries, and mascarpone whipped cream for a fresh, colorful finish. The cake is light and the berries bring sweet-tart flavor.

It’s festive enough for holidays but honestly, I’d make it anytime. No fancy tools needed.

Find the full recipe here: Red, White & Berry Sheet Pan Shortcake.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ cup cold butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup chopped strawberries
• 2/3 cup blueberries
• 3 to 4 cups mixed berries for topping
• Mascarpone whipped cream

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Mix dry ingredients.
3. Cut in cold butter until crumbly.
4. Add vanilla and mix to make dough.
5. Spread dough on a sheet pan.
6. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden.
7. Cool, then spread mascarpone whipped cream.
8. Add berries on top.
9. Slice and serve.

6) Chocolate Chip Orange Ricotta Pound Cake

This cake blends bright orange and chocolate chips in a moist, tender loaf. Ricotta cheese keeps it soft and rich.

Fresh orange zest brings a citrus punch, and every bite has a chocolatey surprise. You can dust it with powdered sugar if you’re feeling fancy.

It’s a great snack or a treat with coffee or tea.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 cup freshly grated orange zest
• 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix flour, baking powder, and orange zest.
3. In another bowl, whisk ricotta, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients gently.
5. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Pour into a greased loaf pan.
7. Bake 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool before slicing.

More here: Chocolate Chip Orange Ricotta Pound Cake recipe.

7) No-Bake Cheesecake

No-bake cheesecake is the answer when you can’t be bothered with the oven. It’s creamy, smooth, and sits on a crunchy graham cracker crust.

You just mix the filling, press it into the crust, and let it chill. Cream cheese and whipped topping make it light and fluffy.

Toss some fresh fruit on top if you want. The crust needs a few hours in the fridge to firm up, so plan ahead.

Ingredients

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 16 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup Cool Whip or whipped topping
• Fresh fruit for topping (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter, then press into a 9-inch pan.
2. Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.
3. Fold in Cool Whip gently.
4. Spread filling over crust.
5. Chill at least 4 hours, until firm.
6. Top with fresh fruit if you like.

For more info, check this No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe.

8) Strawberry Orange Sorbet

Strawberry orange sorbet feels like summer in a bowl. It’s cool, light, and just a little tangy.

You’ll only need a few things for this one—strawberries, orange juice, and maybe a bit of honey or sugar if you’re after more sweetness. Toss everything in a blender and whirl it until it’s smooth.

Pour the mixture into a container and freeze it. That’s about it.

Serve it soft or scoop it once it’s solid. Fresh fruit in dessert form? Yes, please.

Ingredients

• 4 cups sliced strawberries
• 2 cups fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup honey or sugar (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Add strawberries to a blender or food processor.
2. Pour in orange juice.
3. Add honey or sugar if you want more sweetness.
4. Blend until smooth.
5. Pour mixture into a freezer-safe container.
6. Freeze for at least 4 hours at 0°F (-18°C).
7. Scoop and serve cold.

9) Whiskey Maple Pecan Pie

Whiskey maple pecan pie puts a bold spin on tradition. Maple syrup replaces corn syrup, so you get this deep, real sweetness.

A splash of whiskey brings a warm, cozy edge. Don’t worry, it’s not overpowering—just enough to make you wonder why you didn’t try it sooner.

You’ll fill a flaky pie crust with a gooey, nutty center and top it all with toasted pecans. This one’s a showstopper for gatherings or just when you’re craving something extra.

The ingredients are simple: brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and the rest. Want to go all out? Add a dollop of whipped cream with a hint of whiskey.

Ingredients

• 1 unbaked pie crust
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup real maple syrup
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons whiskey
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups pecan halves

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix brown sugar, maple syrup, melted butter, whiskey, and vanilla in a bowl.
3. Stir in pecans.
4. Pour filling into the pie crust.
5. Bake for 50-60 minutes until set but still slightly jiggly in the center.
6. Cool before serving.

Learn more about whiskey maple pecan pie at The Cozy Plum.

10) Cinnamon Roll Pull-Apart Bread

Cinnamon roll pull-apart bread is the lazy genius’s answer to homemade cinnamon rolls. Grab some store-bought dough or a can of cinnamon rolls, cut them up, and pile them in layers with cinnamon and sugar.

Once it bakes, you get these pillowy, buttery layers, all sticky with cinnamon. It’s kind of irresistible.

Want to make it over the top? Drizzle glaze or frosting on while it’s still warm.

Just pull off a piece and dig in—no forks required.

Ingredients

• 1 can refrigerated cinnamon rolls
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• Optional: icing packet from cinnamon roll can or prepared glaze

Cooking Instructions

1. Go ahead and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Grab those cinnamon rolls and cut each one into quarters.

3. In a bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon.

4. Dip every piece into some melted butter. Coat them all in that cinnamon sugar mix.

5. Start layering the coated pieces into a bundt pan or whatever baking dish you like.

6. Bake everything for about 25-30 minutes. You’re looking for a nice golden color.

7. Once they’re out, drizzle with icing or glaze. Serve while they’re still warm.

If you want more ideas, take a peek at cinnamon roll pull-apart recipes on Allrecipes.