10+ Easy Dessert Recipes to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Quickly

Desserts really are the best way to wrap up a meal or just treat yourself in the middle of a busy day. When you’re craving something sweet but can’t be bothered with complicated steps, easy dessert recipes come to the rescue.

Easy dessert recipes are simple, use just a handful of ingredients, and don’t pile on the stress.

You don’t need to be a pro in the kitchen to whip up these treats. They fit into hectic schedules and let you enjoy homemade desserts without the hassle.

Cooking for yourself, friends, or family? There’s something here for everyone who wants a quick, delicious bite.

1) Soft-Baked Monster Cookies

Soft-baked monster cookies are a breeze to make. They’re thick, chewy, and loaded with peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and those classic M&Ms.

The oats give them a little texture, but they stay wonderfully soft. You can whip up a batch fast and they stay chewy even after they cool.

They’re fun, colorful, and perfect for sharing—though honestly, you might want to keep them for yourself.

Ingredients

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup M&Ms
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream together butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar until smooth.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
4. Mix in baking soda, salt, and oats.
5. Stir in chocolate chips and M&Ms.
6. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, just until the edges set and centers look soft.
8. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack.

You can check out more details at Soft-Baked Monster Cookies.

2) Gluten-Free No-Bake Fruit Tart

Looking for something light and easy? Try a gluten-free no-bake fruit tart. The crust skips the gluten and comes together with just cookies or nuts.

The filling is smooth and creamy—usually Greek yogurt or a vegan swap. Top it off with fresh berries or whatever fruit you’re into.

No oven needed, which is a lifesaver on hot days or when you’re feeling impatient. The crust’s crunch balances the creamy filling and juicy fruit.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups gluten-free cookie crumbs
• ⅓ cup melted coconut oil or butter
• 1 cup Greek yogurt or dairy-free alternative
• 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
• 1 cup mixed fresh berries

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix cookie crumbs with melted coconut oil or butter.
2. Press into a tart pan for your crust.
3. Chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.
4. Whisk yogurt with honey or maple syrup.
5. Spread the yogurt mixture over the chilled crust.
6. Arrange berries on top.
7. Chill for another 30 minutes before serving.

Find more ideas for this tart at Sally’s Baking Addiction.

3) Easy Cheesecake Nachos

Cheesecake nachos are honestly a blast to make. Start with cinnamon sugar tortilla chips for that sweet crunch.

Top with a quick no-bake cheesecake mixture and maybe some caramel or toffee bits. If you’ve got strawberries or other fruit, toss those on too.

No need to bake a whole cheesecake—this is way faster and just as satisfying.

Ingredients:

• Flour or corn tortillas
• Cinnamon and sugar
• Cream cheese
• Sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Caramel sauce or toffee bits
• Optional: fresh strawberries

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cut tortillas into triangles.
3. Toss chips with cinnamon sugar and bake for 8-10 minutes until crisp.
4. Beat cream cheese with sugar and vanilla.
5. Arrange chips on a plate, spoon cheesecake mixture over, and drizzle with caramel or sprinkle toffee bits.
6. Add strawberries if you want. Serve right away.

4) Cheat’s Brownies

When you need brownies fast, cheat’s brownies are the way to go. Grab a boxed mix and toss in extras like white chocolate or nuts.

You can even add orange zest for a fresh kick. They bake up fudgy and chewy—hard to beat when you’re short on time.

Ingredients

• Brownie mix
• White chocolate chunks or nuts (optional)
• Orange zest (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Prepare the brownie mix as directed.
3. Fold in white chocolate, nuts, or orange zest.
4. Pour into a lined pan.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
6. Let cool before cutting.

You can get more ideas at Cheat Brownies.

5) Simple Ice Cream Sundae

Ice cream sundaes are the ultimate no-fuss dessert. Scoop your favorite ice cream into a bowl—vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, whatever you’ve got.

Add chocolate ganache or caramel sauce for a little extra. A drizzle of syrup never hurts.

Top with whipped cream, nuts, or sprinkles for crunch and fun. If you have a cherry, pop it on top.

It’s fast, sweet, and always hits the spot.

Ingredients

• 2-3 scoops of ice cream
• Chocolate ganache or syrup
• Caramel sauce
• Whipped cream
• Chopped nuts or sprinkles
• Maraschino cherry (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Scoop ice cream into a bowl.
2. Drizzle with chocolate and caramel sauces.
3. Add whipped cream.
4. Sprinkle with nuts or sprinkles.
5. Top with a cherry if you like.

Find more sundae ideas here.

6) Classic Apple Tart

A classic apple tart looks fancy but is actually pretty straightforward. Start with a sheet of puff pastry and layer on thin apple slices.

Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar to bring out the apples’ sweetness. Frozen puff pastry keeps things simple and quick.

Once baked, this tart is great warm or at room temp. Serve with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of honey if you’re feeling extra.

Ingredients

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 3-4 medium apples, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Roll out the puff pastry on a baking sheet.
3. Arrange apple slices on top, leaving a border.
4. Mix sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle over apples.
5. Brush pastry edges with egg wash.
6. Drizzle melted butter over apples.
7. Bake 30-35 minutes until golden and soft.

7) 3-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse

This chocolate mousse is ridiculously simple. You just need chocolate, whipping cream, and vanilla—no baking, no fuss.

Whip the cream, melt the chocolate, fold it all together, and chill. That’s it. The result? Creamy, rich, and totally satisfying.

It’s also gluten-free and doesn’t need any special gear. Perfect for those last-minute chocolate cravings.

Ingredients

• 1 cup good chocolate chips
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Melt chocolate until smooth.
2. Whip cream until soft peaks form.
3. Fold the chocolate and vanilla into the whipped cream.
4. Chill for at least 30 minutes.

Find the full recipe at easy chocolate mousse recipe.

8) Quick Sugar Cookies

Quick sugar cookies are the answer when you want something sweet but don’t want to wait. You’ll just need flour, sugar, butter, and an egg—nothing fancy.

No chilling the dough, so you can get them in the oven fast. They bake up soft and sweet, ready in under 15 minutes.

Decorate them or eat them plain, up to you.

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 1 large egg

Cooking Instructions

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

2. Mix butter and sugar together until the mixture turns smooth.

3. Beat in the egg.

4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder.

5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.

6. Roll the dough into balls and set them on an ungreased baking sheet.

7. Flatten each ball just a bit.

8. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until you see a light golden color.

9. Let the cookies cool before you serve them.

For more details, check Easy Sugar Cookies Recipe.

9) No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

No-bake peanut butter bars are honestly a breeze to whip up. You don’t even need to turn on the oven, which is a huge win when it’s hot out or you just want something quick.

Grab some peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, and graham cracker crumbs. Mix them all together.

Once combined, press the mixture into a pan.

Melt chocolate chips in the microwave until smooth.

Pour the chocolate over the peanut butter layer and spread it out.

Pop the pan in the fridge for a couple of hours.

After chilling, just cut into bars and you’re set. It’s kind of like a peanut butter cup, but honestly, maybe even better.

Ingredients

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix peanut butter, softened butter, powdered sugar, and graham cracker crumbs.

2. Press the mixture firmly into a greased 9×13 inch pan.

3. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl until smooth.

4. Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the peanut butter layer.

5. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before cutting and serving.

10) Malted Chocolate Chip-Pecan Cookies

These cookies put a playful spin on the old-school chocolate chip classic. You get a nutty punch from the pecans and just enough malted flavor to make you raise an eyebrow in a good way.

They’re chewy, loaded with melty chocolate chips, and honestly, they practically beg for a cold glass of milk. The malted milk powder brings this sweet, toasted depth that makes the cookies richer and keeps them soft.

Toasted pecans add a satisfying crunch and a cozy, nutty vibe. You can whip up a batch in about 12 minutes at 350°F (175°C).

They’re simple to throw together and perfect for sharing—if you don’t eat half the dough first.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 sticks (8 oz) unsalted butter
• 2 oz malted milk powder
• 1 large egg
• 4 tsp barley malt syrup
• 2 1/2 cups toasted pecan pieces
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream butter and sugar until smooth.
3. Mix in malted milk powder, egg, and barley malt syrup.
4. Fold in pecans and chocolate chips.
5. Scoop dough onto baking sheet.
6. Bake for 12 minutes or until edges look golden.
7. Let them cool a bit before digging in.

If you want to dive deeper into this cookie, check out Serious Eats.