17 Easy Dessert Recipes With Few Ingredients
Ava Brown
September 3, 2025 • 17 recipes
Dessert emergency? 🚨 These 17 recipes use barely any ingredients & taste epic.
Sweet Potato Toast With Caramelized Banana And Peanut Butter
Elevate your snack game with this surprisingly sophisticated Sweet Potato Toast, perfectly balancing earthy sweetness with rich, nutty decadence. While the sweet potato roasts to a tender-crisp foundation, slices of banana are expertly caramelized in coconut oil until golden brown and wonderfully soft. Layer the warm toast with your favorite creamy peanut butter, the luscious caramelized banana, and a scattering of crunchy cacao nibs for an addictive textural contrast that satisfies any craving. This innovative treat comes together quickly, offering a wholesome yet deeply satisfying dessert experience.
Easy Strawberry Galette
This Easy Strawberry Galette delivers rustic elegance with minimal effort, showcasing the sweet tang of fresh berries folded into buttery pastry. We rely on store-bought puff pastry to create a gorgeously flaky, golden crust that crisps perfectly around a simple filling of hulled strawberries brightened with a whisper of orange zest. Simply arrange the fruit, fold the edges inward, and bake for a stunning, shareable dessert that tastes like summer.
Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Forget the deep fryer; these baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts deliver all the irresistible warmth and fluffy texture of your favorite bakery treat with satisfying ease. Each tender cake donut is generously coated in a buttery, aromatic cinnamon-sugar crust that clings perfectly to the soft interior. The combination of melted butter and canola oil ensures a moist crumb that truly sings, making this the quintessential cozy fall indulgence. Because they are baked, these gems come together quickly and are ready to enjoy almost immediately.
Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
These Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies deliver a sophisticated burst of holiday flavor in a wonderfully simple package. Expect a tender, buttery crumb that melts on the tongue, perfectly balanced by the bright tang of dried cranberries and fragrant notes of fresh orange zest. While the texture is undeniably delicate, these cookies hold up beautifully, making them an excellent option for gifting or setting out on a festive platter.
No-Bake Blueberry Delight
This No-Bake Blueberry Delight delivers quintessential summer flavor without ever needing to turn on your oven. A velvety smooth, creamy filling is layered generously over a buttery, crisp graham cracker crust, creating an irresistible textural contrast. Each bite is bursting with the sweet-tart essence of juicy blueberries, making this a refreshingly cool treat after a warm day. Prepare this entire pie ahead of time, allowing it to chill fully so the flavors meld beautifully before serving.
Fluffernutter Bars
These Fluffernutter Bars deliver the ultimate nostalgia trip, combining the beloved pairing of salty peanut butter and sweet marshmallow fluff into a single, satisfying square. A buttery, slightly crisp shortbread base provides the perfect foundation for a thick, creamy layer of peanut butter filling, all crowned with a blanket of toasted, airy marshmallow. These bars slice beautifully, making them an effortless treat to pack for picnics or serve at any casual gathering.
Pumpkin Date Cake With Cream Cheese Icing
This Pumpkin Date Cake is the ultimate autumnal indulgence, perfectly balancing warm spice with luscious sweetness. Tender cake layers are studded with rich, chewy dates and infused with classic pumpkin flavor, all crowned with a tangy, velvety cream cheese icing. While the technique feels elevated, this simple cake comes together beautifully, providing a comforting slice of seasonal bliss.
Warm Carrot, Ginger & Honey Pudding With Nut Crunch
This comforting pudding is a delightful twist on a classic, featuring the warm spice of ginger perfectly balanced by naturally sweet carrots and a drizzle of golden honey. The texture is beautifully complex, offering a tender, moist interior contrasted by a satisfying, crunchy nut topping. While it sounds sophisticated, this baked treat comes together with minimal effort, making it a fantastic option for an elevated weeknight dessert. Serve it warm straight from the oven for the ultimate cozy experience.
Maple Glazed Donuts
These aren't just any donuts; they are tender, pillowy rings of dough that soak up a warm, shimmering maple glaze. The secret lies in achieving that perfect airy crumb before they are bathed in a sweet syrup made simply from pure maple goodness. While they are best enjoyed fresh from the fryer, these beauties store surprisingly well at room temperature for a day if kept in an airtight container.
Blackberry & Violet Panna Cotta With Almond Tuile
Elevate your dessert repertoire with this stunning Blackberry & Violet Panna Cotta, a sophisticated treat that balances tart fruit with delicate floral notes. The silky-smooth custard base melts on the tongue, infused with the subtle perfume of violet essence and studded with vibrant blackberry puree. For the perfect textural contrast, present this elegant pudding topped with a crisp, buttery almond tuile that shatters beautifully with every bite. This impressive dessert can be prepared entirely a day in advance, allowing the flavors to fully meld before serving.
Lemon, Almond And Pistachio Tea Loaf
This bright and fragrant tea loaf brings together the sunny tang of lemon with the delicate, nutty notes of almond and pistachio for a sophisticated yet simple bake. A tender crumb is infused with fresh lemon zest and juice, while finely ground almonds provide a satisfying richness, all balanced by the subtle crunch of chopped pistachios folded throughout. Glaze it lightly with a simple lemon syrup while still warm to lock in moisture and enhance the bright citrus flavor.
Spiced Date And Orange Loaf With Pecan Streusel
This Spiced Date and Orange Loaf offers a sophisticated yet comforting flavor profile that elevates simple baking. Sweet, sticky Medjool dates are folded into a moist, tender crumb brightened with fragrant orange zest, creating a wonderfully balanced sweetness. A crunchy pecan streusel topping provides a delightful textural contrast to the soft loaf underneath. This versatile bake is fantastic for an afternoon treat and keeps beautifully wrapped on the counter for several days.
Carrot, Date & Apricot Pudding With Cinnamon Cream
This deeply comforting pudding is a beautiful tapestry of sweet, sun-dried fruit and warm spice, proving that simple ingredients can yield extraordinary flavor. Finely grated carrots meld with chewy dates and tangy apricots, creating a moist, tender base that is perfectly complemented by a velvety cinnamon-spiced cream topping. The natural sweetness of the dried fruit eliminates the need for excessive sugar, resulting in a satisfyingly rich yet balanced bite. This pudding sets up beautifully and is wonderful served warm or at room temperature.
Sticky Carrot, Ginger & Date Loaf With Citrus Glaze
This Sticky Carrot, Ginger & Date Loaf delivers a warm, spiced experience that elevates the humble quick bread. Tender cake is studded with naturally sweet dates and brightened by the sharp, aromatic punch of fresh ginger, all balancing beautifully against the earthy sweetness of shredded carrots. Once baked, this loaf is finished with a vibrant citrus glaze that cuts through the richness, lending a lovely sheen and a zesty finish. For an extra layer of flavor, be sure to soak your dates slightly before incorporating them into the batter.
Sticky Toffee Date Pudding
This Sticky Toffee Date Pudding delivers deep, comforting sweetness that feels wonderfully decadent, yet it’s surprisingly straightforward to prepare. Tender, moist sponge cake is studded with plump dates that caramelize beautifully during baking, creating an intensely flavorful base. The magic happens when a luscious, buttery toffee sauce is generously poured over the warm pudding, soaking in to create that signature sticky texture. While this recipe requires a little more attention than some on this list, the resulting rich, complex flavor is absolutely worth the effort.
Chai Spice Panna Cotta With Caramel
Transport your palate to a cozy spice market with this elegant Chai Spice Panna Cotta, featuring the warm, aromatic notes of cardamom, cinnamon, and clove suspended in a delicate, creamy base. This silken Italian custard is beautifully set and contrasts wonderfully with a drizzle of rich, bittersweet caramel sauce spooned over the top just before serving. While the texture is luxurious, this recipe comes together easily on the stovetop—simply chill it thoroughly, and you have a sophisticated, make-ahead dessert ready for any occasion.
Chocolate Cream Cheese Truffles
These Chocolate Cream Cheese Truffles deliver serious indulgence with minimal effort, creating rich, bite-sized morsels perfect for any occasion. The secret lies in the luscious, tangy cream cheese folded into decadent melted chocolate, resulting in a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture that is utterly addictive. Simply mix, chill, and roll these decadent bites for an impressive confection that requires no baking whatsoever. They are fantastic for making ahead of time and storing in the refrigerator until you need a quick chocolate fix.