Dessert recipes

Desserts for every occasion, from 5-minute trail mix to no-bake pies and holiday cut-out cookies. The range is wide. Quick treats include peanut butter fudge, popcorn balls and cottage cheese mousse with honey. Baked favorites include banana bread, cinnamon apple muffins, rhubarb crisp and blackberry cobbler with a buttermilk biscuit topping.

Seasonal sweets follow the calendar, with Valentine's strawberries, Christmas cookies and graduation cap cookies. Some recipes are made for sharing, such as individual cookie bags or party snack mixes like red, white and blue puppy chow. To choose, start with the time you have: no-bake pies and mousse need chilling rather than oven time, while cookies and quick breads come together in under an hour.

Look for dairy-free and healthier options if you need them.

Boston Indian Pudding with Dark Molasses

Indian Pudding for 8 Servings

4.60 (5 Ratings)

Weekend bakers chasing a classic Indian Pudding will find a long cornmeal soak keeps the custard soft, while molasses turns it deep mahogany.

Cinnamon-Crusted Apple Snickerdoodle Muffins

Apple Snickerdoodle Muffins

5.00 (1 Ratings)

Use a dual-temperature baking method for these Apple Snickerdoodle Muffins. Includes a scaling table for 6 to 24 muffins and takes 40 minutes total.

Golden Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins

Pumpkin Apple Muffins

5.00 (2 Ratings)

Golden bakery-style domes define these Pumpkin Apple Muffins. Check out the guide on how to bake them to ensure a crisp cinnamon top every time.

Cinnamon Apple Muffins with a Crisp Crust

Cinnamon Apple Muffins

4.40 (5 Ratings)

Cinnamon Apple Muffins with a bakery-style height. This guide includes a clear section on how to make it for great results. Ready in just 37 minutes.

Crisp Chicago Public School Butter Cookies

CPS Butter Cookies

4.00 (1 Ratings)

Buttery Chicago Public School Butter Cookies. Learn why the creaming matters for the right texture. Ideal for nostalgic afternoon snacks at home.

School Bus Cookies with Maple Syrup

School Bus Cookies

4.33 (3 Ratings)

Many yellow treats lose their shape or rely on dyes. These School Bus Cookies stay square; see the section Why These Cookies Stay Square for bake sale ideas.

No-Stress Pencil Sugar Cookies: School Treats

Pencil Wafer Cookies

5.00 (3 Ratings)

Sugar wafer cookies and melting wafers create these Back to School Pencil Wafer Cookies. See the specs overview for more and finish in 22 minutes.

Failure-Proof BacktoSchool Sugar Cookies

BacktoSchool Sugar Cookies

4.00 (1 Ratings)

Ready in 32 minutes, these BacktoSchool Sugar Cookies are a hit. Our guide on why these stay thick ensures a tender, cloud-like bite every time.

School Day Cereal Cookies in 20 Minutes

School Day Cereal Cookies

4.67 (3 Ratings)

Mix toasted cereal and chocolate for these School Day Cereal Cookies. This guide includes a list of ingredient substitutes and takes 20 minutes total.

Failure-Proof Trail Mix Freezer Cookies

Trail Mix Freezer Cookies

4.83 (6 Ratings)

Many cookies spread too much in the oven. Trail Mix Freezer Cookies avoid this via flash freezing, and our fresh vs frozen comparison table explains why.

TwoBite OneChip Cookies: Buttery Snap

TwoBite OneChip Cookies

5.00 (2 Ratings)

Home bakers needing a treat will love TwoBite OneChip Cookies. The Magic of One Yolk section explains how to get a rich, buttery snap every time.

Pillowy BacktoSchool Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

5.00 (1 Ratings)

Butter, sugar, and vanilla make these BacktoSchool Sprinkle Sugar Cookies. This 26 min recipe includes a guide on what each ingredient does.

Gooey Cafeteria Chocolate Chip Cookies in 23 Minutes

Gooey Cafeteria Cookies

4.00 (2 Ratings)

Want those Gooey Cafeteria Chocolate Chip Cookies at home? Get them with a high brown sugar ratio and a helpful ingredient breakdown for great results.

Precision-Cut Alphabet Sugar Cookies

Alphabet Sugar Cookies

5.00 (1 Ratings)

Includes a method comparison for shape retention. These Alphabet Sugar Cookies are ideal for parents making fun, crunchy treats for their kids to enjoy.

Candy Corn Pretzel Bites in 10 Minutes

Candy Corn Pretzel Bites

4.20 (5 Ratings)

Halloween party hosts will love these Candy Corn Pretzel Bites. This guide includes a clear step by step process for a salty and sweet treat.

Easy Halloween Snack Mix in 5 Minutes

Easy Halloween Snack Mix

5.00 (3 Ratings)

Chex cereal, salted pretzels, and peanuts make this Easy Halloween Snack Mix. This guide includes quick recipe specs for a treat ready in 5 minutes.

Candy Corn Snack Mix in 5 Minutes

Candy Corn Snack Mix

Crunchy and salty Candy Corn Snack Mix. It includes a detailed recipe specs breakdown for effortless planning. Great for your Candy Corn Halloween Treats.

Buttery Candy Corn Krispie Treats

Candy Corn Krispie Treats

4.00 (1 Ratings)

Use a layered cooling method to create these Candy Corn Krispie Treats. Check the recipe specs for this chewy, buttery dessert ready in 23 minutes.

Chocolate Spider Web Pretzels

Spider Web Pretzels

4.00 (1 Ratings)

Halloween party hosts will love these Spider Web Pretzels. Follow the guide on putting the webs together for a salty and sweet holiday treat.

Halloween Monster Cookies in 25 Minutes

Halloween Monster Cookies

3.00 (1 Ratings)

Check the baking specs at a glance for easy planning. These Halloween Monster Cookies are a huge hit for parents making spooky treats with kids.

Pumpkin Fluff Dip with Cream Cheese

Pumpkin Fluff Dip

5.00 (2 Ratings)

Pumpkin Fluff Dip brings a creamy fall flavor to any party. Check out the section on why this mixture works for the ideal consistency. Ready in 5 minutes.

Gooey Halloween Popcorn Balls

Popcorn Balls in 15 Minutes

5.00 (1 Ratings)

Combine popped popcorn, marshmallows, and butter for these Popcorn Balls. Learn why these turn out great in this snack that takes only 15 minutes total.

Rich Vanilla Extract Recipe in 10 Minutes

Rich Vanilla Extract Recipe

4.50 (2 Ratings)

Ready in 10 minutes, this Rich Vanilla Extract Recipe beats store-bought options. It includes a comparison table showing the result of pure vanilla.

Thick Cream Mixture Ice Cream in 10 Minutes

Thick Cream Mixture Ice Cream

4.50 (2 Ratings)

Heavy cream and condensed milk make this Thick Cream Mixture Ice Cream. Get a velvety result in 10 minutes; includes a substitution table for ingredients.