20 Easy Dessert Recipes for When You Want Something Sweet and Fuss-Free
From simple cakes and cookies to no-churn frozen desserts
Dessert comes in many forms, from a scoop of ice cream to sandwich cookies to a multi-tiered croquembouche or cake. While we all love a showstopping layer cake or a weekend project, sometimes we just want something sweet that is quick and easy. Our staff favorite brownies are ready in under an hour—if you don't have that much time, our no-bake chocolate-oat cookies will be ready in 20 minutes. Snickerdoodles come together with less than ten ingredients, and our skillet cookie doesn't require portioning dough. If you are oven-averse, opt for a refreshing granita that requires little more than fruit juice, sugar, and a lot of hands-off freezer time. Chocolate mousse, a chilled blend of chocolate and cream, is simple and foolproof. If pie is what you're after, but you don't have the time (or patience) to roll out a crust, try one of our crisps or cobblers—just as delicious, and so much easier. We've collected our very best easy desserts, with something for everyone at every skill level.
Todd's Snickerdoodles
Cinnamon-sugar dusted snickerdoodles are always one of the most-requested holiday cookies. Get the recipe for Todd’s Snickerdoodles »
Lemon Granita
Like a frozen lemonade, this refreshing dessert is achieved with little more than lemon juice, sugar, and time. Get the recipe for Lemon Granita »
Chocolate Mousse
This simple yet sophisticated, airy yet intense concoction has been a hit with home cooks in America at least since the New York Times published its first recipe for the dessert in 1955. Get the recipe for Chocolate Mousse »
Blueberry Pie Milkshake
A scoop of vanilla ice cream and a hefty slice of pie go into the blender together, and out comes the ultimate dessert: A creamy shake with buttery crumbles of pie crust and ribbons of gorgeous fruit filling throughout. Get the recipe for Blueberry Pie Milkshake »
Burnt Peaches and Plums with Mascarpone and Hazelnuts
At once rustic and refined, this technique amplifies the inherent sweetness of the fruit. The mascarpone-mint leaf combo brings a rich yet uplifting twist. The more ripe your fruit, the better it will caramelize. Look for freestone peaches that will let you remove the pits easily. Mallmann says: “Let them burn a bit without touching them. Don’t flip and flop.” Get the Recipe for Burnt Peaches and Plums with Mascarpone and Hazelnuts »
Almond Granita
Nutty, sweet almonds are used four ways in this super-simple frozen dessert. Get the recipe for Almond Granita »
Roasted Cherries
Roasting cherries caramelizes their sugars and gives them a deeper flavor; they’re perfect on ice cream, cheesecake, or yogurt, or even mixed into cocktails. Get the recipe for Roasted Cherries »
Blueberry Sauce
Pastry chef Emily Luchetti makes this simple sauce for topping pancakes, waffles, or a scoop of ice cream. Get the recipe for Blueberry Sauce »
Grilled Cantaloupe with Peach Agrodolce
In this elegant dessert, cantaloupe is grilled until it caramelizes and is then dressed with agrodolce, a sour-sweet Italian sauce made by reducing vinegar and sugar. Get the recipe for Grilled Cantaloupe with Peach Agrodolce »
Apple Crumble with Hot Custard
We enjoyed this warm and comforting dessert while visiting a sheep farm in new Zealand. Get the recipe for Apple Crumble with Hot Custard »
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