Best Dessert Recipes: Finding the Perfect Dessert Recipes for You
For the dessert fanatic, no meal is complete without something sweet, and for a good reason – desserts are often the highlight of a meal. If you have a sweet tooth, look no further – this list of the best dessert recipes has everything from cookies to cake to pie.
This list of the best dessert recipes will highlight 25 of the top dessert recipes for you to try out and enjoy. Whether you are looking for a specific type of dessert or want to mix things up, there is sure to be a tasty dessert or two on this list for you.
While there is bound to be something up your alley on this list, if you have your own tried and true dessert recipe, please post a link to it in the comments section below.
After reading this list, you may need to balance your diet out with a few other food groups. If you do, make sure to check out our lists of the best appetizers, best salad recipes, and best bread recipes.
Top 25 Dessert Recipes:
1. Caramel Apple Cake
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 35-40 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Caramel Sauce, Buttermilk, Apple Cider
About Dessert Recipe: Not just for fall, this tasty caramel apple cake uses applesauce, apple cider, and whole wheat flour so you can tell yourself you are eating something healthy. The icing for this cake recipe is a decadent apple cider frosting – a real treat.
2. Seven Layer Bars Dessert
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Graham Crackers, Chocolate Chips, Butterscotch Chips, Shredded Coconut, Walnuts
About Dessert Recipe: A seven-ingredient, seven-layer decadent dessert, this seven-layer bar has something for everyone and is easily one of the best dessert recipes. Chocolate, butterscotch, coconut, graham crackers, and more make this a sweet treat that is perfect for parties. Quick and easy to make, this seven-layer bar is ideal for when you are too busy to spend hours on a dessert.
3. Dutch Apple Pie
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 55 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Granny Smith Apples, Flour, Nutmeg, Brown Sugar
About Dessert Recipe: Who doesn’t love apple pie? This Dutch apple pie is topped with a warm sugary, buttery crumble that pairs perfectly with the homemade apple pie filling. This recipe also provides instructions for a homemade pie crust that is as easy to make as it is delicious!
4. Frozen Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 8 Minutes
Freeze Time: 2 Hours
Primary Ingredients: Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pretzels, Cream Cheese, Heavy Whipping Cream, Peanut Butter Cups, Chocolate Chips
About Dessert Recipe: If you love sweet and salty, this is the dessert for you. Almost no-bake, the pie has a delicious chocolate pretzel crust, a creamy peanut butter filling, and a decadent topping made of ganache, peanut butter cups, and pretzels. Next time you are in the mood for a cold and refreshing dessert, try this one out!
5. Raspberry Lemonade Mini Cupcakes
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 10-14 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: White Cake Mix, Free Dried Raspberries, Yogurt
About Dessert Recipe: These raspberry lemonade mini cupcakes are a light and summery treat that is perfect for both cupcake lovers and raspberry lovers. For a less intense raspberry flavor, however, a raspberry puree works just fine.
6. Snickerdoodle Cookies
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 9 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Cream of Tartar, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon
About Dessert Recipe: A Mrs. Field’s copycat, this cookie recipe produces light, pillowy cookies with the classic, oh-so-good snickerdoodle taste. Cream of tartar is a crucial ingredient, so make sure you have it on hand before starting this recipe.
7. Berry Crisp with Oatmeal Cookie Crumble
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 30-33 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Blueberries, Strawberries, Quick Cook Oats
About Dessert Recipe: While the recipe calls for both strawberries and blueberries, this berry crisp recipe can easily be adapted to include whatever type of berries you have around the house. The berries, combined with the delectable oatmeal cookie crumble, makes for a satisfying and delicious dessert, both warm and cold.
8. Double Chocolate Banana Bread
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 50 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Bananas, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, Cocoa
About Dessert Recipe: Who says bread can’t be dessert? This double chocolate banana bread defies the traditional dessert mold and gives a rich, delicious spin on the customary banana bread recipe.
9. Raspberry Slab Pie
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 40-55 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Raspberries, Milk, Powdered Sugar
About Dessert Recipe: Slab pies are great for feeding large crowds because they are tasty and easy to make. This slab pie recipe can also easily be adapted to include other types of fruit besides raspberries; another reason why this is one of the best dessert recipes.
10. Nutella Churro Balls Dessert
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Nutella, Almond Milk, Cinnamon
About Dessert Recipe: Semi-homemade (this recipe calls for refrigerated dough), these Nutella Churro Balls are a breeze to make. The dough is stuffed with gooey Nutella, baked, and then brushed with butter and rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Easy! Try this for a quick snack or an easy dessert.
11. Chocolate Poke Cake
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, Brewed Coffee, Chocolate Chips, Heavy Whipping Cream
About Dessert Recipe: With four types of chocolate, this Chocolate Poke Cake is a true chocolate lover’s dream. A tasty chocolate cake is infused with melted chocolate (and sweetened condensed milk) and then topped with chocolate whipped cream and chocolate chips. Incredibly moist, this cake will be sure to please the crowds.
12. Millionaires Shortbread Dessert
Prep Time: 25 Minutes
Cook Time: 50 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Milk Chocolate, Golden Syrup
About Dessert Recipe: Sweet and crunchy, these Millionaire Shortbread bars are addicting and one of the best dessert recipes. The crunchy biscuit base is topped with caramel and chocolate, making this a tasty treat that is easy to assemble. If you need a dessert that packs well and can be eaten without utensils, this is the perfect dessert to try!
13. Buckeye Brownie Cookies
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Brownie Mix, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Frosting
About Dessert Recipe: This recipe is a spin on the classic Ohioan buckeye recipe and combines the best of both Buckeyes and brownies. Any peanut butter and chocolate lover will undoubtedly go nuts over this buckeye brownie cookie recipe.
14. Chocolate Mint Oreo Cookies
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Cool Mint Oreo Cookies, Mint Green Chips, Special Dark Cocoa
About Dessert Recipe: Whether it’s Saint Patrick’s Day, or you just can’t get enough of chocolate and mint (Thin Mints, anyone?), this chocolate mint Oreo cookie recipe is delicious. For a twist, use the cookies as the ends of an ice cream sandwich.
15. Southern Peach Cobbler Dessert
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 40 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Fresh Peaches, Brown Sugar
About Dessert Recipe: This traditional Southern peach cobbler features the perfect blend of ingredients and provides a sweet, cakey yet crispy topping. The peaches are partially baked before the topping is added, but when combined, the smell alone will make this tasty cobbler worth it!
16. Summer Berry Trifle
Prep Time: 25 Minutes
Chill Time: 8+ Hours
Primary Ingredients: Raspberry Jam, Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Heavy Whipping Cream, Crisp Lady Fingers
About Dessert Recipe: For a great summer dessert, look no further than this summer berry trifle. This trifle features strawberries, blueberries, cream, and sponge cake, and is a breeze to make. For fuller flavor, make it a day before you need it, so the flavors have time to infuse and develop.
17. Vanilla Soufflé
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Eggs, Milk, Flour, Butter
About Dessert Recipe: A classic French dessert, this dessert may seem intimidating but is easier to make than you may think. Delicate, with a mousse-like texture, this dessert is sure to please. Make this for your next dinner party when you need to pull out all the stops.
18. Chocolate Chip Pie
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 55 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Pie Shell, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, Walnuts
About Dessert Recipe: With all the classic chocolate chip cookie flavors, this sweet and delicious chocolate chip pie is perfect for chocolate chip cookie lovers. Dense and fudgy, yet with a crunchy top, this pie is a cut above the rest and one of the best dessert recipes. The next time you are craving some good old comfort food, make this tasty treat.
19. Butterscotch Blondies
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Butterscotch Chips, Brown Sugar
About Dessert Recipe: Ooey, gooey, and delicious, these butterscotch blondies are essentially delicious butterscotch brownies. Dense yet chewy, this dessert requires only one bowl and no mixer, making cleanup a breeze. Quick and easy to make, this is a great traditional brownie alternative.
20. No Bake Caramel Turtle Cheesecake
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 10-20 Minutes (Brownie Base)
Chill Time: 3-4 Hours
Primary Ingredients: Brownie Mix, Heavy Cream, Caramel Sauce, Cream Cheese, Pecans, Hot Fudge Sauce, Cool Whip
About Dessert Recipe: Part cheesecake, part brownie, this dessert is all deliciousness. Caramel sauce and chopped pecans smother the cheesecake and brownie, making for a rich and enticing dessert. And, since it’s no-bake, this dessert keeps the kitchen nice and cool!
21. Copycat Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Cream Cheese
About Dessert Recipe: Cinnabon cinnamon rolls are truly delicious, but if you can’t make it to your nearest Cinnabon, this homemade copycat version is a great substitute! Easy to make (and cheaper), these warm, gooey, delicious rolls are perfect for mornings or any time of the day.
22. Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Canned Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Walnuts, Cream Cheese
About Dessert Recipe: Nothing tastes more like the holidays than these pumpkin spice cookies. Perfect for fall and winter festivities, these cake-like cookies covered in sweet cream cheese frosting will quickly become a family favorite. And, with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, these cookies are packed full of flavor and taste.
23. Brownie Batter Cheesecake
Prep Time: 45 Minutes
Cook Time: N/A
Primary Ingredients: Chocolate Baking Crumbs, Brownie Mix, Heavy Whipping Cream
About Dessert Recipe: This no-bake dessert is perfect for when you just don’t feel like using the oven. Cream cheese, whipping cream, and brownie mix make up the bulk of the filling, while the Oreo base provides a nice crunch. If you are a chocolate lover, this rich and fudgy cheesecake is not to be missed!
24. Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: N/A
Primary Ingredients: Bananas, Nilla Wafers, French Vanilla Pudding, Cream Cheese, Cool Whip
About Dessert Recipe: A Paula Dean recipe, this banana pudding is rich and decadent, just like you would expect from Paula. The ease and quickness of assembly also make this recipe a winner and one of the best dessert recipes.
25. Black Magic Chocolate Cake
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 40 Minutes
Primary Ingredients: Black Coffee, Buttermilk, Cocoa Powder
About Dessert Recipe: This list just wouldn’t be complete without a to-die-for chocolate cake recipe, and this black magic chocolate cake doesn’t disappoint. For a moist and dense chocolate cake, look no further.
Best Dessert Recipes Conclusion
We hope you weren’t looking to start a diet anytime soon because this list of the best dessert recipes has a gold mine of great desserts to choose from. Regardless of what types of sweets you prefer, you are going to find some must-try recipes on this list.
Having the right tools makes all of the difference when it comes to cooking and baking, so if you need a pan, mixing bowl, etc. make sure that you check out our list of the best kitchen tools to find what you need.
Let us know how your dessert turns out in the comments below!