Need a sweet treat, but the pantry is running low on supplies? These easy-to-make dessert recipes need five ingredients or fewer, so you can still find something to make.
1/45
Cake Mix Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
I take this dessert to work for Friday pick-me-ups. It's one of my favorite yellow cake bar recipes. I love to share them because they're so easy to eat, easy to make and easy on the wallet. —Amy Rose, Ballwin, Missouri
2/45
S’mores Fudge
From the Recipe Creator:
You'll find it nearly impossible to resist this rich chocolate delight. It's chock-full of marshmallows and graham crackers—and no one will believe that the tantalizing treat is low in fat. —Holly Mann, Temple, New Hampshire
3/45
Strawberry Dump Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the perfect dessert for when you are short on time and want something sweet. The filling bakes up warm and gooey while the cake mix topping is buttery and golden brown. Top with a scoop of ice cream or dollop of whipped cream and you're set! —Jenna Urben, McKinney, Texas
4/45
Brownie Mix Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These chocolate chips and brownie mix cookies pack a rich chocolate taste while remaining simple to make. Rolling the dough in powdered sugar gives them their inviting crackled appearance. —Ellen Govertsen, Wheaton, Illinois
5/45
Cheesecake-Stuffed Strawberries
From the Recipe Creator:
These luscious cheesecake-stuffed strawberries are the perfect bite-sized dessert. —Stephen Munro, Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia
6/45
Saltine Toffee
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone loves these salty-sweet treasures—their flavor is simply irresistible. The bark is like brittle, but better. Get ready for a new family favorite! —Laura Cox, Brewster, Massachusetts
7/45
Brownie Bites from Brownie Mix
From the Recipe Creator:
I like to take these quick and easy treats to potlucks and family gatherings. They're always well received! —Pam Kokes, North Loup, Nebraska
8/45
Potato Chip Clusters
From the Recipe Creator:
Just three offbeat ingredients add up to one unique, delectable, no-bake treat. These super easy, sweet-and-salty candy clusters make for merry munching during holiday trips or parties. They travel well in containers without melting or getting soft. —Donna Brockett, Kingfisher, Oklahoma
9/45
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
It is amazing how much flavor is in these simple 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies without brown sugar. I make them very often because I always have the ingredients on hand. —Maggie Schimmel, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
10/45
Crock-Pot Lava Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone who tries this dessert falls in love with it. Using a slow cooker liner makes cleanup a breeze. —Latona Dwyer, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
11/45
Chocolate Chip Cheese Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
This is my most requested dessert recipe. Everyone loves these yummy bars with their soft cream cheese filling, and they couldn't be easier. —Teri Linquist, Gurnee, Illinois
12/45
Icebox Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
You don't have to bake to serve a wonderful dessert! This icebox cake is made from chocolate wafers and whipping cream. It is so delicious.—Cindy Hawkins, New York, New York
13/45
Scottish Shortbread
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother, who is of Scottish heritage, passed this shortbread recipe, along with other favorite recipes, on to me. When I entered this treat at our local fair, it won a red ribbon. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba
14/45
3-Ingredient Banana Bread
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the perfect banana bread recipe to mix and match with your favorite ingredients. Stir in chopped nuts, dried fruit or chocolate chips. Or, add ground cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg. The sky's the limit! —Kristina Vanni, Libertyville, Illinois
15/45
Cake Mix Cookie Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
I take these quick and easy treats to church meetings, potlucks and housewarming parties. I often make a double batch so we can enjoy some at home. —Kimberly Biel, Java, South Dakota
16/45
Devil’s Food Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Most people don’t realize that these cookies are low in fat. You actually get more than two dozen of the treats from a cake mix and just four other common ingredients. —Melanie Van Den Brink of Rock Rapids, Iowa
17/45
No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
When I worked full time and needed a quick dessert to take to a potluck or a friend's home, this pie was always the answer. You can substitute a graham cracker crust or use another type of fruit pie filling for a change of pace. Even the chilling time is flexible if you're in a big hurry. —Mary Smith, Bradenton, Florida
18/45
Gluten-Free Apple Crumble
From the Recipe Creator:
This comforting crumble has a beautiful caramel apple flavor that was a big hit with our taste testers! It's a home run when you need an easy gluten-free option for dessert. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
19/45
Easy Mexican Brownies
From the Recipe Creator:
I was hosting a fun Mexican-themed cocktail party and needed a quick dessert. Dressing up an ordinary boxed brownie mix made life easy and delicious! —Susan Stetzel, Gainesville, New York
20/45
Oatmeal Cream Pie Recipe
From the Recipe Creator:
These easy cookies use only five ingredients and taste very similar to a store-bought cookie. Of course, everything's better from your own kitchen! —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
21/45
Key Lime Yogurt Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
For a taste of paradise, try this no-bake Key lime pie recipe. It's low in fat, sugar and fuss. It truly is the best Key lime pie recipe ever! —Frances VanFossan, Warren, Michigan
22/45
Pear Bundt Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Next time you make cake from a mix, try my easy and delicious recipe. The pears and syrup add sweet flavor and prevent the cake from drying out. And since there's no oil added to the batter, this tender fall-perfect cake is surprisingly low in fat. —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
23/45
Oreo Pudding Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
Oreos, pudding and pie, oh my! This decadent treat combines crushed Oreo cookies with chocolate pudding for a slice of pie that tastes so, so right. —Tyleen Miller, New Ulm, Minnesota
24/45
3-Ingredient No-Bake Cheesecake
From the Recipe Creator:
If you’re craving a luscious treat but don't have the time to make something elaborate, this easy cheesecake recipe will truly change how you make dessert! With only three ingredients and no baking required, it's a handy recipe that tastes just like the real thing. —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon
25/45
Butterscotch Candy
From the Recipe Creator:
I love making this classic butterscotch recipe. We think these irresistible bites are better than the store-bought variety... and they sure don't last long! —Darlene Smithers, Elkhart, Indiana
26/45
Black Forest Dump Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
I make a black forest cake the easy way: Dump everything into a dish and let the magic happen. Give it a cherry topping by reserving two tablespoons of juice from the canned cherries and stir into whipped cream. —Meghan McDermott, Springfield, Missouri
27/45
First-Place Coconut Macaroons
From the Recipe Creator:
These coconut macaroon cookies earned me a first-place ribbon at the county fair. They remain my husband's favorites—whenever I make them to give away, he always asks me where his batch is! I especially like the fact that this recipe makes a small enough batch for the two of us to nibble on. —Penny Ann Habeck, Shawano, Wisconsin
28/45
Blueberry Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
From the Recipe Creator:
We live in blueberry country and this pie is a perfect way to showcase the luscious berries. A neighbor made this pie for us when we had a death in the family several years ago. Our whole family enjoys it. —R. Ricks, Kalamazoo, Michigan
29/45
Peanut Butter Balls
From the Recipe Creator:
These chocolate-dipped peanut butter balls taste like peanut butter cups. Creamy peanut butter and confectioners' sugar do the heavy lifting for the filling, while melted semisweet chocolate chips make up the simple, chocolaty coating. —Sharon Tipton, Casselberry, Florida
30/45
Oreo Fudge
From the Recipe Creator:
I invented this confection for a bake sale at our children's school. Boy, was it a hit! The crunchy chunks of sandwich cookie soften a bit as the mixture mellows. It's so sweet that one panful serves a crowd. —Laura Lane, Richmond, Virginia
31/45
Lemon Icebox Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
You will detect a definite lemonade flavor in this refreshing pie. High and fluffy, this dessert has a creamy smooth consistency. —Cheryl Wilt, Eglon, West Virginia
32/45
Cool Whip Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Looking for a quick and easy cookie recipe? With just four ingredients, chocolaty Cool Whip cookies may just be the easiest recipe of them all! The dough is very sticky—chilling it briefly before scooping makes it easier to work with. —Nancy Mock, Southbridge, Massachusetts
33/45
Cherry Snowball Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These simple cookies have a delicate buttery flavor complemented by the cherry surprise in the center. They've become a holiday favorite for my family. —Joy Schuster, Glentana, Montana
34/45
Chocolate Dump Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This very moist 4-ingredient chocolate dump cake has chocolate chips on top instead of frosting. It tastes wonderful served warm with ice cream. —Kim Rodney, Archbald, Pennsylvania
35/45
Buckeyes
From the Recipe Creator:
These chocolate peanut butter balls (no bake!) are always popular at my church's annual Christmas fundraiser. They resemble chestnuts or buckeyes—hence the name. —Merry Kay Opitz, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
36/45
Palmier Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
It takes just two ingredients to make these impressive but easy-to-do French pastries, which are often called palm leaves. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
37/45
Root Beer Float Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
I add root beer to both the cake batter and fluffy frosting of this summery dessert to get that great root beer float taste. Serve this moist cake to a bunch of hungry kids and watch it disappear! —Kat Thompson, Prineville, Oregon
38/45
Quick Icebox Sandwiches
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother liked making these cool, creamy treats when I was growing up in the States because they're so quick to fix. Then I made them for my three kids.—Sandy Armijo, Naples, Italy
39/45
Peanut Butter Cups
From the Recipe Creator:
I like using pretty mini muffin liners and topping these homemade peanut butter cups with colored sprinkles to coordinate with the holiday we're celebrating. People can't believe how simple it is to make this irresistible candy with gooey peanut butter centers. This is how to make homemade peanut butter cups. —LaVonne Hegland, St. Michael, Minnesota
40/45
Root Beer Float Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the kind of recipe your kids will look back on and always remember. And you don't even need to use an oven! —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
41/45
Meringue Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These sweet little swirls are light as can be. They're all you need after a big, special dinner. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
42/45
Yummy Cracker Snacks
From the Recipe Creator:
These treats are my family’s favorite. In fact, it seems no matter how many I make, they always disappear too soon! —D. Weaver, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
43/45
Oreo Ice Cream Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Our family loves dessert, and this chocolaty, layered treat is one of Mom's most-requested recipes. It's so easy to prepare this Oreo ice cream cake! —Kimberly Laabs, Hartford, Wisconsin
44/45
Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
From the Recipe Creator:
I’m a busy schoolteacher and pastor’s wife and I wouldn’t dare show my face at a church dinner or bake sale without some of these tempting peanut butter treats. They’re quick and easy to make and always a hit. —Kristi Tackett, Banner, Kentucky
45/45
Divinity Candy
From the Recipe Creator:
Every Christmas my grandmother and I made divinity candy, just the two of us. I still make it every year. —Anne Clayborne, Walland, Tennessee
Easy-to-Make Dessert Recipes FAQ
What are the easiest desserts to make at home?
The easiest desserts to make at home use helpful shortcuts, like cake or brownie mix, so there is barely any measuring! If you’re in the mood to try one, our cake mix cookie bars, strawberry dump cake, brownie mix cookies and brownie bites are a good place to start.
What dessert recipes can I make with only three ingredients?
It might surprise you that there are lots of dessert recipes you can make with three ingredients or fewer, from no-bake treats like potato chip clusters and cheesecake to peanut butter cookies, banana bread and shortbread. Even two ingredients are enough to make a simple dessert!
What are the best five-ingredient no-bake desserts?
The best five-ingredient no-bake desserts are icebox cake, buckeyes, no-bake cheesecakes and ice cream cakes and pies. While some of these no-bake desserts are ready to eat right away, most require at least eight hours or overnight in the fridge or freezer to set, so take that extra time into account if you want to make and eat the recipe on the same day. Many homemade candy recipes need few ingredients and can be cooked on the stovetop, if you are craving candy.
