Everything is prettier in pink! Brighten your treats table with our collection of delicious and photogenic pink desserts, choosing from cookies, cakes, ice creams, pies and other treats.
1/35
Cranberry Curd Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
These cranberry curd bars are vibrant, creamy and packed with fall flavor. Fans of cranberry will be delighted to see these on the dessert tray. —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
We love this cranberry dessert because the tartness of the cranberries balances perfectly with sweet sugar and orange. This recipe is especially good because the flavors are layered on top of a crumbly crust.
2/35
Vintage Heart Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
An elaborately decorated vintage heart cake is lovely for plenty of occasions, from Valentine's Day to birthdays to anniversaries. —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon
If you’re looking for a cute dessert, it doesn’t get better than this! The heart-shape is made by cutting and rearranging the cakes, so you don’t have to buy any special pans.
3/35
Copycat Lofthouse Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Lofthouse cookies have been around for decades, and I still can’t get enough of them. Use this copycat recipe to make soft, cakey bites of heaven at home! —April Preisler, Auburn, California
Sour cream is the secret ingredient for creating moist, flavorful desserts. To achieve a more vibrant frosting color, use paste food coloring, which might be called paste gel at the store. Use a toothpick to transfer the food coloring to the frosting for less mess.
4/35
Pink Cupcakes
From the Recipe Creator:
My daughter loves all things pink, so this recipe was just right for her birthday. Even my teenage son (not a fan of pink) ate his share too. —Paulette Smith, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
The pink color isn’t limited to the frosting here: The entire cupcake is pink! Pink paste food coloring, plus pink coarse sugar and pink pearls, make this dessert stand out. You can even freeze the cupcakes unfrosted for up to three months, so this is a fantastic make-ahead option.
5/35
Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Doughnuts
From the Recipe Creator:
My relatives have been making these tasty doughnuts for years. The potatoes keep them moist, and the glaze provides just the right amount of sweetness. —Marlene Reichart, Leesport, Pennsylvania
Believe it or not, mashed potatoes are added to the dough to make these doughnuts extra soft. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! Food coloring, while optional, turns the icing pink.
6/35
Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Strawberry shortcake is one of my favorite desserts. I thought it would be great to capture all that wonderful flavor, so I made these strawberry shortcake cookies topped with pink strawberry frosting. —Allison Anderson, Avondale, Arizona
When life gives you strawberries, make naturally pink strawberry shortcake cookies. This simple recipe is so easy that you could even try it on a weeknight. The only specialty tool you’ll need is a 3-inch round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter to make perfect shortcake circles.
7/35
Strawberry Ice Cream Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
While growing up, I loved buying treats from the ice cream truck that rolled through my neighborhood. This ice cream cake is inspired by one of those crunchy, strawberry novelties. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
If you’ve ever chased the ice cream truck, you’re probably familiar with the classic strawberry ice cream bars. This cake version is packed with freeze-dried strawberries and is tasty enough to be devoured by both kids and adults.
8/35
Strawberry Macarons
From the Recipe Creator:
These strawberry macarons have a sweet surprise in the filling: strawberry jam. To keep the jam contained, pipe the frosting around the outer edge before adding the jam in the center. —Josh Rink, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This classic French dessert might look intimidating to make, but it’s totally worth it—and very doable with some practice. We recommend using a few baking tools, notably a kitchen scale, a food processor and a pastry bag fitted with a #7 or #10 round tip. Add gel food coloring to the meringue to make it extra pink.
9/35
Battenberg Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Behold, the beautiful Battenberg! This gorgeous, intricate, almond-flavored sponge cake was made famous as a signature challenge on The Great British Bake Off. If you're up for a personal baking challenge, the results are stunning and, of course, delicious. —Nancy Mock, Southbridge, Massachusetts
Almond marzipan and apricot jam join forces for this classic British dessert. Two drops of pink food coloring take the cake from blah to beautiful.
10/35
Strawberry Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
I learned to bake with my grandmother and mother. I knew I was giving them a sweet new family tradition when I shared this recipe with them. —Andrea Zulauf, Livonia, New York
While I’m usually an equal supporter of jelly and jam, our editors recommend using jelly for these yummy cookies. It tends to spread more smoothly and contains fewer bits of fruit. Strawberry gelatin, in addition to the jelly, gives these cookies their bright color.
11/35
Banana Sundae Dessert
From the Recipe Creator:
This banana sundae dessert is sure to be a family favorite! You get a taste of chocolate, banana and strawberries in every bite of the frosty treat. It does take a while to assemble, but it's worth it in my book. —Caroline Wamelink, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
If you love berries and cream, you’ll love this simple frozen dessert. It comes together in only 25 minutes, but it does need to freeze overnight, so make sure to plan ahead.
12/35
Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These are among my family's favorite cookies around Christmas. The cran-orange flavor makes them special. —Nancy Rollag, Kewaskum, Wisconsin
These pink and white striped cookies may look more complicated than regular shortbread recipes, but they’re actually quite simple to make if you use a loaf pan. Simply layer the dough into the pan and refrigerate it until firm. Then, slice and bake the cranberry orange cookies.
13/35
Old-Fashioned Hard Candy
From the Recipe Creator:
A dusting of confectioner's sugar gives a frosty look to this old-fashioned holiday candy. The color is beautiful, and people are surprised by the wonderful watermelon flavor. —Amy Short, Milton, West Virginia
You won’t need any special equipment to whip up a batch of this bright pink candy. This recipe makes two sheet pans worth of candy, but the extras store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
14/35
Cherry Cheese Windmills
From the Recipe Creator:
These pretty cookies look fancy, but they are really not much work. They're perfect for any occasion. —Helen McGibbon, Downers Grove, Illinois
Every dish is better with cheese—yes, even cookies! Use a pastry wheel or sharp knife to cut the dough, then fill it with sweetened cream cheese and cherries. Fold the cookies into pinwheel shapes before baking.
15/35
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses
From the Recipe Creator:
Eat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea.—Amy Tong, Anaheim, California
These meringue cookies look like something you’d find in a fancy French bakery, but you can make them at home without too much trouble. You’ll need a pastry bag with a #1M star tip and a food processor. Strawberry gelatin and freeze-dried strawberries add gorgeous color.
16/35
No-Bake Strawberry Cheescake
From the Recipe Creator:
Befitting Christmas Day dessert, a New Year's celebration or even a holiday tea party, one thing's for sure: These flavors are a match made in heaven. —Crystal Morris, Alliance, Ohio
Made with fresh strawberries and cream cheese, this cheesecake recipe irresistible. Don’t skimp on the cooling time—chilling the cheesecake in the fridge overnight helps the dessert keep its shape.
17/35
Freezer Strawberry Shortbread Dessert
From the Recipe Creator:
When I’m planning party menus, I appreciate dessert recipes like this; you can make and freeze it up to two weeks before serving. A refreshing slice is welcome after a big meal.—Cassie Alexander, Muncie, Indiana
This pink treat has a secret ingredient: nonalcoholic strawberry daiquiri mix! Combined with fresh strawberries, it gives the dish its gorgeous color.
18/35
Strawberry-Rhubarb Ice Pops
From the Recipe Creator:
These cool, creamy pops are a deliciously different way to use up the bounty from your rhubarb patch. —Donna Linihan, Moncton, New Brunswick
You’ll need a set of freezer pop molds to create this recipe, but they’re worth the purchase because this is one of those recipes you’ll want to make over and over again! Fresh or frozen rhubarb, strawberries, strawberry yogurt and unsweetened applesauce make these ice pops a unique and elevated summer treat.
19/35
Cherry Cola Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Cherry cola and marshmallows make a zippy chocolate dessert that is scrumptious topped with vanilla ice cream. —Cheri Mason, Harmony, North Carolina
This unexpected cake features cherry-flavored cola and mini marshmallows in the batter. Frozen cherry-pomegranate juice concentrate makes the marshmallow fluff frosting pink too.
20/35
Raspberry Mousse
From the Recipe Creator:
This raspberry mousse recipe guarantees a creamy, smooth finale to any lovely meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This five-ingredient recipe is free of artificial colors or flavors: Its vibrant pink color comes from fresh, pureed raspberries. With a few ingredient swaps, the recipe can be made into a tasty vegan dessert.
21/35
Cherry Blossom Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Topped with a chocolate kiss, these cherry-flavored cookies look super cute on a dessert tray. Share them with family and friends. —Joy Yurk, Grafton, Wisconsin
These cookies are a holiday classic and look gorgeous on any dessert platter. Maraschino cherry juice gives the cookies their vibrant color and sweet cherry flavor.
22/35
Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
From the Recipe Creator:
When I got my ice cream maker, a friend shared her dreamy freezy cheesecake recipe with me. For guests, I scoop this into tart shells. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
I scream, you scream, we all scream for … cheesecake ice cream! This grown-up twist on an ice cream truck favorite always hits the spot. We recommend using fresh strawberries for this recipe, so you may want to try soaking the strawberries in salt water to remove any debris or bugs from the fruit.
23/35
Creamy Pastel Mints
From the Recipe Creator:
These mints are so simple to put together, and fun to share. I make them for all sorts of occasions, from baby showers to birthdays. —Janice Brady, Seattle, Washington
These adorable little mints are made with cream cheese, peppermint extract, confectioners’ sugar and a bit of red food coloring. Since they’re a dairy-based dessert, they should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy them.
24/35
Cool Strawberry Cream
From the Recipe Creator:
This fruity, luscious dessert makes a wonderful ending to a special dinner. When fresh strawberries are not available, substitute two packages frozen unsweetened strawberries, thawed and drained, for the fresh. —Joyce Cooper, Mount Forest, Ontario
This frosty pink dish is similar to homemade ice cream recipes but without all the hassle. Just mix the ingredients and pop them in the freezer! This dessert is served with a blueberry sauce, but you can double down on pink hues by making it with raspberries or strawberries instead.
25/35
Cherry Ice Cream
From the Recipe Creator:
Cherry lovers will be delighted by this chunky home-churned ice cream. Serve it with hot fudge sauce for an extra-special treat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
When you really want to impress your guests, surprise them with this homemade cherry ice cream. To make it extra decadent, add frozen dark chocolate chips before churning the custard base in your ice cream maker.
26/35
Strawberry Surprise Cupcakes
From the Recipe Creator:
Kids love the fruity surprise tucked inside these cupcakes. They really wow at parties, bake sales and snacktime. —Margaret Wilson, Sun City, California
Your friends will be shocked that you didn’t buy these delightful fruity cupcakes at the bakery. You can bake the fruit filling right inside the cupcake batter, so you don’t need any special equipment to make these treats.
27/35
Raspberry Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Jazz up plain cake with raspberry gelatin and frozen berries. Spread with a light, fruity whipped topping (or this whipped topping substitute), the festive results make a cool and refreshing dessert. —Marion Anderson, Dalton, Minnesota
Absolutely everything on this decadent raspberry cake is pink, from the frozen raspberries in the frosting to the raspberry gelatin in the cake itself. Take the dessert over the top by finishing it with even more fresh raspberries as a garnish.
28/35
Ice Cream Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
This eye-catching dessert is actually easy to prepare and keeps well in the freezer for days. It's nice to be able to serve cake and ice cream in one slice.—Anne Scholovich, Waukesha, Wisconsin
This cake is colorful enough to make for any pink-colored occasion, like Valentine’s Day or a baby shower. The recipe calls for store-bought angel food cake and ice cream, so no baking or churning is required.
29/35
Copycat Starbucks Cake Pops
From the Recipe Creator:
Use this easy recipe for copycat Starbucks cake pops to create any flavor combo your heart desires. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
You don’t need to visit a cafe to enjoy these fun cake pops. They can be made any color of the rainbow, but we like making all-pink pops by combining red velvet cake with pink frosting and candy coating. Pass the pink sprinkles, please! Explore more desserts with sprinkles.
30/35
Strawberry Poke Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
The classic spring treat strawberry shortcake takes on a wonderful new twist with this strawberry poke cake recipe. Strawberry gelatin and strawberries liven up each pretty slice of this lovely layered cake that's made from a convenient boxed mix. —Mary Jo Griggs, West Bend, Wisconsin
If you’ve never made one before, a poke cake recipe creates a double-layer cake that is “poked” to give it holes. Then, a delicious filling (in this case, strawberries and strawberry gelatin) is poured over the entire cake to seep into the holes before the cake is frosted.
31/35
Rhubarb Tart
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a perfect ending to a grilled summer meal! Between the creamy texture, the pretty color and the buttery crust, this recipe is simply delightful. —Emily Seefeldt, Red Wing, Minnesota
Give this dessert flair by making homemade rhubarb ribbons to place on top. Using a vegetable peeler, make long, thin slices of rhubarb to adorn the tart. You could also add candied edible flowers, like pansies, for an extra-special touch.
32/35
Frozen Sandwich Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
It takes only three ingredients to make these chilled sandwich cookies. You'll love the pretty pink filling. —Mary Ann Irvine, Lombard, Illinois
Believe it or not, these three-ingredient frozen cookie treats are ready to pop in the freezer in only 10 minutes. And since they’re made with strawberry cream cheese and yogurt, they’re a bit lighter than traditional ice cream sandwiches.
33/35
Pinwheel Mints
From the Recipe Creator:
Both my grandmother and my mom used to make these delightful confections as a replacement for ordinary mints. When I offer them at parties, guests tell me the candies are wonderful and then ask how I created the pretty swirl pattern. —Marilou Roth, Milford, Nebraska
These eye-catching homemade mints are pink and green, so they’re fantastic for the holidays. Use waxed paper to roll out the dough and create the whimsical swirl pattern.
34/35
Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is special to me because it is totally original, my very own! The cookies are firm but not crunchy on the outside, and they're tender inside. The confectioners' sugar makes them melt in your mouth. —Jane Rundell, Alanson, Michigan
There’s so much to love about this cookie recipe. They’re sweet, they’re chewy, they’re fancy and they’re pink! Best of all, you can freeze the cookies after they’re baked, so you can enjoy them anytime. Freeze the cooled cookies on a baking sheet, then store them in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.
35/35
Mamaw Emily's Strawberry Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband loved his mamaw's strawberry cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it, but I made it and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky
We love a recipe that uses a boxed cake mix to minimize prep time! This one also includes strawberry gelatin and finely chopped strawberries, transforming the cake’s color from white to pink.
Pink Desserts FAQ
How do you make desserts pink without using food coloring?
While food coloring can give desserts a bright, eye-popping pink color with minimal effort, many whole food ingredients can also do the trick. Pureed strawberries or raspberries add a beautiful pink color to cake or cookie batter, and cherry-pomegranate juice can brighten up frosting. Fruits like strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, rhubarb and cherries can be chopped to add a delightful pop of color to almost any dessert, or they can be simmered with a bit of sugar to create a saucier, more syrupy consistency.
What are the best pink desserts for a romantic occasion?
Nothing says “I love you” like heart-shaped foods, so try to match your pink-themed dessert with a heart-shaped recipe. We especially love marbled meringue hearts, chocolate chip whoopie pies and jam-filled heart-shaped cookies. If you can’t decide which to make, bake a batch of each!
How do I make sure my pink dessert tastes as good as it looks?
Adding a few drops of food coloring can make any dessert look beautiful, but it can be a bit confusing to bite into a bright pink cupcake or sugar cookie that doesn’t taste like anything pink. For the best flavor, try adding raspberry or strawberry extract. Or, better yet, add fresh fruit to your pink-hued treats to ensure they taste and look as delicious as possible.
