Whether you’re in the mood for something chocolatey, fruity or topped with frosting, we've got you covered.
Our Easiest Dessert Ideas
You don't have to be a professional baker to whip up an impressive dessert. We’ve got plenty of no-fuss ideas for cookies, crowd-pleasing cakes, fruit-filled pies, comforting chocolate treats—and even a few no-bake desserts! A handful of them even lean towards over-the-top, despite what a cinch they are to make. Just take this strawberry poke cake, for example. It looks ordinary enough until you cut into it to reveal the gorgeous swirls of berry red. Your guests will wonder how you achieved such a stunning presentation—and never guess it was incredibly simple!
Buckeye Bundt Cake
The classic flavors of buckeye candy — chocolate and peanut butter — are the winning combination in this bundt cake that’s ideal for serving a crowd. A creamy peanut butter cheesecake mixture is sandwiched inside rich chocolate cake, and a final topping of melted semisweet chocolate makes it irresistible. You can even bake and glaze it a day or two ahead and store it in the fridge.
Dessert "Charcuterie" Board
This dessert “charcuterie” board is a treats lover’s dream. It’s packed with chocolate salami, rainbow confetti cream cheese dip, peanut butter crispy rice squares, cookies, cupcakes and much more. There’s something for everyone and it’s a fun way to up your party game in a big way.
Banoffee Pie
What could be better than the classic combo of bananas and toffee? Banoffee Pie, piled high with whipped cream!
Cake Pops
When life calls for cake pops, let this be your go-to recipe. Feel free to change the cake and frosting flavors to whatever is your favorite. Just follow this easy technique and you will have perfect cake pops for a crowd (or the next bake sale).
Coconut Flan
Make this easy-to-serve flan in a Bundt pan and top with toasted coconut before displaying on your dessert table.
Glazed Mocha Chocolate Chip Cookies
These are chip cookies for coffee lovers. Espresso powder and chopped chocolate-covered espresso beans are added to this classic chocolate chip cookie recipe. For a finishing touch, dip the baked cookies in an espresso-flavored chocolate glaze.
Flourless Chocolate Cake
This gluten-free cake can be enjoyed at room temperature, but chilling it transforms the texture, making it deliciously dense.
Classic Madeleines
With their fancy name and classy appearance, madeleines may seem intimidating, but it only takes a few pantry ingredients to make the golden, shell-shaped sweets. A madeleine’s texture is a cross between a cookie and a mini cake, so we found that chilling the dough overnight produces the lightest and airiest interior and a nice crisp exterior. All they need is a little dusting of confectioners’ sugar to finish off — but we think dunking them in chocolate is a good idea, too!
Copycat Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Nothing Bundt Cake
The wildly popular cakes from the Nothing Bundt Cake bakery chain are known for their moist, tender crumb and cascading bands of rich cream cheese frosting. This copycat version replicates the flavor and texture of the popular red velvet version, a perfect match to the signature cream cheese frosting. To make the batter we added sour cream, a little extra oil, vanilla and chocolate chips to a shortcut cake mix. You’ll get a rich, picture-perfect cake with just about 30 minutes of hands-on work.
Delicious Dunkers
Kardea says, "Kids of the 90s, this nostalgic recipe may bring back some lunchbox memories for you. I make a cake batter dip with sprinkles that's perfect paired with my shortbread cookies."
Turon
Turon (banana lumpia) are sweet and crunchy fried snacks filled with jackfruit and saba bananas and popular in the Philippines. This version is made with plantains. The key to delicious turon is to use very ripe fruit—that's mostly black and semi-soft. Turon are delicious served piping hot right out of the fryer but if you’re looking to take them up a notch, top the turon with a scoop of coconut or ube ice cream.
White Claw Black Cherry Cupcakes
You can have your favorite drink and eat it too with these fun, party-ready cupcakes.
Gooey Chocolate Salted Caramel Pretzel Brownie
This easy recipe just might be the best sweet-salty way to dress up a box of brownie mix.
Buñuelos
Buñuelos are one of our favorites (who can say 'no' to fried dough?!) and Marcela’s recipe makes frying them up so easy. She uses pre-made tortillas which you can leave whole or cut into any shape you desire. After taking them out of the hot oil, toss in cinnamon-sugar and enjoy. They’re that simple!
Ghorayeba
Ghorayeba (also known as ghraybeh) is a classic Middle Eastern sweet. It’s made with only three ingredients and is commonly topped with slivered pistachios. Many recipes call for ghee or clarified butter. Both will work here. If you like shortbread, you’re going to love this classic cookie.
Skillet Cookie Sundae
Bake this giant chocolate chip cookie in a cast-iron skillet for crispy edges and a melt-in-your-mouth center. Top with your favorite ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream and maraschino cherries.
Cocada
This irresistibly sweet and chewy coconut bark is made with just 2 simple ingredients — and we’re willing to bet you’ve got both of them in your pantry right now: shredded coconut and sweetened condensed milk.
Banana Cream Pudding
Tyler flavors his decadent Banana Cream Pudding with vanilla, bourbon and creme de banana. Top with homemade whipped cream for a vibrant centerpiece.
Tahini-Walnut Cake
This unique cake has a delicious and distinctive flavor from the tahini. The texture is softer than a classic bundt cake, but with a nice crunch from the walnuts. Since it's tender enough to serve unfrosted, it's quick and easy to prepare. And the layer of sesame seeds coating the outside makes for a beautiful presentation.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
What is it about the three distinct components in this popular midwestern party dish? The pretzels are salty and mixed with butter and sugar. The cream cheese is tangy and folded together with light and airy whipped topping. And the strawberry gelatin is packed with a whole pound of fresh strawberries and provides a tart sweetness to finish off the dish. The trio of flavors — salty-sweet, tangy and tart — are layered together for the perfect dessert with a hometown feel.
Fruit Pizza
Use any combination of ripe summer fruit you can find for this fresh fruit "pizza," made with a big sugar cookie crust.
Brownie Cookies
Get the best of both worlds with Ree’s brownie cookies. The crowning touch is the powdered sugar she adds after the cookies have cooled.
Low-Fat Cheesecake
The secret to a low-fat cheesecake that still tastes rich and creamy? A combination of Neufchatel cheese (a French cheese that is naturally low in fat), reduced-fat sour cream and fat-free cream cheese.
Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes
Oil takes the place of butter in these cupcakes, making them lower in fat but still nice and moist. The frosting is simply sweetened reduced-fat cream cheese, but it's plenty tasty.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Meet your go-to chocolate chip cookie. This quick, fan-favorite recipe requires no special equipment — and the dough is versatile enough for other baking projects (like rocky road bar cookies).
Irish Cream Poke Cake
This poke cake is spiked with the flavors of Irish coffee for a rich and flavorful adult dessert.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Crispy cookie and soft cookie lovers alike won’t be able to resist these bars: The edges are crisp and browned if you like crust, but the center cuts are extra gooey and rich.
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
This soft sandwich cookie will transport you back to your childhood — but with a rich, red velvet twist.
Grass Jelly Dessert
Grass jelly dessert is a harmony of rich coconut, bright fruit, chewy tapioca pearls, taro balls or mochi and ice cream of your choice. Asian dessert shops in Chinatown usually sell this dish as a set combination, but there are rare shops that sell a mix-and-match version where you can create your own based on your preferences. Our coconut milk mixture is similar to the ones from the dessert shops, with a balanced flavor that goes with any topping, but feel free to make it more or less sweet by adjusting the amount of sweetened condensed milk.
Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip No-Bake Cookies
What could be better than an indulgent dessert made from ingredients you already have sitting in your pantry? These no-bake cookies take just minutes of work; most of the time is spent waiting for them to harden into rich, nutty, chocolaty delights.
Easy Blueberry Pie
No need to thaw your frozen blueberries when making this pie. The sweet, thick filling comes together in just a few minutes. The flaky double crust is just as quick thanks to store-bought pie dough. Be sure to let the pie cool entirely before slicing -- the filling will with thicken up to make for neater cuts.
Instant Pot Monkey Bread
You'll never know this classic sweet bread came out of a multicooker instead of your oven. A couple of little tricks gives it that fresh-baked taste —brown butter lends a nutty aroma and crunchy turbinado sugar melts into the dough and provides caramel-like flavor.
Peanut Butter Cookies
Save time in the kitchen with these speedy cookies. Just mix the ingredients, roll in sugar, press a fork in the top to create the signature lines — and bake!
Tres Leches Cake
This is everything you love in a traditional tres leches ("three milks") cake — it's sweet, custardy and topped with homemade whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
Individual Key Lime Pies
Ree's adorable Key lime pies come together in three easy layers. Spread homemade lime curd atop buttery graham cracker crust, then add a dollop of fresh whipped cream and garnish with lime zest.
Butter Mochi
Butter mochi is a party staple in Hawaii. Made with mochiko (Japanese sweet rice flour) and coconut milk, the dessert is beloved for its sweet, buttery taste and chewy, pleasingly dense texture. A little goes a long way, so avoid cutting the pieces too big. (You can scale down the recipe, but the measurements for the mochiko and coconut milk are really convenient for a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.) If you’d like to add another layer of coconut, sprinkling the top of the batter with shredded coconut before baking is a lovely touch (but by no means necessary).
Instant Pot Bread Pudding
Pressure cooking ups the creamy, custardy nature of this classic brunch staple. If you prefer a crispy crust for contrast, just pop the baking dish under the broiler with some sugar on top.
Sheet Pan Jelly Roll
There is no need to go out and buy a special jelly roll pan to make a classic roulade. As this recipe proves, a standard rimmed baking sheet will do just fine! The basic sheet cake is also easier to make than the usual cake -- called a genoise -- but holds up just as well. Pre-rolling the cake while it is still hot and before it is filled is the key to ensuring it doesn't crack.
Classic Crispy Rice Treats
Gooey marshmallows and crispy rice cereal come together in this recipe for the all-original favorite. We added a splash of vanilla extract and pinch of salt to give these sweet treats a palatable punch. Cut into squares, store between a few pieces of wax paper (to prevent any sticking) and enjoy for up to three days.
Carrot Cake
Alton tops his fan-favorite carrot cake with a thick cream cheese frosting: a classic dessert fit to feed a crowd!
Blueberry-Lemon Whoopie Pies
Sandwich two fluffy, blueberry-filled cookies around a cream cheese and lemon filling for sweet treat everyone's sure to love.
Berry Dessert Lasagna
Despite the fanciful name, this chilled trifle makes for an easy dessert with bright, crowd-pleasing flavors. Using frozen cakes makes them easier to slice into "noodles."
Cheesecake Pops
A frozen cheesecake and lollipop sticks are all you need to whip up cute, bite-sized cheesecake pops. Dip your pops in chocolate and roll them in sprinkles, coconut flakes or crushed candy.
Blondie with Dark Roots
Guy’s blondies are an unexpected addition to any cookie tray. The key is stirring hazelnuts, coconut and chocolate chips into the batter!
Light Strawberry Shortcake
Food Network Kitchen’s lighten-up version of strawberry shortcake is loaded with citrus notes. There’s lemon zest in the shortcakes and orange zest in the macerated strawberries. Plus, tangy Greek yogurt is a great substitute for whipped cream.
Peanut Butter Banana Milkshake
You only need six ingredients for Jeff's creamy peanut butter milkshakes. Mix ice cream, peanut butter, whole milk and a banana in a blender then add whipped cream and honey-roasted peanuts.
Do-It-All Cake Batter
Here's a go-to cake recipe you can keep in your back pocket: An all-purpose vanilla cake that'll please any crowd, and can also be effortlessly transformed. The flavor possibilities are endless. We've provided five great ideas: chocolate cake, lemon poppyseed cake, coffee cake, confetti cake and raspberry jam swirl cake. You simply add ingredients to the basic batter for a new flavor profile without major swaps or substitutions. We tried making the cake with whole milk, but after extensive testing, we found that buttermilk gave the cake better flavor and a lighter, more tender crumb. It doesn't get easier than this!
Shortbread Cookies
Ina’s classic cookies are a breeze to make — and you only need 6 ingredients to whip up a batch — making them the perfect treat when you’re craving something sweet.
Basic Sheet Pan Cake
We're certain this all-purpose cake batter will be your go-to recipe for anything from jelly rolls cakes to berry-laden trifles. It is incredibly simple and results in a tender yet pliable crumb.
27 Easy Recipes Every College Student Should Know
Tired of the dining hall? We’ve rounded up our best shortcut, low-ingredient, make-ahead and dorm-friendly ideas.
Our Easiest Ideas for College Students
For many, college means learning independence, including in the kitchen. Living away from home is a great opportunity to explore different cuisines, develop culinary skills, master a few easy recipes and gain confidence in cooking for yourself. So, fill up the mini fridge and stock up on dorm-room essentials—we’ve rounded up recipes that coax big flavors out of short ingredient lists, use approachable techniques and give you dietary value to boot. For instance, this delicious breakfast takes 10 minutes, and you’ll only have to wash one pan afterward! Ham, cheese and baby spinach are used here, but you can swap them out for your favorite omelet fillings.
Microwave Mac and Cheese
This from-scratch mac and cheese cooks in one bowl, and you don't have to boil the macaroni or cook the cheese sauce separately. Plus, it's ready in less than half an hour. A blend of American and Jack cheeses makes the sauce smooth and tangy.
Microwave Potato
A fully loaded baked potato can make for a hearty meal, but what college student has an hour to wait for a spud to cook?! This recipe yields a moist, steamy, fluffy potato with crispy skin in a fraction of the time.
5-Ingredient Chicken Pesto Soup
Premade pesto delivers tons of herbal flavor in this 5-ingredient dish. The first step is simmering the chicken thighs in broth for 40 minutes, so you can study (or watch TV) while you wait. Then, simply shred the chicken, add it in with the spinach, and stir in some pesto.
Overnight Oats
Overnight oats surged in popularity a few years ago, and it’s easy to see why. They only take five minutes of prep, they’re super customizable and they’re nutritious—a breakfast trifecta! Not to mention, you can carry the jar with you if you’re rushing out the door. Registered dietician Min Kwon will get you started with this recipe, which is really a scaffold to help you choose your favorite ingredients and perfect your milk-to-oat ratio.
Egg-and-Kimchi Rice Bowls
This quick, satisfying meal was inspired by the Korean rice dish bibimbap. Pre-cooked brown rice saves time, while eggs and bacon add satisfying, salty protein. Garnish with creamy avocado, sliced scallions and a simple, homemade kimchi sauce for a bowl of rich, tangy goodness.
One-Pot Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce
This pasta recipe looks pretty, and it’s hard to mess up. The one-pot design means you add all of your ingredients to the pot, bring it to a boil, and stir until it comes together. Fresh tomatoes, basil and garlic are the stars of this dish.
Rice Cooker Pancake
If your dorm allows you to have a rice cooker, then you’re in luck because you can use it for more than just rice. For a fun treat, try making this spongy, Japanese-style pancake!
Gnocchi Pesto Pasta Salad
This easy spin on pasta salad uses store-bought gnocchi and two cups of vegetables. Just cook the gnocchi, green beans and peas until tender, then mix with pesto, mayo, Parmesan, salt and pepper. It makes a quick side at dinner or for lunch the next day!
Hummus and Grilled Vegetable Wrap
This vegan recipe is a fast, convenient way to eat your veggies. You’ll fill a whole-wheat wrap with hummus, toasted pine nuts, grilled zucchini and fresh bell pepper, spinach, onions and mint. The combination of fresh and cooked vegetables has great nutritional value! This wrap also makes a great lunch since it’s easy to pack and carry with you.
Microwave S'mores Mug Cakes
You only need a small amount of each ingredient to create this decadent chocolate, graham cracker, marshmallow treat—making it the ideal baking recipe for college students who don't have a full kitchen or lots of storage for ingredients. Plus, it cooks up in the microwave in a matter of minutes—and makes just two, individual mug cakes.
Shortcut Dan-Dan Noodles
This clever recipe is another way to dress up instant ramen. The secret to creating bold flavor with few ingredients? Pickle juice. Yep, bread and butter pickle brine adds sweetness, saltiness and acidity to the sauce. All you have to do is pop open a jar.
Kale and Apple Salad
Sick of the dining hall salad bar? Say goodbye to wilted Romaine lettuce and hello to this elegant kale recipe. It only uses five main ingredients: Kale serves as the base, dates and Honeycrisp apple chunks add sweetness, toasted almonds add crunch and grated Pecorino adds savory, umami flavor. Complete it with the simplest homemade dressing ever—lemon juice, olive oil and salt—and you’ll have a new favorite way to eat your veggies.
Frozen Fruit Smoothies
Smoothies are a quick, portable and delicious way to add more fruit to your diet. While you can make a smoothie however you want, this berry-banana recipe is a great place to start—hundreds of reviewers can vouch for it!
Ham, Apple and Cheese Quesadilla
Quesadilla meets ham and cheese sandwich in this inventive, healthy recipe. Whole wheat tortillas are brushed with mustard and apple butter, then filled with ham, cheese and red onion. Garnish with apple slices tossed in lemon juice and cinnamon. It’s quick, nutritious and sure to get you out of a rut!
Sausage and Peppers Sheet Pan Dinner
Sheet pan dinners are great because the meat and vegetables cook at the same time, totally hands-off. This variation takes the fuss out of making sausage and peppers—no grill required and no need to tend the vegetables as they soften. You’ll give the onions a five-minute head start, then add the peppers and sausage and stick the pan back in the oven for 25 minutes. Serve on a hoagie roll for a complete meal with minimal work.
Three Bean and Beef Chili
Chili is an easy meal to make spontaneously because it uses lots of canned ingredients. That means you can stock your cabinets and save on time, money and trips to the grocery store. This recipe uses three types of canned beans (black, kidney and pinto), plus canned tomatoes and part of a can of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce. You’ll round it out with two fresh vegetables and some ground beef. This recipe also makes a big batch (10 cups!), so you can freeze your leftovers for a quick meal down the road, or better yet, invite your roommates and friends over!
Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese
Rice cookers also work for pasta! You can make this easy mac and cheese recipe in a rice cooker instead of on the stove.
Mustard-Maple Roasted Salmon
This five-ingredient salmon recipe is glazed with an unexpected combination of Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, maple syrup and fresh cilantro. It’s sweet, savory, bright and creamy all in one, and it all comes together in 20 minutes.
10-Minute Chicken, Corn and Kimchi Ramen
Now, onto dinner. If you’re sick of instant ramen, throw out those flavor packets and use the noodles for this recipe instead! This 10-minute dinner includes vegetables (baby spinach and frozen corn) and protein (premade rotisserie chicken), plus kimchi for plenty of flavor. Garnish with fresh scallions and another pantry favorite: nori!
Hotdish (Tater Tot Casserole)
If you like cooking for friends, hotdish is also a great meal to have in your back pocket. The Minnesotan tater tot casserole mainly uses frozen and canned ingredients, so all you really need to do to prep is cook the onions and ground beef together. If you don’t have a baking dish, you can buy a pack of disposable aluminum ones.
Microwave Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
This hearty breakfast dish is packed with fiber—making a healthy start possible any day of the week.
Glazed Chicken and Broccoli Sheet Pan Dinner
Or, try this chicken, potato and broccoli sheet pan dinner. You’ll get started with the chicken and potatoes, then add the broccoli. Keep things simple by glazing the chicken with premade teriyaki and seasoning the vegetables with olive oil, salt and pepper. There’s nothing better than a lazy, balanced meal.
Vegetable Egg Fried Rice
Jet Tila’s Vegetable Egg Fried Rice is perfect for learning the technique behind fried rice. The ingredient list is a little longer, but it’ll ensure that your rice is flavorful and filling. Once you get the hang of the basics, you can customize your fried rice and use up the ingredients you have on hand.
Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl
Or, if you prefer, you can turn a smoothie into a filling meal of its own. It’s not more difficult than making a normal smoothie—just throw your ingredients into a blender, pour into a bowl and add your favorite toppings! You can finish this peanut butter smoothie bowl with chopped almonds, sliced bananas, cacao nibs, chia seeds or whatever else you can think of!
Lemon-Garlic Shrimp and Grits
Don’t feel intimidated—this recipe is way easier than it looks. Instant grits do the heavy lifting while the shrimp cooks in butter in garlic. Garnish with lemon, parsley, salt and pepper. If you’ve got someone you want to impress with your cooking skills, this is the recipe to make.
The Best Stovetop Mac and Cheese
If you’re stressed over school and craving the comfort of mac and cheese, don’t reach for the boxed stuff. Whip this up instead! With an additional 10 minutes of effort and a few more ingredients, you’ll end up with a pot of mac and cheese that you can actually be proud of. Plus, this recipe makes 6 servings at once, so you can hang onto the leftovers.
Easy Pantry Recipes
Worried you don’t have enough ingredients on hand to make a delicious meal or crowd-pleasing snack? You’ll be surprised what you can whip up with just a handful of basic ingredients.
Black-Eyed Pea Soup
Dried black-eyed peas and frozen collard greens come together in this filling and comforting soup. If you don’t have a ham hock on hand, don’t stress — a bit of extra bacon will provide the same smoky flavor.
Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe
Cacio e Pepe is a beloved Roman dish made with things you can easily find in your pantry, but there are as many ways to make it as there are cooks in Italy. In this version, olive oil adds a little grassiness and Parmigiano-Reggiano, in addition to the classic Pecorino-Romano, is used to round out the flavors and add an umami richness. If you don't have Parmigiano in the house, simply make the dish with all Pecorino and lower the salt in your pasta water by a tablespoon.
Chocolate-Pretzel Cereal Treats
Use chocolate cereal and salty pretzels for these marshmallow-bound treats for the perfect sweet-and-salty bite. Drizzle with chocolate and chill before serving.
Senate Bean Soup
This hearty bean-and-potato soup is inspired by the one that's still served in the Senate cafeteria to this day.
Puttanesca with Angel Hair Pasta
Canned tomatoes, capers, black olives and anchovies combine to make a tangy and traditional puttanesca sauce. Don’t have angel hair in the pantry? No problem! Serve with any pasta you have available.
Buttermilk Cheddar Corn Cakes
Trisha's cheesy corn cakes can be served as a side dish for a meaty main course or eaten on their own with butter and maple syrup.
Rockin' Rice Pudding
Tyler's creamy, comforting rice pudding is your go-to when you need a dessert but don't have much more than pantry staples on hand.
Spinach Tortellini Soup
This satisfying main-dish soup is ready in just 15 minutes thanks to a few shortcut ingredients that most of us have stocked in our refrigerator or freezer.
Chocolate-Hazelnut Paninis
Toast these chocolate-hazelnut spread-filled challah sandwiches for a from-the-pantry treat your whole family will love.
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