25 Dessert Baking Recipes for When Only Homemade Will Do

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Some desserts just aren’t the same from a box or a bakery. When only homemade will do, the right dessert baking recipes can turn a few simple ingredients into something worth the effort. These recipes skip the shortcuts without making things complicated, so you get all the flavor without the frustration. From everyday treats to special-occasion bakes, there’s something here for every craving. If you’re ready to fire up the oven, these ideas will make it worth your while.

Fast and Easy 4 Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies

A plate of three chocolate chip cookies with a soft, slightly crumbly texture. One cookie is partially eaten, revealing its interior.
Fast and Easy 4 Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Four ingredients, one bowl, and barely any effort? This cookie recipe is proof that dessert baking recipes don’t need a mile-long ingredient list to be worth it.
Get the Recipe: Fast and Easy 4 Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Best Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe

A slice of pecan-topped cheesecake is lifted from the whole cake, showing a creamy texture and caramel glaze.
The Best Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

When pecan pie meets cheesecake, you know it’s going to be good. This one has all the caramelized crunch you want with a rich, creamy base that’s hard to pass up. Dessert baking recipes don’t get much more tempting than this.
Get the Recipe: The Best Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe

Easy 3-Ingredient Nutella Cookies Recipe

Two chocolate cookies on a metal plate, one with a bite taken out of it.
Easy 3-Ingredient Nutella Cookies Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Nutella lovers, this one’s for you. These cookies come together in no time and somehow disappear even faster. If quick and easy dessert baking recipes are your thing, this one’s a keeper.
Get the Recipe: Easy 3-Ingredient Nutella Cookies Recipe

Easy Peach Pandowdy Recipe

A freshly baked peach pie with a lattice crust in a white dish, placed on a marble surface next to whole peaches and a folded napkin.
Easy Peach Pandowdy Recipe. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Rustic, bubbling, and full of peachy goodness, this old-fashioned dessert deserves a comeback. It’s simple, a little messy, and perfect for anyone who loves dessert baking recipes that don’t take themselves too seriously.
Get the Recipe: Easy Peach Pandowdy Recipe

Easy Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls Danish Recipe

A plate of cherry danishes with flaky pastry, creamy filling, and bright red cherry topping.
Easy Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls Danish Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Buttery, flaky, and filled with sweet cherry cream cheese, these danishes taste like a bakery secret. Luckily, they’re ridiculously easy, making them a top pick for dessert baking recipes when effort is not on the agenda.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cherry Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls Danish Recipe

Maple Blondies Recipe

Close-up of several pumpkin spice cake bars with a crumbly top and slight glaze on a white plate.
Maple Blondies Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Brown sugar, butter, and maple syrup come together for a chewy, rich treat that feels like fall in every bite. If you’re after dessert baking recipes that skip the chocolate but keep the flavor, this one’s a must.
Get the Recipe: Maple Blondies Recipe

Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake Recipe with Greek Yogurt

A cheesecake topped with glazed cherries and fresh mint leaves on a white plate.
Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake Recipe with Greek Yogurt. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Tangy lemon, fresh raspberries, and a creamy cheesecake base? Yes, please. It’s a little fancy, a lot delicious, and a great pick for anyone looking for lighter dessert baking recipes.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake Recipe with Greek Yogurt

Harvest Spice Cake Mix Bars

A close-up of two stacked dessert bars with a crumbly crust and flaky top layer on a white plate.
Harvest Spice Cake Mix Bars. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

These bars pack all the warm spice flavors of fall into an easy-to-bake treat. Dessert baking recipes don’t need to be complicated to taste like something you’d want all year long.
Get the Recipe: Harvest Spice Cake Mix Bars

Easy Creamy Cinnamon Pie Recipe

A round pie with a missing slice topped with whipped cream and a gold fork. Nearby are a bowl of cinnamon, broken eggshells, and a dish of powdered sugar on a light surface.
Easy Creamy Cinnamon Pie Recipe. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Cinnamon lovers, get ready—this creamy, spiced pie is basically a hug in dessert form. When dessert baking recipes call for something cozy, this one answers.
Get the Recipe: Easy Creamy Cinnamon Pie Recipe

Copycat Nothing Bundt Cake Carrot Cake Recipe

A bundt cake with cream cheese frosting and chopped nuts on top, placed on a wooden board. A slice is being cut and removed.
Copycat Nothing Bundt Cake Carrot Cake Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

This carrot cake is soft, spiced just right, and topped with a thick swirl of frosting that steals the show. If you love dessert baking recipes that taste bakery-level but cost way less, this is it.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Nothing Bundt Cake Carrot Cake Recipe

Mini Pumpkin Croissants

Several croissant rolls drizzled with icing are arranged on a plate next to cinnamon sticks, with a small bowl of sauce in the background.
Mini Pumpkin Croissants. Photo credit: Thriving In Parenting.

Pumpkin and flaky pastry team up for a bite-sized treat that’s hard to resist. These are the perfect little additions to your dessert baking recipes, especially when fall cravings hit.
Get the Recipe: Mini Pumpkin Croissants

Matcha Brownies Recipe

A cup of matcha tea next to a cooling rack with green matcha brownies drizzled with white icing, on a marble surface.
Matcha Brownies Recipe. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

Earthy, slightly sweet, and packed with green tea goodness, these brownies are a little different in the best way. If you like dessert baking recipes that shake things up, this one’s worth a try.
Get the Recipe: Matcha Brownies Recipe

Protein Strawberry Cheesecake

A slice of cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, topped with strawberry sauce, halved strawberries, and a dollop of whipped cream, on a white plate.
Protein Strawberry Cheesecake. Photo credit: Food Plus Words.

This cheesecake brings the creamy, fruity flavor you want but with a little extra protein to keep things interesting. Dessert baking recipes can have a healthy side, and this one proves it.
Get the Recipe: Protein Strawberry Cheesecake

Chocolate Cherry Cobbler Cake

A pan of cherry chocolate dump cake being served with a spoon, topped with melted chocolate chips and visible cherries.
Chocolate Cherry Cobbler Cake. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Rich chocolate cake meets warm cherries in a dessert that’s basically comfort in a dish. If you love dessert baking recipes that require minimal effort but deliver big, this is the one.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Cobbler Cake

Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake Recipe with Maple Syrup

Slice of pecan pie on a white plate, topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon, with a mug in the background.
Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake Recipe with Maple Syrup. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Pumpkin, pecans, and maple syrup come together in a cheesecake that screams fall. If dessert baking recipes that feel like a seasonal must-have are your thing, this one’s calling your name.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake Recipe with Maple Syrup

Lemon Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

A plate of cherry lemon cheesecake bars topped with sliced lemons and cherries, surrounded by whole lemons on a wooden surface.
Lemon Cranberry Cheesecake Bars. Photo credit: Thriving In Parenting.

These bars pack a punch with tart cranberries, bright lemon, and a creamy cheesecake layer that balances it all out. Dessert baking recipes don’t have to be overly sweet to be worth making.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

Easy Apple Cider Blondies Recipe

Two stacked apple cinnamon oatmeal bars on a plate, with a red apple in the background.
Easy Apple Cider Blondies Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Apple cider and warm spices turn these blondies into an autumn essential. Dessert baking recipes with cozy flavors and chewy texture? Always a win.
Get the Recipe: Easy Apple Cider Blondies Recipe

Homemade Baked Donuts

Three chocolate-covered donuts topped with chopped nuts on a white plate.
Homemade Baked Donuts. Photo credit: Food Plus Words.

Fresh, warm, and baked instead of fried, these donuts are dangerously easy to make. Dessert baking recipes that keep things simple and mess-free? Yes, please.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Baked Donuts

Mom’s Best Cheesecake Swirled Nutella Bars Recipe

Close-up of a dessert bar with layers of yellow cake, cream filling, and chocolate swirls on a plate.
Mom’s Best Cheesecake Swirled Nutella Bars Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

These bars bring together creamy cheesecake and rich Nutella for a dessert that disappears fast. If you’re hunting for dessert baking recipes that combine the best of both worlds, this is the jackpot.
Get the Recipe: Mom’s Best Cheesecake Swirled Nutella Bars Recipe

Carrot Cake Cookies

Close-up of four pumpkin cookies, two sandwiched with cream filling, on a wooden surface with an anise star beside them. One cookie is split in half, revealing its texture.
Carrot Cake Cookies. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life .

Everything you love about carrot cake, now in cookie form. Dessert baking recipes that let you skip the fork but keep the flavor are always a good idea.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Cake Cookies

Easy Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe

Close-up of a powdered sugar-covered cookie with a crumbly texture, revealing a bite taken out of it.
Easy Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Soft, buttery, and just the right amount of sweet, these cookies are dangerously addictive. When you need quick dessert baking recipes with minimal ingredients, this one delivers.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe

Coconut Cupcakes With Cake Mix and Pudding

A partially eaten cupcake with white frosting on a white plate, accompanied by a fork. A green and white checkered napkin is underneath.
Coconut Cupcakes With Cake Mix and Pudding. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Coconut lovers, these fluffy cupcakes were made for you. Dessert baking recipes that taste bakery-worthy without the extra work? Always a win.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Cupcakes With Cake Mix and Pudding

Jam Tart Recipe

A slice of almond tart is being served. The tart is topped with sliced almonds and powdered sugar, revealing a layered filling and a flaky crust.
Jam Tart Recipe. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Buttery crust, sweet jam, and a dessert that looks fancier than the effort it takes. Dessert baking recipes don’t have to be complicated to feel like a treat.
Get the Recipe: Jam Tart Recipe

Slab Pecan Pie Bars

Three stacked pecan bars with a crumbly base and nutty topping on a plate, surrounded by additional plates and pecans.
Slab Pecan Pie Bars. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

All the gooey, caramelized goodness of pecan pie, but in an easy-to-cut bar. These belong in your dessert baking recipes when you need something both simple and impressive.
Get the Recipe: Slab Pecan Pie Bars

Mini Biscoff Cheesecakes

A white tray holds twelve mini cupcakes with creamy yellow frosting, placed in a grid on a marble surface.
Mini Biscoff Cheesecakes. Photo credit: Bake What You Love.

Creamy cheesecake meets spiced Biscoff cookies in these bite-sized treats. When you want dessert baking recipes that deliver big flavor in a small package, these are a no-brainer.
Get the Recipe: Mini Biscoff Cheesecakes

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