32 Simple Dessert Recipes That Win Big Without Breaking a Sweat

Sometimes you just want dessert without a long prep list or extra cleanup. These simple dessert recipes are proof that good results don’t have to come from complicated steps. They’re quick, reliable, and work with what you likely already have on hand. Ideal for weeknights, last-minute guests, or no-reason-at-all cravings. No need to overthink it—just grab what you need and get it done.

Easy Nut Brittle Recipe

Close-up of chocolate-dipped nut bars with a white coating and chocolate drizzle. — Easy Nut Brittle Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

This stuff snaps, crackles, and disappears faster than you can cool it. It’s one of those simple dessert recipes you pull out when you want crunch without a full baking day.
Get the Recipe: Easy Nut Brittle Recipe

No-Bake Cheesecake in a Jar

Two jars of cherry cheesecake with a crumb base, topped with cherry compote, are placed on a light-colored napkin. A silver spoon lies beside them. — No-Bake Cheesecake in a Jar. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Layers, jars, and zero oven time? That’s a win across the board. It checks all the boxes for simple dessert recipes that still look like you know what you’re doing.
Get the Recipe: No-Bake Cheesecake in a Jar

Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Pie Recipe

Slice of peanut butter pie with whipped cream on a white plate, accompanied by two chocolate sandwich cookies, with bowls of peanut butter and dessert in the background. — Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Pie Recipe. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

It’s creamy, it’s cold, and you don’t have to turn on the oven. If you’re short on time but still want to pretend you’re dessert royalty, this is one of those simple dessert recipes that gets you there.
Get the Recipe: Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Pie Recipe

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Close-up of puffed rice balls coated in a golden syrup, arranged on parchment paper in a red tray. — Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats. Photo credit: The Honour System.

They’re sticky, sweet, and give off serious school-lunch energy—in the best way. Perfect when you want simple dessert recipes that don’t ask you to measure with precision.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Keto Fudge

Stack of chocolate fudge squares on a white plate with a red cloth in the background. — Keto Fudge. Photo credit: Trina Krug.

Low carb, but still rich enough to feel like a treat. You don’t need much to pull this off, which makes it one of the smarter simple dessert recipes for a weeknight craving.
Get the Recipe: Keto Fudge

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

These bars snap, melt, and vanish all in one bite. You’ll want to stash a few before anyone else realizes how solid they are for simple dessert recipes.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

Strawberry Gelee With Chardonnay

Four glass cups of strawberry gelatin topped with whipped cream and a strawberry on each, placed on a white cloth with three spoons beside them. — Strawberry Gelee With Chardonnay. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Fancy name, low effort. This is your chance to casually pull off one of those simple dessert recipes that looks way harder than it is.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Gelee With Chardonnay

Sunbutter Cups Recipe

Three stacked peanut butter cups with chocolate chips and sesame seeds. The top one has a bite taken out of it. — Sunbutter Cups Recipe. Photo credit: The Honour System.

Nut-free but still hits the sweet spot. These little cups sneak in as a top pick for simple dessert recipes that don’t feel like they’re trying too hard.
Get the Recipe: Sunbutter Cups Recipe

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.

You don’t need a mixer or a full pantry to make these happen. They’re a classic go-to when you want simple dessert recipes that don’t mess around.
Get the Recipe: Fast and Easy 4 Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies

Easy Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Cream

A slice of pie topped with banana slices and whipped cream is served on a white plate, with the rest of the pie and ingredients visible around it. — Easy Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Cream. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

This one is bananas—literally—and drips with sweet drama in all the best ways. It’s a standout when you’re sifting through simple dessert recipes that still feel special.
Get the Recipe: Easy Banoffee Pie Recipe with Caramel and Cream

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.

If you’ve got Nutella and a spoon, you’re already halfway done. This is what simple dessert recipes are for—quick wins without the cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Easy 3-Ingredient Nutella Cookies Recipe

Oreo Pie

A slice of cookies and cream pie with whipped topping and chocolate sandwich cookies on a plate, next to a glass of milk. — Oreo Pie. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Oreos, whipped filling, and no baking? That’s a green light every time. It lands right in the sweet spot for simple dessert recipes that basically make themselves.
Get the Recipe: Oreo Pie

No Bake Protein Cheesecake Recipe

A pink frosted cake on a white plate, surrounded by small pink flowers. — No Bake Protein Cheesecake Recipe. Photo credit: Best Clean Eating.

This one walks the line between treat and snack without tipping over. It’s ideal when you want simple dessert recipes that don’t come with a sugar crash.
Get the Recipe: No Bake Protein Cheesecake Recipe

Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake Without Milk

Close-up of a baked, crumbly dish with a browned, textured surface, possibly an oatmeal or fruit-based dessert. — Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake Without Milk. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

Somehow tart and sweet and crumbly without needing milk. If you’re looking through simple dessert recipes that skip the grocery store trip, this one’s your best bet.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake Without Milk

Homemade Sugar Free Marshmallow Recipe with Maple Syrup

Close-up of a white, square-shaped marshmallow with a soft, fluffy texture. — Homemade Sugar Free Marshmallow Recipe with Maple Syrup. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

These mallows are fluffier than you’d expect, with a bit of maple hiding in the background. It’s one of those weirdly fun simple dessert recipes that doesn’t ask for corn syrup.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Sugar Free Marshmallow Recipe with Maple Syrup

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, slightly tangy, and dangerously snackable. This is one of the simple dessert recipes that feels homemade without requiring a personality change.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe

No-Bake Chocolate Pistachio Cake

A chocolate cake topped with crumbled pistachios is sliced into eight pieces. — No-Bake Chocolate Pistachio Cake. Photo credit: At The Immigrant’s Table.

Nutty and rich but still chill—literally. It’s the kind of thing you’d keep in the fridge and call a win for simple dessert recipes that don’t involve an oven mitt.
Get the Recipe: No-Bake Chocolate Pistachio Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars

Close-up of two stacked chocolate and oatmeal bars with a textured, nutty surface. — Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars. Photo credit: The Honour System.

These come together faster than your group chat can decide on a movie. When you want simple dessert recipes with a hit of nostalgia, this one checks out.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars

This and That Bar Recipe

This and That Bar Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

These bars are what happens when you clean out the pantry and somehow win. They’re a wildcard choice that still earns a spot on any list of simple dessert recipes.
Get the Recipe: This and That Bar 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 meets maple syrup and turns into something snacky and golden. These belong in the simple dessert recipes file for when cookies just won’t cut it.
Get the Recipe: Maple Blondies Recipe

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.

Swirls of Nutella plus cheesecake vibes? Yes, it’s rich—but also low on the drama. Save this one for when you’re flexing with simple dessert recipes that deliver.
Get the Recipe: Mom’s Best Cheesecake Swirled Nutella Bars Recipe

Strawberry Shortcake Bars

A slice of dessert featuring a crumbly crust, a creamy white layer with bright pink swirls, and a golden crumb topping. — Strawberry Shortcake Bars. Photo credit: Baking Beauty.

These bars taste like summer without needing fresh berries on standby. They’re an easy pick when you want simple dessert recipes that play well with a scoop of vanilla.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Bars

Easy No Bake Brownie Bites

A bowl of round chocolate energy balls, with one halved to reveal the textured interior and visible nut pieces. — Easy No Bake Brownie Bites. Photo credit: The Honour System.

Chocolatey and fudgy without a single minute in the oven. These bites prove simple dessert recipes can still pack a punch.
Get the Recipe: Easy No Bake Brownie Bites

Candy Cane 4 Ingredient Fudge

Chocolate pieces with candy cane bits are arranged on a white wooden surface. Some candies are intact, and one has a bite taken out. Candy canes are scattered around. — Candy Cane 4 Ingredient Fudge. Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear.

Sweet and minty with only four ingredients—this one’s practically on autopilot. If you’re into simple dessert recipes with holiday energy, this checks out.
Get the Recipe: Candy Cane 4 Ingredient Fudge

Cookie Crumb Peach Cobbler Recipe

A close-up of a baked apple crumble in a white dish, featuring a golden-brown, crumbly topping over a layer of cooked apples. — Cookie Crumb Peach Cobbler Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

All the cobbler flavor, none of the fuss. This shortcut earns bonus points for sneaking into your favorite simple dessert recipes without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Cookie Crumb Peach Cobbler Recipe

Chewy Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Close-up of several pumpkin cookies stacked, with one cookie partially bitten. — Chewy Pumpkin Snickerdoodles. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

Spiced just enough and soft in the middle, these are fall in cookie form. Perfect when you’re poking around for simple dessert recipes that don’t ask you to chill the dough.
Get the Recipe: Chewy Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Chocolate Tiramisu

Rich layers with a hit of espresso, but easier than you’d expect. This one’s a sleeper hit among simple dessert recipes that feel a little more grown up.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Tiramisu

Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars

Two lemon squares on plates, each with a lemon slice on top. A white cloth with blue dots is draped beside the plates, and whole lemons are in the background. — Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars. Photo credit: fannetastic food.

These bars are bright, creamy, and don’t need eggs to be good. They slide right into your stash of simple dessert recipes without throwing off the vibe.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars

Easy Chocolate Dessert

Chocolate cake with a glossy finish, topped with whipped cream and a star-shaped decoration with sprinkles, is on a white plate beside star-shaped chocolate pieces. — Easy Chocolate Dessert. Photo credit: Erren’s Kitchen.

It’s chocolate. It’s easy. It’s the answer to basically every dessert emergency. Put this one at the top of your simple dessert recipes list for good reason.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chocolate Dessert

Easy 3 Ingredient White Chocolate Fudge Recipe

A plate of neatly stacked vanilla fudge squares on parchment paper, with vanilla pods beside it. — Easy 3 Ingredient White Chocolate Fudge Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes From Leftovers.

No fancy moves here—just melt, mix, and cool. When you need simple dessert recipes that look like you tried, this one keeps you covered.
Get the Recipe: Easy 3 Ingredient White Chocolate Fudge Recipe

Mini Peanut Butter Protein Brownies

Stack of three chocolate muffins with caramel filling on a wire rack, placed on a light wooden surface with a blue cloth nearby. — Mini Peanut Butter Protein Brownies. Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear.

Small but mighty, these are dense little treats that lean protein-heavy without skipping the chocolate. They’re a clever move when you want simple dessert recipes with a purpose.
Get the Recipe: Mini Peanut Butter Protein Brownies

Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies

Three chocolate oatmeal cookies are stacked on a white plate. They have a rough texture with visible oats and a glossy chocolate coating. — Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

You stir it all in one pot and let the fridge do the work. Honestly, this one might be the MVP of simple dessert recipes on a hot day.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies