20 Quick-and-Easy Dessert Recipes
Quick Cherry Crisp [1]
Crumbled shortbread cookies and toasted pecans top succulent red cherries in this easy-to-make dessert.
Rocky Road Parfaits [5]
These lovely layered desserts feature the classic flavors of rocky road: chocolate, marshmallows and peanuts.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Sundaes [9]
Quickly warm pineapple in butter and brown sugar, then spoon the softened fruit over crumbled pound cake and dulce de leche ice cream.
Blackberry-Banana Lemon Trifle [13]
There's a reason this is called a trifle—it's a breeze to put together! Instant vanilla pudding and pie filling mix and packaged shortbread cookies speed dessert prep.
Mocha Chocolate Mousse [17]
This delicious mousse is a snap to mix together. You can layer it over fresh fruit and top with your choice of miniature chocolate pieces, chocolate sprinkles or chocolate-covered espresso beans.
Quick Strawberry Cheesecake [21]
Blend Brie cheese with cream cheese and layer with strawberries and sliced almonds for this cheesecakelike dessert.
Bananas a la Mexican [25]
Purchased pound cake and canned whipped cream help this dessert go together fast. Bake the dessert topping in the oven instead of on the rangetop so you don't have to tend it as it cooks.
Bananas a la Mexican [26]
Wonton Dessert Stacks [29]
Layer baked wonton wrappers with low-fat lemon yogurt and sliced strawberries and kiwis for this quick-and-easy treat.
Ginger Fruit with Pineapple Sherbet [33]
This remarkable topping will impress guests with its zesty goodness. But easy ingredients—canned pineapple and mandarin orange sections tossed with orange marmalade, crystallized ginger and vanilla—make it a snap to create and pair with good-for-you sherbet.
Warm Apple Spice Crumble [37]
You can put this warm, fresh-baked treat on the table in less than half an hour. Canned sliced apples and purchased granola cereal make the crumble easy to assemble.
Quick Black Forest Cherry Cake [41]
This quick twist on the classic German chocolate-cherry cake uses boxed cake mix and cherry preserves. Don't skip the kirsch or brandy; it adds that signature Black Forest flavor.
Brownie Parfaits [45]
This fast-fix dessert looks particularly appealing when served in clear sundae glasses. We layered store-bought brownies with a sweetened cream-cheese sauce and peppermint patties.
Brownie Parfaits [46]
Chocolate Panini [49]
Put together this quick and easy dessert while your main dish cooks. Just before serving, toast the sweet sandwich until the chocolate filling is warm and gooey.
Chocolate Panini [50]
Easy Spiced Pastries [53]
Store-bought piecrust is the secret to this dessert. Just brush with melted butter, sprinkle with brown sugar and spices, cut in squares and pop in the oven for a few minutes.
Easy Spiced Pastries [54]
Cool Cheesecake Sauce [57]
Here's a smooth make-ahead dessert sauce that offers an easy way to get cheesecake flavor. Serve it over fresh fruit or layer in a parfait glass with fruit and cookies or cake for a special-occasion dinner finale.
Butterscotch Brickle Pudding Pops [61]
Chopped pecans and toffee bits add delightful crunch to creamy pudding pops. If you don't have plastic freezer-pop molds, use 5-ounce paper cups. Cover the filled cups with foil, make a small hole in the foil with a knife and insert a wooden stick.
Mocha Floats [65]
The coffee-chocolate blend in this drink is refreshingly cool, especially when topped with scoops of vanilla and chocolate ice cream. The amounts we give will make about 10 individual floats.
Mocha Floats [66]
Ice Cream Waffle Sundaes [69]
This treat, which starts with giant waffle ice cream cones, is easy to make but impressive served. It's a sweet ending for any special dinner.
Butterscotch Pretzel Bars [73]
This sweet-salty dessert goes together quickly with a no-bake bottom and a topping of butterscotch pieces and whipping cream heated on the stove.
Layered pudding cupcakes [77]
A super-simple cupcake fix-up: Bake your favorite flavor of cupcake, slice cupcakes into thirds or halves, layer with pudding, frost.