Classic Dessert Recipes Made Easy: Sweet Treats Without the FussYou probably love the idea of whipping up a homemade lemon tart or chocolate soufflé, but find the lengthy prep work and complicated instructions intimidating. The truth is, you don’t need fancy equipment or specialized skills to create impressive desserts.
With a few simple ingredients and shortcuts, you can make classic treats that will impress your friends and satisfy your sweet tooth.
In this blog, we’ll show you how to make some all-time favorite desserts in a flash. From brownies and cheesecake to crème brûlée and tiramisu, we have easy recipes for the most decadent desserts that will make you feel like a pro.
Your kitchen is about to become every guest’s favorite room in the house. Get ready to skip the bakery and start baking—your easy, homemade dessert adventures await!
Classic Desserts Don’t Have to Be Complicated
Classic desserts don’t have to be complicated. Some of the tastiest treats are also the simplest to make.
Keep the ingredients minimal.
Focus on quality ingredients and keep the list short. For example, a classic apple pie only requires apples, sugar, spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice, plus a double pie crust. Simple yet delicious!
Classic Dessert Recipes Made Easy: Sweet Treats Without the Fuss
Use time-saving techniques.
No one needs to slave over a hot stove for hours. Take shortcuts like:
- Using pre-made pie crusts or cookie dough
- Opting for a no-bake cheesecake or key lime pie
- Adding a pre-made topping like ice cream, whipped cream or custard
- Simplifying the recipe by leaving out tricky decorations or complex layers
Keep the steps straightforward.
The classics are classics for a reason – they’re recipes anyone can master. Focus on straightforward preparations like:
- Mixing ingredients in one bowl
- Spreading batter in a pan and baking
- Combining and chilling ingredients for an easy no-bake option
- Assembly of simple components like crust, filling and topping
With minimal fuss and hassle, you can enjoy the sweet treats you know and love. Homemade desserts don’t get much easier than this! Now, how about a slice of apple pie?
Easy Pies: Fruit and Custard Pies With Store-Bought Crusts
When you want a classic pie without all the work, store-bought crusts are the way to go. You get the deliciousness without the mess—win-win! Here are some easy pies to try:
Fruit Pies
For fruit pies, just toss some fresh or frozen berries, sliced apples or peaches, or citrus segments into a pie crust. Mix in a little sugar, cornstarch or flour to thicken the juices, dot with butter, put on the top crust and bake. Some easy combos:
- Blueberry pie: Toss 3-4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries with 3/4 cup sugar and 2 tbsp cornstarch.
- Peach pie: Slice 3-4 peaches and mix with 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tbsp flour and 1/4 tsp cinnamon.
- Apple pie: Thinly slice 4-5 apples, mix with 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour and 1 tsp cinnamon.
Custard Pies
For custard pies like pumpkin or sweet potato, simmer the filling on the stovetop, then pour into the crust and bake.
- Pumpkin pie: Simmer 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin, 3/4 cup evaporated milk, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs and 1 tsp spices like cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
- Sweet potato pie: Simmer 2 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes, 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs and 1/2 tsp spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla extract.
With pre-made crusts and simple fillings, you can have homemade-tasting pies on the table in no time. Your friends and family will never know the difference!
Simple Cookies: Chocolate Chip, Sugar, and Oatmeal Raisin
Making classic cookies doesn’t have to be complicated. These simple recipes are easy to make and always crowd-pleasers.
Simple Chocolate Chip Cookies
Everyone loves chocolate chip cookies, so this is a recipe worth mastering.
To make about 24 cookies, you’ll need:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl or a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and then the egg.
- Gradually stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Mix in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are light golden brown. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy! The cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Sugar cookies and oatmeal raisin cookies follow similar easy recipes. Baking classic treats doesn’t have to be difficult when you stick to simple, straightforward ingredients and steps. Keep things uncomplicated and you’ll be enjoying sweet, homemade cookies in no time!
Fast Cakes: Dump Cakes and Sheet Cakes From a Mix
When you want a homemade classic cake but don’t want to spend hours baking and decorating, dump cakes and sheet cakes made from a mix are the answer. These quick and easy treats can be on the table in under an hour with almost no fuss.
Dump Cakes
Dump cakes are about as simple as it gets. You dump ingredients in a pan and bake. Start with a box of cake mix, a can of fruit pie filling or topping, and optionally nuts or chocolate chips.
- Pour the pie filling into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle with 1/2 to 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips and/or chopped nuts (optional).
- Pour the dry cake mix over the top and spread with your fingers to cover the filling.
- Drizzle with 2 to 4 tablespoons of melted butter or margarine.
- Bake at 350 F for about 45 minutes, until the topping is golden brown.
Let cool slightly, then scoop and enjoy with ice cream or whipped topping if desired. Cherry, apple or blueberry pie filling pair great with yellow or white cake mix. For chocolate lovers, use chocolate cake mix and cherry pie filling.
Sheet Cakes
Sheet cakes made from a mix require only a few extra ingredients to transform a basic cake into a homemade treat. Start with a box of cake mix, eggs, oil, and any add-ins like chocolate chips, nuts or citrus zest.
- Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box, adding in any extras like 1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips or 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional).
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Bake as directed, usually around 25 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely, then frost and decorate as desired. A simple dusting of powdered sugar, whipped topping or canned frosting works great.
For special occasions, a homemade buttercream or cream cheese frosting takes a sheet cake to the next level. But when time is short, a mix and canned frosting can’t be beat.
Quick Cobblers and Crisps: Peach, Apple, and Berry Delights
Classic cobblers and crisps are homey desserts that evoke feelings of comfort and nostalgia. The best part is that they come together quickly and easily, without the fuss of rolling out pie crust.
Cobblers
Cobblers feature a sweet biscuit-like topping over a fruit filling. To make a peach cobbler, start by slicing 2-3 peaches into wedges and placing them in a baking dish. Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and pour over the peaches.
For the topping, whisk 1 cup flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cut in 1/3 cup cold butter until crumbly. Stir in 1/2 cup milk just until a soft dough forms. Drop spoonfuls of the dough over the peaches. Bake at 375 F for 30-40 minutes until the filling is bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
Crisps
Crisps have a crunchy oat and nut streusel topping over fruit. For an easy apple crisp, peel, core and slice 4-5 apples and place in a dish. Mix 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, 1/3 cup chopped nuts and 1/3 cup melted butter. Sprinkle over the apples.
Bake at 350 F for 40-50 minutes until the apples are tender and the topping is crisp. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
Berries also make a delicious crisp. Simply substitute 2-3 cups mixed berries for the apples. You really can’t go wrong with any of these simple, scrumptious cobblers and crisps. Enjoy!
FAQ
FAQ
Have some lingering questions about whipping up classic desserts? We’ve got you covered.
- Do I have to use exact measurements?
For casual baking, you can take a more relaxed approach. Unless you’re making a finicky souffle or French pastry, exact measurements aren’t always crucial. As long as you’re in the ballpark, your sweet treat should turn out just fine. Taste the batter or dough as you go and make small additions to suit your own tastes.
- What if I don’t have buttermilk or sour cream on hand?
No worries, there are easy substitutes. For every 1 cup of buttermilk, use 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup. Let it sit for 5 minutes. For sour cream, blend 1 cup plain yogurt with 1 tablespoon milk and 2 teaspoons lemon juice.
- My pie crust always cracks and crumbles. Help!
A few tips for perfect pie crust: Use cold ingredients, don’t overmix the dough, and chill it before rolling out. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface in one direction. Add a bit of water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough just comes together. Gently press into the pie pan and crimp the edges. Chill again before adding the filling.
Read more:Homemade Pizza Recipes for Families: Fun & Easy Ideas
- Can I prepare components ahead of time?
Absolutely, preparing parts of a recipe in advance will make the final assembly much easier. Bake pie crusts, cut fruit, make custards and sauces, and chill ahead of time. Cookies and brownies can be baked up to 3 days ahead. Many cakes can be baked, cooled, and wrapped tightly up to 3 days before frosting and serving.
Classic desserts don’t have to require hours of fussing to be showstoppers. With a few handy tips and tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be whipping up sweet treats in no time. Bake on!
Conclusion
So there you have it, a few easy ways to whip up some sweet classics without spending your whole day in the kitchen. Who says you need fancy skills or expensive equipment to make desserts that taste like they came from a bakery? With a few simple ingredients and shortcuts, you’ve got this.
Next time you have a craving for something sweet but want to avoid the hassle, give one of these simplified recipes a try. Your taste buds will thank you, and you’ll have more time to enjoy that second slice of pie, cake or whatever it is you choose to make. Happy baking and bon appetit!
