In a perfect world, I always have a dessert ready, whether it's frozen cookie dough or an easy cake to power me through the week. But in reality, most desserts take more time than I do on a typical weekday, when even making dinner at home can sometimes seem like a huge effort. Enter these 13 recipes, which take less than an hour — including prep and baking time.
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
1) Quick and Easy Fudge Brownies
It's right there in the name: These easy brownies are mixed in just one bowl and come together instantly. Just toss, mix and bake; in just over 30 minutes, you have a pan of warm, moist brownies to feed your dinner guests (and plenty for the next morning).
Get the recipe: Quick and Easy Fudge Brownies
Buy the recipe: Callebaut Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips AND Espresso powder
Christina's dough
2) Tequila-Lime Cake Snack
This slightly tart citrus cake is a fun way to keep the party going past cocktail hour. The masa harina lends its subtle notes of sweet corn, which pair beautifully with the lemon zest. Topped with a tequila-lime juice glaze, it's sophisticated in flavor yet simple (only two bowls needed!) to execute.
Get the recipe: Tequila-Lime Cake Snack
Buy the recipe: Time of day
Photography by Kristin Teig; food styling by Liz Neily
3) The original King Arthur cake
No eggs or butter in the fridge? Good news, you won't need any for this cake! Cooking for a gluten-free friend? No problem, just use ours Gluten-free dough for flour dough. Short on time? Well, it takes five minutes to mix the ingredients and 30 minutes to bake! Yes, you can have it all.
Get the recipe: The Original King Arthur Cake
Buy the recipe: Triple Cocoa Blend
Photography by Mark Weinberg; Food Styling by Erin Jeanne McDowell
4) Vanilla Rice Pudding
Don't overlook this humble soba dessert. Made with a handful of basic ingredients (rice, cream, sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt) and cooked in a pot on your stove, this silky rice pudding offers a quick solution when you're craving dessert. Make it extra special by using vanilla bean flavored paste.
Get the recipe: Vanilla Rice Pudding
Buy the recipe: Vanilla bean paste
Rick Holbrook
5) Basque Style Cheesecake (Tarta de Queso)
It's hard to believe that only five ingredients can result in such an impressive dessert. From its bubbly, caramelized exterior to its soft, creamy interior, this cheesecake is truly unlike any you've had before. It has all the elements of a special baking occasion without the time commitment.
Get the recipe: Basque Style Cheesecake (Tarta de Queso)
Buy the recipe: Springform Pan
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
6) Daily cake with olive oil
There is no time when you I won't you want a piece of cake that is plush and drenched in olive oil. Keep it classic by flavoring the cake with orange zest and juice, or customize the basic recipe. Add chopped chocolate or toasted nuts for a little texture, boost the flavor with a dash of almond extract OR Sicilian flowersor swap some of the all-purpose flour for cornmeal or whole wheat flour.
Get the recipe: Everyday cake with olive oil
Buy the recipe: All purpose flour AND Round cake pan
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
7) Chocolate Snickerdoodle Cake
Cinnamon sugar brings a nostalgic taste to this ready-to-eat food cake. Pockets of chocolate chips and tangy sour cream rolled into the dough give this cake a flavor with a little zing.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Snickerdoodle Cake
Buy the recipe: Callebaut Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips AND Vietnamese cinnamon
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
8) Simple Vegan Lemon Cake
For a big lemon flavor, this cake calls for it THREE types of lemons. But it doesn't require eggs and butter, because whether you're vegan or just on a diet, you deserve a soft and delicious cake to serve for dessert.
Get the recipe: Easy Vegan Lemon Tart
Buy the recipe: Lemon emulsion AND Powder with lemon juice
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
9) Light Chocolate Pudding
The classic chocolate pudding never goes out of style. This rich, velvety pudding takes 20 minutes to make. Pour it into coupes or fancy glassware that you reserve for guests for a luxurious yet fuss-free dessert.
Get the recipe: Light Chocolate Pudding
Buy the recipe: Triple Cocoa Blend
10) Pecan Pie Bars
All the delicious nutty and caramel flavors of pecan pie, but without the time-consuming pie crust! Instead, the base of these cookies is a simple brown sugar pressed crust that comes together instantly.
Get the recipe: Pecan Pie Bars
Buy the recipe: 9″ x 13″ pan.
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
11) Chocolate Pan Cookies
Sure, you could bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies and no one would complain. But for even less effort, you can serve this giant pan-roasted version for a real after-dinner winner. (No pitting or chilling required!) You may not even need a knife to slice it—just go right in with scoops and scoops of ice cream at the ready.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Pan Cookies
Buy the recipe: Callebaut Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips AND Vanilla extract
Photography by Mark Weinberg; Food Styling by Erin Jeanne McDowell
12) Chocolate Fudge Cake Donuts
Donuts in half an hour? Yes it is possible! Baking instead of frying speeds up the process, but you still get a delicious and decadent dessert.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Fudge Cake Donuts
Buy the recipe: Standard donut pan
Photography by Danielle Sykes; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
13) Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Everything about this recipe is centered around delicious comfort. Requires canned pineapple rings (no slicing required!), uses self rising flour and it doesn't even require a mixing bowl – just a single pot and one cake pan!
Get the recipe: Self-rising pineapple upside-down cake
Buy the recipe: Round cake pan
Looking for easier recipes? Here are ours 18 easiest recipeswhich require only a few ingredients and no special equipment.
Cover picture (Everyday cake with olive oil) by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne.
