17 Quick Desserts That Are Ready in a Flash

Chocolate Lava Cakes — The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Craving a delicious dessert, like, now? These quick and easy desserts are ideal when you need an after-dinner sweet tooth fix, and fast. Whether you want to satisfy a solo dessert craving, are looking for no-fuss family desserts, or need a last-minute treat for parties and potlucks, we've got a recipe here for you.

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Bananas Foster

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Cooking for one, and want to treat yourself to a special dessert? Flambé some bananas foster—a dish of buttery, cinnamon-spiced, rum-soaked banana slices that you literally set on fire—and call it dinner and show. Top with vanilla ice cream, and serve at once. The recipe can be doubled easily to serve two, as needed.
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Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Diana Rattray

Who doesn't love chocolate chip cookies? These classic, buttery cookies are absolutely loaded with chocolate chips and take only 10 minutes to bake, so they're a great way to satisfy a last-minute cookie craving. For a fun variation, use half butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, or mint chocolate chips.
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Chocolate Lava Cakes

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Chocolate lava cakes are an easy and elegant dessert for two. You need only 15 minutes to make these decadent, miniature chocolate cakes, but we won't tell if you don't! With gooey centers that explode with molten chocolate when you dig in with your fork, they make an ideal ending to romantic dinners at home.
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Snickerdoodle Mug Cake

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Microwave mug cakes are the perfect solution when you're craving a fast sweet treat. This snickerdoodle mug cake cooks in just one minute for a warm, cinnamon-sugary treat with all the deliciousness of its namesake cookie. It's also an easy recipe for kids to make on their own, with no egg cracking and no hot oven.

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Funfetti Rice Krispies Treats

The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfiinger

Fun and easy to make and eat, these colorful Rice Krispies treats with rainbow sprinkles are a great recipe to introduce young kids to the joy of baking. Store them in an airtight container for kids to grab when they want a snack, or stack them on a pretty platter for a tasty, hand-held birthday treat.
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Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

Planning an anniversary or Valentine's Day dinner at home? There's nothing more romantic than a ripe, juicy strawberry dipped in smooth, rich chocolate. Best of all, this classic dessert is incredibly easy to make in just a few minutes for enjoying with your after-dinner coffee or cocktails.
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Peach Shortcakes With Cream Scones

The Spruce / Christine Ma

Creamy, biscuity, vanilla-scented scones are the perfect platform for warm, syrupy peaches and sweetened whipped cream. These easy, individual peach shortcakes come together in about 30 minutes and can be made all year round using canned peaches instead of fresh.
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Edible Cookie Dough

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

If you're a cookie baker who struggles not to eat raw cookie dough, this recipe is for you. It tastes just like the regular cookie batter you love but contains no eggs and uses heat-treated flour, making it a safe-to-eat cookie dough. Add chocolate chips, nuts, or rainbow sprinkles.

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Cake In a Jar

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Cake in a jar is an Instagram-worthy dessert idea that makes a great holiday or hostess gift. Make a batch of charming mason jar cakes in less than 30 minutes, including the cake and frosting, for delighting your friends and family. Decorate jars with DIY labels, gift tags, ribbons, and other creative touches.
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Lemon Butter Cookies

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Want a quick treat to serve your book club, bring to bridal showers, or nibble with your afternoon cup of tea or coffee? These lemon butter cookies are cute little snowballs of deliciousness, with a powdered sugar coating and loads of vibrant citrus flavor from fresh lemon juice and zest.
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Tiger Fudge

The Spruce / Elizabeth LeBau

Soft and creamy tiger fudge with pretty ribbons of peanut butter and chocolate is a delectable treat for kids of all ages. Nobody will believe it took only three ingredients and about 10 minutes to make. Get kids involved in swirling the ingredients together before you place the candy in the fridge to set.
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Apple Crisp

The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

Warm, syrupy cinnamon apples nestling beneath a sweet and crunchy oat topping make this homestyle apple crisp a favorite, no-fuss family recipe. To shorten the baking time, slice the apples into smaller pieces and divide them and the topping mixture among individual ramekins to make single-serve portions.

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Fastest Cheesecake

The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

Use full-fat dairy ingredients in this recipe for the rich, creamy, fluffy cheesecake of your dreams. Make it in 15 minutes flat and chill for an hour before presenting it to your delighted family or guests. Top with your choice of fresh or canned pie filling or drizzle with chocolate sauce for a marbled presentation.
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Watermelon Granita

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Bursting with the refreshing flavors of sweet, juicy watermelon and bright, tangy lime, this Italian-inspired granita is a cool, refreshing iced dessert that doesn't require an ice cream machine or churning. With only three simple ingredients, it's an easy treat to whip up in the summer heat. Make it the day of serving or up to one week ahead.
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Fried Apples With Cinnamon

The Spruce

Southern-fried apples accented with cozy baking spices are a delicious way to enjoy fresh seasonal fruit for dessert. Ladle them over bowls of vanilla bean ice cream or plate them with a dollop of whipped topping for an everyday family dessert. They make a yummy addition to a breakfast plate of pancakes, too.
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Fluffy Homemade Vanilla Cake

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Need a cake for a last-minute party or potluck invite? Look no further than this fluffy homemade vanilla cake that you can prepare in about half an hour, including the chocolate buttercream frosting. Use vanilla extract for a classic vanilla-flavored cake, or sub in almond extract for a nuttier-tasting crumb.

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Strawberry Biscotti Parfait

The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

Strawberries and whipped cream are a match made in heaven. Layered with amaretto-soaked biscuits, they create an utterly elegant, summery strawberry parfait. Serve them as the perfect finishing touch to Italian dinners, garnished with optional fresh mint leaves for a pretty presentation.

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