It’s no secret we’re big fans of desserts around here. Cookies, cakes, pies, brownies… really, there’s no dessert we wouldn’t try. And while spending all day baking delicious treats sounds like a dream, real life tends to get in the way of all-day kitchen excursions. That’s why it’s always good to have a few easy dessert recipes on hand. How about 10 desserts that require 5 ingredients or less? These are perfect for last-minute get-togethers, parties, or just because you’ve had a long day and really deserve some sugar. We get it. No judgment here. These 10 desserts are just for you!
5 Ingredient Banana Pudding Pie
At the grocery store, grab a package of vanilla wafer cookies and a couple instant jello pudding packets, then add to that a few at home ingredients (bananas and egg whites), and you’ve got pretty much everything you need. A little extra effort comes with whipping up the egg whites, but trust us, a little bit goes a long way. To finish up, set everything under the broiler for a few minutes to put a golden crust on top of the whipped egg whites. We love the toasty marshmallow flavor that broiling provides, and it makes a simple dessert look a little fancier. What’s not to love about a simple, comforting dessert that everyone will enjoy?! Get the recipe here!
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5 Ingredient Avalanche Cookies
There’s something about these peanut buttery, marshmallowy, light-as-air “pillows” that has us hooked. If you were a fan of peanut butter and fluff sandwiches growing up (or are current fans of those tasty sammies, as we are), you will love this recipe. It’s easy to whip up, meaning you could have cookies in as much time as it takes to melt everything and stir it together – what’s not to love?? These avalanche cookies are ridiculously delicious and totally addictive; you’ve been warned! Get the recipe here!
5-Ingredient Applesauce Cake
Here’s the thing – this is so much more than just a doctored up box cake mix. Yes, it uses store-bought yellow cake mix, but apple pie spice mix, eggs, applesauce, and vanilla extract completely transform it and kick it up a notch. While we easily found apple pie spice mix at our local grocery store, if you can’t find it, it’s typically just a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves or allspice. That’ll tack on a couple ingredients, but again, super easy to whip up by hand and shouldn’t slow you down too much if you end up making it yourself. This cake, in large part thanks to the applesauce, is never, ever dry, plus it’s just rich and moist and so yummy. Get the recipe here!
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5-Ingredient Butter Cookies
All right, so these are delicious, indulgent butter cookies. That’s right, delightfully buttery and with the perfect touch of sweetness (which is important and great, because it means you can eat more without the cookies being cloying), this recipe is definitely a staple in our household – and soon it’ll be one in yours as well. As you may have noticed, it’s not just the flavor of these bad boys that’s so great, it’s also their unique shape! While you could just as easily roll these into balls and bake them as is, we like to go one (easy) step further to turn these into ridge cookies. Get the recipe here!
5-Ingredient Lemon Cookies
Lemon desserts are some of our favorites because of their refreshing tartness. When it’s hot out, no one really wants to dive into something too rich and decadent, so these cake-y cookies are the best thing to satisfy our sweet tooths without bashing us over the head with cloying sweetness. Plus, they come together super quickly with just a box of cake mix and some other ingredients you already have on hand! It doesn’t get much better than these bite-sized treats and we can’t wait for you to try them! Get the recipe here!
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4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge
This is a great go-to recipe when you need a dessert that is completely addictive and doesn’t take all afternoon to make. The fact that we can put it together quickly with ingredients that are already in our kitchen is the best part! While these are absolutely delicious on their own, consider topping them off with a layer of melted chocolate, chopped peanuts, mini chocolate chips, or even marshmallows. When we don’t have time to run out to the store, but we have an urgent need for something sweet, we look no further than these peanut butter fudge squares. Get the recipe here!
4-Ingredient Homemade Dole Whip
For all you Disneyland lovers out there, you know by now how delicious Pineapple Dole Whip is. For those who haven’t yet tasted its greatness, let us explain: dole whip is a soft serve-esque frozen treat that is served at Disneyland parks and that is everything you want from a cold dessert. It’s sweet, but not cloying, refreshing, and smooth and creamy, without being too icy or gritty. With its hints of coconut and lime, this pineapple treat will immediately remind you of being on a tropical vacation, and who doesn’t want that?? Get the recipe here!
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3 Ingredient Chocolate Creme Truffles
Chocolate truffles always sound super fancy and even more difficult to make. A gourmet chocolatier or baker might prepare a luxurious ganache, add heavy cream, brandy, and other super elegant ingredients. And while we know a truffle like this is sure to melt the heart of any chocolate lover, we love this more simplified version and the satisfaction that comes with creating something really elegant looking without all of the extra effort. So, if you want to look like a gourmet baker (without all of the gourmet training), look no further than these delightfully delicious chocolate truffles. Get the recipe here!
3-Ingredient Cookies And Cream Dream Bars
We’re huge fans of traditional rice krispie treats, but sometimes we like to get a little more creative with classic recipes. Not only are our cookies and cream bars loaded with gooey marshmallow and crunchy chocolate cookie chunks, but you will stumble upon bits of the Oreo cream filling as well – yum! These 3-ingredient treats only require a microwave – no oven or stove – so they’re not only a breeze to whip up, but are a perfect recipe for little ones to help with – we just made a batch with our kids and they had so much fun! Get the recipe here!
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BONUS: 3-Ingredient Coffee Whipped Cream
This recipe is called Magic Coffee Whip for good reason! There are only three ingredients in here, and none of them are milk, cream, eggs, or any other dairy product. So, what exactly makes up Magic Coffee Whip? Instant coffee crystals, sugar, and ice water. Yup. That’s it. This fluffy, beautiful whip is sweet and has a rich coffee flavor. It’s a great topping for brownies, a homemade latte, tiramisu, and just about any other kind of dessert you can think of. Get the recipe here!