Food and Recipes Desserts 40 Easy Dessert Recipes You Can Make In One Bowl Get ready to save time and cleanup with these one bowl dessert recipes. By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is a Digital Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 30, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: OXMOOR HOUSE Baking can be complicated. Whether you're trying to get those cake layers perfectly flat, figure out the science behind baking soda versus baking powder, or guess how high to fill that Bundt pan so it doesn't overflow, preparing dessert can get confusing. Luckily, you now have some of the easiest dessert recipes up your sleeve. From no-bake cookies to summer cobblers and decadent pound cakes, these easy recipes are achievable for home chefs of any level. Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever lives up to its name. Our 4-ingredient Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies and Easy Skillet Apple Pie will have you hooked. And you better believe that we have a few tricks up our sleeve (Two-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake? Yes, please). If you need a recipe in a hurry, these favorites won't let you down. Quick cleanup, foolproof methods, and simple ingredient lists—these recipes are the answer to all your baking woes. 01 of 40 Two-Step Pound Cake Beth Dreiling Hontzas You won't need to spend hours in the kitchen to make this delightful dessert that just so happens to double as a breakfast food. This pound cake really is as easy as mixing the ingredients together and baking them. A standing mixer with a paddle attachment makes it all work. 02 of 40 Slow-Cooker Peach Cobbler Jennifer Davick; Food Styling: Vanessa Rocchio; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford With this easy recipe, the slow cooker has dessert handled. Aside from being quick and using relatively few ingredients, using a slow-cooker makes for easy cleanup and doesn't require cranking up the oven in the summer when peaches, and therefore cobblers, are at their best. 03 of 40 Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Rich dark chocolate mixed with bourbon and espresso make this recipe our favorite grown-up brownie ever. You can skip those two ingredients to make it kid-friendly, but on the other hand, is that really necessary? Maybe these brownies need to be relegated to the adults, every time. 04 of 40 Vanilla Mug Cake Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster This cake is both mixed and baked (well, microwaved) in the same bowl (well, mug). That's what makes mug cakes so special and fun. They're the perfect for-one dessert when you're craving something sweet but you need it to be easy and mess-free, too. 05 of 40 Rum Balls Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Originally published in 1993, we haven't spent a holiday season without making these since. Unlike many bourbon or rum ball recipes, these call for honey instead of corn syrup, which them a more complex flavor and keeps them from being overly sweet. The recipe couldn't be easier to make if you use a food processor to finely chop up the vanilla wafers and pecans. 06 of 40 Nutter Butter®-Banana Pudding Trifle Jennifer Davick This easy trifle is nostalgic for some of us, as the flavor of an all-time favorite cookie is included. That delicious hint of peanut butter is what makes this trifle a winner, and the banana pudding reminds us of our best parts of childhood. Dig and savor the memories. 07 of 40 Two-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake Jessica Furniss/Southern Living Not only is this cake made in just one bowl, it requires just two ingredients: angel food cake mix and a can of crushed pineapple. It really couldn't be easier. For extra flavor and presentation points, frost it with whipped topping and decorate with fruit or sprinkles. 08 of 40 Chewy Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars Hector Manuel Sanchez You don't even have to turn the oven on to whip up this delicious treat with just one bowl! And trust us when we say you will be celebrated as the genius who decided to choose the best duo in dessert: peanut butter and chocolate. This recipe will be a family favorite. 09 of 40 Blueberry-Cheesecake Ice-Cream Pie Hector Sanchez This cool treat is perfect for a hot summer afternoon. You need to follow the assembly instructions in order to pull it off properly. After you add each layer, let the cake rest in the freezer. This will maintain the cake's layered look and get you just the right amount of praise at the potluck. 10 of 40 Spiced Pecan Pie Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Ground cinnamon and ginger give the classic pecan pie a welcome twist—in big-batch bar form! This is perfect for the school function you promised to make dessert for, or for a potluck birthday party. And once made, you will come back to these delights again and again. 11 of 40 Mini Chocolate Chess Tarts Photo: Alison Miksch These mini delights are great for cocktail parties or luncheons with serve-yourself dessert tables, and they're so easy to make. Save time by stacking pie crusts to cut multiple rounds in one turn. You'll get to the finish line fast and will be serving these up in no time. 12 of 40 Easy Blackberry Cobbler John O'Hagan Make use of fresh blackberries this summer with this quick treat. This humble recipe evokes memories of my childhood summers spent roaming the woods, dodging brambles while plucking blackberries with purple-stained fingertips. And when we say it's easy to pull together, we mean it! 13 of 40 Classic Southern Buttermilk Pie Iain Bagwell This old-school favorite came around in the era of desperation pies, and we're still making it today. With a simple ingredient list, a fantastic history, and an irresistible flavor, you'll want to add buttermilk pie to your table the next time you host company. 14 of 40 Coconut Pudding Photo: Hector Sanchez Top these coconut pudding cups with whatever festive toppings you have on hand for pretty presentation. Try unsweetened coconut flakes for a not too sweet topping to keep the theme in place, or use whatever you deem appropriate from your collection of baking accoutrements. 15 of 40 Turtle Trifle John O'Hagan; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey This recipe uses store-bought ingredients like frozen pie and caramel topping to cut down on prep time. Its flavor inspiration from classic turtle candy and features marscapone cheese, whipping cream, vanilla, pecan pie chunks, toasted pecans, and fudge candy caramel toppings. 16 of 40 Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley During the holidays, these are the best bite-sized treats to give as host gifts. With only 30 minutes of hands-on time, you'll spend less time making these morsels than you would picking out a present for someone at the store! If you want to make a few batches and save them to gift, they freeze well and can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week. 17 of 40 So Good Brownies Jennifer Davick If you're in need of a go-to easy brownie recipe, save this one. There are multiple variations on this recipe that allow you to make it your own each time out. Give the coconut version a try, or the streusel-topped variation, and no one will ever know it's the same delicious brownie recipe in disguise every time. 18 of 40 Shaker Lemon Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Ana Kelly Shaker cooks considered lemons an important part of a healthy diet, even though they were expensive and hard to come by, so they devised this pie to make use of every bit of the fruit. You can thank the Junior League of Charleston, West Virginia, for this old-school pie that uses every bit of the lemon—peels, too. 19 of 40 Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies Hannah Zimmerman / Southern Living These peanut butter cookies only require four ingredients and a few minutes to throw together, so you can satisfy your sweet tooth as quickly and easily as possible. The oil in the peanut butter and the proteins in the egg blend together with the sugar to make a cookie with a soft texture. 20 of 40 Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites Jennifer Davick How fun are these mini pecan pie bites for a cocktail party? The mini-phyllo pastry shells make all the difference when you are prepping these little treats. The festive flavors are a holiday reminder, but can be enjoyed any time of year. 21 of 40 Million Dollar Pound Cake Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox With just seven pantry staple ingredients, you can make one of our all-time favorite pound cake recipes. It is a simple recipe to create, and can be served freshly baked or made ahead and stored for a quick dessert option. This will definitely become a dessert go-to in your household. 22 of 40 Easy Skillet Apple Pie Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Fresh apple pie, made in your cast-iron skillet from start to finish. It just doesn't get better than that! Serve this skillet apple pie with vanilla bean ice cream for a dessert that gives all the right feels. 23 of 40 Best-Ever Brownies Photo: Jennifer Davick These fudgy brownies truly are the best ever, and the recipe makes 2 ½ dozen so everyone can experience them. Most from-scratch recipes tend to be dry and cakey, but these have been developed into the ultimate chewy, extra-chocolatey treat. 24 of 40 Seven-Layer Cookies Southern Living This sweet recipe was the first-ever bar cookie featured in Southern Living. It's so easy, that you basically just stack the ingredients up and bake it! They are the perfect choice if you need a last-minute dessert to bring to the neighborhood potluck or are on the hunt for a decadent treat to add to your dessert buffet. 25 of 40 Classic Chess Pie Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly A Southern staple, chess pie is simple and sweet, which is all we need in a dessert. A chess pie will be a crowd-pleaser every time you serve it. Even better? Our recipe uses pre-made piecrust, so pulling one together for last-minute celebrations is a breeze. 26 of 40 Pecan Pie Bars Lee Harrelson If you love pecan pie but need a recipe that feeds a crowd, here you go! These pecan squares are easier to make than traditional pecan pie, and use common and widely available ingredients. Your next potluck dessert promise will be filled with these exquisite bars. 27 of 40 Cornflake Wreath Christmas Cookies Katie Sikora / Southern Living During the holiday season, these cute cookies are so much fun to make with the kids to give to classmates. All you need are mini marshmallows, butter, green food coloring, vanilla and almond extract, cornflakes, and red hot candies. These are great for party favors or can double as the perfect gift idea for a family gathering. 28 of 40 Freezer Peach Pie Photo: Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox You can keep this fresh peach pie filling in your freezer for up to six months for when you need a last-minute dessert or have a serious craving. Just make sure you make enough to last you until winter. These might go faster than you think. 29 of 40 Our Easiest Pumpkin Pie Ever Photo: Greg Dupree We named this recipe "easiest ever," and it holds up to it—trust us. Using only seven ingredients, this pumpkin pie punches more than its weight in flavor. Our test kitchen didn't devise this recipe to be any harder than it needs to be, and we guarantee that you and your family will love it. 30 of 40 Toasted Oatmeal Cookies Hector Manuel Sanchez Toasted oats elevated your usual oatmeal cookie in this favorite recipe from our November 1992 issue. Our test kitchen loved these cookies back then, and we think they deserve a second look today, mainly because of the toasted oats, which elevate an everyday cookie into something special. 31 of 40 Pecan-Peach Cobbler Beth Dreiling Hontzas Southern pecans are kneaded into the pie crust, making this confection completely irresistible. Bring it to your next church potluck, family gathering, or birthday celebration, and it's guaranteed to be the hit of the party. Although we prefer this recipe with fresh summer peaches, you can make it with frozen if you have a major craving in the off-season. 32 of 40 Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss You can enjoy this beautiful pound cake with your morning coffee or as a pretty luncheon dessert. For the strawberry swirl, we used pre-made strawberry glaze for convenience. Dollop the glaze in layers throughout the pound cake batter to achieve this marbled look, and watch guests swoon as you cut into the cake. 33 of 40 Chocolate Parfaits Southern Living The kids will love this quick dessert. Though we call for whipped topping and grated chocolate, this recipe is versatile. Try layering fresh fruit such as strawberries into the pudding to make it your own. 34 of 40 Fudge Pie Iain Bagwell Every chocolate lover has to have a good fudge pie recipe in their collection. When this pretty pie comes out of the oven, you'll be thinking it looks a lot like your Thanksgiving pecan pie at first glance. But as soon as you slice into the decadent dessert, the oozing chocolate inside will put those thoughts to rest. 35 of 40 Mini Pecan Pies Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski Instead of standing at the dessert table to slice, make these mini pecan pies for easy serving. Made with frozen tart shells and a sweet, nutty filling that comes together in a single bowl, they make a fantastic addition to a dessert table or holiday buffet. 36 of 40 Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood You can have decadent pecan pie right from your cast-iron skillet. Serving it in the skillet is also easy and makes the dish even more Southern. You won't regret taking your pecan pie to new heights with this recipe. 37 of 40 Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge Photographer: Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley This first-lady-approved dessert has had our hearts for years. Newspapers across the land printed the fudge attributed to Mrs. Eisenhower shortly after she became First Lady in 1953. It remains a benchmark for chocolate fudge. It's delicious, creamy, and fool-proof. 38 of 40 Quick & Tasty Banana Pudding Van Chaplin, Charles Walton IV Seriously quick, seriously tasty! This banana pudding recipe isn't from scratch, but it's perfect if you're short on time. If there are Nilla Wafers involved, you know it's going to be good. 39 of 40 Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie Hector Sanchez How could pecan pie get any better? Add chocolate and bourbon, and you will understand the magic. Like other pecan pies, we think this one would be over-the-top delicious served with a spoonful of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 40 of 40 Mocha Pudding Cake For this pudding cake, simply put all the ingredients in your slow cooker and let it do the baking. Forget finicky batters and uneven layers—when dessert is made in the slow cooker everyone wins. We recommend serving it warm with a cold scoop of ice cream. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit