Craving something sweet and can’t wait hours for it to bake? Never fear, here’s 36 of our easiest desserts that still pack a mighty punch. They’re often made with ingredients you already have in the pantry, are quick to prepare or involve little hands-on cooking time.
Made with just a handful of ingredients, this cheat's version of a classic tiramisu is on the table in 5 minutes. There's no need to wait hours for it to set in the fridge – simply add everything into a mug and serve with a savoiardi biscuit for dunking.
It's the irresistible combination you never knew you needed… until now: Dubai chocolate rocky road! Squishy-soft marshmallows, fragrant Turkish delight, nutty pistachio and crispy kataifi pastry come together in a smooth chocolate bundle to bring you the most moreish treat you're ever likely to eat. You’ll need a 20cm x 30cm slice pan for this recipe, and you’ll need to start at least 4 hours ahead. Bring the pastry to room temperature before you begin.
Remember this classic Aussie Arnott's biscuit? This long time favourite was sadly discontinued from shelves (except in South Australia!) so we decided to bake our own version.
This deliciously gooey and moreish dessert shows just how versatile butter and bananas can be.
We’ve transformed a classic dessert into the shape of a cookie! Easy to make and even easier to devour, you can enjoy these sticky date pudding-inspired cookies warm with an oozy soft centered caramel or cooled with chunks or chewy caramel. Both experiences are amazing.
Yes, you read that right. Only 5 ingredients.
This gorgeous and impressive-looking dessert is surprisingly easy to prepare - just don’t tell a soul! We covered the buttery french “sablé breton” with strawberries but you can pick your favourite berry or a mix of what's in season.
This is your ‘I’m suddenly craving a warm chocolate dessert’ solution. The pistachio cream adds the perfect gooiness to a warm fluffy chocolate cake. The scoop of ice cream perfectly tops it all off, but feel free to go with whipped cream or a rich dollop of double cream instead. You’ll need a 1⅓-cup (330ml) capacity microwave-safe mug for this recipe.
For a quick dessert or afternoon tea treat, try this mille-feulle.
This recipe is the epitome of easy and effortless, whilst still looking completely impressive and tasting amazing. What could be better? This recipe is an extract from our new cookbook delicious. daily (HarperCollins, $45), out now.
Matt Moran reinvents the Viennetta and with only three ingredients. We're sold.
This delicious cake takes no time to prep so is perfect for an impromptu gathering. Pop all ingredients but the pears in a food processor (or keep it old-school and mix by hand) then press into your pan, placing your beautiful pears in the centre. Can’t get much easier than that. Recipe note: You’ll need a 19cm springform pan.
A classic French delight which is easy to make and delivers every time. We chose to flavour them with lemon but there are endless options. I love to add frozen raspberries to a plain batter and sprinkle some flaked almonds over the top before baking. You’ll need a 12-hole friand mould.
"A truly simple melt-and-mix cake that yields beautiful, tender results. Everyone should have a simple vanilla cake in their baking arsenal, and this one is easy enough for even the beginner baker to master. A few tips to set you up for success: this is cooked at a lower temperature than you might expect – we don’t want too much browning, and a lower temperature means less doming on your finished cake." – Emelia Jackson
This impressive-looking dessert is a breeze to make: just whiz everything in the blender and set in the fridge.
