My Go-To List of Crowd-Pleasing Dessert Recipes

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Dessert is where the fun begins—and these recipes are here to prove it. From fudgy brownies and creamy pies to fluffy cakes and bakery-style cookies, this list has something for every craving. Whether you’re baking for a celebration, a cozy night in, or just because, these easy homemade desserts always hit the spot. Each one is simple to make, perfectly sweet, and full of that homemade goodness we all love. So grab your whisk (and maybe a fork)—it’s dessert time!

Black Velvet Cake

A glossy black donut, a dessert you can't get enough of, flaunts a rich, reflective glaze as it sits on a clear surface. Its slightly rippled texture is perfectly highlighted against the white background, emphasizing its shiny allure.

Get ready to bake the richest, most decadent Black Velvet Cake you’ve ever tasted! This showstopper is unbelievably moist, bursting with deep cocoa flavor, and surprisingly simple to make. We’re sharing all our tips, shortcuts, and an easy step-by-step guide to help you create this masterpiece at home. Let’s get baking

Get The Recipe: Black Velvet Cake

A wide-angle shot of a freshly baked chocolate chunk Pizookie skillet cookie, cut into wedges, with a wooden spatula, all resting on a wire cooling rack over a marble background. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Craving warm, gooey, chocolatey cookies but don’t have the time for a full baking session? Say hello to your new best friend: the skillet cookie. This recipe is your shortcut to dessert heaven, delivering a perfectly baked, giant cookie loaded with molten chocolate chips. It’s quick, easy, and requires just one skillet. Get ready for a treat that’s impossible to resist

Get The Recipe: Pizookie Skillet Cookie

Lemon Pound Cake

This lemon pound cake sings with citrus! Infused with both lemon juice and zest, it’s incredibly moist and buttery, with a burst of sunshine in every bite. The finishing touch? A delightful lemon glaze that ties it all together.

Get The Recipe: Lemon Pound Cake

Cinnamon Swirl Scones

These Cinnamon Swirl Scones are a delightful surprise! They combine the unexpected flavors of sweet cinnamon swirls with the traditional buttery base of scones, creating a unique and irresistible treat.

Get The Recipe: Cinnamon Swirl Scones

Easy Ricotta Dessert

A spoon lifting a portion of creamy ricotta dessert sprinkled with chocolate chips and a dash of cinnamon, with more of the dessert visible in the glass below. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Easy Ricotta Dessert features a creamy cheese filling nestled on a buttery cookie crumble, all studded with dark chocolate chips.

Get The Recipe: Easy Ricotta Dessert

Devil’s Food Cupcakes with Dark Chocolate Frosting

Treat yourself to this recipe for Devil’s Food Cupcakes with Dark Chocolate Frosting. It features a heavenly, moist, and fudgy chocolate cake, exquisitely topped with dark chocolate cream cheese frosting.

Get The Recipe: Devil’s Food Cupcakes

Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers

Apple Turnovers on a plate with a close up of one broken open to show the apple filling. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

These puff pastry apple turnovers are a delightful blend of apples and cinnamon. These crispy treats are great for breakfast or dessert!

Get The Recipe: Puff Pastry Apple Turnovers

Award Winning Banana Bread

The image features a loaf of banana bread with several slices cut, alongside a serving knife on a stone board. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This award-winning recipe delivers a super moist, soft, and tender banana bread every single time. It’s a guaranteed success that’s sure to become a treasured staple in your recipe box.

Get The Recipe: Award Winning Banana Bread

Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Brownies

A pile of Rich, fudgy brownies topped with mounds of peanut butter cookie topping. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Warning: These fudgy brownies with peanut butter cookie dough are dangerously delicious! Bake a batch and see for yourself – you won’t regret it.

Get The Recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Chocolate Pudding Pie

Craving a textural adventure? This Chocolate Pudding Pie delivers! A symphony of creamy pudding, fluffy whipped cream, and a flaky pie crust awaits. Topped with delicate chocolate curls, this pie is a celebration of all things chocolate.

Get The Recipe: Chocolate Pudding Pie

Boston Cream Pie Cake

A close up of a vanilla cake filled with custard and covered in chocolate glaze. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Boston Cream Pie Cake is a delicious reminder of everything we love about American desserts. Moist cake layers are filled with a creamy vanilla center and finished with a decadent chocolate glaze. It’s a nostalgic treat that’s guaranteed to satisfy.

Get The Recipe: Boston Cream Pie Cake

Sticky Toffee Ginger Cakes

Sticky Toffee Gingerbread Cakes on a platter — Photo credit: Erren’s Kitchen

These Sticky Toffee Ginger Cakes are the perfect individual desserts for the holidays or any special occasion. Light gingerbread-flavored cakes are drenched in a luscious sticky toffee glaze, making them irresistible. This recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
Get the Recipe: Sticky Toffee Ginger Cakes

Nutty Homemade Brownies

These Nutty Homemade Brownies are packed with both walnuts and pecans for a nutty twist on a classic dessert. This recipe makes super fudgy brownies with a rich chocolate flavor. They’re perfect for a family-friendly dessert or for your next game day gathering!
Get the Recipe: Nutty Homemade Brownies

Easy Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cupcakes with swirled frosting — Photo credit: Erren’s Kitchen

These Easy Red Velvet Cupcakes are the perfect treat for any occasion! Whip them up quickly to satisfy a craving or serve as a delightful dessert. With a classic cream cheese frosting, they’re guaranteed to be a hit!
Get the Recipe: Easy Red Velvet Cupcakes

Rocky Road

This Rocky Road recipe is a chocolate lover’s dream! This simple no-bake dessert is made with chocolate, peanut butter, and marshmallows for an easy treat that’s perfect for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Rocky Road

Snickerdoodle Bars

If you love Snickerdoodle Cookies, you’ll adore these Snickerdoodle Bars! These buttery, chewy bars with a cinnamon-sugar topping are quick and easy to make. They’re perfect for any occasion and are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Snickerdoodle Bars

Apple and Pear Pie

This Apple and Pear Pie recipe is the perfect dessert for any fall gathering! This delicious, layered pie features cinnamon and nutmeg, baked in a 9×13 pan with a beautiful lattice crust. With apples, pears, and a hint of lemon, this pie is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Apple and Pear Pie

Orange Raspberry Pound Cake

orange raspberry cake with raspberry swirls — Photo credit: Erren’s Kitchen

This Orange Raspberry Pound Cake is a burst of sunshine in every bite! The tangy orange flavor pairs perfectly with the sweet raspberries, making it ideal for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Orange Raspberry Pound Cake

Chocolate Fudge Cake

This Chocolate Fudge Cake is so easy to make, it will quickly become a favorite. The decadent sheet cake is topped with a glossy chocolate frosting that everyone will love. You’ll want to add this recipe to your regular rotation!
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Cake

Salted Caramel Blondies Bar

Salted caramel blondies with a chocolate chip cookie base and dark chocolate topping. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Salted Caramel Blondies recipe is pure indulgence. The combination of rich blondies and gooey caramel is irresistible on its own, but the touch of sea salt takes it to the next level. It’s a flavor combination that will have you reaching for seconds (and thirds!).

Get The Recipe: Salted Caramel Blondies Bar