Let’s face it. As much as we all enjoy the warm, gooey delights that emerge from our ovens, baking can be such a chore. Baking is a science, and we’re not totally sure that everyone is built for the lab. Luckily, there are loads of no-bake recipes that’ll make you look like a baking expert while telling your sweet tooth to pipe down. We’ve rounded up 36 no-bake desserts that don’t require too much time or too many ingredients and will have everyone clawing at your recipe book.
1. No Bake Oreo® Layer Dessert
As if Oreos® weren’t a great enough treat in themselves, the Brown Eyed Baker gives us this scrumptious recipe for an Oreo®, cream cheese and pudding dessert to give another use for our favorite cookie. The cream cheese/Cool Whip® layer of this dessert perfectly marries the two chocolate flavors together in such a way that you’ll find it terribly difficult to wait the two hours of refrigeration before serving.
2. No Bake Chocolate Éclair Cake
Speaking of layers infused with Cool Whip®, this spin on the traditional chocolate éclair will make you put off your no-more-sweets diet for another day. The Kitchen is My Playground shares this recipe for a wonderfully simple, yet satisfying no-bake delight. Skip making the topping from scratch and buy chocolate cake frosting to make this an even easier five-ingredient recipe.
3. Deep Dish Peanut Butter Snickers® Pie with Salted Caramel
Averie Cooks might officially be crowned the Queen of Crust once word gets out of her No-Bake Deep-Dish Peanut Butter Snickers® Pie with Salted Carmel. Sure, the name is a mouthful, but you’ll probably say anything to get a slice of this decadent pie. With a chocolate cookie crust and a salted caramel drizzle to die for, you might totally forget that there are chopped Snickers® pieces on top.
4. Peanut Butter Cup Pie
It’s incredibly difficult to eat just one peanut butter cup. Luckily, Kathy Patalsky of Healthy. Happy. Life. published this delicious vegan recipe for a Peanut Butter Cup Pie. Now, you can get your fill of your favorite flavor in a truly raw fashion.
5. Peanut Crackle
“Peanut Crackle” just sounds like a dessert that people will want a lot of. Miss Sophisticate proves that’s the case with her recipe for an alternative peanut brittle. This recipe is so easy that it’s practically dummy-proof. If you’re looking for a variation, try using white chocolate chips instead of regular chocolate chips.
6. No Bake Thanksgiving Dessert
Take a store-bought angel food cake, hollow it out, and stuff it with a brilliantly flavored pumpkin filling. This easy recipe, cooked up by The Glamorous Housewife, is perfect as a fall treat, but you’ll certainly want it all year round. And if you’re worried about scooping out the cake’s insides, it’s easier than you think.
7. Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
In another dessert transformation, The Girl Who Ate Everything created a birthday cake for her son from stacks of ice cream sandwiches. Who said ice cream cakes had to be difficult? Some Cool Whip® and toppings of your choice allow the classic ice cream sandwich to masquerade as an expertly layered cake. An ingenious dessert!
8. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Bars
Any peanut butter lover knows that the best way to eat the stuff is straight out of the jar, but if you’re looking for just a little bit of variation, look no further than Sally’s Baking Addiction. This dessert is an easy way to tie peanut butter to its match made in heaven—chocolate. Better yet, it’s made with only five ingredients that you likely have on hand right now.
9. No Bake Crème Brulee
Just because it’s fancy, doesn’t mean it has to be difficult. Follow these easy instructions from Completely Delicious to make your own restaurant-grade crème brulee at home. As long as you have your own kitchen torch, these little desserts are a breeze. And who doesn’t love cracking through that sugar shell?
10. Nutella® Cheesecake
Smooth, delicious and beautifully presented, My Baking Addiction’s No-Bake Nutella® Cheesecakes make a tremendous dessert. If you think the Oreo® cookie crust is played out, you’ll change your mind once you taste how lovely the chocolate cookie flavor blends with the hazelnut of the Nutella®. The result is simply wonderful.
11. Chewy Granola Bars
If you’re not looking for a big dessert, sweet goodies also make great snacks. Take these chewy granola bars from Back to the Cutting Board, for instance. These are yummy little snacks that pack the perfect amount of sweetness in a fun-sized bar. Hungry between lunch and dinner? Reach for one of these with no regrets.
12. Pumpkin Cheesecake
There’s nothing more perfect than a light, fluffy cheesecake. That is, until you add pumpkin to it. Mother Thyme gives us this simple no-bake recipe for a delightful cheesecake that’ll satisfy any sugar craving you might have. Ten minutes of prep and couple of hours in the fridge are all you need to bring this dessert to the table.
13. Macadamia Thumbprint Cookies
Grind macadamia nuts to make these mouthwatering thumbprint cookies from the Healthy GF Life blog. Whether the filling of your choice is a jelly, jam or ganache like Tammy’s, you’ll probably be asked to bring these to every potluck you’re invited to. Good thing they have that no-bake ease going for them.
14. Double Chocolate Breakfast Cookies
Listing these “breakfast” cookies in a desserts roundup might sound ridiculous, but they’re called cookies after all. Chelsea’s Messy Apron brings us this amazing recipe for a perfect on-the-go morning treat. It’s healthy and small enough to tote around—two solid qualities in a breakfast if you ask us.
15. Chocolate Pots de Crème
A pot de crème is a fun little French custard dessert. Our recipe for these darling petite things comes from Something to Snack On where we learn what ingredients to mix and how long to set it in the fridge. Top the concoction with some whipped cream (made with Bailey’s) and some chocolate shavings to top off this smooth dessert.
16. “Red Velvet” Energy Bites
The best part about Olives ‘n’ Wine’s “Red Velvet” Energy Bites is that they don’t contain any red velvet at all. Sounds guilt-free to us! Oatmeal, cranberries, dark chocolate and honey all add to these petite snacks. In our long list of decadence, it’s nice to have a healthy option or two.
17. Apricot Nut Balls
Healthful Pursuit actually likes to call these little guys “fifteens,” meaning they can be made, frozen and enjoyed in less than 15 minutes. It’s a clever name for healthy little snacks like these. They’re also easy to make, and if there’s an opportunity to make a naturally sweetened treat without turning on the oven, we’re taking it!
18. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
It seems strange that a dip could be considered a dessert, but Gramma knows best; at least the Gramma at Gramma Good does. This super simple recipe can be thrown together and served with vanilla wafers or even pretzels. It sounds like a dip that won’t last, especially when people realize it tastes that good and there aren’t any raw eggs in it.
19. Mexican Chocolate No Bake Cookies
Looking for a new cookie recipe? Chocolate-Covered Katie has an excellent one for you with her take on Mexican Chocolate Cookies. You could choose to bake these treats, but this is definitely cookie dough that you can eat raw without worry.
20. Chewy Chocolate Cranberry Treats
Chocolate and cranberry come together again to make another delicious no-bake goody. This one comes from Carrie of Serious Eats, and we’re certainly grateful for the recipe. They’re crispy, they’re delicious, and they’re everything we want out of an addictive dessert.
21. Cookie Dough Squares
Finally, an excuse to eat the cookie dough. The Simply Sugar and Gluten Free blog shares its version of No-Bake Cookie Dough Squares that taste just as good as they sound. They only take 15 minutes to prepare, but after the hour in the fridge, you’ll barely be able to contain yourself from eating the whole batch.
22. Orange Snowball Cookies
Take a break from the chocolate cookies and grab the vanilla wafers for these delightful Orange Snowball Cookies courtesy of Nicole from the Heat Oven to 350 blog. There’s no oven required for these coconut-covered treats, and they only take 15 minutes to toss together. A great mix of flavors and textures make this a smart new go-to in your kitchen.
23. Vegan Lemon Coconut Cream Pie
Just because something is gluten-free doesn’t mean it’s lacking in taste. Our strongest evidence is this No-Bake Vegan Lemon Coconut Cream Pie from Gluten-Free-Vegan-Girl. Lemons, dates, cashews, walnuts, almonds and coconut cream add up to the perfectly tangy lemon dessert. It’s definitely a pie that you’ll want a second or third slice of.
24. Chocolate Mousse Tarts
Dark chocolate makes a grand entrance with these No-Bake Dark Chocolate Mousse Tarts from Pure Ella. Gluten-free, grain-free and vegan, these desserts pack a flavor that puts them into a category of their own. Pair these with some champagne for a romantic Valentine’s Day treat.
25. Nutella® Pretzel Cookies
Nutella® and pretzels combine forces to create the cookie that’ll likely be the death of us all. The Kitchen Witch presents this no-bake recipe that makes the perfect last minute treat. The smooth Nutella® goes so well with the salty crunch of the pretzel that we can’t imagine how anyone managed to photograph these cookies before they were eaten!
26. No Bake Speculoos Pie
Experience Trader Joe’s® Speculoos cookies in a different way with this amazing recipe presented by Simply Vegetarian 777. The cookies make the crust, and the cookie butter makes the filling extra special. The result is beyond delicious, and no heat is required.
27. Kool-Aid® Pie
Unsophisticook gives us an unexpected treat in a recipe for mini Kool-Aid® pies. Combining Kool-Aid® mix with sweetened condensed milk and Cool Whip® results in a small pretty pink dessert, and you can actually use any flavor you want, so it doesn’t always have to be pink. Throw the mixture into store-bought pie crusts and you’ve got yourself a dessert!
28. No Bake Honey Cake
If you thought that s’mores were the best thing you can do with graham crackers, you were sadly mistaken. We actually thought the same before we tried Let the Baking Begin’s version of a no-bake honey cake. Layers of crackers intertwined with homemade ganache are what make this cake so special. The recipe is incredibly easy, but good luck waiting the 24 hours for it to sit in the fridge.
29. Buttermilk Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Balsamic Strawberries
With a name like that, everyone will think you slaved for hours to present this fancy dessert. Passionate About Baking certainly delivers when she gives us this recipe. Your taste buds will celebrate the texture and sweetness of the panna cotta. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised at how expertly flavored the balsamic strawberries are. Serve this one to your friends and you’ll be the master of desserts!
30. Cake Batter Cookie Bars
If you’re ready to indulge, take this recipe from Lamberts Lately and share the delicious product with your friends and family. Marshmallows, white chocolate, Oreos®, oh my! Sure, you might have to spend an extra minute or two on the treadmill, but boy are these worth it.
31. Mochaccino Cookies
Another variation of a thumbprint no-bake cookie comes to us courtesy of The Sweet Chick who shares these delectable Mochaccino Cookies. They taste just as luxurious as they sound. An expertly flavored mocha hazelnut cookie is made whole by a blob of marshmallow fluff and caramel topping. Perfect for any occasion and for showing off your kitchen savvy to your friends.
32. Butterscotch Banana Parfaits
Andi from Today’s Mama shares this brilliant recipe for individual Butterscotch Banana Parfaits that is sure to be a hit with your next round of guests. If you can slice a banana and open a bunch of butterscotch pudding cups, then you’ll nail the simple steps of this recipe. The hardest part will probably be stopping yourself from eating the other three servings.
33. Tagalong Peanut Butter Cheesecake
When Girl Scout Cookie® season is upon us, it can be hard to avoid devouring an entire box in one sitting. Country Cleaver encourages you to take that box of Tagalongs and make this delicious No-Bake Peanut Butter Cheesecake. There might be many variations of cheesecakes on this list, but none successfully incorporate the guilty pleasure of a Tagalong Girl Scout Cookie®. Maybe this year you order an extra box in hopes that you’ll get to make this incredible dessert.
34. Carrot Souffle
Step aside, carrot cake! This No-Bake Carrot Souffle is the new authority in carrot desserts. Satisfying Eats gives us this easy four-ingredient recipe to finally get your kids eating those orange veggies. This dessert is sweet, simple and topped with a little dollop of whipped cream. Perfection.
35. Chocolate Almond Haystacks
The Hungry Hedgehog gets our award for “Best Name” for their Chocolate Almond Haystacks. These guys are perfect for satisfying a chocolate craving without making you feel guilty for it. They take a mere five minutes or so to mix up, and once you’ve let them set in the fridge for 30 minutes, you’ll be able to gobble them right up.
36. Turtle Upside Down Cake
If there’s any no-bake dessert that can make it look like you spent an entire day on one cake, it’s this one from Adventures in Cooking. The picture alone should sell you, but trust us when we say that the smooth richness of this dessert is to die for. Nut lovers rejoice! Pecans, almonds and walnuts impeccably complement the homemade salted caramel and chocolate ganache.
The Joy of Not Baking
What’s your favorite way to make dessert in a jiffy? Share a great no-bake dessert recipe by leaving a comment below or tweet your answer to @pcgifts with the hashtag #nobake.
If you are looking for an equally delicious and sweet drink to accompany your dessert, check our our oatmeal cookie shot recipes.