50 Easy Desserts to Make with What's in Your Pantry & Fridge (2024)

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Scottish Shortbread

My mother, who is of Scottish heritage, passed this shortbread recipe, along with other favorite recipes, on to me. When I entered this treat at our local fair, it won a red ribbon. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba

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2/50

Brown Sugar Icebox Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Brown Sugar Icebox Cookies

My daughters and I have been fairly successful competitors at county fairs and baking contests for years. This is one of our winning recipes. —Eilene Bogar, Minier, Illinois.

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3/50

Chocolate Chip Brownies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Chocolate Chip Brownies

People love these rich chocolate chip brownies so much that I never take them anywhere without bringing along several copies of the recipe to hand out. The treats are wonderful to take on a picnic because you don't have to worry about melted frosting. —Brenda Kelly, Ashburn, Virginia

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4/50

Marshmallow Puffs

With peanut butter, chocolate and marshmallows, these treats were very popular with our three kids as they were growing up—and now I make them for our two grandchildren. They're perfect for the holidays when time is so precious. —Dody Cagenello, Simsbury, Connecticut

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5/50

Grandma's Rice Pudding Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Rice Pudding

Rice pudding, which uses leftover rice, makes the sweetest comfort dessert. Here's how to make rice pudding just as Grandma used to years ago.

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6/50

No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

To make a batch of these three-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal bars to enjoy throughout the week, set aside just 10 minutes on your Sunday. But we make no promises the delicious bars won’t be eaten by midweek.

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7/50

Peanut Butter Fudge Cups Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Peanut Butter Fudge Cups

My husband often travels during the week, and this fast-to-fix microwave peanut butter fudge recipe is perfect for just my 2-year-old and me. —Lori Brow, Manhattan, Illinois.

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8/50

Raspberry Almond Strips

Get ready to pour yourself a cup of tea, because you won’t be able to resist sampling one of these cookies. Almonds add taste and texture to the simple strips that are dressed up with raspberry pie filling. —Taste of HomeTest Kitchen

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9/50

Old-Fashioned Tapioca Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Tapioca Pudding

My family loves traditional tapioca, but I don’t always have time to make it. So I came up with this simple recipe that lets us enjoy one of our favorites without all the hands-on time. —Ruth Peters, Bel Air, Maryland

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10/50

Cashew Clusters Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Cashew Clusters

I make this recipe for many bake sales at the local community college where I work. They are always the first to sell out.—Betsy Grantier, Charlottesville, Virginia

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11/50

Chocolate Bread Pudding Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Chocolate Bread Pudding

Humble chocolate bread pudding is given the luxe treatment with a semisweet chocolate custard and creamy whipped cream. It's the perfect end to a weeknight meal or a fancier dinner with friends.

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12/50

Crisp Sugar Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Crisp Sugar Cookies

My grandmother always had sugar cookies in her pantry, and we grandchildren would empty that big jar quickly because they were the best! I now regularly bake these wonderful cookies to share with friends. —Evelyn Poteet, Hanco*ck, Maryland

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13/50

Chocolate Fudge Brownies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Chocolate Fudge Brownies

My children always looked forward to these fudge brownies as an after-school snack. They're so fudgy they don't need icing. —Hazel Fritchie, Palestine, Illinois

14/50

Old-Fashioned Rice Pudding Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Old-Fashioned Rice Pudding

This comforting dessert is a wonderful way to end any meal. As a girl, I always waited eagerly for the first heavenly bite. Today, my husband likes to top his with a scoop of ice cream. —Sandra Melnychenko, Grandview, Manitoba

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15/50

Saltine Cracker Candy with Toasted Pecans

My kids and grandchildren love this saltine cracker candy recipe. The neighbor kids rush right over when they find out I have them. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario

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16/50

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

These gluten-free peanut butter cookies are chewy, salty and sweet. You wouldn’t believe you only need three ingredients to make them.

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17/50

Potato Chip Clusters

Just three offbeat ingredients add up to one unique, delectable, no-bake treat. These super easy, sweet-and-salty candy clusters make for merry munching during holiday trips or parties. They travel well in containers without melting or getting soft. —Donna Brockett, Kingfisher, Oklahoma

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18/50

Russian Tea Cakes

Tender, nutty Russian tea cakes, also known as snowballs, are a classic holiday cookie.

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19/50

Taste of Home

Chewy Pecan Pie Bars

This treat is one of my husband's favorites. I've been making these bars for many years, and we still can't get enough. I never mind making this recipe—it's about as easy as baking can be! —Judy Taylor, Shreveport, Louisiana

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20/50

Double Chocolate Walnut Fudge Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Double Chocolate Walnut Fudge

Anyone who's fond of chocolate will like this smooth, nutty fudge twice as much. I enjoy making several batches when Christmas rolls around. It doesn't last long at our house during the December festivities! —Florence Hasty, Louisiana, Missouri

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21/50

Creamy Rice Pudding Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Creamy Rice Pudding

I was fortunate to grow up around fabulous cooks. My mother and grandmother taught me to experiment with recipes, and we tried a lot of variations on this one. No matter how we chose to embellish it, it was always tasty. When I make this, it brings fond memories to mind. —Laura German, North Brookfield, Massachusetts

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22/50

Orange Crispies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Orange Crispies

Add a splash of little sunshine to your cookie jar with this recipe. When I want to spread some cheer, I'll bake up a double batch to share. —Ruth Gladstone, Brunswick, Maryland

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23/50

Cinnamon Apple Pan Betty Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Cinnamon Apple Pan Betty

I found this recipe soon after I was married decades ago. You'll need just a few ingredients that you probably have on hand. It's super quick to put together and a favorite of ours during fall and winter, when apples are at their best. —Shirley Leister, West Chester, Pennsylvania

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24/50

Flourless Peanut Butter Thumbprints Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies

Enjoy these easy flourless peanut butter thumbprint cookies, featuring a rich peanut butter base and a luscious Nutella filling. Ready in no time, they're the perfect treat for any occasion!

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25/50

Nut Fruit Bark Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Nut Fruit Bark

Here's a sophisticated version of fruit bark. Dark chocolate turns into a rich mocha flavor with the espresso powder. If you're a fan of sweet-salty tidbits, make sure to use the sea salt. —Thomas fa*glon, Somerset, New Jersey

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26/50

Peanut Butter Whipped Cream Frosting

A luscious peanut butter whipped cream frosting is just a few ingredients away. Try it piped over your favorite chocolate cupcakes or dolloped onto hot chocolate. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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27/50

Scottish Shortbread Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Scottish Shortbread Cookies

This simple three-ingredient shortbread cookie recipe makes wonderfully rich, tender cookies. Serve them with fresh berries of the season for a nice, light dessert. You'll get miles of smiles when friends see these at an afternoon tea or a bridal shower. —Marlene Hellickson, Big Bear City, California

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28/50

Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Peanut Butter Fudge with Marshmallow Creme

With only five ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time, creamy peanut butter fudge with marshmallow creme is one of the easiest treats. It makes a great food gift, too!

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29/50

Kipplens

My Great-Aunt Hilda makes this recipe every Christmas, and everybody loves them! Kipplens taste a lot like Mexican wedding cakes, but I like my aunt's version better. —Susan Bohannon, Kokomo, Indiana

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30/50

Brownie Batter Dip Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Brownie Batter Dip

I’m all about the sweeter side of dips, and this brownie-batter variety fits in with my life’s philosophy: Chocolate makes anything better. Grab some fruit, cookies or salty snacks and start dunking. —Mel Gunnell, Boise, Idaho

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31/50

Peanut Butter, Apple and Raisin Sandwich Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Peanut Butter, Apple and Raisin Sandwich

Tart, sweet and crunchy, these open-faced sammies are a perfect after-school (or after-work) snack. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

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32/50

Microwave Fudge

Calling all chocoholics! We'll show you how to make microwave fudge in just five easy steps.

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33/50

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Everyone who tries these beloved gems is amazed that they use only five ingredients. Baking cookies doesn't get much easier than this. —Dee Davis, Sun City, Arizona

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34/50

Chocolaty Chips

My two little guys can't get enough of this sweet and salty snack that uses just three ingredients and is ready to eat in 15 minutes. The boys like to drizzle on the melted chocolate. Sometimes we replace the potato chips with apple slices. —Jami Geittmann, Greendale, Wisconsin

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35/50

Sugar N Spice Popcorn Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Sugar N Spice Popcorn

Our family can't get enough of this light, cinnamon-sweet popcorn. The baked kernels are wonderfully crunchy and coated just right. Try mixing some to have on hand as an anytime nibble.

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36/50

Light and buttery, these delicate shortbread cookies are melt-in-your-mouth good. The coconut flavor makes them extra special. —Roberta Otto, Duluth, Minnesota

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37/50

Fudge Pops Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Fudge Pops

Stock your freezer with a batch of rich and chocolatey fudge pops made withjust pudding mix, milk and cream.

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38/50

Lemon Pudding Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Lemon Pudding Cake

So little work and so much flavor. What’s not to love? This lemon pudding cake recipe gives a burst of citrus in every bite, plus a fluffy cake on top and smooth pudding beneath. It’s a dinner party classic for good reason.

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39/50

Rolled Oat Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Rolled Oat Cookies

I like to keep some of this dough in the freezer at all times since it's so handy to slice, bake and serve at a moment's notice. These wholesome cookies are super with a cup of coffee - in fact, we occasionally grab a few for breakfast when we're in a hurry.-Kathi Peters, Chilliwack, British Columbia

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40/50

Easy Puppy Chow Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Puppy Chow

Our puppy chow recipe doesn't skimp on chocolate, peanut butter or sugar.

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41/50

Peanut Butter, Krispies and Chocolate Sandwich Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Peanut Butter, Krispies and Chocolate Sandwich

This crispy, chocolaty sandwich is like a Saturday-morning cartoon cereal without the bowl. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

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42/50

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe photo by Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Yes, you really can make amazing peanut butter cookies with just three ingredients; just follow this three-ingredient peanut butter cookie recipe to find out how.

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43/50

Frozen Blueberry Muffins Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Easy Blueberry Muffins

It will take you all of 15 minutes to prepare these easy blueberry muffins, which use frozen fruit and bake up in less than half an hour.

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44/50

Taste of Home

One-Bowl Chocolate Chip Bread

My family hops out of bed on Valentine’s Day because they know I’m baking this quick bread for breakfast. They’re major chocoholics, and the easy bread always hits the spot. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas

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45/50

Taste of Home

Almond Sandies

Buttery, rich and delicious, these classic almond sandies are my husband's favorite cookie and very popular wherever I take them. —Joyce Pierce, Caledonia, Michigan

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46/50

Dutch Oven Chocolate Dump Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Dutch Oven Chocolate Dump Cake

Looking for a super quick dessert that will make people think you spent all day in the kitchen? This easy dessert will wow your guests. Feel free to use your favorite pie filling in place of cherry. — Rashanda Cobbins, Aurora, Colorado

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47/50

Quick Double Chocolate Biscotti

Refrigerated cookie dough gives you a head start on making biscotti from scratch. For true chocolate lovers, substitute chocolate chips for the vanilla. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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48/50

Taste of Home

Deep-Fried Cookies

My kids love this delicious, indulgent treat. I like to give the batter a kick by adding a pinch of cinnamon and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. — Margarita Torres, Bayamon, Puerto Rico

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49/50

Peanut Butter S'Mores Sandwich Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Peanut Butter S'Mores Sandwich

Favorite flavors from s'mores come together in this tasty peanut butter sandwich—no campfire required. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

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50/50

Sinterklaas Cookies

After opening our gifts on Christmas Eve as children, we would make these cookies for Santa Claus to snack on with his glass of milk. The crisp spice cookies are delicious dipped in that milk—or in your coffee on Christmas morning. —Charli Fontana, Pella, Iowa

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Originally Published: March 27, 2020

50 Easy Desserts to Make with What's in Your Pantry & Fridge (2024)
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