How many times have you felt like devouring something sweet but hurrying around the kitchen for hours was not an option? Or unexpected guests showed up, and all you could serve them was a pack of Lucky Charmes?
In these situations, you don’t have to spend lots of cash on takeaway or store-bought goodies. All you need is 25 minutes to produce an ’emergency’ quick and easy dessert recipe!
The good news for all sweet-tooths out there: the foundation for most quick dessert recipes is chocolate. So make sure you always have a few bars in your pantry. And remember to stash your cocoa like there is no tomorrow! It is best to buy bulk cocoa powder so you never run out of it.
In this guide, everyone can find something they’ll love – vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free recipes – but the main principle is that it’s always easy to make, quick (some under 10 minutes!), and dangerously addictive. Let’s get to it!
Dark Chocolate Gooey Kladdkaka Brownie
This brownie is inspired by a Swedish Kladdkaka chocolate cake. All it takes is six ingredients, one bowl, and 20 minutes of preparation. After that, it’s only you, gooey dark chocolate paradise, and a desperate need for more.
What do you need?
- 2/3 cup melted butter
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp of sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1-2 tbsp vanilla sugar
- 1 big cup all-purpose flour
- 1 pinch salt
When you have all the ingredients ready and at room temperature, grease a springform pan, melt butter and mix with other ingredients using a large whisk combine. Next, put it in the oven for 17 minutes, and voilà! For some more information, make sure to check out this Swedish chocolate cake tutorial by Manuela Kleilen.
Pro Tip: Add dark chocolate chips for extra fudginess and (just before serving) vanilla ice cream and whipped cream to add a tweak of decadency.
Quick Vegan Lemon Pudding
No eggs, entirely vegan and made in less than half an hour. This vegan lemon pudding recipe is exceptionally adaptable. You can make it both in dairy and vegan versions, gluten-free, or decide to swap sugar for xylitol and go sugar-free.
What do you need?
- 3 tbsp lemon juice (fresh or store-bought)
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 cup full fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable milk
Mix all the ingredients in the pot on low heat. Remember to stir it properly to remove any lumps and create a smooth texture. Then, let it cool down for a few minutes, pour into cupcake pans, and bake at 392 °F till it’s golden and crispy on the top. All it takes is one bite to nominate it for the most prominent show-stopper position.
Pro tip: Let the pudding cool down for 10 minutes before you dig in to guarantee a thick texture. You can also add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and grated dark chocolate or cocoa powder on top.
Banana and Dark Chocolate Ice Cream
This ice cream is not only easy to make but also vegan, gluten-free, and paleo-diet friendly. Instead of cream, the “carrier” ingredients are bananas, which can also serve as sweeteners. Thanks to that, no sugar addition is necessary, making it a go-to easy dessert recipe for healthy diet maniacs.
What do you need?
- frozen bananas (it’s handy to always have a few in your freezer)
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- sugar and salt-free peanut butter (you can exchange it for almond or sunflower butter)
- dark chocolate wafers
Start by blending frozen bananas with cocoa, chocolate, and peanut butter. When the consistency is smooth and thick, put it into bowls and enjoy your dessert. You can freeze leftovers (if there are any!) for later. Add a competitive edge to your ice cream game by including different toppings. The best would be coconut whipped cream, melted white chocolate, and sea salt.
Pro tip: make sure that bananas are REALLY frozen; otherwise, you will be left with a banana and chocolate smoothie (which is also a perfect easy dessert option). After some time, you may consider stepping up your game and try out some sweet potato chocolate ice cream, although they do take a bit more time.
Peanut Butter Mug Cake
It may sound like a calorie and sugar bomb, but a peanut butter mug CAN be healthy. Yes, it is mind-blowing. As long as you use dark chocolate and unsalted 100% peanut butter, you are free to enjoy it without a sense of a calorie-shame.
What do you need?
- 1tbsp coconut flour
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 2 tbsp organic crunchy peanut butter
- 2 tbsp vegetable milk
- chocolate chips or organic cocoa powder
Making this peanut butter mug cake takes nothing more than a mug, spoon, and 2 minutes of stirring. After you mix the ingredients, put chocolate chips on top and microwave for 1 minute. It may look slightly undone on the surface, but don’t worry, the inside is going to be cakey, dreamy, and gooey, just like a fudge brownie!
Pro tip: When the cake is still hot, add vanilla or chocolate chip cookies ice cream on top. If you worry about the calorie intake yet have a sweet tooth, you can swap regular dairy ice cream for banana or sweet potato options.
Easy Dessert Recipes
When looking for the easiest desserts to make at home, look for terms like pudding, mug cake, brownie, and peanut butter. Many desserts might look like a professional pâtisserie quest initially but are easy to make for the biggest baking rookie.
Peanut butter pudding, chocolate chip cookies, and dark chocolate brownies are perfect for satisfying your sudden sugar cravings. But sweet desserts are only the top of the dessert mountain. If sweet treats are not your thing, check out the easy savory snacks checklist.
Like everything in life, sugar is perfect in rational doses, so be sure to frequently change your dessert menu. It will let you become a quick dessert diversity master and astonish your guests (and your taste buds)
