13 Easy 5 Ingredient Desserts That Taste Like You Spent All Day Baking

You do not need a long shopping list to make something amazing. These 5 ingredient desserts use simple pantry staples, quick steps and very little cleanup, yet every one of them tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen. Each slide includes a full mini recipe. Looking for more ideas? Browse all of our dessert galleries..

5 Ingredient Desserts That Feel Fancy

Chocolate covered strawberries are the perfect start to any list of 5 ingredient desserts. They look like they came from a fancy chocolate shop, yet they take about 20 minutes and almost no skill. Juicy berries, glossy dark chocolate and a pretty white drizzle are all it takes. Make them for date night, Valentine’s Day, a bridal shower or simply because it is Tuesday..

You will need: 1 pound fresh strawberries, 8 ounces dark chocolate, 2 ounces white chocolate and 1 teaspoon coconut oil.

How to make it: Wash the strawberries and dry them completely, because any water will make the chocolate seize. Melt the dark chocolate with coconut oil in 30 second bursts. Dip each berry, let the extra drip off and set it on parchment. Melt the white chocolate, drizzle it over the top with a spoon and chill for 15 minutes until set.

Peanut Butter Cookies With Just 3 Ingredients

These might be the easiest cookies you will ever bake. With only peanut butter, sugar and an egg, you get soft, chewy cookies with that classic crisscross fork pattern on top. There is no flour and no mixer needed, so they are naturally gluten free too. Of all the 5 ingredient desserts on this list, this is the one kids can make almost on their own.

You will need: 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg and a pinch of salt (optional).

How to make it: Stir the peanut butter, sugar and egg together until smooth. Roll the dough into small balls and place them on a lined baking sheet. Press each one with a fork in two directions to make a crisscross pattern. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes and let them cool on the tray so they firm up.

Two Ingredient Chocolate Truffles

Chocolate truffles look like something from a fancy chocolate shop, but they start with a simple ganache. Warm cream poured over chopped chocolate turns into a silky mixture that you chill, roll and coat. Dust them with cocoa, roll them in sprinkles or dip them in more chocolate. Wrapped in a little box, they make a lovely homemade gift for the holidays.

You will need: 8 ounces dark chocolate, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla and cocoa powder or sprinkles for coating.

How to make it: Chop the chocolate and place it in a bowl. Heat the cream until it just simmers and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for two minutes, add vanilla and stir until glossy. Chill for two hours, then scoop small balls, roll them between your palms and coat in cocoa or sprinkles.

Italian Affogato in Two Minutes

Affogato means “drowned” in Italian, and this dessert is exactly that: a scoop of vanilla ice cream drowned in hot espresso. The coffee melts the ice cream into a creamy, bittersweet sauce while the center stays cold. It takes about two minutes to make and feels like an after dinner treat from a café in Rome. Coffee lovers will make it again and again.

You will need: 2 scoops vanilla gelato or ice cream, 1 shot hot espresso, shaved dark chocolate and a crisp biscotti on the side.

How to make it: Place two scoops of ice cream in a small glass or cup. Brew a fresh shot of espresso or very strong coffee. Pour it over the ice cream right before serving. Top with a little shaved chocolate and serve with a biscotti for dipping. Eat it right away while it is hot and cold at the same time.

Chewy Coconut Macaroons

Coconut macaroons are crisp and golden on the outside and soft and chewy inside. They need only a handful of pantry staples and one bowl, which is why they are a favorite for holidays and bake sales. Dip the bottoms in melted chocolate for an extra special touch. Like many 5 ingredient desserts, they keep well for days in an airtight tin.

You will need: 3 cups sweetened shredded coconut, 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of salt.

How to make it: Mix the coconut, condensed milk and vanilla in a bowl. Beat the egg white with salt until stiff peaks form and fold it into the coconut mixture. Scoop small mounds onto a lined baking sheet. Bake at 325°F for 20 to 25 minutes until the edges are golden brown.

Buttery Three Ingredient Shortbread

Scottish shortbread has been made the same way for hundreds of years: butter, sugar and flour. That simple trio bakes into a tender, crumbly cookie that melts on your tongue. Cut them into hearts for Valentine’s Day, stars for Christmas or simple rounds for afternoon tea. Good quality butter makes all the difference here, so use the best you can find.

You will need: 1 cup softened butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of salt.

How to make it: Beat the butter and powdered sugar until creamy. Add vanilla and salt, then mix in the flour until a soft dough forms. Roll it to about 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes. Chill the cut cookies for 15 minutes, then bake at 325°F for 15 to 18 minutes until the edges are barely golden.

One Ingredient Banana Nice Cream

Frozen bananas blend into a creamy, soft serve style treat that tastes like real ice cream. No sugar, no cream and no ice cream maker are needed. It is a smart way to use up spotty bananas and a great dessert for kids and anyone eating lighter. Add cocoa, peanut butter or berries to change the flavor every time.

You will need: 4 ripe bananas, 2 tablespoons milk if needed, 1 tablespoon cocoa or peanut butter (optional) and a pinch of cinnamon.

How to make it: Peel and slice the bananas, then freeze them on a tray for at least four hours. Add the frozen slices to a food processor and blend, scraping the sides often. At first it looks crumbly, then it turns smooth and creamy. Add a splash of milk if needed. Serve right away or freeze for one hour for firmer scoops.

Cozy Baked Apples

Baked apples are one of the simplest fall 5 ingredient desserts and one of the coziest. Whole apples are cored, filled with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, and baked until soft and syrupy. The house smells like apple pie, but there is no crust to roll out. Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a spoonful of jam on top.

You will need: 4 firm apples, 4 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 cup water.

How to make it: Core the apples, leaving the bottoms whole so the filling stays inside. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon and spoon it into each apple. Top with a piece of butter. Set the apples in a baking dish, pour the water around them and bake at 375°F for 35 to 45 minutes until tender.

Easy Microwave Chocolate Fudge

Old fashioned fudge used to need a candy thermometer and lots of stirring. This shortcut version uses sweetened condensed milk and the microwave, and it turns out rich and smooth every time. Cut it into small squares because it is very rich. Wrap it in wax paper and you have a perfect homemade gift for teachers, neighbors and friends.

You will need: 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional).

How to make it: Line an 8 inch pan with parchment. Microwave the chocolate chips, condensed milk and butter in 30 second bursts, stirring each time, until melted and smooth. Stir in vanilla and walnuts. Spread into the pan and chill for at least two hours. Lift out and cut into small squares.

Indoor S’mores Without a Campfire

You do not need a campfire to enjoy s’mores. The oven broiler toasts marshmallows to golden perfection in about a minute, and the chocolate melts right into the warm graham crackers. Make a whole tray at once for a family movie night or a rainy day treat. It is one of those 5 ingredient desserts that brings out the kid in everyone.

You will need: 8 graham crackers, 4 chocolate bars, 8 large marshmallows and a pinch of flaky salt (optional).

How to make it: Break the graham crackers in half and place half of them on a lined baking sheet. Top each with a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow. Broil on high for 30 to 60 seconds, watching closely, until the marshmallows puff and turn golden. Press the remaining crackers on top and serve warm.

Rainbow Frozen Yogurt Bark

Frozen yogurt bark is a colorful, refreshing treat that is as pretty as it is easy. Thick yogurt is spread on a tray, covered with fresh fruit and frozen until firm, then broken into pieces like candy. It is a great healthier dessert for summer and a fun one to make with children. Use any fruit you have on hand.

You will need: 2 cups Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 cup mixed berries, 1 orange cut into pieces and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

How to make it: Stir the yogurt with honey and vanilla. Spread it about 1/2 inch thick on a parchment lined baking sheet. Scatter the berries and orange pieces over the top and press them in gently. Freeze for at least three hours until solid, then break or cut into pieces and serve right away.

Chocolate Hazelnut Crepes

Thin French crepes filled with chocolate hazelnut spread are a street food favorite in Paris. The batter takes five minutes to mix, and each crepe cooks in about a minute. Fold them into triangles, dust with powdered sugar and add fresh strawberries or bananas if you like. Among 5 ingredient desserts, these feel the most like a little vacation.

You will need: 1 cup flour, 2 eggs, 1 1/4 cups milk, 2 tablespoons melted butter and chocolate hazelnut spread for filling.

How to make it: Whisk the flour, eggs, milk and butter into a smooth, thin batter and rest it for 10 minutes. Heat a buttered nonstick pan and pour in a small ladle of batter, swirling to coat. Cook for one minute, flip and cook 30 seconds more. Spread with chocolate hazelnut spread, fold and dust with powdered sugar.

Five Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

When a chocolate craving hits late at night, a mug cake saves the day. Mix a few basics right in your favorite mug, microwave for about a minute and you have a warm, fudgy single serving cake. Top it with ice cream or whipped cream for a bakery style finish. No pans and almost no dishes make this one hard to beat.

You will need: 4 tablespoons flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 3 tablespoons milk and 2 tablespoons oil.

How to make it: Add the flour, sugar and cocoa to a large microwave safe mug and stir. Add the milk and oil and mix until smooth with no dry spots. Microwave on high for 60 to 90 seconds until the top looks set but still slightly moist. Let it cool for one minute before digging in.