60 quick and easy dessert recipes that are so simple, you could make them in your sleep
Get baking with our low-ingredient and simple recipes!
If you are new to baking or looking for something simple to cook with younger members of your family and friends or just want a speedy sweet treat, we have collected our favourite easy or low ingredient bakes. From bread to crumbles, and cakes to cookies, there are plenty of recipes to get you started on your baking journey!
All of these recipes are suitable for beginners. But if you want extra advice we have written a few guides to help you perfect your recipes;
- 6 of the most common mistakes when baking bread
- 12 of the most common cake baking mistakes fixed
- Cake decorating: 3 expert tips
It's time to get baking!
6-ingredient black cherry loaf cake
This loaf cake uses just one yogurt pot as your measure and one bowl, there's no need for scales or extra washing up.
5-ingredient pecan pie shortbread
This shortbread comes together in one bowl in minutes with a super easy pecan pie caramel topping.
Recipe: 5-ingredient pecan pie shortbreadThree-ingredient pineapple upside down cake recipe
No eggs, no butter, no faff! This juicy cake also ages well and tastes even better the day after it’s made.
Salted toffee oaties recipe
Your next fave biscuit, we guarantee!
Recipe: Salted toffee oaties recipe
Toasted coconut cake recipe
You don’t need any fancy equipment to assemble this easy cake – simply mix, bake and enjoy.
Recipe: Toasted Coconut Cake
Chunky brown butter granola cookies recipe
Browning the butter gives these cookies a rich, nutty flavour that makes them positively addictive. We’ve used a nutty granola, too, but you could substitute for your favourite variety.
Salted caramel croissant pudding recipe
Our minimal-ingredient (and effort) dessert uses croissants for an indulgent take on bread-and-butter pudding.
Recipe: Salted Caramel Croissant Pudding
3-ingredient chocolate caramel tart recipe
Don’t be concerned if your Mars bars take a while to melt, their gooey caramel and nougat filling is the secret to this decedent tart.
4-Ingredient raspberry lemonade scones recipe
Sparkling lemonade gives these scones their lightness andprovides a delicate sweetness.
Three-ingredient chocolate cake recipe
This light cake is like a set mousse – you can even hear the bubbles pop as you slice it! We recommend using Green & Black’s chocolate, as it has the right percentage of cocoa solids.
Recipe: Three-ingredient Chocolate Cake
Pain au chocolat bread and butter pudding recipe
If you are in the mood for a decadent easy pudding – look no further! You can also swap the pain au chocolate for brioche or plain croissants.
Cheat's tropical fruit charlotte recipe
Our cheaty take on this unashamedly retro dessert has only 6 ingredients and can be topped with whatever fruit you prefer – or left completely plain. Either way, it’s a showstopperthat’s amazingly easy to pull togetherand can be made well in advance.
Recipe: Cheat's Tropical Fruit Charlotte
Cheat's cronuts recipe
We’ve made our cheat’s cronuts with shop-bought puff pastry, for a spectacular yet easy treat.
Recipe: Cheat's Cronuts
Baci di dama recipe
These Italian biscuits (the name translates to Lady’s Kisses) are typically made with hazelnuts or almonds. We’ve used pistachios here for a twist.
Recipe: Baci di Dama
Chocolate orange mug cake recipe
This cake is cooked in less than 2min thanks to the magic of the microwave!
Recipe: Chocolate Orange Mug Cake
Microwave sticky toffee pudding recipe
With this clever microwave recipe, you’re only ever minutes away from this family favourite.
Recipe: Microwave Sticky Toffee Pudding
Cheat’s Portuguese custard tarts recipe
This recipe is our super-simple take on the classic Pastéis de Nata.
Recipe: Cheat’s Portuguese Custard Tarts
School dinner cake recipe
School dinner cake has begun to trend online and we are all for it! Use any sprinkles you like to decorate this classic cake.
Recipe: School dinner cake
Peanut butter loaf cake recipe
A light loaf perfect for any peanut butter addicts! We’ve added a jam drizzle, but leave out if you like for an unadulterated peanut butter hit.
Recipe: Peanut Butter Loaf Cake
Any way you want cookies recipe
A fantastic cookie dough that you can adapt to make your favourite flavour cookies – with crisp outsides and chewy middles.
Recipe: Any Way You Want Cookies
The GH Kitchen Team are Good Housekeeping’s resident recipe developers and all-round food obsessives. GH Kitchen Director Sarah Akhurst is our resident hosting pro and loves nothing more than putting on a foodie feast for friends. Our GH Kitchen Manager Linzi Pucino is our very own Italian food expert (originally hailing from the North East of Scotland!) and can be found working her way through midweek recipes that cover all bases, from haggis to ragu! Our Kitchen Editor Nadine Brown loves digging into the stories behind her favourite foods and enjoys applying her eclectic tastes to more modern, flavour-forward recipes - just don't give her too much chilli! Our Junior Food Content Produce Frankie Prichard combines a love of beautiful presentation and flavour-led, seasonal cooking in her recipe development, along with a passion for bringing people together through food. With a wealth of professional kitchen experience between them, they’re dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work every single time
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