I know you’ve been looking for some easy dessert recipes to make, that you know will turn out great, even if you’ve never baked before. I’ve been there before – standing in front of my oven, a mixing bowl and wondering if I am about to make something beautiful, or make a total disaster.
This cake was my first baking attempt, it could have been my door stop. The thing is, there are some recipes that are really quite foolproof and it’s those recipes that made me feel real good about cooking. These are the desserts I had to have.
1. Classic Chocolate Mug Cake
That’s where I tell all the little ones to begin. The chocolate mug cake does not take long to come together from craving to eating – just a few regular pantry items and a mug, along with the help of a microwave! Combine all of the ingredients – flour, sugar, cocoa powder, a bit of oil, milk and a little salt – in the mug.
The beauty of this is that you can’t go wrong with anything nearly. Overmix it? Doesn’t matter. Looking at the measurements – are they slightly off? Still tastes great. I’ve made this at night many times and it is always warm, fudgy and delicious. Place a spoonful of nutella in the middle before cooking with the microwave for a surprise of a melted nutella.
2. Three-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
One cup of peanut butter, one cup of sugar and one egg. Well, that’s his whole recipe! Mix the three together, form little balls with the dough, press the dough into a crisscross pattern with a fork and bake at 350°F for approximately 10 minutes. The end product is a crispy outside and chewy inside cookie.
I remember making these the first time I got my first apartment, and being just in amazement at how good this is. Not only are they gluten-free, though, they’re naturally gluten-free, too, so they’re a great addition to anyone’s baking repertoire who has a glutenous diet. Add some extra texture with chunky peanut butter (such as Jif or Skippy). These cookies are fast going and you may want to double up the batch.
3. No-Bake Cheesecake
If you are intimidated by the oven, then avoid using it altogether. The no-bake cheesecake is made with cream cheese, whipped cream, sugar and vanilla, folded and poured into a pre-made graham cracker crust. Place in the refrigerator, let sit for a couple hours, and you’re ready to serve a dessert that looks like you worked all afternoon on it!
Recently I brought one of these to a potluck and was asked where I had purchased it. That’s a type of praise that will make you want to bake again. The secret is to allow the cream cheese to melt down to room temperature before combining otherwise you will end up with a lumpy cream cheese. Add fresh strawberries and/or a drizzle of chocolate sauce and everyone will have no idea how easy it was.
4. Banana Bread (The Forgiving One)
If you’ve never baked a dessert before without a failure, then you have no choice but to consider banana bread the patron saint of such recipes! It almost entices you to use overripe bananas that you forgot about on the counter. All of the above ingredients are combined in one bowl: mashed bananas, melted butter, sugar, an egg, vanilla, flour, baking soda and a pinch of salt.
The reason banana bread is easy to make is that it’s extremely forgiving. Dense batter? This simply means a “moister loaf. Don’t remember sifting the flour? Nobody will notice. Mistakenly doubling the vanilla extract on one occasion, and it did taste good. Chocolate chips or walnuts for added flavor, if you like, but even fresh out of the oven, simple banana bread with a pat of butter is a pleasure in life! Bake with a brand name loaf pan such as Wilton.
5. Rice Krispies Treats
These are very easy to bake! In a pot melt a bit of butter, then add a bag of marshmallows, stir until the marshmallows are gooey, then add in the Rice Krispies cereal. Gently pack into a greased pan, allow to settle for about 30 minutes and then cut into squares. Done. You’ve created a dessert that is sure to be eaten up by the whole family.
I’ve been creating these since I was around 8 years old and they have appeared at most family functions I’ve attended to date. One of my tips; don’t squeeze them into the pan too hard. A soft hand is soft and pillowy balls rather than hard bricks. Use flavored marshmallows instead of regular marshmallows – or bake extra on top of regular marshmallows with melted chocolate!
6. Simple Vanilla Sheet Cake
A sheet cake, though it’s a big undertaking, hear me out. All the batter is combined in a bowl, poured onto a greased baking tray with a rim and baked approximately 20 minutes. This thin profile also leads to even and fast baking, thus preventing the most common issue of beginners and getting burnt edges and an undercooked middle.
For a friend’s birthday I made my first sheet cake, frosted it with canned Betty Crocker vanilla frosting, and sprinkled with sprinkles. It seemed and felt like a party! The trick to a moist vanilla cake is to mix some sour cream or Greek yogurt into the cake mix. It may sound crazy, but it makes the softest crumb you’ve ever tasted. Also, a sheet cake provides you with a large, level surface that will be a great deal simpler to frost than a layered cake.
7. Microwave Brownie in a Bowl
A more hearty and decadent cousin of the mug cake. In a small bowl, microwave to melt butter, sugar, cocoa powder, flour, salt, and vanilla. Place in microwave and heat for approximately 60-90 seconds, and your brownie is ready for one to enjoy, warm and gooey.
For the first time I tried this, I give you a moment to reflect, why did I ever wait 30 minutes for a whole pan of brownies. It’s ideal for the time of night that you crave a sweet, but don’t feel the urge to tackle the entire show. This varies by wattage of your microwave (see note above) but begin with 60 seconds and work up by 10 seconds. The centre needs to be slightly undercooked as it will set-up as it cools. Scoop on some vanilla ice cream and say, “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank me later.”
8. Fruit Crumble (Any Fruit Works)
A fruit crumble is among the easiest dessert to make in the world. Put a selection of fruit such as apples, berries, peaches, even frozen fruit, into a baking dish together with some sugar and lemon juice. To make crumble topping, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, and cold butter and mix together with your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Sprinkle on top, and bake.
Crumbles are all about the rustic and imperfect look – that’s what I love about them. No smooth frosting to get wrong, no layers to deal with and no decorating skills required. My favorite go to is the mixed berries which I freeze and a nice crumble topping, and it always bubbles and looks amazing. Serve hot topped with whipped cream. This is the dessert that taught me that baking can be done in a messy way, but still be amazing.
9. Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
Strictly speaking, it’s not baking but it is a dessert you can feel like a pastry chef in about three minutes. In the microwave, melt some chocolate chips in 30-second increments, stirring in between each increment. Dip half way into the strawberry mixture, place on parchment paper and allow to cool.
One year I made these for V-Day instead of the very expensive chocolate box I would get from a chocolate shop and I got a most priceless result. Just make sure that the strawberries are dry before dipping—the chocolate will clump up if there’s any moisture left on them. Here use good chocolate. Ghirardelli chocolate chips melt beautifully, and are so delicious compared to the cheap ones. May also pour on white chocolate to give it a pretty two-tone effect.
10. Sugar Cookies with Simple Icing
Sugar cookies are a rite of passage. The basic ingredients for the dough are: butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, flour, baking powder and salt. Roll out, use cookie cutters (or a glass for circles) and bake for 8-10 minutes at 350°F until edges are lightly golden around the edges.
To make the icing, stir milk, a little vanilla and powdered sugar together until it is smooth and can be poured. That’s it. After years of thinking I needed special equipment and a pastry degree to make royal icing, I found that a glaze would do the trick and is so much better than the stiff stuff! Before rolling the dough, chill it for at least 30 minutes or until it has cooled so it will not spread as much as if it were warm, making your shapes lose their shape. These cookies are perfect for holiday, gifts or simply because it’s a Tuesday and you need something sweet.
Tips That Actually Help When You’re Brand New
Before I go to the recipe and preheat the oven I’ve learned a few things the hard way. Read the whole recipe before you begin! There have been multiple times that I was halfway finished and realized that I needed something that I didn’t have.
Second, buy some simple measuring cups and measuring spoons! There’s more exactness to baking than cooking and if you eyeball flour, you’ll get a dry and crumbly mess. If you need to get the right result, you can use a kitchen scale, but measuring cups will do in the early stages.
Thirdly, refrain from opening the oven door each 2 minutes. Each time it is opened, you will lower the temperature and interfere with the baking time. Turn on the oven light and then go through the window.
Last, but not least, accept imperfection! You don’t have to make the desserts that you see on Pinterest, but that’s okay. They will still be homemade and tasty, that’s what matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest dessert a beginner can bake?
Probably the most obvious are mug cake or Rice Krispies treats. They both need very little ingredients, little to no technique and are together in less than 10 minutes. You feel the same sense of achievement as if you were doing something yourself, without adding the stress factor, so you develop confidence quickly and want to do something a little more challenging the next time.
Do I need special equipment to start baking?
Not really. Most basic recipes will require a mixing bowl, whisk or fork, measuring cups, baking sheet and loaf pan. Fancy gadgets and a stand mixer aren’t necessary at this time. Keep it simple and gradually acquire more tools as you learn what to create and which tools you really like.
Can I use no-fail dessert recipes for beginners baking for the first time with kids?
Absolutely. The majority of these recipes are ideal for children, as they are easy to do, such as stirring, pressing and dipping. The chocolate dipped strawberries, mug cakes and Rice Krispies treats are great fun as children see the results in their hands very soon. Simply oversee any work with the oven or microwave, and let them take care of the mixing and decorating.
Why do my baked goods always turn out dry?
It is most often because of overbaking. When baking desserts, remove them from the oven a minute or so early so they will bake through residual heat after they are out of the oven. Secondly, check the measurement of flour. The bag packs are not to be scooped directly in to the flour. Do not put it in the measuring cup, use a knife to level it off.
How do I know when something is done baking?
The toothpick test is suitable for most cakes, brownies and banana bread. Use a toothpick to insert into the middle if it goes through the dough without picking up any dough or only a few damp crumbs, it is ready. When edges are set and a bit golden, the centres are still a little soft cookies are ready. They get hard when they cool down on the pan.
Conclusion
Making your first dessert should be fun, not frightening and any of these dessert recipes should be a sure bet. Choose one of them and just head off, grabbing your ingredients. What was your first baked dish and did it come out?
