15 Impressive Desserts That Are Surprisingly Easy to Make
All you need are the right ingredients and a little confidence.
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Fact: You don't have to be a pastry pro to create a masterpiece of a dessert. It's true! You just need three things: the right ingredients, tried-and-true recipes to follow, and a little bit of self-confidence. While this list can't make you go shopping or give yourself a pep talk, it can give you impressive dessert recipes that are surprisingly easy to make. You'll have everyone wondering when you had time to go to culinary school!
Especially if you have a special event coming up where you really want to wow someone, these desserts will leave a lasting impression. Think: chocolate fondue (or any chocolate dessert for that matter) for a Valentine's Day dessert or a carrot cake cheesecake or lemon dessert as your new Easter feast finale. Or if you just want to show off your skills at the church potluck or bring in all the dough (pun intended) at the school bake sale, go for it!
Whether it's a clever hack like using boxed pudding mix to fill fancy eclairs or helpful how-tos for Ree's famous cinnamon rolls, each of these recipes gives you just the right amount of guidance to navigate through the challenges. The end results will be some of the most inspiring from-scratch cakes and restaurant-style desserts that will surprise and delight everyone at the table. Heck, you'll even impress yourself for such a job well done.
Panna Cotta
Have you ever ordered this creamy stunner of a dessert at a restaurant and wondered if you could make it? Well, you can! It's essentially as easy as making Jell-O but with cream and vanilla bean paste.
Get the Panna Cotta recipe.
Chocolate Eclairs
Fancy French eclairs do take some skill to pipe out the dough, but the filling couldn't be any easier! It's made with boxed pudding mix for creamy results every time.
Get the Chocolate Eclairs recipe.
Red, White, and Blue Trifle
There's nothing quite like the sight of a towering trifle that'll get everyone talking. And while several trifle recipes use homemade cake, you can also buy store-bought pound cake for this recipe and save yourself some time.
Get the Red, White, and Blue Trifle recipe.
Chocolate Fondue
Let's be honest, everything is better dipped in chocolate! And imagine the surprise on your sweetheart's face when you present it. Nothing says "I love you" quite like a vat of chocolate and a plate of treats to dip in it.
Get the Chocolate Fondue recipe.
Lemon Meringue Pie
Blind baking a pie crust, cooking lemon curd, whipping up a fluffy meringue: It's easy to see why this could be intimidating to make. But the process allows you to take your time with each element, resulting in a showstopper!
Get the Lemon Meringue Pie recipe.
German Chocolate Cake
If you want a layered cake that's a bit more of a challenge, decadent German chocolate cake is your answer. The ooey gooey coconut and pecan filling alone is incredible, but sandwiched in between homemade cake makes it irresistible.
Get the German Chocolate Cake recipe.
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Hot Fudge Sauce
Making ice cream from scratch only takes about 20 minutes of prep time and the machine does the rest. Using a sieve to strain the mixture helps make sure there are no curdled eggs and that your end result is smooth and creamy.
Get Ree's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Hot Fudge Sauce recipe.
Cinnamon Rolls
Are cinnamon rolls considered breakfast or dessert? Either way, making them from scratch is super impressive. Ree gives you a step-by-step guide to making her famous version, so what are you waiting for?
Get Ree's Cinnamon Rolls recipe.
Chocolate Mousse
Making classic mousse is easier than it seems. Just follow the instructions and read through all the common mistakes to avoid first. The result is luscious and out-of-this-world good, especially with some whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top.
Get the Chocolate Mousse recipe.
Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Cheesecakes get a reputation for being finicky because sometimes they crack when baked. Even if it does, this one is covered by a gooey pecan pie topping! The only thing guests will notice is they get a two-for-one dessert.
Get the Pecan Pie Cheesecake recipe.
Chocolate Lava Cake
If you know someone who always gets the chocolate lava cake for dessert when they're at a restaurant, you should definitely make it from scratch for them. They only take 15 minutes to make!
Get the Chocolate Lava Cake recipe.
Carrot Cake Cheesecake
Why decide between carrot cake and cheesecake when you can have both? You'll hear a lot of "oohs" and "ahhs" when guests get a slice of this stacked masterpiece!
Get the Carrot Cake Cheesecake recipe.
Ice Cream Cake
Why buy an ice cream cake when you can make one? You can even use store-bought pints to make life easier on yourself. This recipe is endlessly customizable, too!
Get the Ice Cream Cake recipe.
Homemade Marshmallows
Yes, you can absolutely make candy from scratch. And while you do have to boil sugar to a certain temperature, just follow the thermometer's lead and you'll be just fine! Imagine these fluffy treats in a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
Get the Homemade Marshmallows recipe.
Chocolate Bundt Cake
Bundt cake recipes are genius because the pan does so much of the work for you. Just read up on how to get a cake out of a pan first because that's the tricky part. Then glaze and get crazy with some sprinkles!
Get the Chocolate Bundt Cake recipe.
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