Yes, you read that right. These are some easy dessert recipes that can be made with 3 ingredients or less!
3-Ingredient Desserts We Can’t Get Enough Of
Updated on Sep. 30, 2024
Scottish Shortbread
My mother, who is of Scottish heritage, passed this shortbread recipe, along with other favorite recipes, on to me. When I entered this treat at our local fair, it won a red ribbon. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba
1/36
2/36
Sugar Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877! Her daughter, Esther Davis, shared the recipe with me and she came up with all the exact measurements, since the original cookies were mixed by feel and taste. These are my favorite cookies and I hope they’ll become yours as well. —Helen Wallis, Vancouver, Washington
3/36
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Total Time
10 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I have to be super careful when cooking for my daughter because of food sensitivities, so I make these no-bake peanut butter oatmeal bars with certified gluten-free oats. Everyone loves these bars when we go to picnics or potlucks, and I know there will be a dessert for my daughter! —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas
4/36
Pumpkin Ice Cream Recipe
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 1 quart
From the Recipe Creator:
Folks who favor the flavor of pumpkin really need to try this spiced ice cream. But be prepared to make more! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
5/36
Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy
Total Time
10 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 pounds
From the Recipe Creator:
With only three ingredients, these chocolate-swirl treats take just moments to whip up! If you have little ones visiting for the holidays, have them help you with the stirring. —Holly Demers, Abbotsford, British Columbia
6/36
Cake & Berry Campfire Cobbler
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This warm Dutch oven cobbler is one of our favorite ways to end a busy day of fishing, hiking, swimming or rafting. It's yummy with ice cream—and so easy to make! —June Dress, Boise, Idaho
7/36
Snickers Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Though you wouldn't know by looking, you'll find a sweet surprise inside these cookies. My mother got this Snickers cookie recipe from a fellow teacher at her school. It's a terrific way to dress up refrigerated cookie dough. —Kari Pease, Conconully, Washington
8/36
Rainbow Jello Cubes
Total Time
30 min
Servings
9 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These perky gelatin cubes are fun to serve and to eat! I vary the colors to match the occasion—pink and blue for a baby shower, school colors for a graduation party, and so on. Kids of all ages snap them up. —Deanna Pietrowicz, Bridgeport, Connecticut
9/36
Caramel Apples
Total Time
40 min
Servings
16 servings (8 apples)
From the Recipe Creator:
Who doesn’t love a good gooey caramel apple? Make a double batch because these treats always go fast! —Karen Ann Bland, Gove, Kansas
10/36
Chocolate Peanut Butter Grahams
Total Time
30 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Because so many people seem to love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, I came up with this no-bake cookie recipe.—Geraldine Sliwa, Elgin, Illinois
11/36
Cashew Butter Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
20 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These cashew butter cookies are on a more sophisticated level than peanut butter. They are vegan and gluten-free, so you'll be able to share with all your friends. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
12/36
Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
20 pretzels
From the Recipe Creator:
These chocolate-covered pretzels came from my grandma, who loves to make candy and treats for my students. I have followed in her footsteps and make these for people at work and for other family members. —Aimee Worth, Fair Oaks, California
13/36
Gluten-Free Almond Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My friend loved these gluten-free almond cookies so much, she had to ask for the recipe! Quick and easy, they taste as good as the decadent treats I make using puff pastry and almond paste. Everyone loves them! —Sherri Cox, Lucasville, Ohio
14/36
Marshmallow Pops
Total Time
30 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Making these pops is a fun activity for a children's party because any age can participate. Customize them for holidays or special occasions by rolling them in coordinating colored sprinkles. —Marcia Porch, Winter Park, Florida
15/36
Lemon Sorbet
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
Whether you serve it in chilled bowls or scoop it into cut lemon halves, this creamy four-ingredient sorbet is both sweet and tart. It makes a delightfully refreshing finish to any meal. —Goldene Petersen, Brigham City, Utah
16/36
Chocolate Truffles
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
You may be tempted to save these chocolate truffles for a special occasion since these smooth, creamy chocolates are divine. But with just a few ingredients, this truffle recipe is easy to make anytime. —Darlene Wiese-Appleby, Creston, Ohio
17/36
Shortbread Cookie
Total Time
40 min
Servings
16 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire
18/36
S'mores No-Bake Cookies
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
There's no easier way to get that s'mores goodness in your kitchen. Mix these cookies together and chill till you're ready to share. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
19/36
Blueberry Cream Pops
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 pops
From the Recipe Creator:
Blueberry-and-cream pops are such a fun after-school snack. Make them in the morning so the pops are ready to go when the kids come in the door. —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
20/36
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When my mother (who's now a great-grandmother) gave me this recipe for no-flour peanut butter cookies about 15 years ago, I was skeptical, because it calls for only three ingredients (and no flour). But since then I've never had a failure, and I make them all the time! —Maggie Schimmel, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
21/36
Two-Ingredient Fudge
Total Time
15 min
Servings
about 2 pounds
From the Recipe Creator:
This simple fudge is delectably creamy and made with only two ingredients: sweetened condensed milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips. It's great for gift-giving or a quick 15-minute dessert. —Nancy Mock, Southbridge, Massachusetts
22/36
Palmier Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
It takes just two ingredients to make these impressive but easy-to-do French pastries, which are often called palm leaves. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
23/36
S'more Pops
Total Time
20 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My daughters and I came up with this treat when planning a candy-making party. The pops also make adorable hostess gifts, are perfect for potlucks and would sell out quickly at a bake sale. —Lisa Haboush, Geneva, Illinois
24/36
3-Ingredient Ice Cream
Total Time
15 min
Servings
1-1/4 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
Whip together an easy, three-ingredient, creamy dessert in just 15 minutes. Heavy whipping cream, sweetened condensed cream and vanilla extract create a velvety, smooth frozen dessert that’s just sweet enough to satisfy any craving. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan
25/36
Cinnamon Roll Cherry Cobbler
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Red Hots and canned cherries flavor this memorable dessert from my childhood. I hadn’t had it in years, so when I found my mother’s recipe, I had to make it to see if it’s as good as I remembered. It is! —Betty Zorn, Eagle, Idaho
26/36
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
It is amazing how much flavor is in these simple 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies without brown sugar. I make them very often because I always have the ingredients on hand. —Maggie Schimmel, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
27/36
Chocolate Butterscotch Haystacks
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother used to make this haystacks recipe to give to my cousin Vonnie and me when our parents didn't want us to have any more sweets. —Christine Schwester, Divide, Colorado
28/36
Pecan Caramel Candies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Salty and sweet, these candies are the perfect little snack. Form a kitchen assembly line with your kids, and the making becomes just as fun as the eating. —Julie Wemhoff, Angola, Indiana
29/36
Blueberry Ice Cream
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 1-3/4 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
The wild blueberries on our property spark recipe ideas. When my daughter and I made this ice cream at a Girl Guide meeting, it was well received. Even today, our 10 children, 19 grandkids and 4 great-grandchildren think it tastes great. —Alma Mosher, Mohannes, New Brunswick
30/36
Coconut Macaroons
Total Time
30 min
Servings
32 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These chewy cookies are my husband's favorite, so he requests them often. I like to make the macaroons on cold winter days and keep them in an airtight bowl on the kitchen counter. They never last long! —Peggy Key, Grant, Alabama
31/36
Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
Total Time
40 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I’m a busy schoolteacher and pastor’s wife and I wouldn’t dare show my face at a church dinner or bake sale without some of these tempting peanut butter treats. They’re quick and easy
to make and always a hit. —Kristi Tackett, Banner, Kentucky
32/36
Minister's Delight
Total Time
2 hours 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend gave me this recipe several years ago. She said a local minister's wife fixed it every Sunday, so she named it accordingly. —Mary Ann Potter, Blue Springs, Missouri
33/36
Potato Chip Clusters
Total Time
15 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Just three offbeat ingredients add up to one unique, delectable, no-bake treat. These super easy, sweet-and-salty candy clusters make for merry munching during holiday trips or parties. They travel well in containers without melting or getting soft. —Donna Brockett, Kingfisher, Oklahoma
34/36
Quick Double Chocolate Biscotti
Total Time
30 min
Servings
About 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Refrigerated cookie dough gives you a head start on making biscotti from scratch. For true chocolate lovers, substitute chocolate chips for the vanilla. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
35/36
Frozen Banana Cereal Pops
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 pops
From the Recipe Creator:
When we want a healthy snack, we dip bananas in yogurt, roll 'em in cereal, then freeze. Ta-da! —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia
36/36
Texas Tumbleweeds
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Tumbleweeds blow across the roads in some parts of Texas, and I think these cute stacks look like them. I've been making these sweets with my sister for years. —Karen Lemay, Seabrook, Texas
