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  4. One-Bowl Baking: 16 Easy Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze

One-Bowl Baking: 16 Easy Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze

By Victoria Spencer
Updated July 27, 2020
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Credit: John Kernick

We've gathered some of our favorite recipes for cakes, brownies, bar cookies, and muffins that require only one bowl—or sometimes just a mixer or food processor. All streamline the work and save on cleanup without scrimping on taste.

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Credit: Mike Krautter

Maybe like you love to bake, but cleanup just isn't your favorite pastime. If so, you're not alone. Unfortunately, many recipes for baked goods require several bowls for measuring and mixing. Cake recipes often call for one bowl for dry ingredients, another for creaming butter and sugar, and sometimes even a third bowl for mixing it all together. And what if the cake has frosting? There might be melted chocolate and a bowl for mixing. Sure, a pile of dirty dishes isn't always a problem—you make the cake (or the cookies or the pie), then tackle the dishes while it's in the oven—but when you're in the mood for a treat but not a mess, you'll likely want a recipe that's more streamlined.

For those days when you want the joy of baking without the hassle of the cleanup, these smart recipes are exactly what you're looking for; these cakes, cookies, brownies, bar cookies, muffins, and quick breads all require just one bowl for mixing or come together in the food processor or mixer. But just because they're streamlined recipes doesn't mean they scrimp on taste. A simple skillet cake like Martha's Plum Skillet Cake, shown here, is as easy as it gets. Slices of fruit in the batter are all the decoration this cake needs. Serve it with whipped cream, crème fraîche, or ice cream for a truly crowd-pleasing dessert. We also have just the thing for anyone in need of a celebration cake when you are pressed for time. In those instances, you can't beat our One-Bowl Chocolate Cake.

It's not all cakes here, though. We've also got bar cookies—like Fig Crumble Bars, where the streusel does double duty as the crust and the topping—and unbeatable Blondies with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts. And if you're in the mood for muffins for breakfast or a bake sale, these Morning Glory Muffins with Banana are fast, healthy, and delicious.

Whatever type of baked good recipe you chose from this collection, less cleanup means more time to bake!

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Blondies with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts

Credit: John Kernick
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What's not to like about this treat? Our unbeatable blondie recipe combines the buttery flavor and chocolate chips from everyone's favorite cookies with the appealing texture of the best brownies. 

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One-Bowl Chocolate Cake

Credit: Dana Gallagher
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Birthday? Anniversary? Going-away party? This super-easy one-bowl layer cake is the perfect dessert for any gathering of chocolate lovers. (Yes, you'll need another bowl for frosting, but it's worth it.)

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Fig Crumble Bars

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Using one batch of dough for both the crust and streusel topping in this fruit-packed favorite means fewer dirty dishes—in fact all you need is the food processor.

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Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Credit: Bryan Gardner
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Skillet cookies are magical. They offer minimal cleanup, but deliver maximum flavor. Made in one bowl, baked in a skillet (no special pans needed), and cut into slices to serve, this giant, fudgy chocolate version is just irresistible. 

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Raspberry-Filled Molten Chocolate Cupcakes

Credit: Jonathan Lovekin
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Fancy enough for company, yet they require only one bowl and a hand mixer—or a stand mixer if that's what you prefer!

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Morning Glory Muffins with Banana

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These muffins are so simple you could make them, then jump in the shower while they bake. And they're low in fat but surprisingly moist, thanks to the carrots, banana, and raisins.

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Breton Butter Cake

Credit: Charles Schiller
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Those French bakers know a thing or two; this supremely simple cake uses just one bowl but produces an irresistible cake with a crisp, dense, almost shortbread-y texture.

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Lucinda's Molasses Drops

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Generations of bakers have been baking with minimal prep and delicious results. These cookies are a tweaked version of Lucinda Scala Quinn's great-grandmother's recipe.

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Busy-Day Dump Cake

Credit: Johnny Miller
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This chocolate cake recipe wins for most minimal cleanup—the ingredients are blended in the very pan that goes into the oven. And you don't even need an egg to make this delicious dessert. Instead of making frosting, serve the cake with vanilla ice cream.

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Flourless Peanut-Chocolate Cookies

Credit: Johnny Miller
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These chocolate chip and peanut-studded peanut butter cookies are a snap to make. Not only are they flourless, but they're also butter free; the peanut butter provides all the fat needed.

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Chocolate-Zucchini Cakes with Walnuts

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No one will ever guess there is zucchini in these moist little chocolate cupcakes—nor will they guess they are so simple to make.

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Brown Sugar, Maple, and Pecan Pound Cake

Credit: Con Poulos
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The ingredients for this nuanced treat are blended in the mixer bowl. While it's easy to make, it takes a while to bake. Even so, the rich maple taste is well worth the wait.

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Coconut-Apricot Macaroons

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Coconut lovers and other cooks can whip up a batch of these in no time. The longest—and hardest—part of the recipe is waiting while they bake.

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Pistachio Cupcakes with Raspberries

Credit: Con Poulos
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For when you need a special treat but it should be easy and a tad healthy ,there are these delicate cupcakes packed with silvered pistachios and fresh raspberries. No frosting necessary.

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Flourless Double-Chocolate Pecan Cookies

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Dark and decadent, these chewy cookies are gluten-free—great for people with celiac disease or a wheat allergy—and they're quick to make.

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1 of 16
2 of 16 Blondies with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts
3 of 16 One-Bowl Chocolate Cake
4 of 16 Fig Crumble Bars
5 of 16 Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
6 of 16 Raspberry-Filled Molten Chocolate Cupcakes
7 of 16 Morning Glory Muffins with Banana
8 of 16 Breton Butter Cake
9 of 16 Lucinda's Molasses Drops
10 of 16 Busy-Day Dump Cake
11 of 16 Flourless Peanut-Chocolate Cookies
12 of 16 Chocolate-Zucchini Cakes with Walnuts
13 of 16 Brown Sugar, Maple, and Pecan Pound Cake
14 of 16 Coconut-Apricot Macaroons
15 of 16 Pistachio Cupcakes with Raspberries
16 of 16 Flourless Double-Chocolate Pecan Cookies

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One-Bowl Baking: 16 Easy Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze
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