29 Easy No-Bake Desserts Sure to Delight

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated May 21, 2020
Credit: Julia Gartland
When you want to keep the oven off but still want something sweet and decadent, these no-bake desserts—from cheesecake to bar cookies to crème brûlée—are delicious solutions.
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Credit: Julia Gartland

No celebration is complete without a sweet treat, but when it's hot outside even the keenest baker would prefer not to turn on the oven. Our recommendation: Keep the kitchen cool by making one of our no-bake treats. You'll find that once you master a delicious dessert you can make without the use of your oven, you'll reach for the recipes time and time again. And they're certainly not just for summer. Whether your holiday dinner is monopolizing all of the precious cooking space or you're simply not in the mood to bake on your Saturday night in, these no-oven-required recipes are easy and tempting any time of the year.

Some of these no-bake desserts can be made quickly and served immediately. Others require making ahead, a boon for the host as this means the work is done ahead of the party. Delicious crowd-friendly options like icebox cakes and tarts and no-bake cheesecakes can be taken out of the refrigerator when it's time to dig in. The versatility of these no-bake desserts makes it easy to find something delicious based on your schedule.

Cheesecake is one of the most popular no-bake desserts. Traditional cheesecake requires oven time and a water bath to bake in, but the no-bake variety is much easier. The recipes leave out egg yolks for food safety but keep the richness intact. Try the No-Bake Chocolate-Crust Cheesecake pictured here, our No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake, which is topped with a gorgeous syrup cherry topping, or wow your guests with Individual No-Bake Cheesecakes.

If you're hosting a dinner party and want to serve a showstopping dessert, consider crème brûlée. Not the traditional baked custard, though. Instead opt for one of our no-bake versions. The custard for No-Bake Chocolate-Eggnog Crème Brûlées and No-Bake Espresso Crème Brûlées sets up in the refrigerator, rather than the oven, but maintains that luscious, creamy interior. The only heat needed is a final swish of a blow torch to achieve a thin sheet of caramelized sugar just waiting to be cracked into.

All of these recipes are easy to make, easy to enjoy, and completely oven-free!

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Coconut Water Granita

Credit: Kirsten Francis
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Just two ingredients, coconut water and sugar, are you all you need for this refreshing granita—and time to allow it to freeze. Top with strawberries and toasted coconut.

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Crispy Cereal Treats

Credit: Kirsten Francis
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We've given this kid-friendly treat an upgrade with four flavorful variations. Learn how to make the basic recipe, then try our riffs such as freeze-dried raspberries and white chocolate, or cocktail peanuts and semisweet chocolate.

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No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake

Credit: Armando Rafael
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This recipe is an easy route to cheesecake. The zest and juice of key lime give this luscious dessert plenty of citrus flavor.

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Easy Tiramisu

Credit: Lennart Weibull
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You can't beat this airy, rich Italian dessert. Instead of making ladyfingers, use the store-bought kind, so you can focus on the good stuff (like spreading the silky mascarpone and marsala filling over each and every layer).

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Berries with Buttermilk and Honey

Credit: Hans Gissinger
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Here's a simply delicious way to highlight fresh summer berries. Served with a frothy blend of buttermilk, honey, and a garnish of fresh mint, this easy presentation will wow.

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7-Layer Ice Cream Cake

Credit: Johnny Miller
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Using store-bought pound cake makes the prep work for this cake a breeze. And the chocolate-raspberry flavor combination is fabulous.

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Slow-Cooker Triple Chocolate Brownies

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The slow cooker is good for so much more than pulled pork and stew. You can make brownies in it, too! This decadent recipe calls for two kinds of chocolate chips and the result is gooey and very chocolate

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No-Bake Espresso Creme Brulee

Credit: Joseph De Leo
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If you love drinking mocha lattes, then this crème brûlée is made for you. A combination of white chocolate and instant espresso powder creates an elegant taste reminiscent of the favorite coffee shop drink.

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No-Bake Chocolate and Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

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Chewy and satisfying, these no-bake bar cookies use crunchy and creamy peanut butter plus oats and finely ground chocolate wafers for the bottom layer. Melted semisweet chocolate covers the top and drizzles of melted peanut butter and milk chocolate provide a decorative garnish.

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No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake for a Crowd

Credit: Alpha Smoot
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We love this sheet cake-like take on creamy cheesecake that will serve a crowd since it's made in three simple steps. Top if off with a combination of fresh blueberries and a jammy blueberry mixture for a burst of sweet summer nectar.

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Frozen Chocolate-Mousse Trifles

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No bake and make-ahead? Yes, please! When layered with crumbled chocolate angel food cake, a simple chocolate mousse is no mere trifle—it's an indulgent, crowd-pleasing treat.

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Chocolate-Candy Icebox Bars

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If you're looking for a rich no-bake treat that's easy to make and comes with a super sweet payoff, this is it. You'll need to stock up on candy to make them but these bars are well worth a trip through the candy aisle.

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No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake

Credit: David Prince
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This is no ordinary cheesecake. In addition to classic cream cheese, this recipe calls for sour cream, mascarpone, and goat cheese, giving an added depth of creamy, rich flavor to the filling. Top it off with plump cherries and plenty of syrup.

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Peach Melba Spoom

Credit: David Prince
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Maybe you know Peach Melba, but have you had a spoom before? It's a magical, light dessert with a texture of fruit sorbet meets Italian meringue. This version is all sweet peach and raspberry flavor.

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No-Bake Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust

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Swap out traditional graham cracker crumbs for spicy gingersnaps in this super rich cake. It's an unexpected kick of cinnamon and nutmeg that lingers after the cool, creamy bite.

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Chocolate-Banana Pudding

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Creamy pudding, soft banana slices, and chocolate wafers are layered to create a luscious mix of textures. Make it up to a day in advance for an easy-to-please, party-ready dessert.

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Peanut Butter Tart

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A light-as-air pie that requires just five ingredients to achieve its dreamy consistency. Another reason this is a winner: chocolate and peanut butter is the ultimate combination in our book.

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Black-and-White Ice Cream Tart

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Use this recipe as a starting point for your ice cream tart explorations. Start with the classic vanilla and chocolate combination, then try butter-pecan ice cream with a gingersnap crust or green tea ice cream with honey graham crackers. The possibilities are endless.

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Chocolate, Banana, and Graham Cracker Icebox Cake

Credit: David Prince
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Layers of creamy chocolate pudding, sweet bananas, and crunchy graham crackers are a delicious combination in this frozen treat. Don't forget the whipped cream!

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No-Bake Fudge Brownies

Credit: David Prince
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Chocolate, coconut, and cocktail peanuts amp up the texture in this chewy, egg-free take on the chocolate brownie.

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Marshmallow Cookie Sandwiches

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Is there anything better than a giant bite of marshmallow? We don't think so, which is why we created this chocolate-dipped marshmallow cookie sandwich. Our version is inspired by the classic 20th century moon pie.

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Tangy Raspberry Fool

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A fool is a traditional English dessert made by folding puréed fruit into sweet custard. It takes just 10 minutes to prep and is best served immediately. In an ideal world, you can whip it together while the rest of the crowd helps with clean-up duty.

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Chocolate Peanut-Butter Icebox Cake

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Whether it's for a celebratory dinner, a birthday party, or just because, this easy-to-make icebox cake—which calls for just four ingredients and is a make-ahead wonder—should be your go-to treat. It needs sit for at least eight hours in the refrigerator so the cookies soften for an easy, creamy scoop—and waiting might be the hardest part of making this dessert!

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Crispy Chocolate-Marshmallow Treats

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These are the classic puffed cereal treats you know and love with the addition of rich chocolate—and we don't imagine anyone will complaining about that! Kids can help by mixing the ingredients together, then pressing it all down into a pan to shape the bars.

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Waffle-and-Strawberry Trifle

Credit: Johnny Miller
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A luscious take on strawberries and cream, this summery trifle feeds up to 10 people. That means it's the perfect dessert for backyard barbecues and potluck parties. Buy strawberries from a farm to support local while you're at it.

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Individual No-Bake Cheesecakes

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Using a muffin tin makes individual cheesecakes easy. This recipe calls for pomegranate jelly as the bright red topping, but feel free to use any seasonal fruit as a garnish.

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No-Bake Chocolate-Almond Oat Bars

Credit: Con Poulos
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These gluten-free bars get body and flavor from almond butter. It melts when heated on the stove, which makes it easier to mix in the chocolate chips, toasted almonds, raisins, and oats.

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No-Bake Chocolate-Eggnog Creme Brulee

Credit: Lennart Weibull
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Think of this as the best ever crème brûlée, streamlined. No oven necessary! A pinch of sugar and spice and a splash of brandy give this classic dessert plenty of holiday spirit whether for Thanksgiving or Christmas in July.

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By Kelly Vaughan