Editors of Adams Media - The 50 Best Dessert Recipes. Tasty, Fresh, and Easy to Make!

Avon, Massachusetts

People everywhere love their sweets. Words commonly associated with dessert honey, sweetie, sugar, cookie are regularly used as terms of endearment, and many believe that a meal is not complete without a sweet to finish it off.

Whether youre looking for a simple, sweet ending for a family dinner or a knock-their-socks-off extravagant dessert for a special dinner part, youve come to the right place. Here are fifty of the best dessert recipes everything from classics, like chocolate cake and apple pie, to comfort food favorites (baked custard and rice pudding), to impressive scene-stealers, like souffl and profiteroles.

There are cakes, cookies, pies, puddings, fruit desserts, and even ice cream anything you need to satisfy any cravings your sweet tooth may demand. Bring dessert back into your everyday life, and once in a while, eat it first life is short!

Carrot Cake

Get creative with this basic carrot cake recipe. You can replace the raisins with chopped apple or well-drained crushed pineapple. Top it with your favorite cream cheese frosting and more nuts.

Serves 10

Ingredients

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cups vegetable oil

2 cups sugar

3 cups grated carrots

4 eggs

cup chopped walnuts

1 cup raisins

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Have ready an ungreased 9-inch tube pan.

2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon into a bowl.

3. In another larger bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and carrots. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

4. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, mixing well. Fold in the nuts and raisins.

5. Pour into the tube pan and back for 1 hour, or until a knife comes out clean. Let cool on rack.

Frosted Orange Cake

A family favorite, this cake is perfect for a weeknight dessert. Pop it in the oven while youre making dinner, let it cool, and frost it right in the pan.

Serves 12

Ingredients

cup butter, softened

1 cups granulated sugar

3 eggs

2 cups flour

1 teaspoons baking soda

1 cups fresh orange juice

1 tablespoon grated orange rind

Frosting:

1 cups confectioners sugar, sifted

3 tablespoons fresh orange juice

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour a 9-by-13-inch cake pan.

2. In a bowl, beat together the butter, granulated sugar, eggs, flour, baking soda, orange juice, and orange rind until blended. Beat for 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally.

3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.

4. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, make the frosting: in a medium bowl, beat together the confectioners sugar and the 3 tablespoons orange juice until smooth.

6. Spoon the frosting over the top of the warm cake in the pan. Cool the iced cake completely in the pan on the rack. Cut into squares to serve.

Gingerbread

Warm gingerbread served with whipped cream is a classic. This recipe can be made into individual cupcakes too. A simple dusting of powdered sugar is enough garnish.

Serves 9

Ingredients

1 cup sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup unsulfured molasses

1 cup boiling water

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 tablespoon ground dried ginger

teaspoon cinnamon

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 eggs, beaten

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Butter and flour a 9" 9" baking dish.

2. In one bowl mix together the sugar, oil, molasses, and boiling water. Set aside.

3. In another bowl mix together the baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and flour.

4. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix in the eggs.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour, or until the center springs back when lightly touched with a finger.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Sour cream gives this cake a melt-in-your-mouth texture. If you have leftovers, its great for breakfast!

Serves 8

Ingredients

cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup sour cream

1 cups flour

teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoons baking powder

Topping:

cup sugar

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan.

2. In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light. Add the eggs, vanilla, and sour cream, and beat well.

3. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix well. Pour into the prepared pan.

4. In a small bowl, stir together the topping ingredients and scatter three-fourths of the mixture evenly over the batter.

5. With a knife, swirl the topping into the batter. Sprinkle the remaining topping evenly over the surface. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean. Cool on a rack.

Plain Vanilla Alternatives

The next time a recipe calls for vanilla extract, consider trying a different-flavored extract or flavoring. Try almond, lemon, orange, mint, or coconut extracts. Vanilla is a great standard flavor, but theres a whole world of other flavors you can try to bring some extra zip to your recipes.

Easy Lemon Chiffon Cake with Blueberries

This simple take on classic lemon chiffon cake is sure to please. The combination of lemon and vanilla creates a sweet, refreshing flavor thats perfect for summer celebrations.

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 18.25-ounce box white cake mix plus ingredients called for on box

1 3.9-ounce package instant vanilla pudding mix

1 3.9-ounce package instant lemon pudding mix

1 cup milk

1 16-ounce tub whipped topping

1 pint fresh blueberries, halved

1. Preheat oven according to cake mix instructions. Grease and flour 2 round layer cake pans. Set aside.

2. Mix cake mix and vanilla pudding mix together and then follow baking directions for layers. Allow layers to cool on wire racks as you mix filling.

3. Mix lemon pudding with milk until thickened. Fold in half the whipped topping. Spread half of the filling on one layer of cake and top with blueberries.

4. Add next cake layer and top with remaining lemon filling. Frost sides of cake with remaining whipped topping. Keep cool until ready to serve.

Chocolate Espresso Cake

Follow the directions carefully for this unique, extra-rich cake. Youll be glad you did!