19 Simple Home-Baked Desserts for Every Craving, Mood, Or Celebration

Some days, you want a cozy crumble; other days, only a pan of brownies or a simple cake will do. These home-baked desserts are perfect for any day, from quick weeknight treats to special-occasion sweets. They help you skip store-bought options, save money, and enjoy something warm from your own oven whenever a craving or celebration strikes.

Upside Down Apple Tart

Upside Down Apple Tart brings all the cozy vibes without a lot of fuss. Caramelized apples sink into buttery puff pastry so every slice feels warm, soft, and gently spiced. Bake it for weekend dessert or cool weather evenings when you want the house to smell amazing.
Get the Recipe: Upside Down Apple Tart

Crustless Cheesecake

Crustless Cheesecake gives you all the creamy richness you love without wrestling a springform pan. The filling bakes up smooth, then gets a cool, tangy sour cream layer on top for just the right contrast. Slice neat wedges for holidays, small gatherings, or simple nights when you just want a sweet moment.
Get the Recipe: Crustless Cheesecake

Creme Brulee

Creme Brulee feels like a restaurant dessert but is surprisingly straightforward at home. The custard bakes low and slow until silky, then a thin layer of sugar on top turns into a crisp shell that cracks under your spoon. Chill the ramekins ahead, torch right before serving, and enjoy how quietly elegant it feels.
Get the Recipe: Creme Brulee

Simple Pecan Pie

Simple Pecan Pie keeps the classic flavors you remember while making the process easier with a no-roll crust. A gooey, caramel-style center sits under toasty pecans that crack gently when you dig in. Bring a pie to Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any day you are craving a nutty slice with your coffee.
Get the Recipe: Simple Pecan Pie

Puff Pastry Apple Pie Pockets

Puff Pastry Apple Pie Pockets tuck tender cinnamon apples into flaky, golden parcels you can eat out of hand. Store-bought puff pastry does the heavy lifting, so you still get all the cozy apple pie flavor with minimal work. Bake a batch for holidays, weekend treats, or lunchbox surprises.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Apple Pie Pockets

Chocolate Fudge Cake

Chocolate Fudge Cake goes all in on deep cocoa flavor without asking for anything fancy from your pantry. The crumb stays moist, the frosting leans rich, so every slice feels like a little chocolate reset after a long day. Bake it for birthdays, potlucks, or late-night cravings when only chocolate will do.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Cake

Peanut Butter Brownies

Peanut butter brownies answer that tug of wanting both brownies and peanut butter in one bite. Swirls of creamy peanut butter ripple through fudgy chocolate batter so every square feels like a little treat. Cut them for potlucks, birthday plates or those evenings when you just need something sweet.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Brownies

Lemon Loaf Cake

Lemon loaf cake brings a bright, cheery hit of citrus to your dessert plate with almost no fuss. A buttery, moist pound cake base gets a lift from fresh lemon juice and zest, then a sweet tangy glaze seals the deal. Slice thick pieces for brunch, casual afternoons or those quick little celebrations at home.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Loaf Cake

Hot Chocolate Cookies

Hot chocolate cookies turn your favorite cozy mug into a soft, gooey bake you can hold in your hand. Each cookie bakes up tender with a melty marshmallow on top plus a drizzle of chocolate for extra fun. Bake a batch on chilly nights for movie marathons, snow days, or last minute holiday cravings.
Get the Recipe: Hot Chocolate Cookies

Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet Cake brings that classic red crumb with a gentle cocoa note and a hint of tang from buttermilk. Each layer stays soft, and then the cream cheese frosting wraps everything in a smooth, sweet finish. Cut generous slices for parties or quiet nights at home when you are in the mood for something a bit playful.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Cake

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms

Three ingredient peanut butter blossoms keep cookie baking simple without losing any charm. Soft, chewy peanut butter bases hold a single chocolate kiss in the center so you get that classic combo with almost no effort. Pile them on a platter for cookie swaps, school parties or quiet nights with a cup of milk.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms

Puff Pastry Palmiers

Puff pastry palmiers turn two humble ingredients into light, crisp little hearts that look bakery-ready. Sugar melts into caramelized layers while the pastry puffs into delicate spirals you can snack on any time of year. Serve a plate with coffee for brunch, simple gatherings, or a quiet afternoon break.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Palmiers

Magic Cookies

Magic Cookies lean on a short ingredient list to deliver chocolate chips, coconut, and walnuts in every bite. The dough comes together quickly, then bakes into cookies with crisp edges and chewy centers. Keep a tin on the counter so family and friends can grab a little bit of homemade sweetness whenever the mood strikes.
Get the Recipe: Magic Cookies

Banana Bread

Banana bread without baking soda still bakes up tender, fragrant, and perfect with a thick smear of butter. With basic ingredients mix in minutes so you can slide a homemade loaf into the oven on even the busiest day. Slice it for breakfast, pack it into lunch boxes, or toast a piece for an evening treat.
Get the Recipe: Banana Bread

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies without brown sugar still bring all the gooey, nostalgic magic you want from a fresh tray. They bake up with soft centers, crisp edges, plenty of melty chips, ready in just over twenty minutes. Keep the recipe handy for sudden cravings, last-minute guests, or rainy-day baking sessions.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Matcha Brownies

Matcha brownies with white chocolate frosting give brownie night a fresh, unexpected twist. Chewy green squares balance earthy matcha with sweet white chocolate, so the flavor lands softly yet interestingly. Share them at potlucks, bake sales, or simple weekends when you want a treat that starts conversations.
Get the Recipe: Matcha Brownies

Dirty Chai Earthquake Cookies

Dirty chai earthquake cookies show off crinkled tops with a big swirl of coffee shop flavor. Chai spices mingle with espresso in a soft, rich cookie so every crackly bite feels bold and cozy at once. Bake a tray when you want dessert plus a little mocha vibe without leaving the house.
Get the Recipe: Dirty Chai Earthquake Cookies

Angel Pie

Lemon Angel Pie shows up looking fancy but is surprisingly low effort for a home bake. The crisp meringue crust, smooth lemon filling, and soft clouds of whipped cream all play together in one light, dreamy bite. Serve it after dinner when you want something bright and special without feeling weighed down.
Get the Recipe: Angel Pie

Matcha Sugar Cookies

Matcha sugar cookies bring a soft green hue plus a gentle earthy flavor to your cookie tin. The dough bakes into tender rounds with crisp edges so you taste both sweetness and matcha in every bite. Offer them for tea time, dessert platters or anytime you want something a little different from chocolate.
Get the Recipe: Matcha Sugar Cookies