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  5. 5-Ingredient Desserts for a Sweet Tooth Fix, Fast

5-Ingredient Desserts for a Sweet Tooth Fix, Fast

Karla Walsh Headshot
By Karla Walsh Updated February 06, 2020
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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chocolate marshmallow peanut butter clusters
Credit: Karla Conrad
Take a shortcut to sweetness with these 5-ingredient desserts. Cookies, ice cream, truffles, and candy have never been simpler than they are in this collection of easy desserts with few ingredients. We promise something to cure every sweet tooth craving FAST!
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Whoopie Pies

Whoopie Pies
Credit: Blaine Moats
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Number of Ingredients: Four

When there's no time for baking, don’t turn to store-bought packs. Try this easy dessert with few ingredients instead. Spruce up soft chocolate cookies with a fluffy filling of cream cheese, butter, and marshmallow creme for party-ready whoopie pies.

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Affogato Trifles

Affogato Trifles
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Number of Ingredients: Five

Texture rules in this fresh twist on an affogato, an Italian dessert using coffee and ice cream. Layers of crispy crushed biscotti, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream melt together with the help of hot brewed espresso. Finish the 5-ingredient dessert recipe with a sprinkle of cinnamon for a hint of warmth to complement the cool cream.

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Easy Monster Cookie Bars

Easy Monster Cookie Bars
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Number of Ingredients: Five

Our appetite for this 5-ingredient dessert recipe is monstrous. We bet yours will be too after one bite. Transform refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough into a mouthwatering pan of candy-studded bars. Chocolate chips, rolled oats, and peanuts shine in the no-fuss dessert.

Related: 20 Desserts With Candy

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Chocolate-Cashew Truffles

Chocolate-Cashew Truffles
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Number of Ingredients: Five

These chocolate truffles achieve the perfect balance of salty and sweet thanks to a touch of maple syrup and dash of coarse salt. Don't love cashews? Instead, use almonds or cashews to garnish the gourmet easy dessert with few ingredients.

Test Kitchen Tip: To amplify the nutty flavor, toast the nuts before adding them to the mix.

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No-Churn Ice Cream

No-Churn Ice Cream
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Number of Ingredients: Five

Keep your cool with this easy dessert recipe with few ingredients. No special equipment is required to whip up the lusciously silky scoops. Once frozen (no churn time required) sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream create a creamy, irresistible texture.

Test Kitchen Tip: Once you’ve mastered traditional vanilla, try ribbons (like fruit preserves, hot fudge, or caramel ice cream topping) or mix-ins such as chopped cookies, diced fruit, and chopped candies.

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Ice Cube Tray Chocolates

Ice Cube Tray Chocolates
Credit: Matthew Clark
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Number of Ingredients: Two+

Walk on by that pricey box of chocolates. It’s a cinch to DIY with this 3-ingredient dessert recipe—and an old-school ice cube tray. When you act as your own chocolatier, you can jazz ‘em up with your favorite dark or milk chocolate, filling, and topping combinations. (We’re fans of semisweet and chocolate-hazelnut spread!)

Buy It: Kitch Easy Release Ice Cube Trays, 16-Cube, $5.17, Walmart

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Smoothie Pops

Smoothie Pops
Credit: Carson Downing
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Number of Ingredients: Five

Scoring a serving of fruit is easier than ever. Blend berries, a frozen banana, Greek yogurt, juice, and honey to make the pop “juice.” Pour into ice pop molds and allow them to freeze. Voilà: The easy dessert with basic ingredients is ready to enjoy with any meal of the day.

Buy It: Zuku Classic Pop Mold, $14.95, Sur la Table

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Dark Chocolate Fondue with Fruit Kabobs

Dark Chocolate Fondue with Fruit Kabobs
Credit: Karla Conrad
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Number of Ingredients: Four

Set it and forget it! Fondue has never been simpler thanks to your trusty slow cooker and this dessert recipe with few ingredients. Fill the countertop appliance with dark chocolate pieces, frozen whipped topping, and a splash of coffee, then dunk in your favorite skewered fruits.

Buy It: Crock-Pot 2-Quart Slow Cooker, $8.99, Target

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Praline Crunch Bars

Praline Crunch Bars
Credit: Blaine Moats
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Number of Ingredients: Five

There's no need for a candy bar when you have this even-tastier 5-ingredient dessert recipe. Almond toffee bits, chopped pecans, and refrigerated sugar cookie dough provide the flaky crust for these layered bars. A sprinkle of toffee creates crunch atop a layer of melted chocolate.

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Chocolate-Marshmallow-Peanut Clusters

chocolate marshmallow peanut butter clusters
Credit: Karla Conrad
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Number of Ingredients: Five

“Great for kid and adult get-togethers. Everyone wanted the recipe,” raves BH&G home baker Becklau of this 5-ingredient dessert recipe. Classic rocky road flavors (peanuts, marshmallows, and chocolate) come together in these irresistible homemade cocoa candies. The bite-size munchies get their smooth texture from a mix of chocolate-flavor candy coating and semisweet chocolate pieces.

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Choose-a-Flavor Caramel Apples

Choose-a-Flavor Caramel Apples
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Number of Ingredients: Four

A dunk will do, but we like to take our fall-flavored apples to the next level with layers of crunchy coatings. Spike the caramel with peanut butter, cinnamon oil, or semisweet chocolate. After dipping the fruit, complete the easy dessert with few ingredients by dunking the caramel apples in nuts, pretzels, granola, or your favorite candy.

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Fresh Peach Ice Cream

Fresh Peach Ice Cream
Credit: Karla Conrad
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Number of Ingredients: Five

Don’t sweat the dessert course at your summer dinner party. Nothing beats a sweltering summer day like chilly homemade ice cream. Blend ripe, blushing peaches with cream, eggs, vanilla, and sugar before freezing for a fresh, fruity, and easy dessert with basic ingredients.

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Mini Raspberry-Chocolate Tarts

Mini Raspberry-Chocolate Tarts
Credit: Blaine Moats
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Number of Ingredients: Four

Phyllo dough shells are the perfect vehicle for a variety of appetizers, but we prefer them stuffed with sweets. This 5-ingredient dessert recipe fits the bill! Fill the petite pastries with melted chocolate, fresh raspberries, and slivered almonds for an easy yet elegant dessert solution.

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Dark Chocolate Banana-Nut Pops

Dark Chocolate Banana Nut Pops
Credit: Karla Conrad
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Number of Ingredients: Four

Frozen bananas are a great way to indulge while sneaking in extra vitamins. Bite into the crunchy chocolate coating on this easy dessert recipe with few ingredients to reveal a hidden peanut butter center. You’ll go bananas over the kid-friendly flavor combo.

Buy It: Wilton Round Lollipop Sticks, 11-Count, $3.99, Bed Bath & Beyond

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Surprise Chocolate Bites

Surprise Chocolate Bites
Credit: Blaine Moats
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Number of Ingredients: Five

Incorporate cocoa powder into purchased sugar cookie dough and fold the cocoa-flavored dough around creamy peanut butter to save time compared to making everything from scratch. The 5-ingredient dessert recipe gets some sparkle thanks to granulated sugar on top.

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Dipped Chocolate Cookie Sticks

Dipped Chocolate Cookie Sticks
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Number of Ingredients: Four

Makeover chocolate chip cookies by baking refrigerated dough into biscotti-like sticks. Dunk the dessert in a creamy chocolate coating. Little pairs better with a cup of coffee than this easy dessert with few ingredients!

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Mocha Cream Shake

Mocha Cream Shake
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Number of Ingredients: Four

Shake things up with this java-spiked ice cream treat. The classic malt shop flavors can be yours with a blend of frozen yogurt, brewed coffee, and chocolate syrup. Finish the frosty 4-ingredient dessert with a dusting of shaved dark chocolate.

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Chocolate Chip Turtles

Chocolate Chip Turtles
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Number of Ingredients: Four

Kids will love helping out with these creative cookies (but probably not as much as they'll love eating them!) To bring the easy dessert with few ingredients to life, simply press chocolate chip cookie dough onto pecan halves to form arms and legs, bake, and drizzle with caramel.

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Oreo Truffles

Oreo Truffles
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
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Number of Ingredients: Three

Why choose between candy and cookies when you can have both? Combine crushed chocolate sandwich cookies with cream cheese to form these delicious truffles. Then, to add a polished look to the 3-ingredient dessert recipe, coat with white baking chocolate.

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Citrus Granita

Citrus Granita
Credit: Blaine Moats
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Number of Ingredients: Five

Say “freeze” to your search for easy dessert recipes with few ingredients. This icy dessert is the most refreshing, low-calorie, gluten-free option out there. Three types of citrus (orange, lemon, and lime) give these fruity drinks their bright flavor. Garnish the easy Italian confection with fresh mint sprigs.

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PB&J Thumbprint Cookies

PB&J Thumbprint Cookies
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Number of Ingredients: Three

That classic combination of peanut butter and jelly isn't limited to your child's lunchbox. Place a dollop of grape or strawberry jelly onto baked peanut butter cookies for PB&J cookie bliss. 

Test Kitchen Tip: Prep this 3-ingredient dessert recipe ahead and freeze for up to three months for a quick-fix bake sale winner.

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    1 of 21 Whoopie Pies
    2 of 21 Affogato Trifles
    3 of 21 Easy Monster Cookie Bars
    4 of 21 Chocolate-Cashew Truffles
    5 of 21 No-Churn Ice Cream
    6 of 21 Ice Cube Tray Chocolates
    7 of 21 Smoothie Pops
    8 of 21 Dark Chocolate Fondue with Fruit Kabobs
    9 of 21 Praline Crunch Bars
    10 of 21 Chocolate-Marshmallow-Peanut Clusters
    11 of 21 Choose-a-Flavor Caramel Apples
    12 of 21 Fresh Peach Ice Cream
    13 of 21 Mini Raspberry-Chocolate Tarts
    14 of 21 Dark Chocolate Banana-Nut Pops
    15 of 21 Surprise Chocolate Bites
    16 of 21 Dipped Chocolate Cookie Sticks
    17 of 21 Mocha Cream Shake
    18 of 21 Chocolate Chip Turtles
    19 of 21 Oreo Truffles
    20 of 21 Citrus Granita
    21 of 21 PB&J Thumbprint Cookies

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    5-Ingredient Desserts for a Sweet Tooth Fix, Fast
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