Shortcut Desserts

Speedy cooks may occasionally give side dishes short shrift, but nobody forgets about dessert. We've streamlined classic desserts so that making them is speedier, more efficient, and healthier. Plus, many have steps that can be done ahead sometime during the day.

These decadent chocolate-on-chocolate cookies boast full satisfaction and a dose of whole-grain goodness. And they’re ready to eat in a fraction of the time needed to prepare typical sweet treats. For added protein and a fun flavor variation, replace ½ cup cereal with ½ cup chopped toasted nuts.

This fruit-filled yogurt dessert topped with cookie crumbs makes for a tasty and healthy treat.

If you're craving chocolate, these gooey delights will do the trick.

These crowd-pleasers deliver flavors that take you straight back to childhood bliss.

This simple treat puts the flavor of classic snickerdoodle cookies in dippable form. Serve with apple and pear slices.

Blend maple syrup, peaches, low-fat frozen yogurt, and low-fat milk to make this flavorfull milkshake.

Raspberry sparkling wine has a pretty pink color and lightly sweet flavor; you can use regular sparkling wine for a less sweet dessert. Or you can skip the alcohol and use raspberry-flavored seltzer water instead.

This recipe is just as tasty with fresh blueberries or strawberries. If you can't find wonton wrappers, egg roll wrappers work equally well—just cut them into 3 1/2-inch squares.

For this dessert, be sure to choose peaches that are ripe but still slightly firm to the touch. If you have a large toaster oven, use it to broil the granola for the topping.

Frozen fruit and yogurt get whirred together to make a tangy sherbet that's the texture of soft-serve. You can make it ahead, but don't freeze overnight; the mixture will become icy.

These parfaits come together in less than 20 minutes and only require five ingredients— a perfect addition to any weeknight dinner.

The fruit topping in this recipe can also be served over low-fat pound cake, frozen yogurt, or even by itself.

Substitute strong brewed coffee for the espresso, or use instant coffee/espresso granules to make the coffee. A vegetable peeler is a great tool to make chocolate curls from a bar of chocolate.

Sugar-coated fruit caramelizes beautifully under the broiler, deepening and intensifying its flavor. Toasted coconut has a sweet nuttiness and a texture that is both crispy and chewy.

End dinner on a tropical note with this sweet and refreshing parfait.

We love the flavor of a tangy fro-yo with this sweet sauce, but ice cream works just as well.

On a hot summer day, there's nothing better than a creamy, and deliciously sweet mocha banana split. Make sure you love a kick of coffee flavor!

Though the recipe calls for pecans, you can vary the nuts to your kids' preferences. Walnuts or almonds would be equally tasty.

When making this dessert in the summer, substitute fresh berries for frozen. This sauce also pairs well with biscuits or as a stand-in for syrup on pancakes.

Instead of taking the time to scoop individual cookies, bake a superfast cookie “pie,” and then cut it into wedges.