Shortcut Desserts

Updated: May 09, 2016
Homemade desserts on a weeknight? Yes! These fast recipes have a touch of sophistication—the perfect punctuation to any speedy meal.
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Quick Sweets

Photo: Randy Mayor

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.

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Double-Chocolate Cereal Treats

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Double-Chocolate Cereal Treats

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.

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Stone Fruit Eton Mess

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Stone Fruit Eton Mess

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

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Chocolate-Hazelnut-Banana Finger Sandwiches

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Chocolate-Hazelnut-Banana Finger Sandwiches

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

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Cereal and Milk Bars

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Cereal and Milk Bars

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

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Snickerdoodle Dip

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Snickerdoodle Dip

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

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Maple-Peach Milk Shake

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Maple-Peach Milk Shake

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

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Sparkling Raspberry Parfaits

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Sparkling Raspberry Parfaits

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.

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Cinnamon Crisps with Blackberries and Yogurt

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Cinnamon Crisps with Blackberries and Yogurt

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.

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Easy Peach Crisp

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Easy Peach Crisp

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.

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Last-Minute Tropical Sherbet

Photo: Nigel Cox
View Recipe: Last-Minute Tropical Sherbet

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.

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Raspberry Chocolate Parfaits

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Raspberry Chocolate Parfaits

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

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Balsamic Strawberries over Angel Food Cake

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Balsamic Strawberries over Angel Food Cake

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

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Coffee-Drenched Ice Cream with Banana and Peanuts

Photo: Nigel Cox
View Recipe: Coffee-Drenched Ice Cream with Banana and Peanuts

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.

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Broiled Pineapple With Bourbon Caramel Over Vanilla Ice Cream

Photo: Quentin Bacon
View Recipe: Broiled Pineapple With Bourbon Caramel Over Vanilla Ice Cream

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.

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Mango-Ginger Parfaits

Photo: Nigel Cox
View Recipe: Mango-Ginger Parfaits

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

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Dark Cherry Merlot Sauce over Yogurt

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Dark Cherry Merlot Sauce over Yogurt

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

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Mocha Banana Split

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Mocha Banana Split

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!

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Maple-Pecan Sundaes with Cinnamon Crisps

Photo: Brian Woodcock
View Recipe: Maple-Pecan Sundaes with Cinnamon Crisps

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

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Greek Yogurt with Warm Black and Blueberry Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Greek Yogurt with Warm Black and Blueberry Sauce

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.

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Granola Cookie Wedges

Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Granola Cookie Wedges

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

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