10 Easy Baking Recipes With Minimal Ingredients

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Make these simple, old-fashioned hand pies!

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Sam Jones/Quinn Brein

Simple Dessert Recipes To Bake

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Looking for a quick, sweet treat? Here are 10 simple dessert recipes for baking. These delicious desserts only need a handful of ingredients. Plus, you probably have everything that you need already in your pantry! Nothing exotic like candied ginger or orange oil here!

And as a bonus, some of these are great for getting little helpers involved to learn basic skills and have fun in the kitchen as well.

Simple Cakes, Muffins, and Breads

Poor Man’s Cake

This simple cake is similar to spice cake and can be enjoyed with or without frosting. It’s so easy to make, you can try it both ways. 

poor mans cake with frosting
Poor Man’s Cake

Zucchini Bread

This lightly spiced bread is so good that people who don’t like vegetables never even realize the “secret” ingredient, which adds moistness. It makes a nice after-dinner treat or a simple breakfast. 

zucchini bread on tin foil
Zucchini Bread
Photo credit: Joseph E Ligori/Shutterstock

Lemon-Blueberry Muffins

These breakfast treats are not overly sweet and just the right amount of tart. You can make it with fresh or frozen blueberries. Make several dozen and freeze what you can’t eat–you’ll thank us later.

lemon blueberry muffins with a mint sprig
Lemon-Blueberry Muffins
Credit: Felix Furo/Shutterstock

Simple Cookies and Bars

Snowball Cookies

Try these snowball cookies for a light treat after dinner or a snack with a cup of tea. 

snowball cookies on a plate
Snowball Cookies

Best Butter Cookies

These butter cookies have just a hint of orange flavor from orange juice. Decorate them with sprinkles or frosting as a fun activity for kids. 

heart shaped butter cookies with red and pink sugar
Best Butter Cookies

Old–Fashioned Raisin–Filled Cookies

These cookies might make you think of a certain fig-filled goodie, but they will make a nice treat. Kids love to help with filling the cookies. 

old fashioned raisin filled cookies
Old–Fashioned Raisin–Filled Cookies

Shortbread Recipe

A shortbread is a hard cookie that keeps well—and has a mouthwateringly buttery taste. Homemade shortbread is fantastic!

shortbread in a tart pan
Shortbread Recipe
Photo credit: Lilyana Vynogradova/shutterstock

Simple Pies

Irish Potato Pie

Potatoes in a pie? Don’t worry; this pie features a smooth, creamy custard that uses plain mashed potatoes as its base. It’s sweet and yummy, and if you use a pre-made crust, it comes together quickly. 

a slice of irish potato pie
Irish Potato Pie

Strawberry Hand Pies

These individual pies are a great treat to make as fresh strawberries come into season and are available everywhere. 

heart shaped strawberry hand pies with fresh berries
Strawberry Hand Pies

…And Something Different!

Grape–Nut Pudding

This unexpected dessert uses cereal to make a crust topped with custard. You’ll never look at this fiber-rich cereal the same. 

grape nut pudding with a dollop of whipped cream
Grape–Nut Pudding

Flourless Desserts

We’ve had a few readers express interest in baking without all-purpose flour, either because they have a flour shortage or because their bodies are sensitive to gluten and flour.

See some of our favorite recipes below:

  • Flourless Chocolate Cake. Only 5 ingredients, including black coffee. Sinfully decadent with a fudge-like consistency.
  • Honey Oat Bread is made with only oat flour and is delicious for those who have the urge to knead bread.
  • Black Bean Brownies. No one will guess that these brownies are made with black beans for moistness and texture!
  • Almond Cheesecake. This no-crust dessert is a delicious option for people with gluten sensitivities, too.

You may also enjoy our post on simple ways to bake with limited flour here.

We hope you find some inspiration! Don’t forget to check out our full recipe collection for more great ideas to keep you busy in the kitchen. 

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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