26 Easy 3-Ingredient Desserts

Sometimes you need to whip up a dessert in a matter of minutes! Whether it’s unexpected guests, a last-minute gathering, or just a bad day, dessert is always the right idea. But having to sift flour and pull out lots of ingredients and spend a lot of time in the kitchen is not always possible.

Don’t be surprised if these easy desserts to make at home with few ingredients become some family favorites.

These easy desserts with few ingredients come together so quickly! While they are short on ingredients, they still pack in a lot of flavors.

Your guests will be begging for the recipe and won’t believe how easy these are to make.

1. Strawberry Icebox Cake

Nothing says “summer” than a strawberry icebox cake!

This 3 ingredient dessert is so simple and takes advantage of ripe strawberries that are in season. And best of all, it’s no-bake, so there is no heating up the kitchen in those hot months!

You will make this dish for all of your potlucks and barbecues in the spring and summer.

A container of whipped topping is spread on the bottom of a baking dish and then topped with graham crackers.

This is then topped with more whipped topping and then fresh strawberries.

The layers are repeated and then chilled. You could also experiment with other fresh fruit for a festive dessert for any summer holiday or birthday!

2. Sugar Cookies

This sugar cookie recipe is the best! Within minutes, you can have warm cookies out of the oven, and your house will smell heavenly.

This 3 ingredient dessert with flour, sugar, and butter, the ingredients are combined and then rolled in extra sugar.

This gives the cookies a bit of a crunchy chew before biting into the chewy middle.

You can add sprinkles to the top or frost them to make them perfect for any occasion.

These are so simple. They are perfect for beginner bakers or children. There are instructions for storing them at room temperature or freezing the dough.

3. No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream

We all scream for ice cream! There is nothing like homemade ice cream, but we don’t all own an ice cream maker, nor do we want to store one.

This three-ingredient dessert can be made in a blender… no hand cranking is needed!

This recipe uses sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.

That’s it! These are blended and frozen. You won’t believe how rich and creamy this ice cream is!

There are some great flavor ideas here if you want to branch out beyond vanilla.

4. Cinnamon Roll Apple Cobbler

This recipe is so comforting and delicious. You will want to make it throughout the autumn. And because it uses just two simple ingredients that you may already have in your fridge and pantry, you can make it all year round!

You will need a can of apple pie filling and a tube of refrigerated cinnamon rolls.

These are combined in a baking dish and baked for about 20 minutes.

In the end, you have a warm pan of apple cobbler, and your house will smell amazing! This dish will be a total hit with your family.

5. No-Bake Hershey’s Pie

Do you love chocolate pie? This sweet recipe is seriously easy and doesn’t require you to turn on your oven.

All you need is a pre-made graham cracker crust, chocolate bars, and a container of whipped topping.

The chocolate is melted in the microwave, and then the whipped topping is mixed in.

This is then smoothed into the crust and chilled until set.

If you know someone who loves the flavor of s’mores, you could add mini-marshmallows in and garnish with chocolate chips or shavings.

6. Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana

If you are looking for a dessert that is easy, yummy, and guiltless, you will want to check out this recipe.

These frozen chocolate peanut butter bananas are gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free! All you need is bananas, creamy peanut butter, and dark chocolate chips.

Bananas are halved and put on popsicle sticks, then smeared with peanut butter and frozen.

Later, peanut butter and chocolate are melted together, and then the bananas are dipped in this mix and frozen again.

These are so much fun and would be a blast to make with kids.

7. Oreo Fudge

Oreos are hard to improve upon, but this 4 ingredient fudge featuring the classic cookie might be the best!

Sweetened condensed milk is melted with white chocolate chips. Then, crushed Oreo cookies are added and smoothed into a parchment-lined pan.

This is topped with more Oreo pieces and chilled. That’s it! It’s such a simple dessert recipe yet decadent!

There are so many variations you can make with different flavors of Oreos, chocolate, and different additions.

You will make this over and over again to give as gifts or take to parties!

8. Peach Sorbet

What if we could freeze time and savor sweet summer fruit all year long? Well, this simple peach sorbet comes pretty close!

Ripe peaches are blended with sugar and lemon juice in a food processor and then frozen.

That’s how simple this recipe is! You don’t need an ice cream maker, and you could use this recipe with other summer produce like fresh cherries.

You will want to store a batch of this in your freezer until the dead of winter… if you can, let it wait that long!

9. Two-Ingredient Lemon Bars

The sweet taste mixed with the sour tang and the freshness of citrus always is a hit.

This 3 ingredient dessert has no eggs, so no need to fuss with making a custard.

These lemon bars are so easy. You will always keep the ingredients on hand. You only need TWO ingredients, and both of them are pantry stable.

Angel food cake mix and canned lemon pie filling are stirred together and then smoothed into a prepared baking pan. And voila!

Within 30 minutes, you will have a pan of delicious, moist, and sunny lemon bars. You can sprinkle these with powdered sugar and serve.

10. Chocolate Mousse

Are you a chocoholic? This easy chocolate mousse is the perfect recipe for all chocolate lovers!

You only need three simple ingredients to make this decadent dessert.

Heavy cream, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder are beaten together in a chilled bowl. Five minutes later, you are all done.

This mousse can be piped into glass bowls or glasses to serve to guests or for a special occasion.

There are also instructions for using a sugar substitute to enjoy it by people watching their sugar intake, and it is keto-friendly!

11. Chocolate Zucchini Cake

When zucchini is in season, you will want to keep this recipe handy!

With only 3 simple ingredients, you can make a delicious and moist chocolate zucchini cake.

By mixing boxed chocolate cake mix with eggs and grated zucchini, you can enjoy this cake which will be very low in fat.

The cake stays moist because of the water in the grated zucchini.

This will make 2 loaves of cake, so you can give one to a friend to share the chocolate goodness.

12. 3 Ingredient Nutella Brownies

If you know someone who loves Nutella, then you have got to make this recipe!

These Nutella brownies are to die for, and they are so simple with only THREE ingredients.

These brownies are made by combining a jar of Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread with eggs and flour.

That’s it! Bake this batter for about 20 minutes, and you have moist and fudgy brownies.

You can also add chocolate chips, nuts or sprinkle the top with coarse sea salt.

13. Keto Coconut Macaroons

For those who are following the keto diet, these macaroons are a must-try recipe.

These coconut macaroons are light, crispy on the outside, and so soft on the inside.

Egg whites are beaten until stiff, and then coconut and sweetener are folded in.

Soft mounds are put on a cookie sheet and then baked for about 20 minutes.

Because this recipe has no sugar and very little fat, these are great for diabetic patients and anyone watching out for their health.

14. Copy Cat Asian Buffet Donuts

These copycat Asian buffet donuts are so delicious. You won’t believe how easy they are to make.

This is such an easy dessert with basic ingredients that you may have on hand right now.

A can of refrigerated biscuits is cut into fourths and rolled into balls. These are then fried in oil and then rolled in sugar.

These are best enjoyed when warm, and they are a great companion to a cup of coffee or tea.

These would be great to make for guests because they are so easy yet taste as you worked in the kitchen for hours!

15. Oreo Balls

These Oreo Balls are the perfect dessert to whip up in a jiffy. They are no-bake and feature everyone’s favorite cookies,

Oreos. Oreo cookies are pulsed in a food processor until they are in crumbs.

This is mixed with cream cheese until it forms a dough and then rolled into balls and frozen.

The balls are then coated in powdered sugar. There are so many variations listed on this recipe, using different Oreo flavors, add-ins, and coatings.

16. Cake Mix Cookies

It’s always a good idea to have a box of cake mix hanging around in your pantry.

Not only can you make a cake in a matter of minutes, but you can also make cookies!

By adding oil and eggs, you can turn your favorite flavor of cake mix into soft and chewy cookies in less than 10 minutes.

You can sprinkle with powdered sugar, frost them, or add sprinkles.

These are perfect for a last-minute bake sale, potluck, or if guests drop by.

17. 3 Ingredient Homemade Butterfingers

Do you have leftover and unwanted candy corn? Do you love Butterfingers candy bars?

Great news! If you have some candy corn lingering in your pantry, you can use it to make homemade Butterfinger candy bars! Candy corn is melted and then combined with creamy peanut butter.

Once this mixture hardens, it is then covered in melted milk chocolate and allowed to set.

This is such a fun recipe and such a creative way to use up that candy corn!

18. Pumpkin Seed Chocolate Candy

Perhaps candy isn’t healthy for you, but this recipe includes some pretty nutritious ingredients!

This would be a great recipe to make after Halloween when you have some pumpkin seeds to use.

The pumpkin seeds are soaked and sprouted and then blended with dates to form a paste.

Both pumpkin seeds and dates are full of minerals and good sources of fiber.

This paste is pressed to the bottom of a pan, and then melted chocolate is poured on top. Once set, these are sliced into candy bars. This will be a candy bar you can feel good about!

19. Three Ingredient Ice Cream

Here is another quick and easy dessert that will have your friends and family calling you a hero.

This ice cream comes together quickly in a blender, and you don’t need to churn it in special equipment.

No messy rock salt, no puddles from the melted ice! Once the three simple ingredients are blended, you freeze it and then serve.

People will think you spent hours making this ice cream. This ice cream would be heavenly with chocolate or caramel syrup on top!

20. Lemon Curd Mousse

This lemon curd mousse is so cool and refreshing. You will want to make it all summer long. And with only three simple ingredients, you can do just that!

Premade lemon curd is combined with heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar. By whipping these ingredients together until stiff, you will have a light, airy mousse.

Spoon or pipe into glasses or glass dessert dishes and chill for a few hours or overnight.

Because this dessert can be made ahead, it is the perfect choice for a light tangy dessert, especially after a heavy meal!

21. Apple Cobbler

If you love warm apple cobbler with the spicy scent of cinnamon, then you will want to try this recipe.

This baked good is so flavorful and comforting, and it will make your house smell amazing.

No one would guess that this recipe consists of only 3 easy ingredients and a little time in the oven.

In fact, this will be such a hit. You may decide to keep the ingredients on hand throughout the autumn and winter so that you can bake this at a moment’s notice!

22. Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

If you are vegan, peanut butter cups are on the menu again!

These vegan peanut butter cups are so yummy, and they are perfect for making with kids.

Vegan chocolate chips are melted with coconut oil and then spooned into a muffin cup.

While that sets, peanut butter and powdered sugar are combined, then a bit is spooned on top of the chocolate, and more melted chocolate is layered on top. Once set, you can take off the cupcake wrapper and enjoy!

23. Chocolate Mug Cake

Sometimes you need a single serving of chocolate cake, not a whole sheet pan!

When that craving hits, you will want to have this mug cake recipe handy.

Using a bit of chocolate cake mix, some water, and applesauce, you can have a warm, moist piece of chocolate cake in minutes.

You can add mini chocolate chips to take this over the top and satisfy that chocolate craving.

You could make this with any cake mix flavor you prefer, and there is so little clean-up.

24. White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels

These pretzels are so simple to make, but the combination of the crunchy salty pretzel, the creamy white chocolate, and the freshness from the crushed peppermint really take these to the next level.

You will include these on your cookie trays or cookie tins for all foreseeable holiday seasons!

White chocolate is melted, and then pretzels are dipped in the white chocolate. Then crushed peppermint or candy canes are sprinkled on top.

You can use pretzel crisps or any shape of pretzel you’d like for these fun cookies.

25. Nutella S’Mores Cups

If you love s’mores and you love Nutella, then you will love this recipe!

This recipe is so simple and fun. It’s perfect for cookout-themed parties or potlucks.

Refrigerated buttery crescent rolls are unrolled and put into a muffin tin, and baked.

Then Nutella and mini marshmallows are placed on to and baked, creating delicious handheld Nutella s’more pastries.

26. 3 Ingredient Oreo Balls

Here’s another fun spin on Oreo cookie balls! People love these, and they made such a fun addition to a holiday party tray.

Oreo cookies are pulsed or crushed into crumbs. Then softened cream cheese is mixed in with the cookie crumbs.

This mix is rolled into balls and then dipped into melted chocolate.

Best of all, these keep in the refrigerator for weeks and can be frozen for 2 months.

If you want to dress these up, try some white sprinkles on top!