36 No-Cook Desserts Too Easy Not To Try
Forget the heat for these treats.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Although Southern cooks love to bake beautiful layer cakes, tricky meringues, and flavorful bread pudding recipes to show off their skills, there's not always time for an elaborate dessert. When you're in a last-minute rush (or if it's just too hot to cook during Southern summers!), turn to our favorite no-cook desserts. Not only are these delicious desserts no-bake, but they're also no-cook, which means you don't even have to turn the stovetop on. If you're short on time, don't preheat that oven—stick with our best no-cook desserts.
Related: 50 No-Bake Desserts To Add To Your Summer Lineup
éclair Cake
While delicate eclairs can be finicky to make, our no-bake cake version is a breeze, even for the novice baker.
Lemon Icebox Pie
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
If you use a store-bought crust, all you need is 10 minutes of prep time. Make this creamy, tangy friend of Key Lime Pie the night before and you'll surely impress anyone at the potluck.
Lemon Lush
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Light and airy, this layered citrus dessert will bring back fond memories. And while the layers look impressive, it's foolproof to build.
No-Bake Honey Cheesecake
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
Don't be fooled—this isn't your run-of-the-mill cheesecake. Tangy cream cheese and sour cream balance the sweet honey, making every bite delicious. Top it with a swirl of honey for a picture-worthy dessert.
No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars
Iain Bagwell
Look no further than these gooey, toffee bars layered with chocolate, caramel, and crackers to curb your sweet craving.
Cherries-and-Cream Icebox Cake
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner
Without the hassle of the oven, this layered icebox cake is sure to be a showstopper. “This cake is absolutely delicious. It’s also visually beautiful,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “When the first piece is cut, the inside is as pretty as the outside, due to the multiple layers.”
Peanut Butter Pie
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
For all the chocolate and peanut butter fans, this pie takes the award-winning combo to the next level. The chocolate cookie crust and peanut butter filling is perfectly rich, yet not-too-sweet and not-too-salty.
Orange Sherbet Punch
Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This old-school recipe has all the makings of a classic Southern punch. It is sweet, slightly creamy, fruity, and there is always an occasion for it.
No-Bake Cheesecake
Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
This dreamy dessert combines all the cheesecake flavors you love without even turning on the oven. The best part is, it's a blank canvas ready for whatever flavors you want to add from fresh summer fruit to a chocolate drizzle.
No-Bake Chocolate-Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
We have the perfect solution for when you're craving cookies, but want a quick, homemade solution without having to wait for the oven.
Lemon Granita
Imagine a fresh glass of lemonade, but make it flaky and icy, like a snowflake. It's a summer-perfect, no-cook dessert that will make everyone ask for more.
Lemon Tiramisu
This refreshing, zesty spin on a classic tiramisu is the ideal treat to serve at your next summer gathering. (Be sure to use soft ladyfingers in this recipe.)
Rum Balls
We brought back this easy, no-cook recipe that has stood the test of time from our December 1993 issue.
Peach Milkshake
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Everything you love about a fruity and refreshing sundae, but drinkable—this milkshake is exploding with summertime peach flavor.
White Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
These white-chocolate covered strawberries make an easy but elegant end to any meal. Or fill up a tin for easy gifting!
No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie
There's nothing better during a hot Southern summer than a creamy, chilled pie. Don't count on leftovers when serving this treat.
No-Bake Strawberry Pie
Similar to a traditional icebox pie, this no-bake sweet treat has a buttery graham cracker crust filled with a creamy strawberry filling.
Key Lime Ice-Cream Pie
It's hard to go wrong with key lime pie, especially when it involves indulgent avocado-key lime pie ice cream for the filling.
Millionaire Pie
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This tropical, fruit-filled treat is about as Southern as desserts get. Best of all, it only takes 10 minutes of hands-on time and an hour to chill.
Macerated Strawberries
Photographer: Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
A simple bowl of strawberries gussied up with a pinch of sugar, fresh basil, and lemon juice and zest is hard to beat. So good you'll want to eat the whole bowl as is, but you can also add the berries atop pound cake, ice cream, and more.
Chocolate Lasagna
This vintage dessert was made to feed a crowd, so it's perfect for potlucks and big family gatherings year-round.
Sea Salt Ice Cream
For all the sweet and salty fans out there, this is sure to be your new favorite dessert.
S'mores Pie
No oven, no problem. We already know everyone will be wanting some more of this delicacy.
Strawberry-Orange Trifle
Fresh fruit makes for a light dessert sure to satisfy everyone at your table, especially when it's layered with lemon curd whipping cream and topped with crumbled shortbread cookies.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
With only five-ingredients, these oh-so-simple crunchy, chocolate covered bars are the easiest way to please a crowd.
Mascarpone Cheesecake
Mascarpone cheese is the secret to the fan-favorite dessert. For added flavor and a festive feel, add a colorful topping of raspberry jam, raspberries, and blueberries.
Watermelon Daiquiri
Summer is the season for a cold, refreshing drink bursting with the best flavors of the season, so we're keeping it simple with a watermelon daiquiri. It's just as good with or without the booze.
Ice Cream Cake
Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
While we aren't ashamed of a store-bought ice cream cake, this recipe might become your new go to. Be sure to check out the “Tips From the Test Kitchen” section of the recipe to ensure your layers look their best.
Preacher Cookies
Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Kelsey Moylan, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke
No matter the season, these no-bake cookies will hit the spot. Filled with cocoa, oats, crunchy peanut butter, and crispy rice cereal, they're full of flavor and texture.
Tiramisu
Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke
This traditionally Italian dessert gets a Southern twist with bourbon.
Strawberry Icebox Cake
Five ingredients and a few hours in the fridge later and you'll have a centerpiece worthy dessert.
Chocolate Parfaits
Southern Living
Treat yourself with a dessert on the lighter side. We tried using both sugar-free instant and regular pudding mixes. To our surprise, we preferred the flavor of the sugar-free.
Banana Split Cake
The only thing easier than a 13x9 dessert is one that doesn't have to go in the oven. This one is a great make-ahead option because it takes just 20 minutes to assemble before ample time to chill.
Kool Aid Pie
We're taking you back to your days of running around the park with Kool Aid stains on your lips (and probably your T-shirt too).
Homemade Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream
There's no complaining about your ice cream not having enough cookie pieces or the chunks being too mushy when you go the homemade route. Add all the cookies you want!
Red, White, and Blue Popsicles
Don't chase the ice cream truck down—make these nostalgic goodies at home!
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