Our 10 Best Dessert Recipes, According to Readers

Our readers have spoken: These are the desserts you save (and crave) the most.

By Jess Eng
Published September 01, 2025
Side view of nanaimo Bars

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

If you're wondering what to make for dessert tonight, you've come to the right place. Our site has plenty of recipes for sweets, including rich, creamy cheesecakes; fluffy, tender cakes; and warm, comforting cobblers, among many others. Having so many options can be overwhelming, though, especially if you're unsure where to start. Not to worry—to help you decide what to make for the last course, we've compiled a list of our most-saved dessert recipes from our new, free recipe box called MyRecipes. So go ahead: Treat yourself and your loved ones to a dessert that's already won plenty of hearts (and taste buds!).

Love any of these recipes? Tap "Save" to add them to MyRecipes, our free tool to save and organize favorites from top food sites.

  • Peach Crisp

    Overhead view of peach crisp served with ice cream

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    This is, hands down, our most saved recipe this year. A thrilling combination of vanilla-scented peaches, a crunchy topping of whole-wheat flour, oats, and toasted pecans, and a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream tastes like summer in a bowl. Quickly blanching the peaches to soften and separate their skin makes them easier to peel, and macerating the peaches results in a juicier, more flavorful fruit filling.

  • Nanaimo Bars

    Side view of nanaimo Bars

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    With a chocolate and coconut base, a creamy custard icing in the middle, and even more chocolate on top, Nanaimo bars are an iconic Canadian treat. Be sure to chill the bars between steps, which helps create three distinct layers.

  • Molten Chocolate Mud Cake

    Spoon of mug cake

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    All you need is a mug and a few pantry ingredients to make this rich chocolate cake. For a satisfyingly fudgy center, tuck a few pieces of chocolate into the batter partway through cooking.

  • No-Bake Fudgy Chocolate Squares

    A plate of layered chocolate squares with a fudgy and textured appearance topped with sea salt

    Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Glaze

    Fudgy and rich with bittersweet chocolate, these bars combine the best of brownies, fudge, and mousse—and they have a cookie crust! Plus, they only take 20 minutes of active time to prep. Sweetened condensed milk helps the squares firm up in the fridge, while also enhancing the dessert's fudgy texture.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below

  • Easy No-Bake Cheesecake

    20170526-no-bake-cheesecake-vicky-wasik-18.jpg

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    We're huge believers in no-bake cheesecakes, especially in the summer. This recipe features a not-too-sweet filling made from cream cheese, heavy cream, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Blitzing traditional graham crackers for the crust works well, but using Biscoff cookies adds a sweet, vanilla-forward flavor that complements the filling.

  • Banana Oatmeal Muffins

    A tray and a plate of banana oatmeal muffins with a glass of sparkling water

    Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Glaze

    Dessert for breakfast? Yes, please! Caramelizing the bananas drives off excess moisture and builds deep, concentrated banana flavor, while topping the muffin with a crispy, crackly oat streusel gives it body and hef

  • Saffron and Honey Peach Cobbler

    Peach cobbler with ice cream on a striped plate

    Serious Eats / Niedle Creative

    This summer dessert with a floral twist layers classic Southern comfort with floral and aromatic flavor notes inspired by Persian and North African cuisines. Juicy peaches are bathed in a golden saffron-honey syrup and topped with a crisp-edged, tender biscuit crust that soaks up all the syrup. It's a one-dish dessert that feels simultaneously rustic and elegant, just as at home on a summer weeknight dinner table as on a party buffet.

  • Atlantic Beach Pie

    A slice of creamtopped pie on a green plate with a fork a pie plate with the rest of the pie in the background

    Serious Eats / Deli Studios

    This easy Southern dessert features a salty cracker crust and a bright, citrusy filling for a cool and delicious treat.

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  • Lemon Ricotta Cake

    Side view of Lemon Ricotta Cake

    Serious Eats / Maureen Celestine

    This lemon ricotta cake is traditionally served for breakfast in Italy, but it' is great at any time of day. Here, ricotta adds richness, moisture, and a subtly sweet, milky flavor to the cake.

  • Strawberry Pretzel Salad

    Angled shot of strawberry pretzel salad

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    Delightfully salty-sweet, creamy, and crunchy, strawberry pretzel salad is a staple at picnics, potlucks, and holiday celebrations. Here, we opt for a no-bake cheesecake instead of traditional Cool Whip for a creamier, tangier filling. We also make the jello with a syrup from fresh strawberries and lemon juice, resulting in a more fruity and flavorful topping.

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