15 Perfect Dessert Recipes for Any Occasion

Dessert is a sweet course eaten after the main course to finish a meal. Dessert can include pastries, confections, and even beverages, such as dessert wines or liqueur. The word “dessert” derives from the French word “desservir,” which means "to clear the table”—dessert is typically served after the table has been cleared of the preceding meal.

Indulge your sweet tooth with this list of dessert recipes, from decadent mousse to campfire s’mores:

1. 1. Apple pie: This classic dessert contains a spiced apple mixture baked inside of a pie crust, until the crust is flaky and crispy. Apple pie is often served with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or in certain regions, cheddar cheese.
2. 2. Carrot cake: This moist spiced cake contains shredded carrots. Carrot cake is usually served with cream cheese frosting on top. This cake recipe calls for baking the cake in cake pans, but you can also bake the carrot cake in cupcake pans to make cupcakes.
3. 3. Cheesecake: This rich dessert is made by baking a mixture of cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and sour cream on top of a graham cracker crust.
4. 4. Chocolate mousse: This classic chocolate dessert combines chocolate ganache with whipped cream to create a rich, fluffy no-bake dessert that is beyond a simple chocolate pudding.
5. 5. Chocolate ice cream: Chocolate ice cream is a frozen dessert consisting of milk, cream, melted chocolate, and sugar flavored with cocoa powder and additional mix-ins. Some recipes may incorporate sweetened condensed milk or cornstarch as a thickening agent for creamier, easier-to-scoop ice cream.
6. 6. Italian gelato: Gelato is a frozen dessert made from a mixture of milk, cream, and sugar. It is known for its thick, creamy texture and rich flavor. Gelato originated in Italy and is widely sold in shops called “gelaterias” around the country.Popular gelato flavors include vanilla, pistachio, and stracciatella.
7. 7. Lemon meringue pie: Lemon meringue pie is a classic American dessert of shortcrust pastry topped with lemon curd, all enclosed in a pile of meringue and baked until golden-brown. All three components are prepared separately, then assembled into one striking package.
8. 8. Mochi donuts: Mochi donuts are a hybrid between cake donuts and chewy mochi, Japanese rice cakes made from glutinous rice, also known as polished sticky rice. Mochi donuts typically use gluten-free tapioca flour or glutinous rice flour. While some recipes include all-purpose flour, they can also be made entirely gluten-free.
9. 9. Peach cobbler: Peach cobbler is a freeform dessert with a sweetened peach base and buttery biscuit topping. The name cobbler comes from the shape of the batter or biscuit dough dropped in dollops on the fruit, which puff up to look like cobblestone streets. You can serve the cobbler with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
10. 10. Peanut butter cookies: This three-ingredient cookie recipe only calls for peanut butter, sugar, and eggs. Use your pantry ingredients to make this fast and easy dessert.
11. 11. Pumpkin pie: This traditional autumn dessert has a warm spiced pumpkin custard filling inside of a flaky pie crust. Pumpkin pie is typically served with whipped cream. Spices in pumpkin pie include sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.
12. 12. S'mores: This no-bake dessert features a square of milk chocolate or dark chocolate and toasted marshmallows between two graham crackers. You do not need a campfire to make s'mores—you can toast the marshmallows in the oven or on the stove to make this easy dessert.
13. 13. Sugar cookies: Sugar cookies are soft, chewy cookies made with flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. You can shape sugar cookies with cookie cutters and top this popular holiday treat with royal icing. You can also make gluten-free sugar cookies by using alternative flour, such as coconut flour or almond flour.
14. 14. Brownies: Brownies are a baked chocolate dessert usually prepared in a pan and cut into rectangles or squares. Brownies can be fudgy or cakey, depending on the recipe. You can serve brownies with vanilla ice cream. You can make brownies dairy-free and egg-free—vegan brownies have a texture halfway between chocolate cake and fudge. You can also make brownies gluten-free by using gluten-free flour, such as almond flour or rice flour.
15. 15. Vegan chocolate chip cookies: Vegan chocolate chip cookies are an egg and dairy-free variation of traditional chewy chocolate chip cookies. This cookie recipe features coconut oil, white and brown sugar, vegan chocolate chips, plant-based milk, applesauce, all-purpose flour, and baking soda.

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