20 Baking Recipes That’ll Make You the Dessert Hero of Every Party

I’ve attached a video for every recipe below from my favorite home cooks.

Baking is a fun and tasty hobby that anyone can enjoy. You don’t need fancy tools or years of experience to make yummy treats at home. With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up delicious cookies, cakes, breads, and more in no time.

Whether you want to bake with kids, surprise your friends, or just treat yourself, there’s a recipe out there for you. From easy 3-ingredient twists to classic family favorites passed down through generations, baking offers endless possibilities to explore. So grab your apron and let’s get started on some sweet adventures in the kitchen!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

You’ll need these ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Here’s how to make them:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Mix well.
Gradually stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts if using.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each.
Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving to a wire rack.

Enjoy your homemade chocolate chip cookies! They’re perfect with a glass of cold milk.

Banana Bread

You’ll love this easy banana bread recipe! Here’s what you need:

Ingredients:

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
Mix mashed bananas and melted butter in a large bowl.
Stir in sugar, egg, and vanilla.
Sprinkle baking soda and salt over the mixture and stir in.
Add flour last, mixing just until combined. Don’t overmix!
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for about 1 hour.
Let it cool in the pan for a few minutes, then remove and slice.

Your house will smell amazing as this bakes! Enjoy your homemade banana bread warm with a pat of butter.

Apple Pie

You’ll need these ingredients for a delicious apple pie:

6 cups sliced apples
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons flour
2 pie crusts (homemade or store-bought)
2 tablespoons butter

Here’s how to make your apple pie:

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
Mix the sliced apples with sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and flour in a large bowl.
Place one pie crust in a 9-inch pie dish. Pour in the apple mixture.
Cut the butter into small pieces and scatter them over the apples.
Cover with the second crust. Trim the edges and crimp them together. Cut a few slits in the top crust.
Bake for 45-50 minutes, until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly.
Let the pie cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Enjoy your homemade apple pie! It’s perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Brownies

Ready to make some delicious brownies? Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8-inch square pan or line it with parchment paper.
Melt the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Stir in the sugar, eggs, and vanilla until well combined.
In a separate bowl, mix the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Add this to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
If using, fold in the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into your prepared pan.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Let the brownies cool before cutting into squares. Enjoy your homemade treat!

Vanilla Cupcakes

You’ll need:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk

Here’s how to make them:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set it aside.
In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix gently. Pour in the milk and stir. Add the rest of the flour and mix until just combined.
Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into a cupcake.
Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cheesecake

Here’s a simple recipe for a classic New York-style cheesecake:

Ingredients:

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup melted butter
1/4 cup sugar
4 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup heavy cream

Directions:

Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 1/4 cup sugar. Press into a 9-inch springform pan.
Bake the crust at 325°F for 10 minutes. Let it cool.
Beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
Stir in vanilla and cream. Pour over the crust.
Bake at 325°F for about 1 hour, until center is almost set.
Run a knife around the rim to loosen. Let cool, then chill for at least 4 hours.
Remove the springform rim before serving.

Enjoy your homemade cheesecake!

Blueberry Muffins

You’ll need these ingredients to make yummy blueberry muffins:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries

Here’s how to make them:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a big bowl.
In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla.
Pour the wet mix into the dry mix. Stir just until combined. Don’t overmix!
Gently fold in the blueberries.
Scoop the batter into the muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. A toothpick should come out clean when inserted.
Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack.

Enjoy your warm, fluffy blueberry muffins!

Cinnamon Rolls

Get ready to make some yummy cinnamon rolls! Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 packet instant yeast
1/2 cup warm milk
1/4 cup melted butter
2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/3 cup softened butter

Directions:

Mix flour, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Add warm milk, melted butter, and eggs. Knead until smooth.
Let the dough rise for about an hour in a warm spot.
Roll out the dough into a rectangle. Spread softened butter over it.
Mix brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle this mixture on the buttered dough.
Roll up the dough tightly from the long side. Cut into 12 pieces.
Place rolls in a greased baking pan. Let them rise again for 30 minutes.
Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 18-22 minutes until golden brown.
While they’re baking, mix powdered sugar, a bit of milk, and vanilla for a simple icing.
Once the rolls are done, let them cool for a few minutes before adding the icing.

Enjoy your warm, gooey cinnamon rolls!

Pumpkin Pie

Here’s what you’ll need to make a yummy pumpkin pie:

1 unbaked pie crust
15 oz canned pumpkin puree
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
2 large eggs
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt

Now let’s get baking! Follow these easy steps:

Preheat your oven to 425°F.
In a big bowl, mix the pumpkin, condensed milk, eggs, and spices until smooth.
Pour the filling into your pie crust.
Bake for 15 minutes at 425°F. Then lower the heat to 350°F and bake for 35-40 more minutes.
The pie is done when a knife poked in the center comes out clean.
Let it cool before slicing. Top with whipped cream if you’d like!

You’ll end up with a warm, spicy pie that’s perfect for fall. The creamy pumpkin filling pairs so nicely with the flaky crust. Your kitchen will smell amazing too!

Carrot Cake

Ready to bake a delicious carrot cake? Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
3 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, and cinnamon.
Add the oil and eggs to the dry ingredients. Stir until well combined.
Fold in the grated carrots and chopped pecans.
Pour the batter into your prepared pan.
Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
Enjoy your homemade carrot cake! You can frost it if you’d like, or eat it as is.

Remember, you can always adjust the recipe to your taste. Want it sweeter? Add a bit more sugar. Love spices? Try adding some nutmeg or ginger. Happy baking!

Lemon Bars

You’ll love these tangy and sweet lemon bars! They’re easy to make and perfect for any occasion.

Here’s what you’ll need:

For the crust:
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened

For the filling:
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• Zest of 1 lemon

Now, let’s make these yummy treats:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.
Mix the crust ingredients until crumbly. Press into the pan and bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly golden.
While the crust bakes, whisk together the filling ingredients until smooth.
Pour the filling over the hot crust and bake for another 20-25 minutes until set.
Let cool completely, then dust with powdered sugar if you like.
Cut into squares and enjoy your homemade lemon bars!

Chocolate Cake

You’ll need these ingredients for a delicious chocolate cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup hot coffee

Now, let’s make the cake! Here are the steps:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
Stir in the hot coffee. The batter will be thin, but don’t worry!
Pour the batter into your prepared pans.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove and cool completely on a wire rack.

Your chocolate cake is ready! Enjoy it plain or add your favorite frosting.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

You’ll need these ingredients:

1 cup softened butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup raisins

Here’s how to make them:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth.
Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
Stir the dry ingredients into the butter mixture.
Mix in the oats and raisins.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden brown.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack.

Your kitchen will smell amazing, and you’ll have delicious, chewy oatmeal raisin cookies to enjoy!

Red Velvet Cake

Ready to make a delicious red velvet cake? Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder.
In another bowl, whisk together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.
Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans.
Bake for 30-35 minutes. Check with a toothpick – it should come out clean when done.
Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then remove and cool completely on a wire rack.
Frost with your favorite cream cheese frosting and enjoy your red velvet cake!

Peach Cobbler

You’ll love this easy peach cobbler recipe! Here’s what you need:

Ingredients:

4 cups sliced fresh peaches
1 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ground cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.

Mix the peaches and 1/2 cup sugar in the baking dish. Spread them evenly.

In a bowl, combine flour, remaining sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in melted butter, milk, and vanilla until just blended.

Spoon the batter over the peaches. Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.

Bake for 45-50 minutes until golden brown. The filling should be bubbly.

Let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your homemade peach cobbler!

Sugar Cookies

You’ll need these ingredients for yummy sugar cookies:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Now let’s make some cookies! Here are the steps:

Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll the dough into balls.
Place on ungreased cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.
Bake at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Let cool on wire racks.

Your sugar cookies are ready to enjoy! You can decorate them with icing if you’d like. They’re great for any occasion or just as a sweet treat.

Pound Cake

Ready to bake a delicious pound cake? Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Now let’s get baking! Follow these simple steps:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Stir in the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix until just combined.
Pour the batter into your prepared pan.
Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing it.
Transfer to a wire rack and let it cool completely before slicing.

Enjoy your homemade pound cake! It’s perfect on its own or with a dollop of whipped cream and fresh berries.

Croissants

Ready to make some delicious croissants? Let’s get started with the ingredients you’ll need:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cold milk
1 cup cold unsalted butter

Now for the directions:

Mix the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in a large bowl.
Slowly add the milk and stir until a dough forms. Knead for 5 minutes.
Cover the dough and let it rest in the fridge for 1 hour.
Roll out the dough into a rectangle. Place the cold butter in the center and fold the dough over it.
Roll out the dough again, then fold it into thirds. Repeat this process 3 more times, chilling for 30 minutes between each fold.
After the final fold, chill the dough for 8 hours or overnight.
Roll out the dough and cut into triangles. Roll each triangle from the wide end to form crescents.
Let the croissants rise for 2 hours, then brush with beaten egg.
Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Enjoy your freshly baked croissants!

Strawberry Shortcake

Ready to make a tasty summer treat? Let’s whip up some strawberry shortcake! Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
2/3 cup milk
1 pound fresh strawberries, sliced
1/4 cup sugar (for strawberries)
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Directions:

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
Cut in the cold butter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
Stir in milk just until the dough comes together.
Pat the dough into a 9-inch circle on a baking sheet. Cut into 8 wedges, but don’t separate them.
Bake at 425°F for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
While baking, mix sliced strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar and let sit.
Whip the cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form.
Once the shortcake is cool, split each wedge. Top with strawberries and whipped cream.

Enjoy your homemade strawberry shortcake! It’s perfect for picnics or summer gatherings.

French Baguette

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions:

Mix flour, water, yeast, and salt in a large bowl. Knead for 10 minutes until smooth.
Cover the dough with a damp cloth. Let it rise for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.
Punch down the dough and divide it into 3 pieces. Shape each piece into a long, thin loaf.
Place the loaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Place a pan of water on the bottom rack.
Using a sharp knife, make diagonal slashes across the top of each loaf.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
Cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Your homemade French baguettes will taste amazing! Enjoy them warm with butter or use them to make tasty sandwiches.