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72 No-Bake Desserts For When You Just Can't With Your Oven

Chill out.

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layers of chocolate graham cracker, coffee chocolate ganache, and espresso whipped cream
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

While we can name more than a few reasons why we might be avoiding our ovens these days, it shouldn't mean you have to skip dessert. Maybe your oven isn’t working quite right or is stacked with other, more important things (like oven-baked ribs or a whole roast chicken). Maybe you’re cooking with kids and don’t want them going in and out of a hot oven. Maybe it’s just too dang hot out, and you want to avoid turning on the oven at all costs. Whatever the reason we've got 72 clever no-bake desserts that mean you get to keep your cool AND satisfy your sweet tooth all at the same time!

Some dessert recipes are inherently no-bake, like truffles, ice cream, or fudge, and we’ve included a number of our favorites here. Others are easy shortcuts to more complicated desserts, and that’s where the meaning of no-bake really shines. Love cheesecake, but hate water baths? Yeah, us too. Make our raspberry cheesecake lasagna, our no-bake whipped ricotta cheesecake, our lemon-blueberry mini cheesecakes, or our cheesecake pops instead. More of a cake or pie fan? Try our drumstick pie, our chocolate fluffernutter pie, our lemon icebox cake, or our no-bake blackberry Oreo tart.

While these are no-bake, that doesn’t necessarily mean no-cook. We’ve included some recipes here that are cooked on the stove or involve minor heating up of ingredients (more power to you to melt your chocolate in the microwave). Some, like our buckeyes, our no-bake oatmeal cookies, or our chocolate-covered strawberries, are still crazy easy to make. Others, like our Greek yogurt panna cotta, our crêpe cake, or our copycat Klondike bars take a little bit more finesse (and sometimes a candy thermometer). Even so, we think they’re the kind of recipes you should have in your dessert arsenal and make a great addition to any dessert table, year-round.

1

Dunkaroos No-Churn Ice Cream

vanilla ice cream with dunkaroos pieces and sprinkles
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

This easy-to-make Dunkaroos-inspired no-churn ice cream will bring you back to the '90s! Using sweetened condensed milk along with whipped cream creates a smooth and light texture without the hassle of churning your own ice cream. This easy dessert recipe is not too sweet, deliciously creamy, and the perfect treat for your next throwback party.

Get the Dunkaroos No-Churn Ice Cream recipe.

2

Strawberries & Cream Semifreddo

strawberries and cream semifreddo topped with a fresh strawberry sauce on a plate
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Semifreddo—meaning “half frozen”—is a classic Italian summer dessert. Made up of eggs, sugar, and cream, this no-bake, frozen stunner is like the creamiest ice cream you’ve ever had, in a unique decorate-able, sliceable package that’s perfect for sharing. Think ice cream cake, without all that assembly, or icebox cake, but elevated.

Get the Strawberries & Cream Semifreddo recipe.

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3

Caramel Crunch Tart

chocolate tart with a caramel middle
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This chocolate tart is great for a last-minute dessert because it mainly uses store-bought ingredients, and the majority of time required for this recipe is just letting it chill in the refrigerator. If you really wanted to feel like you made something homemade, you can always opt for a homemade caramel instead of store-bought caramel. Sometimes, though, you just need an easy dessert that doesn’t require a lot of effort.

Get the Caramel Crunch Tart recipe.

4

Éclair Cake

slice of eclair cake
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Traditional pate a choux, the French dough used to make classic eclairs and profiteroles, can be a difficult pastry to make, so for this cheater version we use graham crackers. They're not technically anything like an éclair, but they're still great for layering in this cake and become soft as the cake chills (sort of like in an icebox cake!).

Get the Éclair Cake recipe.

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5

Espresso Martini Icebox Cake

layers of chocolate graham cracker, coffee chocolate ganache, and espresso whipped cream
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Our espresso martini icebox cake has layers of chocolate graham crackers, coffee chocolate ganache, and espresso whipped cream stacked in a loaf pan and chilled until set and sliceable. The top is decorated with cocoa powder and chocolate-covered espresso beans for an added crunch and a hint about the flavors hiding inside.

Get the Espresso Martini Icebox Cake recipe.

6

Limoncello Tiramisu

limoncello tiramisu
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Tiramisu lovers, prepare to take your favorite coffee-soaked dessert to a world of lemon. Limoncello, lemon curd, and lemonade take full rein of this dessert, turning it into a summertime dream.

Get the Limoncello Tiramisu recipe.

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7

Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta

greek yogurt panna cotta topped with honey, raspberries, and blackberries
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Panna cotta is a creamy, chilled dessert that while delicious, does tend to be pretty rich. We put a slightly more nutritious spin by incorporating Greek yogurt and honey into the recipe and swapping out most of the cream. The result is a rich treat that isn’t overly sweet, perfect for enjoying again and again.

Get the Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta recipe.

8

Cannoli Icebox Cake

layered cannoli icebox cake
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

With the not-too-sweet creamy filling inside a crispy shell, cannoli are a nearly perfect dessert. Making your own is a fun little project but a little time consuming, and frying the shells can be intimidating. This easy cake is a great alternative. The filling is similar: sweetened ricotta and orange zest combine with whipped cream to make the cake even lighter.

Get the Cannoli Icebox Cake recipe.

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9

Ice Cream In A Bag

ice cream in a bag with cherries, sprinkles, and toppings
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Yup, you can make delicious homemade ice cream without any special gadget or crazy ingredients. All you need is a plastic baggie and 15 minutes (no seriously, that's it!). Scoop directly out of the bag (or place it in an airtight container in the freezer before serving if you like yours a little firmer), and enjoy your favorite customizable homemade ice cream recipe in less time than it takes to run out and grab a pint.

Get the Ice Cream In A Bag recipe.

10

Blueberry Cheesecake Icebox Cake

slices of blueberry cheesecake icebox cake on a marble platter
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

When it’s hot outside, a no-bake dessert like this blueberry cheesecake icebox cake is an ace up your sleeve. Layers of blueberry jam, whipped cream cheese, and graham crackers are stacked together for a no-fuss cool and creamy masterpiece that looks like you spent hours crafting it—when all you did was shove it in the refrigerator to chill for a few hours. No oven required.

Get the Blueberry Cheesecake Icebox Cake recipe.

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11

Tiramisu Truffles

tiramisu truffles
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Craving a sweet pick-me-up at the end of a meal? These tiramisu truffles are for you. Luscious espresso and mascarpone white chocolate ganache is coated in a crisp chocolate shell for a dreamy bite-sized dessert that’s sure to delight every coffee lover.

Get the Tiramisu Truffles recipe.

12

Milk 'N' Cookies Icebox Cake

icebox cake made of chocolate chip cookies and whipped cream layered on a cake stand in front of a blue background
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

All you need to make this show-stopper no-bake dessert are 4 ingredients—cookies, heavy cream, cream cheese and powdered sugar—and a couple hours. The beautiful thing about using Chips Ahoy, besides their nostalgic taste, is their magical absorption powers. While they're crunchy on their own, the second they hit milk ... BOOM! Chips Ahoy absorb liquid like a sponge while still maintaining their structure, which is ideal for an icebox cake.

Get the Milk 'N' Cookies Icebox Cake recipe.

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13

Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches

cookie dough ice cream sandwiches
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

If you’ve ever felt there was never enough chocolate chip cookie dough in the namesake ice cream, then these ice cream sandwiches are for you. And yes, the edible cookie dough is easy to make and safe to eat! It’s important to heat your flour to kill off any bacteria; it only takes a minute in the microwave, hardly adding any time (or heat in your kitchen).

Get the Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches recipe.

14

Crêpe Cake

crepe cake topped with whipped cream and mixed berries
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDSERON

Crêpe cake is a cool, lofty masterpiece composed of layers of crêpes and lightened vanilla pastry cream, all topped with a billowing cloud of whipped cream and a crown of fresh berries. It’s light, creamy, and absolutely irresistible.

Get the Crêpe Cake recipe.

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15

Drumstick Pie

ice cream pie with chocolate ganache, waffle cones and peanuts
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Sugar cone fans—get ready to meet your new fave dessert. We use sugar cones not only for the topping in this no-bake dessert, but also in the homemade crust. Layered with vanilla ice cream, chocolate ganache, and crumbled peanuts for a sweet-salty, topping, this "pie" truly has something for everyone.

Get the Drumstick Pie recipe.

16

Puppy Chow

chex mix tossed in peanut butter and powdered sugar
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you've never had Puppy Chow (otherwise known as Muddy Buddies), you're in for a treat. The names are somewhat bewildering, but don't let that stop you—this Chex cereal, peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar snack mix is INCREDIBLE.

Get the Puppy Chow recipe.

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17

Green & Red Grape Sorbet

green and purple grape sorbet
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you’re looking for something sweet and light during the hot summer, look no further. This easy sorbet is the perfect treat when grapes are at the peak of their season. We also love this recipe because it’s so simple to make. You only need a few ingredients and a food processor to make this super refreshing dessert.

Get the Green & Red Grape Sorbet recipe.

18

Raspberry Cheesecake Lasagna

no bake raspberry cheesecake lasagna slice lifting out of a glass baking dish
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Summer is all about big pans of fruity no-bake cheesecake, and this cheesecake lasagna is giving all that and more. Fresh raspberry filling sits atop layers of crunchy graham cracker crust and silky whipped cream cheese for a cool, creamy dessert that’s equally simple to make and impressive to serve.

Get the Raspberry Cheesecake Lasagna recipe.

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19

Banana Split

banana split with chocolate sauce and strawberry syrup
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Topped with fruit syrups, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and a cherry, few desserts are as recognizable as an ice cream sundae, and this recipe will help you make the ultimate version. The truly classic banana split features strawberry and pineapple syrup as well as chocolate sauce, so we've got it all for you here.

Get the Banana Split recipe.

20

Peach Melba

vanilla ice cream topped with peaches and raspberries
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

This take on peach melba continues the tradition of pairing peaches with a fresh tart-and-sweet raspberry sauce and vanilla ice cream. In just half an hour, you’ll have a tasty, memorable, kid-friendly dessert that will please everyone post-dinner.

Get the Peach Melba recipe.

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