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38 Impressive Layered Desserts That Guarantee The Perfect Bite, Every Time

From multi-step show-stoppers to easy-peasy, last-minute desserts, there's something here for everyone.

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blueberry cheesecake icebox cake with layers of graham crackers, whipped cheesecake, and blueberry jam on a marble slab
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Cakes, cookies, bars, truffles…we don’t discriminate when it comes to dessert, and they’re ALL welcome at our dessert table. We will say, though, when we’re looking to really impress or celebrate something extra special, we land firmly in the “more is more” camp. Why go simple when you could go BIG? One of our favorite ways to do this is to bake up a multi-layered masterpiece that’s got tons of flavor and is sure to impress. Check out our 37 layered desserts to see what they’re all about, then get creative and start adding layers to all your favorite treats. The best part? Layered desserts guarantee the perfect bite every time.

When you hear the word “layered”, you might be thinking LOTS of steps and ingredients. It’s true, some traditional layered desserts do take a bit more effort than the average sweet, but not all! If you are looking for something to show off your skills, you can’t go wrong with our tiramisu (and our raspberry or limoncello versions), our napoleon cake, our baked Alaska, or our copycat Cheesecake Factory Oreo cheesecake. They’ll blow the minds of whoever you serve them to.

If you want something easier, don’t worry—some of the most famous layered desserts are actually the simplest. Take icebox cakes, for example. All you need are some cookies, some whipped cream, and some time to make something spectacular. Trifles or dessert lasagnas like our peanut butter lasagna, our brownie lasagna, or our raspberry cheesecake lasagna are other great options that follow a similar concept. It’s all about the assembly, so have some fun with it.

If you’re looking for something in the middle, try a dessert bar or an ice cream cake. Many of our recipes—like our strawberry shortcake ice cream cake, our millionaire shortbread bars, our Oreo cheesecake bars, or our spumoni ice cream cake—utilize a mix of store-bought and homemade ingredients to great effect.

Want even more creative desserts? Check out our favorite ways to decorate a cake, our best unique holiday cookies, and our top no-bake desserts too.

1

Tiramisu

ladyfingers soaked in coffee layered with cream topped with a dusting of cocoa powder
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Italian tiramisu is admittedly a bit of a process to make, but it's so worth it. Set yourself up for success by keeping your workspace as tidy as possible, particularly when dipping your ladyfingers in the rum and coffee.

Get the Tiramisu recipe.

2

Napoleon Cake

napoleon cake
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Originating in Russia, the Napoleon cake is composed of many layers of puff pastry with a whipped pastry cream filling, and is encrusted with more pastry crumbs. After assembling, the cake is chilled overnight to allow the pastry layers to soften and absorb some of the cream, kind of like a very fancy icebox cake.

Get the Napoleon Cake recipe.

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3

Orange Creamsicle Bars

orange creamsicle bars with a graham cracker crust
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

These triple-layered orange bars have us feeling all nostalgic for the classic frozen Popsicle treat that inspired them. But we won’t linger on it for too long because, just like their inspiration, these bars are irresistibly good. They’re creamy, dreamy, and the perfect blend of citrusy orange and vanilla bean flavor paired with a graham cracker crust.

Get the Orange Creamsicle Bars recipe.

4

S'mores

classic s'mores with graham crackers, toasty marshmallows, and melty chocolate
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

It doesn’t get much more simple and classic than s’mores: three basic ingredients working together to make something much more delicious than the sum of its parts. Whether you keep it to the original 3 ingredients or experiment with fun toppings like caramel or sliced fruit, this is one simple dessert that never disappoints.

Get the S'mores recipe.

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5

Blueberry Cheesecake Icebox Cake

blueberry cheesecake icebox cake with layers of graham crackers, whipped cheesecake, and blueberry jam on a marble slab
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 (but all you did was chill it!).

Get the Blueberry Cheesecake Icebox Cake recipe.

6

Baked Alaska

brownie base with chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream topped with toasted meringue
PHOTO: DOAA ELKADY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Baked Alaska sounds complicated and fussy, but it's really super-easy. Three layers of ice cream and a brownie crust all surrounded by a toasty meringue make up this nostalgic ice cream cake. Feel free to swap in your favorite ice cream flavors!

Get the Baked Alaska recipe.

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7

Brookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

ice cream sandwiches with brownies and chocolate chip cookies
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Each of these sandwiches promises a delightful balance of rich, fudgy brownie, crisp chocolate chip cookie, and creamy vanilla ice cream. Perfect for summer BBQs and gatherings, these sandwiches are equally delightful as a sweet treat stored in the freezer ready to enjoy.

Get the Brookie Ice Cream Sandwiches recipe.

8

Chocoflan

chocoflan with chocolate cake on the bottom and flan on top
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Chocoflan’s beautiful contrasting layers of chocolate cake and flan are totally mind-blowing. During the bake, the batters switch places, which can seem like magic. The end result is a distinctly layered dessert with moist chocolate cake as the foundation, a creamy set flan on top, and a caramel drizzle to crown it all.

Get the Chocoflan recipe.

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9

Oreo Cheesecake Bars

oreo cheesecake bars
Parker Feierbach

With layers of chocolate chip cookie dough, Oreos, and cheesecake, these are EVERYTHING. Did we mention they have fewer than 10 ingredients?!

Get the Oreo Cheesecake Bars recipe.

10

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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11

Mississippi Mud Pie

mississippi mud pie
Joel Goldberg

Now this is what we call a decadent pie. Any other sweet has a difficult time competing with this layered masterpiece comprised of a graham-cracker base, brownie, and chocolate pudding, all crowned by whipped cream. It all comes together for a rich (and delicious) treat you're going to love.

Get the Mississippi Mud Pie recipe.

12

Banoffee Pie

slice of banoffee pie topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings on a white plate
Erik bernstein

You could use a pre-made crust, dulce de leche, and whipped cream in a can and get this done in 15 minutes—we won’t judge. But if you’re looking for that extra special touch , we recommend going old school and making everything from scratch.

Get the Banoffee Pie recipe.

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13

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

strawberry cheesecake bars
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

To make these, we topped a simple graham cracker crust with a creamy cheesecake layer and a sweet pink strawberry layer, then crumbled a cinnamon-spiced streusel on top. The result is a cute, springy dessert that’s remarkable enough to share for holidays and potlucks, but also easy enough to make any time you’re craving cheesecake.

Get the Strawberry Cheesecake Bars recipe.

14

Magic Cookie Bars

12 magic cookie bars
Joel goldberg

Though dump cakes might be the easiest dessert to make, these bars are a close second. And we'd reckon that these are even more customizable and more delicious. We encourage you to find your ideal flavor and ingredient combinations to discover the true magic of these bars.

Get the Magic Cookie Bars recipe.

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15

Blueberry Surprise

blueberry surprise
Andrea monzo

This blueberry dessert is what summer dreams are made of. A tart homemade blueberry filling is sandwiched between layers of lightly sweetened, fluffy cream cheese and whipped cream, all on top of buttery cornmeal shortbread.

Get the Blueberry Surprise recipe.

16

Spumoni Ice Cream Cake

spumoni ice cream cake
suzanne clements

Inspired by the trio of flavors common in Italian spumoni, or molded gelato, this ice cream cake demands attention. With 6 whole pints of ice cream, it feeds a big, hungry crew. Bonus: it's totally no-bake.

Get the Spumoni Ice Cream Cake recipe.

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17

Banana Pudding

banana pudding close up

Banana pudding is one of our all-time favorite desserts. It's a classic Southern recipe, and for good reason; luscious layers of pudding, whipped cream, ripe bananas, and wafer cookies are completely impossible to resist.

Get the Banana Pudding recipe.

18

Aperol Spritz Trifles

a stemless wine glass filled with vanilla cake, whipped cream, aperol spiked jam, and pudding with an orange slice on the rim
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

This trifle draws inspiration from everybody’s favorite summer cocktail: the Aperol Spritz. This popular beverage fuses effervescent Prosecco, a bittersweet and bright Italian aperitivo, and fresh orange. We include all three of those ingredients in this layered dessert. It’s like an adult version of an orange Creamsicle!

Get the Aperol Spritz Trifles recipe.

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19

Raspberry Cheesecake Lasagna

a slice of raspberry cheesecake lasagna lifting out 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.

20

Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake

pineapple upside down cheesecake
PARKER FEIERBACH

Pineapple upside-down cake and cheesecake belong together. The creamy cheesecake layer makes this classic cake extra decadent. You are going to flip for this.

Get the Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake recipe.

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