There are a few buzzwords that always catch my eye when browsing recipes to bake. Five-ingredient? Perfect. Guilt-free? Amazing. One-bowl recipes? Yes, please. In case you haven’t noticed, ease and simplicity are huge motivators here. And one-bowl dessert recipes don’t just make baking (and cleaning up afterward) a total breeze, they can also be ridiculously tasty as well.
I like baking—primarily because I like eating baked goods—but if a recipe is going to take up half my weekend, it’s a deal breaker. By the time I’ve finished mixing and folding and proofing and rolling and freezing, the thought of eating whatever is in the works has lost all appeal. Instead, I need my recipes to be easy-to-make and hard-to-mess-up. Instant gratification, baby.
From cookies to crumbles, the one-bowl recipes below are perfect for bakers like me who like to have their weekend and eat their cake too. They’re fuss-free, delicious, and require nothing more than a single bowl to whip up.
Feature image by Half-Baked Harvest.
One-Bowl Brownies from Two Peas & Their Pod
Why We Love It: Opinions on what makes the best brownies abound, but I’m a forever fan of the crackly, shiny crust matched with a gooey interior. This simple and easy recipe delivers on all counts.
Hero Ingredient: If you haven’t heard, espresso powder intensifies the chocolate flavor woven throughout this dessert. Because that’s the most important part of any brownie recipe, right?
Get the recipe for One-Bowl Brownies.
One-Bowl Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies from Real Food Whole Life
Why We Love It: When I first discovered that it was very much so within the realm of possibility to start enjoying cookies for breakfast, my whole conception of morning meals transformed. These cookies are lightly sweet thanks to the pumpkin purée, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, so they feel like a treat without the dreaded mid-morning sugar crash.
Hero Ingredient: Ground flax seed is often lauded for being a superfood, but did you know it’ll give your baked goods (and smoothies, and oatmeal… ) a nice nutty touch? Try it in this recipe and get ready to fall in love.
Get the recipe for One-Bowl Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies.
Brown Butter Wedding Cookies from Bon Appétit
Why We Love It: Could these be any cuter? You only need six ingredients for these elegant little cookies. And since the recipe is incredibly straightforward, you can easily double the ingredients and make an extra batch to keep or give away to someone who could use a little sweet surprise.
Hero Ingredient: (Brown) butter always wins.
Get the recipe for Brown Butter Wedding Cookies.
1-Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake from Minimalist Baker
Why We Love It: When you’re tasked with navigating the challenging ask of baking up a sweet treat that fits all dietary preferences and restrictions, this cake is your answer. While vegan and gluten-free baking is notoriously difficult (and can often leave you with a result that’s less than appetizing), this recipe is totally foolproof.
Hero Ingredient: While you can’t taste the applesauce in this cake, it does give you a delightfully fluffy crumb that your fork will happily sink into.
Get the recipe for 1-Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake.
Pumpkin Patch Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake from Half-Baked Harvest
Why We Love It: You’d never guess this sumptuous cake is a one-bowl recipe. Few flavor combinations are as delicious as chocolate and peanut butter, making this cake an easy choice for your next baking project.
Hero Ingredient: For this dessert to be yours, all you need are some pantry staples. Oh, and don’t forget this unexpectedly delightful ingredient: hot black coffee.
Get the recipe for Pumpkin Patch Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake.
One Bowl Chocolate Cake With Mocha Buttercream Frosting from Hummingbird High
Why We Love It: A picture’s worth a thousand words, right? While that adage applies to plenty of examples, it’s no truer than in this recipe. This cake is rich, fluffy, and perfect for any celebration—but it’s also ideal if you want to enjoy a slice all to yourself.
Hero Ingredient: Sour cream in the batter fills this entire cake with a light tang that balances all the ingredients beautifully and keeps your slice from giving you a sugar-induced headache.
Get the recipe for One Bowl Chocolate Cake With Mocha Buttercream Frosting.
One-Bowl Vegan Sugar Cookies from Minimalist Baker
Why We Love It: Sugar cookies are as classic as apple pie, and this recipe is so scrumptious that you’ll find yourself forgetting it’s vegan. Set aside an hour to bake up these beauties. Now that’s a weekend afternoon well-spent.
Hero Ingredient: Most sugar cookies opt for granulated sugar and granulated sugar alone for sweetness. This dough benefits from the addition of brown sugar for moister cookies and a more deeply complex flavor.
Get the recipe for One-Bowl Vegan Sugar Cookies.
One-Bowl Banana Chocolate Chip Banana Baked Oatmeal from Minimalist Baker
Why We Love It: A warm, hearty, and nourishing breakfast is an excellent idea no matter the season. This one-bowl baked oatmeal recipe gives you all the coziness of regular oatmeal but makes it even easier to put together.
Hero Ingredient: Who doesn’t want chocolate in the morning? Now that’s an ingredient I can always wake up to.
Get the recipe for One-Bowl Banana Chocolate Chip Banana Baked Oatmeal.
One-Bowl Yogurt and Honey Olive Oil Cake from The Kitchn
Why We Love It: Sweetly rich, slightly tangy, and perfect for an after-dinner dessert, weekday snack, or a decadent breakfast (no judgment—I’ll be cutting a slice for myself in the a.m.), this cake does it all. I love the rustic elegant aesthetic it gives off, but more than that, I love how absolutely easy it is to whip up.
Hero Ingredient: If you think olive oil should be relegated to the savory recipes only, think again. It gives a bold, fruity bite to this cake while ensuring that every slice stays incredibly moist.
Get the recipe for One-Bowl Yogurt and Honey Olive Oil Cake.
One-Bowl Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Blue Bowl Recipes
Why We Love It: When I noticed that the recipe described these cookies as having “puddles of chocolate,” I knew I was in the right place. These cookies are a must-try for your next cozy weekend at home.
Hero Ingredient: The moment I started topping all my chocolate chip cookies with sea salt, everything changed. They bring out the buttery goodness of your cookies while emphasizing the deeply rich flecks of chocolate.
Get the recipe for One-Bowl Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
One-Bowl Dark Chocolate Greek Yogurt Banana Muffins from Fork Knife Swoon
Why We Love It: Who among us doesn’t have at least a few over-ripe bananas sitting around the kitchen at any given moment? It’s the perfect excuse to whip up these decadent muffins using ingredients you most likely already have in your home and with, you guessed it, one single bowl. The perfect sweet breakfast treat.
Hero Ingredient: Cocoa powder not only gives these beautiful banana muffins their gorgeous dark hue, but it flavors them with a boost of chocolatey goodness.
Get the recipe for One-Bowl Dark Chocolate Greek Yogurt Banana Muffins.
One-Bowl Golden Glow Turmeric Flourless Muffins from Real Food Whole Life
Why We Love It: Nourishing and naturally sweet, these muffins are a weekday morning dream. If you’re looking for a healthy, on-the-go breakfast option, look no further than these.
Hero Ingredient: Nothing says sunshine quite like turmeric. Not only does the superfood spice give these muffins a golden glow, but it’ll fill each bight with anti-inflammatory goodness.
Get the recipe for One-Bowl Golden Glow Turmeric Flourless Muffins.
One Bowl Nutella Brownie Tart from Hummingbird High
Why We Love It: Tarts are my go-to when I’m craving something sweet but don’t want to spend the entire day in the kitchen. They’re easy, unassuming, and perfectly fit for an afternoon treat alongside your favorite cup of tea. Only issue? They can often emerge from the oven dry and dense as a rock—no thanks. This recipe keeps things light, fluffy, and downright delicious.
Hero Ingredient: When Nutella’s invited to the party, it’s always a hit.
Get the recipe for One Bowl Nutella Brownie Tart.
Mini Dutch Babies
Why We Love It: It doesn’t get much more adorable than these mini Dutch babies. But cuteness aside, the toppings situation elevate this standout breakfast staple. Blueberry compote, syrup, strawberries, or whipped cream—the options are positively (and deliciously) endless.
Hero Ingredient: I’m going to go rogue on this one and instead of calling out the Hero Ingredient, I’m going to highlight the piece of equipment that makes these mini Dutch babies what they are. Baking these up in a muffin tin as opposed to a single large cast iron skillet gives everyone their own individual treat to enjoy.
Get the recipe for Mini Dutch Babies.
Flourless Peanut Butter Zucchini Brownies from Hummusapian
Why We Love It: While this ingredient combination might be a bit surprising upon first glance, you can rest assured that these delectable flourless brownies are where it’s at. The taste is elite and it couldn’t be easier to throw together—you won’t even have to squeeze the water out of the zucchini.
Hero Ingredient: It’s the PB for me.
Get the recipe for Flourless Peanut Butter Zucchini Brownies.
One-Bowl Gluten Free Banana Bread from Minimalist Baker
Why We Love It: Give your usual banana bread recipe a break and take this gluten-free option from Minimalist Baker out for a spin next time you have a craving for some sweet baked treats. If you’re not g-free, you can use whole wheat-pastry or all-purpose flour if you prefer. Another perfect excuse to leave those bananas out on the counter for a few extra days.
Hero Ingredient: Just a couple tablespoons of maple syrup is all it takes to highlight the bananas’ natural sweetness.
Get the recipe for One-Bowl Gluten Free Banana Bread.
Easy One-Bowl Upside-Down Cake from Bon Appétit
Why We Love It: Few things look as festive as an upside-down cake, and contrary to popular belief they don’t have to be scary or intimidating. This beautiful recipe is as uncomplicated as it is delicious, and you’ve likely got all the ingredients on hand to brighten up your next dessert. It’ll be incredibly impressive, to say the least.
Hero Ingredient: That bag of berries stashed away in your freezer doesn’t just have to be for smoothies. It’s a simple solution for a standout dessert.
Get the recipe for Easy One-Bowl Upside-Down Cake.
Cookie Butter Blondies from Butternut Bakery
Why We Love It: Got a hankering for something chewy, comforting, sweet, and just a little gooey? Look no further than these one-bowl cookie butter blondies.
Hero Ingredient: The secret to making these blondies extra rich and moist is the dark brown sugar, so don’t forget to add it to your grocery list.
Get the recipe for Cookie Butter Blondies.
One-Bowl Healthified Apple Crisp from Minimalist Baker
Why We Love It: Made with just ten ingredients and in a single bowl, this apple crisp is just as easy and healthy as it is flavorful. And if that wasn’t good enough, your kitchen will be simmering in the warm and cozy smell of cinnamon and caramelized apples for the rest of the day.
Hero Ingredient: I love swapping out the expected butter in the topping for coconut oil. It takes the crumble to new levels of deliciousness and gives the apple-y goodness a gorgeously, golden-brown crisp.
Get the recipe for One-Bowl Healthified Apple Crisp.
Miracle No Knead Bread from Pinch of Yum
Why We Love It: When the words “miracle” and “bread” are included in the same recipe title, you know you’re in for something good. Crusty on the outside, chewy, soft, and pillowy on the inside. Yes, yes, (yes!) please. If you’re looking for a bread recipe to perfect and make on a weekly basis, it doesn’t get easier than this. Your soup and sandwiches will thank you.
Hero Ingredient: Yeast, of course, helps this bread rise, but I love the slightly funky fermented flavor it lends every slice.
Get the recipe for Miracle No Knead Bread.
This post was originally published on February 24, 2021 and has since been updated.
