Our easy no bake dessert recipes all together in one place. These recipes are quick to prepare, flavourful and the ideal sweet treat for any occasion.
We both love an easy no bake dessert. Those desserts we all come to rely on when we want something that tastes amazing but don’t want to spend too long in the kitchen.
This post is all about easy dessert recipes where there is no baking required. At most you may have to warm something up on the stove, or whip up some cream, but that’s about it.
However, don’t be fooled into thinking no bake desserts are lacking in any way. Each of these desserts pack a real flavour punch and are the recipes that we keep coming back to again and again when we are cooking in our own kitchens at home.
Table of contents
Make ahead no bake desserts
When it comes to dessert, particularly if I’m cooking for family and friends, I want something that tastes great and is quick to prepare. Even better if I can make it ahead of time.
Make ahead desserts are my go to any time I’m entertaining. They allow me to relax and enjoy my own food (and a glass or two of wine), knowing that dessert is already made and can be pulled out the fridge at the last minute. When we catered our Supperclubs, Michelle and I always served made-ahead desserts so it was just a case of serving and plating.
All these desserts are make ahead desserts. They can be made earlier in the day, or in some cases the day before. Simply store in the fridge or refrigerator until you are ready to serve.
Allergy advice
If you have ever catered for allergies you will know that desserts can be a real sticking point. So to help you out we’ve identified alongside each dessert what diets they are suitable for. Worth noting that none of our desserts contain peanuts or peanut products.
For comprehensive and detailed allergy advice visit Allergy UK.
Easy no bake dessert recipes with few ingredients
When it comes to easy no bake dessert recipes with few ingredients you can’t beat these recipes below. All of these recipes are full of flavour but in all cases contain 6 ingredients or less.
Rhubarb and Vanilla Sorbet tastes every bit as good as it looks. Our recipe contain only 6 ingredients plus water, and is made by hand, without the use of an ice-cream machine. Making this a recipe we can all try out at home.
Gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, nut free, egg free, soya free.
Our Orange Sorbet is made using blood oranges for a real pop of colour, but you can substitute with regular oranges. This beautiful dessert is super refreshing and contains only 3 ingredients plus water.
Gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, nut free, egg free, soya free.
Blackberry Parfait is a beautiful late summer dessert. We served ours with cubes of our Sticky Gingerbread and a blackberry curd. However, you can keep things simple and serve it just as it is or with some honey sweetened Greek yogurt. This iced dessert contains only 4 ingredients and a little water.
Gluten free, peanut free, nut free and soya free.
Chocolate Mousse with Salted Caramel is a firm favourite in my home. This dessert not only tastes great but can be made ahead of time and served straight from the fridge. Contains only 6 ingredients plus water.
Nut free, peanut free and soya free. Also gluten free if you ensure the chocolate used is a gluten free variety.
No bake lemon desserts
Lemon is hands down one of my favourite ingredients. So, it will come as no surprise that the flavour of lemon features heavily in the desserts that I love to cook. I think that the flavour of lemon balances out the sweet flavours in any dessert. When I’m eating out, if there is a lemon dessert on the menu, that’s what I’ll be ordering.
Easy Lemon Tiramisu with Limoncello is an Italian layered dessert where sponge biscuits are soaked in limoncello then layered with a lemon mascarpone cream and lemon curd. This recipe is easily doubled up if you are feeding larger numbers.
Gluten free, peanut free, nut free, soya free.
Lemon Panna Cotta with Raspberry Jelly is an impressive looking layered dessert that is deceptively easy to make. Lemon and raspberry are a great flavour combination and work perfectly in layers here. This is a great dinner party dessert as it can be made up the day before, ready to serve straight from the fridge.
Egg free, gluten free, peanut free, nut free, soya free.
Lemon Posset is a deliciously creamy lemon dessert that showcases this beautiful citrus fruit perfectly. This is a recipe that can be easily multiplied if feeding a crowd and we love to serve this dessert with our Lemon Butter Biscuits on the side. This recipe is also one I love to make with the kids as it is quick and easy to cook and contains only 4 ingredients.
Egg free, gluten free, peanut free, nut free, soya free.
No bake layered desserts
When making no bake layered desserts, I like to serve them in individual glass dishes. This not only looks pretty, but allows the diner to see the various layers within the dessert. After all, we also eat with our eyes!
One of my all-time favourite desserts is a Traditional Scottish Cranachan. Layers of Scottish raspberries combined with toasted oats and a whisky and heather honey flavoured cream. Make this the day of your party but not the day before or the oats will becoming too soft.
Egg free, peanut free, nut free and soya free. Also gluten free if you use gluten free oats.
When it comes to flavour pairings, few beat the classic combination of Rhubarb & Custard! Soft and sharp poached rhubarb layered with creamy sweet custard. Super simple to make but elegant enough to grace any dinner table.
Soya free, peanut free. Also nut free if you remove the flaked almonds on top.
Individual Trifles with Sherry, Figs & Vanilla, the perfect way to serve this pretty dessert so that you can show off the layering. Sherry soaked sponge fingers, a fig compote, custard and cream – trifle perfection. Dessert doesn’t get any better – unless of course you serve it with a glass of sherry too!
Soya free, peanut free, Also nut free if you remove the flaked almonds on top.
Our Vanilla Panna Cotta & Orange Jelly is the simplest of desserts and very easy to prepare. It can be served in any size of dish, either individual sized portions or in shot glasses as shown here which are ideal for a sweet treat at any drinks party.
Egg free, gluten free, peanut free, nut free, soya free.
No bake desserts for kids
We both love cooking with our kids and are always on the look out for recipes that our kids can prepare themselves, with little or no help from us. Here we have a selection of different recipes with minimal or no cooking required, ideal for getting children interested in cooking.
When it comes to quick and easy desserts, you can’t beat our Nutella Mousse. A firm favourite with all our kids, and indeed any other kids we’ve served this to! The mousse itself is made with only 2 ingredients if you leave off the praline crunch topping. Prepared in 15 minutes and chilled for 30 minutes, this is the ideal dessert to start your kids on.
Egg free, peanut free, gluten free and soya free.
Another great dessert to get kids cooking is our Eton Mess. Layers of sweet Scottish strawberries, mixed with crushed meringues and whipped cream. This is a winning dessert that is far less about cooking and more of an assembly job. As the name suggests, no need to pretty it up either – a mess is exactly as it should be!
Egg free, gluten free, peanut free, nut free and soya free.
Another any dessert to get kids cooking is my 4 Ingredient Strawberry Mousse, made using fresh Scottish strawberries, which I combine with crushed meringues and double cream, then finish with Greek yogurt to balance the sweetness.
Egg free, gluten free, peanut free, nut free and soya free
No bake cheesecakes
Our No Bake Cheesecake with Lime & Ginger, is a great recipe for kids who want to do a little more. Children can first prepare the sweet ginger biscuit base, then while that is chilling move them onto the creamy lime top. One of the most popular desserts on our site, this dessert packs a real flavour punch and can easily feed 10-12 people.
Nut free, peanut free, and soya free. Also egg free if you use McVities Ginger Nuts for the cheesecake base.
Love chocolate? Then we have you covered with our No Bake Chocolate Orange Cheesecake. This chocolate cheesecake looks impressive, tastes amazing but is super simple to make. This is a dessert recipe you will come back to again and again.
Egg free, nut free, peanut free, and soya free. Also gluten free if you use a gluten free biscuit for the cheesecake base.
This round-up of recipes has been shared to CookBlogShare. Click on the link to find other recipes by fellow food bloggers.
Shri
Wednesday 10th of November 2021
Make ahead and No-bake desserts are such a boon, in these festive times. For me it's definitely Eton Mess or the Nutella Mousse. Super easy ones.
Lesley
Wednesday 10th of November 2021
Thank you Shri, I couldn't agree more. I'm a great fan of a make ahead dessert over the festive period, it really helps you get ahead.
Choclette
Tuesday 9th of November 2021
I do love a make ahead dessert. Things can get a bit hectic if you're entertaining and being able to get one thing out of the way really makes a difference. All of these look totally delicious. My main problem is which one to try first.
Lesley
Tuesday 9th of November 2021
Thank you Choclette, me too. Make ahead desserts are my go to any time I'm planning a dinner with family and friends.