21 Tempting No-Bake Desserts That Look as Good as They Taste

Warm weather is quickly returning, and with it, a desire to spend more time outside, and less in the kitchen. I would definitely rather be gardening, than baking at this time of year!

So what's the solution when you're hosting a cookout and want an impressive dessert, without having to slave over the stove? Gorgeous no-bake desserts are the easy answer!

Here are 21 delicious treats that will delight and impress, without heating up your kitchen. All of them are easy to make. Most can be made ahead and stored in the fridge. And every one of them is so pretty, you'll be proud to bring it out at the end of any meal!

1. White Chocolate Orange Cheesecake

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This white chocolate orange cheesecake recipe is as delicious as it looks! From the buttery cookie-crumb base to that smooth and velvety filling, it's truly a dessert for any occasion.

Topped with slices of white chocolate orange, this is a decadent dessert that's a joy to whip up, no oven needed.

Get the recipe here.

2. Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake

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These sweet little single-serve cheesecakes are about as easy as it gets, and I'm thinking that cheesecake in a jar really needs to become the new "cake in a mug" trend.

With that creamy filling and luscious orange topping, it's fun to eat, and easy to make.

Get the recipe here.

3. No-Bake Tiramisu Loaf

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Here's a tiramisu that makes serving easy. Made in a loaf pan, and inverted onto a platter, it's also a configuration that's easier for even layering.

You can choose to make it boozy or not, it's delicious either way! It's really hard to beat the delicious flavors of tiramisu, and this is just such an easy way to put it on the table, you'll find yourself reaching for this one again and again.

Get the recipe here.

4. No-Bake Cheesecake Cups

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Made with cream cheese, Greek yogurt and maple syrup, this healthy no-bake cheesecake filling is piled into individual cups or jars and loaded up with your favorite toppings, for a light and summery dessert.

This whole recipe comes together in less than 10 minutes, and with just a few ingredients. This is a great option for surprising the family with a special dessert, even on a busy weeknight.

Get the recipe here.

5. No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Dessert

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This layered dessert is absolutely packed with flavor. Crushed Oreos, peanut butter layer, chocolate, and whipped cream, all come together to make a treat that's totally over the top.

This rich dessert is easy to put together, and is best served after being chilled, so it's great as a make-ahead dessert, when company is coming over.

Get the recipe here.

6. No-Bake Cheesecake with Mascarpone

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I just love the sound of the ingredients in this lovely no bake cheesecake. A creamy lemon and mascarpone creamy filling sits atop a graham cracker crust, and fresh berries garnish it simply and sweetly.

The use of mascarpone gives this a luxurious texture, and a bit of lemon lends brightness to the flavor. Like all of the recipes here, this requires no baking, and it's made with just 7 ingredient, so it's simple, quick, and easy to make.

Get the recipe here.

7. Chocolate Cherry Pie 

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Chocolate and cherries just seem made to go together. Here's a sweet treat that leans into that delicious flavor combination, for a dessert everyone will love.

A crushed Oreo base is topped with a layer of lightly cooked cherries, then chocolate pudding covers it all, filling up that delicious cookie crust. Whipped cream and fresh cherries top it all off, for a truly decadent summer dessert!

Get the recipe here.

8. Espresso Panna Cotta

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This smooth and creamy espresso panna cotta makes a decadent finish to any meal. A traditional Italian gelatin dessert, it feels fancy but is so easy to make, you'll wonder why it took you so long to try making panna cotta!

This is also one of those hostess-friendly desserts that can be made well in advance, and kept in the fridge, so it's a great one for entertaining.

Get the recipe here.

9. No-Bake Chocolate Ganache Tart

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This vegan, no-bake chocolate ganache tart is smooth, dark, and chocolatey.

A creamy, dark chocolate ganache fills a sweet Oreo cookie crust, with a layer of cherry jam hiding in between. This dessert is rich and just so delicious. Whipped cream, fresh cherries, and playful chocolate curls are a beautiful way to garnish this, and make for a lovely presentation.

Get the recipe here.

10. Tembleque (Coconut Pudding from Puerto Rico)

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Tembleque is the dessert that's going to make you want to start collecting jello molds. This delicious dessert is pure coconut perfection, laced with warm spices and a hint of citrus.

It’s a dessert that you'll always find on the holiday table in Puerto Rico and many other Latin American countries, but there's no reason not to enjoy it year round, and you'll definitely want to!

Get the recipe here.

11. No-Bake Frozen Raspberry Cheesecake Squares

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These sweet little squares are made of creamy no-bake raspberry cheesecake filling, on top of a graham cracker crust, and garnished with fresh raspberries.

Don't they just look cheerful? These would be great to bring out after a summer cookout!

Get the recipe here.

12. No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie

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With a sweet and creamy peanut butter filling, and a delicious chocolate Oreo crust, this easy peanut butter pie recipe is easy to make and sure to please.

It's really hard to go wrong with the classic flavor combination of chocolate and peanut butter. What I love about this recipe is that the peanut butter layer is so nice and light and fluffy, which keeps this dessert from feeling heavy. This is definitely a summer recipe kids and adults will all love.

Get the recipe here.

13. Billy Miner Pie

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This Billy Miner Pie recipe is a delicious copycat version of The Keg’s famous dessert, and you're just going to love the flavors in this one.

It's a mocha ice cream cake, on an Oreo crumb crust, topped with sliced almonds, then drizzled with hot fudge and caramel sauce. This is a delicious summer dessert that everyone is going to want you to make again!

Get the recipe here.

14. Chocolate Cream Cheese Pie

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This easy chocolate pie brings together just the perfect ratio of chocolate crumb crust, cheesecake filling, and whipped cream topping.

Together, they're easy summer magic. Garnish with a few chocolate curls, and this is a dessert that will look like it took so much longer to make than it really does.

Get the recipe here.

15. No-Bake Matcha Cheesecake

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This delicious Matcha Cheesecake is a great way to try something a little different and creative for dessert! With a white chocolate layer, and a matcha layer swirled on top, the flavors are a "matcha" made in heaven.

This no-bake recipe calls for only 10 ingredients, and it comes together easily. If your friends don't think they like matcha, this cheesecake is how you win them over.

Get the recipe here.

16. Affogato

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The name Affogato is Italian for “drowned”, and I like the recipe author's definition of is as a "coffee-based Italian dessert slash post-dinner caffeine pick-me-up."

I'll never forget the first time someone put an afogatto in my hands. I was running production for a film festival and hadn't slept in 28 hours. That heavenly fusion of sugar and caffeine was a delicious revelation, and just the boost I needed. I've been enamored with this easy and delicious Italian delight ever since, and once you taste it, you will be too!

Get the recipe here.

17. Giant Homemade Peppermint Patty

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Chocolate and peppermint are so delicious together, and this playful rendition of the classic peppermint patty candy is on point.

The whole thing comes together in under 30 minutes, and is really a fun way to end any meal.

Get the recipe here.

18. Marquesa de Chocolate (Venezuelan Chocolate Marquesa)

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Marquesa de Chocolate Venezolana is an easy, no-bake Venezuelan dessert. Simple ingredients are blended into a rich and silky chocolate pudding layered with Maria cookies, to create one delicious and memorable dessert. 

The recipe author explains that while this recipe actually didn't originate in Venezuela, Marquesa de Chocolate has become a cherished staple of Venezuelan cuisine and a truly classic Venezuelan dessert. 

Get the recipe here.

19. Panna Cotta with Raspberries

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Panna Cotta means “cooked cream” in Italian, and it's a classic dessert that's become loved world-wide for its simplicity of flavor, and delightfully subtle presentation.

This easy recipe is fun to make, but even more satisfying to serve and enjoy. The flavor of raspberries really shines through in the finishing touches on this!

Get the recipe here.

20. Coffee Mousse

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Made with just four simple ingredients, you're not going to believe how easy it is to make this coffee mousse dessert.

Ready in just 10 minutes, it's a great easy finish to any meal, whether you're cooking for family or guests. That airy and delicate mousse texture is so much fun to eat, and offers a nice light ending to a heavy dinner.

Get the recipe here.

21. Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake

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Celebrate the return of sunny summer days, with this playful strawberry margarita cheesecake!

It's a perfect mix of tangy and sweet, with a subtle tequila and Cointreau kicker. Best of all, there's no need to turn on the oven. This comes together fast, and can hide out in the fridge until serving time.

Get the recipe here.

20 Fruit Pies Perfect for Every Summer Shindig

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Nothing welcomes warm weather back like a cookout with friends, and bringing out a beautiful pie made with fresh fruit or berries, offers a perfect finale.

Here's a lovely list of no-fail fruit and berry pie recipes that are fun to make, and sure to please!

21 Bake Sale Favorites Nobody Can Resist

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Bake sale goods need to check off a trifecta of requirements. They need to look amazing, be sturdy enough to transport, and most of all--be decadently delicious. 

We asked some of our favorite food writers what they'd bring, if they were asked to donate baked goods for the big fundraiser, and this luscious list of recipes is the result.

Every option here is a winner, from classic snickerdoodles, to thick and squishy whoopie pies, to perfectly irresistible cupcakes.