A special summer win is preparing a dessert without turning on the oven. These 19 no-bake desserts are easy to make with little helpers and stay cool and creamy to beat the heat. You'll want to make more than one, so clear out a spot in your fridge!
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1) No-Bake Cheesecake Jars
They are convenient for grabbing on-the-go and they somehow make even a Tuesday feel special.
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No-Bake Cheesecake Jars
Buttery graham crust layered with a creamy vanilla cheesecake in adorable mini jars.
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the graham crumbs and melted butter together and press into the bottom of six jars.
- Beat the cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
- Whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks and fold it into the cream cheese mixture.
- Spoon the filling over the crust in each jar and chill at least 3 hours before serving.
Notes
Top with fresh berries just before serving for a pop of color.
2) Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
It's like a candy bar made from scratch, plus you get a fun bonus of licking the bowl!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Peanut butter bars are rich and topped with chocolate are no bake desserts.
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the melted butter, graham crumbs, powdered sugar, and 1 cup of the peanut butter until combined, then press into a lined 9x13 pan.
- Melt the chocolate chips with the remaining peanut butter until smooth.
- Pour the chocolate over the peanut butter layer and spread evenly.
- Chill for 2 hours, then cut into bars to serve.
Notes
Let them sit at room temp 5 minutes before cutting so the chocolate doesn't crack.
3) Lemon Icebox Cake
Tangy and dreamy, and I love that it gets better the longer it chills!
Lemon Icebox Cake
Graham crackers layered with bright lemon cream create a sliceable cake.
Ingredients
Method
- Whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks, then fold in the condensed milk, lemon juice, and zest.
- Spread a thin layer of the lemon cream in the bottom of a 9x13 dish.
- Layer graham crackers and lemon cream, repeating until you finish with cream on top.
- Cover and chill at least 6 hours or overnight so the crackers soften, then slice.
Notes
Overnight chilling is key for that perfect cake-like texture.
4) Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This retro potluck favorite is always a hit with guests! It's sweet, salty, jiggly, and creamy.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
There is a layer of cream cheese and a shiny coating of strawberry gelatin on top of a salty crust of pretzel.
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the crushed pretzels with melted butter and 0.25 cup of the sugar, press into a 9x13 pan, and chill until firm.
- Beat the cream cheese with the remaining sugar, fold in the whipped topping, and spread over the pretzel crust.
- Prepare the strawberry gelatin per the package using 2 cups water, stir in the sliced strawberries, and let it cool until slightly thickened.
- Pour the strawberry layer over the cream cheese layer and refrigerate at least 4 hours until set, then cut and serve.
Notes
Make sure the gelatin is cooled but not set before pouring, or it won't spread evenly.
5) Coconut Lime Energy Bites
I snack from the fridge on things I claim are for the kids.
Coconut Lime Energy Bites
No-bake oat and coconut bites that have been lifted with fresh lime and a touch of honey.
Ingredients
Method
- Combine the oats, most of the coconut, almond butter, honey, lime zest, lime juice, and vanilla in a bowl.
- Stir until the mixture holds together when pressed.
- Roll the mixture into bite-sized balls.
- Roll the balls in the reserved coconut and chill for 30 minutes before serving.
6) Oreo Icebox Cake
Just three ingredients and the children will be convinced that you are a dessert wizard!
Oreo Icebox Cake
A cake made of cookies, whipped cream, and more cookies all layered together, it is a cookies and cream lovers dream!
Ingredients
Method
- Whip the heavy cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
- Spread a thin layer of whipped cream in the bottom of a loaf pan.
- Layer cookies and whipped cream, repeating until you finish with cream on top.
- Crush a few extra cookies over the top and chill at least 4 hours until the cookies soften, then slice.
Notes
Chilling overnight gives you the most cake-like slices.
7) Watermelon Mint Popsicles
The most refreshing thing to give to a sweaty kid on a hot afternoon.
Watermelon Mint Popsicles
Pureed watermelon and fresh mint blend together and freeze into icy, dripping summer popsicles.
Ingredients
Method
- Blend the watermelon, honey, and lime juice until completely smooth.
- Stir in the chopped mint by hand.
- Pour the mixture into popsicle molds and insert the sticks.
- Freeze for at least 5 hours until solid, then run molds under warm water to release.
Notes
Strain the puree first if you want extra-smooth pops.
8) S'mores Icebox Cake
Almost no sticky fingers and no bugs! All the flavor of a campfire!
S'mores Icebox Cake
Graham crackers stacked with chocolate pudding and marshmallow cream make for a no-campfire s'mores.
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the cold milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes, then fold in half of the whipped topping.
- Fold the marshmallow cream into the remaining whipped topping.
- Layer graham crackers, chocolate pudding, and marshmallow cream in a 9x13 dish, repeating until the dish is full.
- Top with mini marshmallows and chill at least 4 hours so the crackers soften, then slice.
Notes
Toast the mini marshmallows lightly with a kitchen torch for real s'mores vibes.
9) Raspberry Lemonade Bars
Sweet, tart, and pink all over; chilled little square Summer!
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Raspberry Lemonade Bars
A no-bake creamy raspberry lemonade filling with a buttery bottom crust.
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the wafer crumbs with melted butter and press into a lined 8x8 pan.
- Beat the cream cheese with the condensed milk and lemon juice until smooth.
- Swirl in the mashed raspberries and pour over the crust.
- Chill at least 4 hours until firm, then cut into bars.
Notes
Strain the mashed raspberries if you'd rather skip the seeds.
10) Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
I could make this pie so many times, it's like I can do it in my sleep.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
This has a smooth peanut butter filling in a chocolate cookie crumble crust, and it is topped with whipped cream.
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the cream cheese, peanut butter, and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Fold in the whipped topping until fully combined.
- Spoon the filling into the chocolate cookie crust and smooth the top.
- Drizzle with chocolate sauce and chill at least 4 hours before slicing.
Notes
Freeze it for an hour before serving if you like an ice-cream-pie texture.
11) Frozen Yogurt Bark
Spread it, freeze it, snap it. This is the simplest sweet on the entire list!
Frozen Yogurt Bark
Honey yogurt frozen into crunchy granola and berry-filled shards.
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the honey and vanilla into the Greek yogurt.
- Spread the yogurt in an even layer on a parchment-lined sheet pan.
- Scatter the berries and granola over the top, pressing them in gently.
- Freeze for at least 4 hours until solid, then break into pieces to serve.
Notes
Keep leftovers in the freezer; the bark softens fast at room temperature.
12) No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake
It smells and tastes like a huge eclair! What’s not to like?
No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake
Vanilla pudding cream, chocolate frosting, and Graham crackers.
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the cold milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes, then fold in the whipped topping.
- Line a 9x13 dish with a layer of graham crackers.
- Spread half the pudding mixture over the crackers, add another cracker layer, then the rest of the pudding and a final cracker layer.
- Warm the chocolate frosting until pourable, spread over the top, and chill at least 6 hours, then slice.
Notes
Chilling overnight gives the cleanest slices.
13) Berry Cheesecake Salad
Salad and dessert combined, and it will definitely be eaten before the burgers are done grilling.
Berry Cheesecake Salad
Fresh berries mixed into the fluffy cream with the flavor of cheesecake makes this an easy favorite for potlucks.
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth, then fold in the whipped topping.
- Gently fold in the strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
- Transfer to a serving bowl.
- Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
Add the berries close to serving time so they stay bright and don't bleed.
14) Avocado Lime Tart
Avocado makes this filling so silky! Don't knock it until you try it.
Avocado Lime Tart
Avocado lime filling? Yes please! This rich and creamy filling is also no bake and sits perfectly in a graham cracker crust just like key lime pie's cool cousin!
Ingredients
Method
- Blend the avocados, condensed milk, lime juice, and zest until completely smooth.
- Pour the filling into the graham cracker crust and smooth the top.
- Chill at least 4 hours until firm.
- Top with whipped topping and a little extra lime zest before slicing.
Notes
Use ripe avocados with no brown spots so the color stays bright green.
15) Coconut Macaroons
Chewy and sweet, this is my MVP of no fuss recipes!
Coconut Macaroons
No oven is needed to make these sweet coconut mounds, using condensed milk to bind them, and chilled to set.
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the shredded coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla together until well combined and sticky.
- Scoop the mixture into mounds on a parchment-lined tray.
- Chill for at least 2 hours until firm.
- Drizzle with melted chocolate and chill briefly to set before serving.
16) Banana Split Fluff
All the pleasure of a banana split packed into a giant bowl for sharing!
Banana Split Fluff
A light airy cream mixed with banana, pineapple, cherry, and chocolate chip pieces.
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the pudding mix with the cold milk for 2 minutes, then fold in the whipped topping.
- Gently fold in the bananas, pineapple, and cherries.
- Stir in the mini chocolate chips.
- Chill for 1 hour, then serve cold in bowls.
Notes
Toss the banana slices in a little lemon juice first so they don't brown.
17) Pistachio Cream Dessert
That nostalgic green fluff that your grandma made is still really good.
Pistachio Cream Dessert
A lovely layered pudding dessert features crust and whipped topping of the creamy pistachio flavor.
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the crushed cookies with melted butter, press into a 9x13 dish, and chill.
- Beat the cream cheese with powdered sugar and half the whipped topping, then spread over the crust.
- Whisk the pistachio pudding mix with the cold milk until thick and spread over the cream cheese layer.
- Top with the remaining whipped topping, sprinkle with chopped pistachios, and chill at least 3 hours before serving.
18) Mango Coconut Chia Pudding
My type of overnight magic is making it tonight and waking up to dessert!
Mango Coconut Chia Pudding
Chia pudding with coconut cream, fresh mango, and toasted coconut!
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the chia seeds, coconut milk, honey, and vanilla together in a bowl.
- Stir again after 5 minutes to break up any clumps.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight until thick and pudding-like.
- Spoon into glasses, top with diced mango and toasted coconut, and serve.
Notes
Give it a good stir in the morning if any seeds settled at the bottom.
19) No-Bake Pina Colada Pie
An absence excuse for school that you can keep in the fridge; umbrella not required.
No-Bake Pina Colada Pie
Filling made with coconut and pineapple is topped with toasted coconut and sits in a graham cracker crust.
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the cream cheese, coconut cream, and powdered sugar until smooth.
- Fold in the drained crushed pineapple and the whipped topping.
- Spoon the filling into the graham cracker crust and smooth the top.
- Sprinkle with toasted coconut and chill at least 4 hours before slicing.
Notes
Drain the pineapple really well or the filling will be runny.