Calling all dessert lovers! Anyone with a sweet tooth knows that no family meal would be complete without a little something sweet at the end of the night. Heck, you might even be the type of person to enjoy a treat in the morning or afternoon hours, too. (No judgement, here!) Even Ree Drummond is a fan of dessert: "I'm not very good at holding onto treats — they get eaten pretty quickly in our house!”
So, we decided to round up a list of our best dessert recipes from 2023. These are the treats that are tried-and-true. They’re the sweet delights that have made it to the top of our most-loved recipes of the year! And they’re a perfectly indulgent way to finish any meal. Along with scrumptious cookie recipes and cakes that can feed a crowd, this list has plenty of homemade pies, bake sale treats, chocolatey confections, and a few easy no-bake desserts for those who prefer not to turn on the oven.
So, which desserts made our top ten list this year? Read on to find out! And after the countdown, let us know in the comments if your favorite treats made the list.
10
Pumpkin Bars
Caitlin Bensel
Snacking cakes, like these pumpkin bars, are getting a lot of attention lately—and for good reason! They're the kind of treat that you can snack on any time of day. We're not saying you should have a slice of this pumpkin treat topped with spiced cream cheese frosting in the morning, but we're not not saying that either!
If you haven't tried making homemade fudge yet, what are you waiting for? This recipe combines the flavors of sugar cookies and the chewy, sweetness of fudge. You can swap out the color sprinkles depending on the season. Think: pink sprinkles for Valentine's Day, your team's colors for Super Bowl, or rainbow sprinkles for any occasion.
It's hard to resist this light, spongey sponge cake that's soaked with a mixture of three milks. It's no wonder Ree describes it as "to die for" and "a dream."
Looking for a dessert to bring to your next potluck? Chocolate peanut butter pie is the recipe for you! It only take 20 minutes to whip up, then you can just let it chill in the fridge until you're ready to serve. But just be warned: it's ultra rich.
There's something so special about a lemon dessert! It's bright, citrusy, and perfect for a sunny day. Plus, the sweet-tart flavor of these bars are perfectly balanced with a shortbread cookie base.
You only need five ingredients to make this strawberry pie. It starts with refrigerated pie crust to keep things easy (though you can always make your own pie crust if you'd like). Then, pile on fresh berries that are juicy and bright.
You knew there was bound to be at least one cookie recipe on this list—and these lemon crinkle cookies really take the cake! They're bright, sweet, and sweet, these melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Plus, they have a pretty crackled top covered in powdered sugar.
Pecan pie wasn't always at the top of Ree's must-make desserts. There was once even a time when she was scared to take a bite. But once she indulged in the sticky-sweet dessert, her life was forever changed. It's now considered one of her "all-time favorite pies on this earth!"
Speaking of pies... let's take a moment for one of Ladd Drummond's favorites! It's an incredibly versatile chocolate pudding pie that can be made with a pie crust, graham cracker crust, or even an Oreo crust. Keep it simple (the way Ladd likes it) or dress it up with a big ole pile of whipped cream. Either way, it's delicious.
Without a doubt a Drummond family favorite—it's no wonder the #1 dessert recipe of the year goes to Ree's chocolate sheet cake! Not only is it moist and chocolatey with a rich, fudgy icing, but it's also made in a sheet cake so it can feed a crowd! If you haven't made this tried-and-true recipe yet this year, you might want to add it to your baking list for 2024.