14 Easy Desserts You Can Make in Your Trusty 9x13 Pan
Bake cakes, cookie bars, and even cobblers.
Even if you don’t bake a lot, you probably have at least one 9-by-13-inch pan in your kitchen. It’s so versatile! You can make savory side dishes and casseroles in it (it’s essentially a three-quart baking dish), and you can even use it as a roasting pan in a pinch. But you’ll most often see it used for desserts. Think about it! How many times have you searched for “9x13 desserts” over the years? Exactly.
That’s because one pan can feed a crowd for a party, potluck, or tailgate, and you usually don’t even have to take the dessert out of the pan to serve it. Think of one-layer snack cakes, for instance. After they cool, you just frost and serve them right in the same pan. Heck, there’s even a wacky cake on this list that you mix right in the same pan, too.
There are endless bar cookie recipes and brownies you can make (or make brookies and get the best of both worlds). And many no-bake desserts don’t even need the oven, just the pan to help them set up in the fridge. So while this list certainly doesn’t have every single thing you can make in a 9-by-13 pan, it’s a great start if you’re a beginning baker or simply looking for some inspiration.
Lemon Bars
Dessert bars come in lots of different varieties and flavors, but they almost all start the same way: with a 9-by-13 pan. You can’t go wrong with Ree’s classic with a buttery crust and a cool lemon curd filling.
Get Ree’s Lemon Bars recipe.
Oreo Brownies
There needs to be at least one brownie on this list, and that honor is bestowed upon these deeply rich and fudgy treats chock-full of Oreos and chocolate chips. Have a glass of milk handy to wash them down!
Get the Oreo Brownies recipe.
Chocolate Wacky Cake
Is this grandma-style dessert wacky because it’s mixed, baked, and served all in the same pan? Or is it wacky because it has no eggs or butter and still ends up being a wildly delicious chocolate cake?
Get the Chocolate Wacky Cake recipe.
Strawberry Poke Cake
Poke cakes are so easy to make! They start with a 9-by-13 cake and boxed cake mix. Once baked, you poke holes in the top, drizzle over a fun Jell-O mixture, and watch it transform.
Get Ree’s Strawberry Poke Cake recipe.
Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding
When it comes to nostalgic desserts, banana pudding is hard to beat. Vanilla wafers, fresh bananas, and homemade pudding are all layered in your pan and then crowned with a sweet cloud of toasty meringue.
Get the Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding recipe.
Brookies
Why choose between chocolate chip cookies and brownies when you can get them both in one pan (and both in one bite). The hardest part is letting them cool before slicing them up.
Get the Brookies recipe.
Blackberry Cheesecake Bars
Skip the complicated springform pan and make cheesecake in bar form instead. It’s easier to slice and serve, but you get all the same flavors you know and love. The blackberry topping puts this version over the top.
Get Ree’s Blackberry Cheesecake Bars recipe.
Eclair Cake
You can make dessert without putting anything in the oven! Here, graham crackers and pudding are layered together and then topped with a chocolate glaze. They set up firm in the fridge without baking a thing.
Get the Eclair Cake recipe.
Blondies
It wouldn’t be fair to mention brownies without mentioning their cousins, the blondies. These sweet treats are full of pecans, browned butter, and white chocolate, so they’re anything but bland.
Get the Blondies recipe.
Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake
Another idea that’s easy as can be is making a dump cake! It’s simply cake mix topped with canned filling and dotted with butter. You don’t even have to stir it! The result is part cake, part cobbler, and entirely delish.
Get Ree’s Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake recipe.
Scotcheroos
There are endless variations on Rice Krispies treats and you really can’t miss with any of them. Scotcheroos, in particular, are extra decadent because they have chocolate, peanut butter, and butterscotch.
Get the Scotcheroos recipe.
Cowboy Cookie Bars
If you want to up your chocolate chip cookies, make Ree’s cowboy version. They’re loaded with browned butter, shredded coconut, pecans, chocolate chips, and hearty oats. Everyone will love them, even if you don’t live on a ranch.
Get Ree’s Cowboy Cookie Bars recipe.
Peach Cobbler
While not all cobbler recipes are made in a 9-by-13 pan, many of them are! You don’t even need to peel the peaches for this one. Just drop the biscuit-like topping over the fruit and pop it in the oven.
Get the Peach Cobbler recipe.
Pecan Pie Bars
Yes, you can even turn pies into bars. They’re easier to slice, serve, and eat with one hand. These taste just like the holiday classic, but are simple to make no matter the time of year.
Get the Pecan Pie Bars recipe.
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