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Is there anything better than dessert? Whether it's during the day as a treat or the finish to a great dinner, indulging with something sweet is one of life's little pleasures. But there are times when just a bite of something is all you need. Perhaps you just made a big comfort meal or have lots of little mouths at the bake sale. Or maybe you want to create a whole spread of bite-sized treats for any type of party so guests can nosh all night. There are plenty of reasons to make mini desserts! Plus, we have to be honest, they are just so darn cute. That's why we've rounded up the best mini dessert recipes.
Sure, you could easily make cupcake recipes, cookie recipes, or chocolate truffles. After all, they are the original mini desserts. But, there's also something about making a big thing in a miniature form that makes it more fun. Here, you'll find smaller versions of cakes, pies, tarts, brownies, doughnuts―you name it, you can make it a mini! And they might all be adorably small, but they are still big on flavor. We're talking chocolate, peanut butter, Oreo, lemon, key lime, and plenty of berries. Bold flavors like those pack quite a punch when a sweet is just a bite or two.
So go ahead, try a mini dessert recipe. You'll quickly see that the best things in life really do come in small packages.
Mini Bundt Cakes
Talk about variety! This one recipe yields three different flavors thanks to the glaze options. Choose between blackberry, dark chocolate sea salt, maple-whisky, or make all three.
Get the Mini Bundt Cakes recipe.
Mocha Cupcakes
Cupcakes are one of the original mini desserts and will never go out of style. This is for all the java lovers out there! There's a double shot of coffee flavor in the frosting, which tops a rich chocolate cake for the perfect bite of mocha.
Get Ree's Mocha Cupcakes recipe.
Mini Lemon Meringue Pies
Ree asks, "Who wouldn't want their own personal pie?" And honestly, we get it! No one would be able to turn down tart lemon curd topped with billowing, sweet meringue, especially when presented in a cute little bowl like this.
Get Ree's Mini Lemon Meringue Pies recipe.
Graduation Brownie Bites
It doesn't matter if you have someone graduating from kindergarten or college―everyone deserves a celebration with these deliciously dense brownie bites. Extra credit if you get the school colors right!
Get Ree's Graduation Brownie Bites recipe.
Mini Turtle Cheesecakes
It's hard to make cheesecake better, but Ree certainly outdid herself on this one! These mini cheesecakes are topped with chocolate, caramel, and pecans. The use of cupcake liners make them easy to bake and even easier to serve.
Get Ree's Mini Turtle Cheesecakes recipe.
Oreo Cheesecake Bites
There's nothing quite like Oreos for that classic chocolate flavor. These cheesecake bites use a whole cookie on the bottom as the crust, which is a genius and tasty baking hack.
Get the Oreo Cheesecake Bites recipe.
Mini Apple Pies
One apple is all you need to make 24 mini pies. You can take a shortcut with store bought pie dough and make them in a fraction of the time. Did we mention they have a crumb topping, too?
Get Ree's Mini Apple Pies recipe.
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
We love pumpkin so much that we would eat it all year long. And using canned puree makes that entirely possible! These cheesecakes only take about ten minutes to bake, so go ahead and make them right now.
Get the Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes recipe.
Oreo Truffles
A classic miniature dessert and a classic cookie meet to make the ultimate treat. You can even get fancy by switching up the color of the sprinkles on top depending on the holiday or event.
Get Ree's Oreo Truffles recipe.
Key Lime Pie Cookie Cups
What's better: a key lime pie or a sugar cookie? How about making both in one mini dessert? Garnish with a little whipped cream and lime zest for a burst of extra flavor.
Mini Cinnamon Rolls
Are cinnamon rolls considered breakfast or dessert? We don't know for sure, but what we do know is that they are delicious any time of day. Make them lickety-split by using canned dough!
Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes
This retro dessert gets a mini makeover thanks to a jumbo muffin pan. You can use fresh or canned pineapple rings, but definitely go for the classic maraschino cherries in the middle for that colorful pop.
Get the Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes recipe at Amanda's Cookin'.
Homemade Mini Doughnuts
What makes mini doughnuts better than regular donuts? You can eat more of them! That means you get more of that cinnamon-sugar crust in every bite, which is exactly what every sweets lover wants to hear.
Strawberry Rhubarb Tarts
When the weather gets warmer, there is nothing quite like the combination of strawberry and rhubarb. These gorgeous tartlets give the flavors a sophisticated twist, perfect for a dinner party.
Get the Strawberry Rhubarb Tarts recipe at Bakes by Brown Sugar.
Mini Blackberry Cobblers
Grab some ramekins and get ready to indulge in juicy berry goodness. These cobblers use blackberries and strawberries, but any seasonal berry will work well. Don't forget some vanilla ice cream!
Get the Mini Blackberry Cobblers recipe at Cookie and Katie.
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