The desserts we make when the oven stays off — and honestly, our favorites.
Some days the oven stays off, and we are not sorry about it. These are the desserts we reach for when it is too hot, too late, or we simply cannot be bothered to preheat anything.
Fancy Monkey pudding mix sets up thick with a two-minute whisk, so most of these come together with a bowl, a spoon, and a little fridge or freezer time. No baking, no candy thermometer, no water bath, no stress.
From a torch-ready crème brûlée to frozen banana pudding bark you eat with your hands to layered pudding cups, here are our favorite no-bake desserts. Most keep two to three days in the fridge, so they are easy to make ahead for a party or a week of treats.
Silky, torch-ready custard with no oven and no water bath. You still get to crack that sugar top with a spoon.
A cool, mousse-like mint filling in a chocolate cookie crust. No marshmallows, no oven, no fuss.
Skips the oven and the cream cheese, then sets overnight into a tangy, layered cheesecake with a Biscoff crunch.
Banana pudding you eat with your hands: creamy, crackable, and made with just a whisk, a spread, and a freezer.
The nostalgic classic, made the easy, no-bake way. Whisk, layer with wafers, and let it soften in the fridge.
Chocolate pudding with a nutty tahini swirl and a little crunch on top. Fancy in a cup, easy in real life.
Deep caramel flavor in a silky, spoonable cup. Layer it, chill it, done.
Cinnamon-sugar pudding that tastes just like the cookie, spooned into little cups.
Bright, spoonable lemon curd with no stovetop and no straining. Swirl it into everything.
A frozen slab of lemon and berries you snap apart with your hands. Keep a stash in the freezer for hot days.
Rainbow-flecked pudding pops the whole troop will fight over. Whisk, pour into molds, freeze.
A few tips
- Use cold milk straight from the fridge. It thickens faster and sets firmer than room-temperature milk.
- Give cups, pies, and bark at least 30 minutes to chill (or freeze) for clean layers and neat scoops.
- Add crunchy toppings like cookies, nuts, and nibs right before serving so they stay crisp.
- Most no-bake desserts keep two to three days covered in the fridge, which makes them great to make ahead.
Make it yourself
Frequently asked questions
What makes a dessert no-bake?
No oven required. These set in the fridge or freezer instead of baking.
How does pudding mix set without cooking?
Whisk it cold into milk for two minutes and it thickens on its own. Some recipes firm up a little more with a chill.
Can I make no-bake desserts ahead of time?
Yes. Most keep two to three days in the fridge. Store crunchy toppings separately so they stay crisp.
Are no-bake desserts good for hot days?
Yes. No oven means you never heat up the kitchen, which makes these a summer favorite.
Which no-bake dessert is the easiest?
The pudding cups (tahini, dulce de leche, snickerdoodle). Whisk, spoon into cups, and chill.