21 Homemade Easy Sweet Snacks 2024 (with quick prep)
We’re sharing homemade quick-prep recipes for easy sweet snacks, including chocolate treats, cookies, pastries & quick desserts and jams. 30 minutes or less (plus chill or set time for some).
Nothing says ‘thoughtful’ or ‘thank you’ better than homemade sweets. Perfect for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, birthdays, holidays or potlucks.
Of course, maybe you’re just looking for something to satisfy your own sweet tooth or sugar cravings. No excuse needed.
We’ve organized these easy sweet snacks into four categories so you can jump to the ones you like. Each recipe shows a prep time and total time (including chilling if needed). Many are no-bake desserts and snacks.
If you’re looking at this post before an upcoming holiday, be sure to check out our holiday recipes.
Now on to the yummy, easy sweet snack recipes…
What to expect
- Simple and not fussy: The recipes below use simple ingredients and take 30 minutes or less to make (plus chill or set time in some cases). Nothing complicated. And many have prep time of less than 10 minutes.
- First timers: Keep in mind that it always takes longer to make a recipe the first time. After that, you know what you’re doing and get more efficient. So, it pays to make the recipe twice 🙂
- Tried-and-true: These snacks and easy desserts truly take little effort and little time. Homemade sweet indulgences are always more appreciated than store-bought ones. So give one a whirl then step back and soak up the grateful-ness.
Chocolate Snacks
Easy Chocolate Fudge
This chocolate fudge recipe is a creamy, melt-in-your mouth, no-fail with 3 ingredients, 3 steps, 3 minutes and no candy thermometer recipe. The answer is a microwave and sweetened condensed milk. The easy method avoids several fudge making pitfalls. It's a delicious treat for the holidays or just an afternoon snack. Prep time: 3 minutes; Chill Time: 1 hour
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Microwave Brownie Recipe
Company dropping by in 10 minutes? Craving something sweet pronto? Or need a quick potluck tasty dessert? This chocolate-y, moist, fudgy microwave brownie recipe will do the trick. Finish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Prep time: 4 minutes; Total Time: 8 minutes
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White Chocolate Bark
White Chocolate Bark is pretty much the easiest sweet treat you can possibly make. Endless flavor possibilities! You can use white chocolate or switch it up with dark chocolate, or milk chocolate,. Add your favorite chopped nuts to give it a delicious nutty flavor or colorful sprinkles for holiday treats. Creamy, melt in your mouth, deliciousness. Prep time: 5 minutes; Chill time: 30 minutes
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Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats
Loaded with chocolate, nuts and raisins, these no-bake chocolate rice crispy treats are a great snack for that after-dinner chocolate craving. The different textures and flavors make them a yummy, rich, chewy, crunchy, nutty, chocolate-y treat. Prep time: 10 minutes; Chill time: 1 hour
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Toffee Bars With Chocolate, Nuts and Cranberries
These toffee bars are a twist on the popular graham cracker toffee bars. Buttery and crunchy – and jazzed up with chocolate, nuts, dried cranberries and sea salt. Crave-worthy! Prep: 15 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Chill: 20 minutes.
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Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats (with Chocolate)
Get your chocolate and peanut butter fix with these easy and delicious peanut butter rice krispie treats. A soft, chewy, old fashioned gooey treat jazzed up with a great flavor combination. Prep time: 10 minutes; Set Time: 30 minutes
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Easy White Chocolate Covered Strawberries (for beginners)
This is a simple snack or sweet dessert recipe for strawberries in white chocolate for beginners. It is NOT tricky and finicky with perfect professional-looking results. It IS easy, still pretty and definitely delicious. Just 2 ingredients. Prep time: 20 minutes
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Cookies
Skor Chocolate Chip Cookies
Teeny toffee bits take this Skor chocolate chip cookie recipe over the top. Buttery, caramel-y, chocolate-y, chewy cookies with crisp edges (if baked longer). Wickedly good with a cup of coffee, a mug of hot chocolate or a cold glass of milk. Freeze balls of dough to make fresh warm cookies whenever you need them. Prep time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes
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Lace Cookies
These delicate, crispy, buttery Lace Cookies have been in our family for years. Ready in under 30 minutes and perfect for a tea, brunch, shower or dessert. Prep time: 8 minutes; Total time: 22 minutes
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Elephant Ear Cookies
Serve these elegant elephant ears cookies (also called palmier cookies) for dessert or tea. Or for Valentines Day! Buttery and flaky with a hit of orange-lemon zest. Prep time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes
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Lime-glazed Easy Shortbread Cookies
It's hard to believe these buttery, zesty melt-in-your-mouth Lime-Glazed Easy Shortbread Cookies are made in 30 minutes with just 6 ingredients. Ideal for a tea, shower or potluck, and they're the perfect size to package up for a holiday cookie-exchange. Prep time: 14 minutes; Total time: 22 minutes
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Pastries and Quick Desserts
Mini Cinnamon Puff Pastry Rolls
Pop one of these mini cinnamon puff pastry rolls into your mouth for a buttery, flaky, sweet, cinnamon-y explosion. Easy, quick and yummy. Prep time: 10 minutes; Total time: 28 minutes
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Homemade Banana Pudding Cups
Banana pudding is a Southern US icon, but everyone can enjoy these rich, creamy, silky banana pudding cups made from scratch. We're using fresh ingredients with lots of variations to suit your tastes. This homemade version is deliciously good stuff that will have everyone asking for more. Prep time: 8 minutes; Total time: 35 minutes
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Berry Sauce on Pound Cake
Out of time and need a special dessert? Perhaps for your Valentine? With only 4 ingredients, this shortcut Berry Sauce on pound cake recipe is super easy, presents beautifully and is berry-intense 🙂 Prep time: 8 minutes Total time: 30 minutes
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Puff Pastry Apple Tart
Whip up this puff pastry tart with apples for an impressive but simple dessert. Easy, quick and delicious. Just apples, puff pastry, butter and brown sugar (ok, ice cream too). Prep time: 7 minutes Total time: 30 minutes
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Easy Strawberry Shortcake
Every year my husband anxiously awaits this easy strawberry shortcake that his mother made in the '50s. I make them in 20 minutes with local fresh strawberries at their peak, fresh whipped cream and biscuits (with a shortcut – shh). Prep time: 10 minutes; Total time: 20 minutes
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Banana Muffins With Blueberries (Moist and Fluffy)
Soft, super fluffy with a wonderful moist texture, these muffins have deep banana flavor and a burst of sweet/tart from the fresh berries. Banana muffins with blueberries are a great treat for a quick breakfast snack or any time of day. Prep time: 10 minutes; Total time: 30 minutes
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Easy Peach Tarte Tartin (for beginners)
This simple peach tarte tatin is an easy peach tart recipe with only 5 ingredients. Beginners can whip it up in 30 minutes and look very accomplished with our step-by-step instructions and pictures. Juicy, caramelized peaches nested in a crispy buttery puff pastry crust. Prep time: 7 minutes; Total time: 30 minutes
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Jams (small batch)
You can use frozen fruit if you can’t get fresh. Frozen fruit is peeled and sliced and picked at the height of the season.
Peach Jam Recipe (without pectin)
Stretch out the long-awaited peach season with an easy peach jam recipe without pectin. Just 3 simple ingredients, no canning, no special equipment. Perfect for beginners. Transform those juicy ripe peaches into a summer classic. All you need is peaches, sugar and lemon juice. Delish! Prep time: 10 minutes; Total time: 30 minutes
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Low Sugar Strawberry Jam
Make this no-fuss homemade low sugar strawberry jam without pectin this summer and you'll be enjoying it on toast, scones and ice cream long after. Just 3 ingredients, no pectin, no canning process, freezer friendly and with half the sugar it's a healthier option than traditional jams. Prep time: 10 minutes; Total time: 30 minutes
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Sweets snacks more than 30 minutes, but worth it
Here are a few special treats that are well worth the extra time. And easier than you think.
Holiday Sugar Cookies
Holiday cut out sugar cookies – buttery, sweet and flaky – are a big tradition in our family for 40 years and counting. We make them for Christmas, Chanukah, Halloween, Valentines Day and other celebrations. Prep time: 15 minutes; Cook time: 15 minutes; Chill and frosting time: 1 hour 15 minutes
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Best Caramel Popcorn
No, you can't just eat a handful. This homemade caramel popcorn recipe is addictive and, without doubt, one of our favorite sweet snacks! Crunchy popcorn and nuts with a mouth-watering buttery salted caramel coating. Perfect for gifts, picnics & parties. Prep time: 15 minutes; Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes
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Chocolate Toffee with Hazelnuts
Chocolate Toffee – buttery, nutty, chocolate-y, crunchy and scrumptious. Like Skor bars, but way better. And much easier to make than you think. Prep time: 15 minutes; Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes (with chill time)
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White Chocolate Brownies with Raspberry Glaze
The classic marriage of raspberry and white chocolate work beautifully in these rich, moist, fudgy white chocolate brownies topped with a sweet-tart raspberry glaze. A nice little indulgence. Prep time: 10 minutes Total time (with cooling): 55 minutes.
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Hazelnut Cookies With Chocolate Smear
These nutty, melt-in-your mouth shortbread hazelnut cookies topped with a chocolate smear and crushed hazelnuts are a treat for any tea, shower or holiday spread. Prep time: 25 minutes, total time 37 minutes.
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How to wrap a food gift
If you’re making one of these easy snacks as a food gift, try one of these simple options for packaging: cellophane (or cellophane gift bags), pretty boxes, wine bags and paper or cloth gift bags. Line your container with a little bit of wax paper, parchment paper or tissue paper.
It’s always a good idea to add a little note from the heart too – happy holidays, missed you, enjoy the indulgence – whatever the occasion. It’s the perfect way to add a special touch.
Here’s a more detailed article on how to beautifully package your edible gifts by Simply Recipes.
…upping rice crispy treats