Delicious Desserts That Take 5 Ingredients Or Less

We've all been there. It's that moment when you realize you need to come up with a dessert for the neighbor's party, a birthday party at school, or your cousin's son's graduation. There's no time for a lot of shopping, prep time, and baking... so what do you do? You could pick up a box of something store-bought on the way, but there's no reason for that when we have these amazing desserts you can make with just five ingredients or less. Even better, these desserts will have everyone raving — and asking for your secrets.

You may never consider making fudge outside of holiday season, but you absolutely should! Start with this tiger butter fudge from Butter With a Side of Bread for something smooth, creamy — and only three ingredients. If you're a fan of mint — and who isn't — try this mint chocolate fudge from Wine and Glue. This is also a great basic recipe to experiment with. Replace white chocolate chips with peanut butter or butterscotch chips if you like, and you'll still have a winning fudge.

For a different spin on chocolate, try this recipe from The Wanderlust Kitchen for a delicious fudge that has an added kick from chipotle peppers. And for a delicious, layered, chocolate-and-caramel fudge, The Recipe Critic and Chelsea's Messy Apron teamed up to bring you this easy idea for a dessert that's chocolate on the bottom and caramel on top.

We saved the most festive for last. If you're looking for something super-fun to bring to any birthday party, try this recipe for a purple unicorn fudge from Sprinkles for Breakfast. How can you go wrong?

Peanut butter and chocolate is just one of those combinations. The partnering of salty and sweet make it a dessert everyone loves, and we have a few ideas on how you can expand on that awesome idea. Chef Savvy has a five-ingredient recipe for peanut butter chocolate bars that takes about 20 minutes and needs no baking. Pretty perfect, right? If you're looking for something that's a little bit healthy, Happy Healthy Mama has a homemade version of peanut butter cups that will satisfy all your cravings. While that one calls for coconut oil and maple syrup, The Comfort of Cooking has a version of the same idea you can use if you're not a fan of those flavors.

For something that will really stand out — and be the perfect addition to any summertime gathering — how about using coconut? My Montana Kitchen has an amazing recipe for five-ingredient coconut squares, and since they're sugar-free, they won't make you feel guilty, either.

Coconut is the perfect ingredient to build a dessert around if you just don't want to turn the oven on, and these coconut bites from Sweet Phi aren't just tasty, but they're good for you, too. They're filled with dates and cashews instead of sugars, and that's a win for everyone. And these coconut bites from Just Easy Recipes are no-bake, too, but with the help of some food coloring you'll have a tasty treat that looks like it was much, much more complicated than it was. With our busy schedules, that's a win on any day.

There's something about a key lime pie that just says summer, and turning all that fresh flavor into a fun dessert is easier than you think — even if you prefer something like a traditional key lime pie. My Recipe Confessions has a recipe for a key lime pie that die-hard foodies might claim is cheating a bit, but with only five ingredients and a 20-minute time investment from start to plate, you can't go wrong.

For something a little different, these key lime snowball treats from Mom on Time Out are sure to be a hit with everyone who's craving a light, summery cookie. Pillsbury has a surprisingly easy recipe for simple key lime pie bars that uses sugar cookies, frozen whipped topping, and key lime yogurt for all that flavor. And for something super-healthy that won't ruin anyone's diet, try these key lime pie larabars from Kim's Cravings. They're filled with healthy nuts, coconut, dates, and lime flavor, and they're delicious!

Lemon is one of those flavors where a little goes a long way, and that makes it perfect for dessert bites. For something as delicious as it is non-traditional, try this lemon fudge recipe from Little Dairy on the Prairie. Calling it fudge is a bit deceiving, but once you mix up lemon pudding, milk, butter, and powdered sugar, you'll be surprised at the tasty, bite-sized candies you'll have ready to serve up.

Lemon bars are a little more traditional, and we have a couple different ways you can whip up a batch of these classics. Rock Recipes has a five-ingredient version that's heavy on the sugar, but that's a necessity when you're working with lemon. For a three-ingredient version full of shortcuts (and who doesn't love those every once in awhile), try this trick from The Country Cook. With just a box of cake mix, lemon pie filling, and butter, you'll have yummy lemon bars that are the perfect in-a-pinch dessert.

Mousse it a great dessert for when you're looking for something that's sweet but not too filling. It's easy to dress up in a fancy glass, and it's easy to make, too. Kitchen Cents has a version of a chocolate mousse that's only three ingredients and takes about five minutes to make. Add a dash of almond or mint flavoring, and you're still under five ingredients! Coffee fans will love this chocolate espresso mousse from Kylee Cooks, but if fruits are more your style, we have you covered, too. My Whole Food Life has a delicious raspberry coconut mousse that you can adapt for any kind of fruit: blackberry mousse? Strawberry? Whatever is in season! Serve it in a long-stemmed wine glass, top with pieces of whole fruit, and no one will suspect this one took just a few minutes to throw together. If you're trying to cut back on the sugar, that's no reason to skip dessert, thanks to Sugar-Free Mom and this recipe for a sugar-free lemon cheesecake mousse. It's decadent and filled with lemon flavor, so you'll never miss the sugar.

There's something magical about the combination of chocolate and hazelnuts, and if you keep a jar of Nutella in the cupboard for emergencies, you already have the most important ingredient for making these sweet treats. If you have Oreos — another kitchen staple — you're almost there for this no-bake Nutella pie from Recipe Boy. With an Oreo crust and a creamy filling of Nutella, Cool Whip, and cream cheese, this might be a new family favorite.

If you're looking for something that's a little easier to eat with your fingers, try these Nutella-filled pastries from Cookies and Cups. With handmade dough, a Nutella filling, and a drizzle of more Nutella, it doesn't seem possible that there's only five ingredients — but there is!

There's almost no end to the possibilities when it comes to making truffles. Put a plate or two out at any party and they're sure to disappear fast, especially when you take some inspiration from The Budget Diet and make a few dozen of their Oreo truffles. Even if you decide to give them a chocolate coating, you're still under our five ingredient limit... and who doesn't love Oreos? For another chocolate option, check out Eating Bird Food's chocolate and avocado truffles, and rest assured knowing that this one's healthy!

For a truffles with the bright flavor of fresh fruit, try these graham cracker and cream cheese-filled strawberry cheesecake truffles from Sally's Baking Addiction. For a nutty, flavor-filled truffle that will satisfy even the vegans in the room, there are these pecan pie bits from Beaming Baker. They'll keep the health food aficionados happy, too, and so will these salted caramel peanut butter truffles from Minimalist Baker. They're made with dates, dark chocolate, and peanut butter, and you won't be able to eat just one.

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, and there's no better way to eat your apples than in dessert. Dessert is amazing, and when it includes Snickers, it's extra amazing — take it from The Slow Roasted Italian, who put together this Snickers, caramel, and apple cheesecake salad, and it's nothing short of inspired. That doesn't sound like it adheres to our five-ingredient rule, but it does, calling for apples, Snickers bars, cream cheese, caramel sauce, and French creamer. Intrigued? You should be!

Another great option for a dessert that's literally apple-filled are these apple pie taquitos from Jo Cooks. They have all the flavor of an apple pie, and all you need to make them is pie filling, soft flour tortillas, and apple pie spices. For another version of apple pie without the time investment, check out this apple pie tart from A Latte Food. With a puff pastry crust that's topped with layers of apple goodness, this is a perfect end-of-summer treat.

It's easy to forget puddings and custard when you're thinking about desserts, and there's no reason you should. We're not talking about the pudding cups you used to get in your lunchbox, either — just check out this vanilla and chia seed pudding from Joyful Healthy Eats to see what you can do with just a few ingredients. You can absolutely justify eating this one for breakfast, and you might even be able to call Magnolia Bakery's banana pudding breakfast, too. It's full of things like heavy cream and bananas, and there's a reason it's famous! (It's also technically six ingredients... but we're not counting the water!)

For something that's heavy on the chocolate, almond flavor, and full of protein, check out Running with Spoons' brownie batter pudding. And at the other end of the spectrum, there's this light and delicious caramel Earl Grey milk tea pudding from The Domestic Goddess Wannabe — just right for a warm, summer afternoon. Sometimes you're in the mood for something simple, too — in that case, A Mom's Take has this no-bake vanilla custard recipe that's all you need when you're craving something sweet but not too heavy.

If you have to order the cheesecake every time you go to The Cheesecake Factory, you should know cheesecake doesn't have to be a calorie-filled guilty pleasure. Sweet and Savory has this delicious lemon souffle cheesecake that takes a little finesse, but it's completely worth it. A mixer is mandatory, as it's whipping the air into the batter that gives this one that unmistakeable, light and fluffy texture. For another version of something filled with lemon flavor, try this lemon cheesecake from Vie de la Vegan. Since you're only going to be using things like lemons, bananas, and dates, there's no added sugars to get in the way of fresh ingredients.

There's no way we could leave something chocolaty off this one, either, so try these chocolate cheesecake cups from Skinny Taste for super-easy dessert you can serve up in single-serve cupcake sizes.

Everyone loves a candy bar, and if you're looking for a way to incorporate one of your favorite candies into a delicious dessert, look no further than The Big Man's World and their no-bake Kit Kat crunch bars. It's the perfect thing to serve alongside some other pub snacks, and it's full of delicious guilty pleasures like Kit Kats and Chex mix.

If you're looking to make your own take on some of your favorite candy bars, you can't go wrong with The Baker Mama and these Take 5 bars in bite-sized form. It's literally just peanuts, pretzels, caramel squares, and peanut butter covered in dark chocolate, and it's amazing. If a Payday is more your style, check out these salted nut bars from Chocolate, Chocolate and More. They're filled with peanuts and just the right about of sweetness — you might need to make two batches, one for home and one for the party! And for something quick, easy, and completely unique, whip up a batch of honey taffy from Cooking Light. They're so good that you could definitely add these to any foodie gift baskets for something extra-special.

Rice Krispie treats are the stuff of summer afternoons when you were a kid, so you might not think of them as being a legitimate, respectable dessert. We have a few ideas that will change your mind, starting with these strawberry Rice Krispie treats from Living Well Mom. There's also a butterscotch version from Sugar-n-Spice Gals that uses instant pudding as a secret ingredient, and no one will ever guess. And if you love Oreos as much as we do, try these Oreo Rice Krispie treats from Ray Ray's Recipes — you won't regret it!

Pip and Ebby add a layer of chocolate to the top of their Rice Krispie treats, because we all know everything is better with chocolate! It'll take you over our five-ingredient limit, but it's a trick you could definitely use with any of these Rice Krispie treats for a next-level dessert everyone will love, no matter what their age!