You know that feeling when you want to end a perfect family dinner on a high note? When making something sweet to satisfy that craving, you should aim to impress even your pickiest eaters. With that in mind, here are 18 deliciously amazing family dessert ideas your whole family will love that you can easily make at home. Whether you want to go classic with chocolate chip cookies, get fruity with strawberry shortcake, or go nuts for pecan pie, we have a recipe for every taste. So get ready to be the star of the dinner table with these delicious sweets!
1. Berry Desserts
Who can resist a sweet berry dessert? Whether you want to send a special family dinner or need an excuse to gather together, these fruity treats will indeed please.
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Cherry pie
It is a classic. Fill a homemade or store-bought pie crust with pitted cherries, sugar, and spices like cinnamon, then top it with a lattice or entire pie crust and bake until bubbly. Serve with vanilla ice cream for extra deliciousness.
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Fresh berry Pound Cake
Mix the sugar, butter, eggs, flour, and extract together, then bake the batter in a loaf pan. Once the cake is made, you can top it off with fresh berries for a delicious and refreshing finish. You can also add some lemon or almond extract to give it a unique flavor.
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Raspberry sorbet
This fruity treat is creamy yet icy, bursting with fresh berry flavor. Start making homemade raspberry sorbet by blending 3 cups of raspberries, 3/4 to 1 cup of sugar, and juice from half a lemon. Churn the mixture in your ice cream maker, and your dish is ready!
2. Chocolate Desserts
With options like molten lava cakes, double chocolate brownies, or classic chocolate pudding, Who can say no to chocolate? And the best part is chocolate desserts are easy to make, so you can whip one up whenever you crave something sweet. Here are a couple of delicious options your family is sure to love:
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Molten Lava Cakes
These individually sized cakes have a molten chocolate center that erupts when you cut into them. Mix a chocolate cake batter, pour it into ramekins, and bake. The center stays underdone while the outside is fudgy—top with ice cream or a drizzle of chocolate sauce.
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Double Chocolate Brownies
Fudgy, rich brownies studded with chocolate chips. Melt chocolate and butter, add sugar and eggs, then fold the flour, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips. Spread in a pan and bake until the center is slightly wobbly. Let cool, then cut into squares.
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Chocolate Pudding
A classic, silky chocolate pudding is always a hit. Heat milk, sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, or flour, then whisk until thickened. Remove from heat, add chocolate chips or squares, and stir until melted and smooth. Pour into cups and chill before serving. Top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate if desired.
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Chocolate Chip Cookies
The classic chocolate chip cookie never disappoints. Use semi-sweet chocolate chips and add mix-ins like chopped nuts or butterscotch chips for extra decadence. For chewy cookies, underbake them slightly. For crispy cookies, cook them a minute or two longer.
3. Healthy Desserts
Using natural ingredients, fresh or frozen fruit, Greek yogurt, nut butter, and minimal added sugar are some keys to creating healthy desserts your whole family will enjoy and feel good about eating.
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Yogurt Parfaits
A delicious healthy dessert option is yogurt parfaits. Layer vanilla yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit like bananas in glasses for a pretty parfait. Greek yogurt has more protein to keep you full, so opt for nonfat plain Greek yogurt and add honey to sweeten it up.
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Fruit Salad
A classic fruit salad is always a good choice. Dice your favorite fruits like strawberries, kiwis, oranges, and melons. Toss with honey and lime or orange juice. For some crunch, you can add extras like shredded coconut, chopped nuts, or poppy seeds.
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Baked Apples
For a warm dessert, baked apples are perfect. Core apples and fill them with nuts, honey, cinnamon, and nut butter. Place them in a baking dish and top with coconut oil. Bake at 350 F until the apples are tender, about 30-40 minutes. The oat filling becomes gooey as it bakes and pairs great with the softened apples.
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Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Oatmeal raisin cookies are a classic, wholesome treat. The oats provide a hearty, nutritious base, and the raisins add a touch of sweetness. Use brown sugar instead of white sugar for extra molasses flavor. Add spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves for extra aroma.
4. Ice-cream Desserts
Nothing beats ice cream on a hot summer day. Here are some deliciously fantastic ice cream desserts your whole family will love.
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Ice Cream Sandwiches
Homemade ice cream sandwiches are always a hit. Take two cookie sheets and place your favorite ice cream scoops in between. Use classic chocolate chip cookies or peanut butter cookies. Press firmly together and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.
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Ice Cream Cake
For a show-stopping dessert, make your own ice cream cake. Layer your choice of ice cream flavors and pound cake or brownies in a springform pan. Top with hot fudge, caramel, or strawberry sauce, and garnish with nuts, sprinkles, or fresh berries. Freeze for up to 8 hours before serving.
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Milkshakes
On a hot day, nothing is more refreshing than a homemade milkshake. Blend 2-3 scoops of ice cream, 1/2 cup of milk or your choice of non-dairy milk like almond or coconut milk, and flavorings like chocolate or strawberry syrup. Top with whipped cream, sprinkles, crushed cookies, or candies for a special treat.
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Ice Cream Sundaes
For a delicious make-your-own sundae bar, set out bowls of ice cream, sauces, toppings, and mix-ins like:
- Hot fudge or caramel sauce
- Whipped cream
- Nuts like almonds, peanuts, or walnuts
- Sprinkles, gummy bears, or crushed cookies
Let everyone create their favorite sundae combination. A sweet treat your whole family will enjoy!
5. No-Bake Desserts
No-bake desserts are simple, cool treats perfect for hot summer weather or whenever you want something sweet without turning on the oven. With the variety of flavors and options, there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy.
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Peanut Butter Pie
For peanut butter lovers, a peanut butter pie is irresistible. Blend peanut butter, cream cheese, sugar, and whipped topping. Fold in whipped topping and pour into a pie crust. Chill before serving, topped with hot fudge or caramel sauce, whipped cream, and chopped peanuts.
Conclusion
So there you have it – some of the most amazingly delicious desserts your family will love. Whip a batch of chocolate chip cookies, dig into a decadent ice cream cake, or impress everyone with a homemade Raspberry sorbet. However you choose to satisfy your sweet tooth, these desserts will become new family favorites. Now get baking and enjoy!
