26 Dessert Recipes Made in an 8x8 Pan (2024)

1/25

Banana Pudding

I didn’t see my son, Lance Corporal Eric Harris, for more than two years after he enlisted in the Marines after high school. And when I saw him arrive at the airport, I just grabbed hold of him and burst out crying. When we got home, the first thing he ate was two bowls of my easy banana pudding recipe. He’s a true southern boy! It’s a dessert, but you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. —Stephanie Harris, Montpelier, Virginia

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2/25

Blueberry Buckle with Lemon Sauce

This recipe is a family favorite, served warm as dessert, plain or with a scoop of ice cream. My family also likes it cold as a coffee cake. But the lemon sauce topping makes this traditional dessert a little different, enhancing the flavor of the blueberries. —Maureen Carr, Carman, Manitoba

3/25

Coffee ‘n’ Cream Brownies

A friend gave me the recipe for these rich cakelike brownies topped with a creamy coffee-enhanced filling and a chocolate glaze. I like to garnish each square with a coffee bean. —Michelle Tiemstra, Lacombe, Alberta

4/25

Cherry Supreme Dessert

Marshmallows and a tart cherry topping lend flavor and eye appeal to this popular dessert. Better yet, it’s easy enough for kids to make! —Sherri Keim, Grand Junction, Colorado

5/25

Gingersnap Rum Apple Crisp

My mother makes incredible apple crisp, and I've added a few twists of my own. We think it's best warm, with ice cream on the side. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

6/25

I’ve tried “light” cheesecake recipes before with mixed results. Making a few changes, I created a rich, creamy cheesecake filling that truly tastes like the real deal. —Katie Farrell, Ann Arbor, Michigan

7/25

Almond Blondies

These make a nice change from the typical chocolate brownie. When I bake up a batch, they disappear quickly at my house. —Cindy Pruitt, Grove, Oklahoma

8/25

Old-Fashioned Scalloped Pineapple

My deliciously different dressing goes well with turkey or ham. It's also good for dessert with a little cream poured over the top! —Nancy Brown, Dahinda, Illinois

9/25

Peach-Rosemary Cobbler

Ripe peaches and warm biscuit topping go hand in hand. The fresh rosemary and cinnamon adds a delicious twist. —Michael Cohen, Los Angeles, California

10/25

Apricot-Hazelnut Triangles

These crispy cookie treats can be changed up—try different nuts and jams, and dark or white chocolate depending on the holiday. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona

11/25

Easy Lemon Bars

Easy lemon bars are one of those trusty desserts you can always count on to taste good, and they're easier to make than they look. Just make a thin crust, add a layer of homemade lemon filling and enjoy a refreshing treat.

12/25

My ode to all things chocolate, this is a phenomenally rich and satisfying chocolate ganache cake recipe. — Tarra Knight, Benbrook, Texas

13/25

Rhubarb Oat Bars

These chewy rhubarb bars provide just the right amount of tartness and sweetness. They are simply unbeatable! —Renette Cressey, Fort Mill, South Carolina

14/25

Rhubarb-Blueberry Crumble

Rhubarb and strawberry often go together, but blueberries give rhubarb a fresh and summery touch. — Mike Schulz, Tawas City, Michigan

15/25

Tiramisu Nanaimo Bars

I love Tiramisu. After tasting Nanaimo Bars at a local bakery, I decided to combine them with the flavors of Tiramisu. My friends and I love my creation and it is more convenient to eat than traditional Tirimisu. —Susan Riley, Allen, Texas

16/25

Summer Celebration Ice Cream Cake

I wanted to make my youngest son an ice cream cake one year for his summer birthday, as he prefers ice cream to the traditional cake. He picked the flavors and I decided to try my favorite brownie recipe as a crust. It worked! —Krista Frank, Rhododendron, Oregon

17/25

Makeover Cream Cheese Streusel Bars

With an oh-so-chocolaty crust, a crispy, crunchy topping and soft cream cheese filling, these delectable bars are over-the-top indulgent. —Janet Coops, Duarte, California

18/25

Tennessee Peach Pudding

This out-of-this-world dessert is one of our favorite, easy peach recipes. I was raised in Oklahoma, and we used Elberta peaches right off our trees when we made this outstanding cobbler. —Virginia Crowell, Lyons, Oregon

19/25

Apple Fritter Cake

I was experimenting with a beer bread to make it into a dessert and came up with this delectable apple fritter cake. —Ann Marie Eberhart, Gig Harbor, Washington

20/25

Rosy Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake

Here’s a cake that gets its rosy hue from the rhubarb topping. It’s moist on top and light as a feather on the bottom. —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

21/25

This was my grandmother’s favorite recipe to make when they had bushels of peaches. Now I love to bake it whenever I can for my family and friends. —Mary Ann Dell of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

22/25

Creme de Menthe Squares

This layered bar hits all the sweet spots: It’s airy, creamy, crunchy and the perfect mix of cool mint and rich chocolate. It has a vintage dessert appeal that no one in our family can resist. —Marilyn Blankschien, Clintonville, Wisconsin

23/25

Cinnamon Roll Cherry Cobbler

Red Hots and canned cherries flavor this memorable dessert from my childhood. I hadn’t had it in years, so when I found my mother’s recipe, I had to make it to see if it’s as good as I remembered. It is! —Betty Zorn, Eagle, Idaho

24/25

Cappuccino Cake Brownies

If you like your sweets with a cup of coffee, this recipe is good for you! These no-nut brownies combine a mild coffee flavor with the richness of semisweet chocolate chips. They're a quick and easy dessert or anytime snack at our house. —Mary Houchin Swansea, Illinois

25/25

Apple Coffee Cake

Tart sour cream flavors this moist apple cinnamon coffee cake covered with brown sugar and crunchy nuts. The yield is two pans, so you can serve one and freeze the other for a busy morning or unexpected company. —Dawn Fagerstrom, Warren, Minnesota

Originally Published: December 31, 1969