No matter the season, I’m usually whipping something up in the oven. Whether it’s a birthday cake for a celebration or chocolate chip cookies for a cozy girls’ night, I’m always on the lookout for fresh recipes — especially ones that are cheap and straightforward.
Beyond skipping a long list of components, many of my friends and relatives have dietary restrictions: gluten-free, lactose-intolerant, paleo — you name it. Using pared-down recipes not only shortens my grocery list and trims my time in the kitchen, but it also makes it easier to prepare treats for those with allergies or limited diets.
Below are my 10 go-to quick dessert recipes that need three ingredients or fewer, along with estimated costs. I gathered prices from Walmart, Target and local markets, so your totals may vary slightly depending on where you shop.
10 Budget-Friendly, Tasty Desserts
I hunted down these 10 quick dessert ideas that call for only three ingredients or less.
1. Pumpkin Bread
- 1 can pumpkin: $2.11
- 1 box spice cake mix: $1.44
This two-ingredient pumpkin bread from North Carolina Charm is ridiculously simple. My only frustration is finding spice cake mix stocked year-round at my grocery store.
If a spice cake mix isn’t available, try this method for turning a yellow cake mix into a spice cake mix. You can also jazz it up with mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts or dried fruit.
Left plain, the loaf costs $3.55 total and takes just a few minutes of prep.
2. Peanut Butter Cookies
- 1 cup peanut butter: $1.25
- 1 cup sugar: 27 cents
- 1 egg: 7 cents
Platter Talk’s peanut butter cookies are scrumptious and incredibly simple. They’re also packed with protein and naturally gluten-free. A batch runs about $1.59, and guests will likely assume you spent much more time baking them than you did.
3. Chocolate Mousse
- 1 heaping tablespoon cocoa powder: 12 cents
- 3 teaspoons powdered sugar: 3 cents
- ½ cup heavy cream: 90 cents
This chocolate mousse from Circle B Kitchen is perfect whether you’re entertaining a crowd or treating yourself. One batch makes a single serving, so multiply the ingredients if you’re serving more people.
The beauty of this two-minute mousse is you can pop everything into a mason jar and shake it up, avoiding extra dishes. Add a pinch of sea salt for more depth or a dollop of whipped cream on top — it’s about $1.05 per serving.
4. Cake Mix Cookies
- 1 box cake mix: $1
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil: 13 cents
- 2 eggs: 13 cents
These cake mix cookies from Somewhat Simple might be one of my all-time favorites. You can use any cake mix and toss in extras — think yellow cake with sprinkles or chocolate cake with chips. They always turn out great. A batch of roughly 24 cookies costs about $1.26.
5. Flourless Chocolate Cake
- 8 eggs: 52 cents
- 1 pound semisweet or bittersweet chocolate: $8.00
- 1 cup butter: $2.60
Gimme Some Oven’s flourless chocolate cake is an excellent choice for anyone avoiding gluten or simply adoring chocolate. This rich, fudgy cake costs about $11.12 and is lovely topped with a chocolate glaze or fresh berries. Best of all, you can proudly tell guests you made it from scratch.
6. Coconut Macaroons
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk: 99 cents
- 14 ounces flaked coconut: $1.94
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract: $2.22
These coconut macaroons from Just a Taste are straightforward and delightful. They look lovely with a drizzle of chocolate or plain alongside a cup of tea. While pricier than some choices — roughly $5.15 for about 40 macaroons — they’re sure to impress.
7. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 1 cup oats: 73 cents
- ¼ cup chocolate chips: 31 cents
- 2 mashed bananas: 94 cents
Skinny Taste’s oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are timeless. Those overripe bananas in your fruit bowl make a great egg substitute. This recipe suits folks who are lactose-intolerant or watching carbs. Swap raisins for chocolate chips to reduce calories. At $1.98, this batch is hard to beat.
8. Shortbread Cookies
- 1 cup butter: $2.60
- ½ cup powdered sugar: 25 cents
- 2 cups flour: 47 cents
This shortbread recipe from Laughing Spatula is a beloved classic. While it can take a bit more time than some other entries here, it’s a fun project with kids when you bring out cookie cutters and sprinkles. A batch costs about $3.32 and is well worth the effort.
9. Gingerbread Brownies
- Gingerbread cake mix: $2.48
- ½ cup melted butter: $1.30
- ⅓ cup evaporated milk: 20 cents
This gingerbread brownie idea from Oh Bite It feels a bit more seasonal, so you may only find gingerbread cake mix during the holidays. It’s a creative spin on classic gingerbread and costs about $3.98 — a festive treat that won’t break the bank.
10. Fruit Tart
- 12-by-2-inch sheet puff pastry: $2.65
- 16 ounces strawberries, sliced: $2.99
- 1 tablespoon sugar: 2 cents
This three-ingredient fruit tart from The Comfort of Cooking makes a lovely summer dessert. My strawberry version cost $5.66, but feel free to swap in peaches, other berries or whatever fruit you have on hand.
Let’s be honest: baking can get costly, take forever and leave a mess. It’s easy to pour in time and money only to be underwhelmed by the result. That’s why I adore recipes that use three ingredients or fewer. It might seem improbable, but those simple, affordable dessert recipes truly exist!
Article by Maya Bennett, a freelance writer and student living in Washington, D.C., who has contributed to several outlets, including Verily, Pittsburgh Magazine and Aleteia For Her. For crafty gift ideas to pair with your treats, check out easy diy mothers day cards.
