11 Quick And Simple Dessert Recipes For Teens

Image: ShutterStock

Teenagers love desserts, but the pre-packed ones in the market are usually filled with preservatives and unhealthy ingredients. Hence, this post on dessert recipes for teens includes healthy and sweet options, including cookies, muffins, tarts, and other baked treats. These recipes are easy to prepare and require less time for preparation. You may even prepare these in advance to quench their sweet cravings. Also, preparing these dishes could be a great excuse to spend time with them. Making desserts together can be a fun way for parents and teens to bond. It encourages creativity, teamwork, and cooking skills. This activity also helps teens learn about healthier dessert choices and nutrition while making them proud of what they create. So, check them out below.

11 Easy Dessert Recipes For Teens

1. No Bake Peanut Butter Pie:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

• 1 cookie pie crust or chocolate graham cracker
• 8 oz. of cream cheese
• 1 cup peanut butter
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 8 oz. of frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
• Whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and grated chocolate for garnishing

How To:

1. Using an electric mixer, beat sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Now blend in vanilla and peanut butter. Fold in the whipped topping.
2. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pie crust and refrigerate for 4 hours.
3. Garnish the pie with chocolate syrup, whipped cream and sprinkle grated chocolate on it. It is an easy dessert for teens to make without baking.

2. Mini Cheesecake:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

• 12 vanilla wafers
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1 package of cream cheese
• 1 can of cherry pie filling

How To:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line the muffin tins with liners. Place a vanilla wafer in each muffin.
2. In a medium sized bowl, beat cream cheese until soft and fluffy. Add lemon juice, sugar, and eggs and beat until thoroughly combined.
3. Fill each baking cup 2/3 full with the cream mixture and bake in the preheated oven for 17 minutes. Let it cool for a few minutes before garnishing.
4. After the cheesecake has cooled, top it with the fruit pie filling, and pipe the whipped cream on it.

Quick tip

You can also add toppings of whipped cream with berries, shaved chocolate, chocolate ganache, and crushed chocolate cookies.

3. Mascarpone Mini Cupcakes with Strawberry Glaze:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

• 8 ounces mascarpone cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup frozen strawberries, thawed and drained
• 2 egg whites
• ¼ cup of vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 box of white cake mix
• 2 ½ cups powdered sugar

How To:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and the line the cupcake tins with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, combine egg whites, vegetable oil, and mascarpone cheese and beat using an electric beater.
3. Add the water and cake mix and beat for 3 minutes.
4. Fill the cupcake liners and bake for 20 min. Let it cool on the wire rack.
5. As the cupcake cools down, puree the strawberries in a food processor.
6. Add the powdered sugar and puree until smooth.
7. When the cupcake has cooled, top it with the strawberry glaze.

4. Chocolate Coated Strawberries:

Image: IStock

You Will Need:

• 16 ounces of milk chocolate chips
• 1 pound of fresh strawberries with leaves
• 2 tablespoons of shortening
• Melted white chocolate for garnishing

How To:

1. In a double boiler, melt shortening and chocolate, occasionally stirring , until it acquires a smooth consistency.
2. Prick a toothpick on top of strawberry and dip into the chocolate mixture.
3. Turn the strawberry upside down and insert the toothpick into the Styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.
4. Repeat the method for all the strawberries.
5. Drizzle some white chocolate on the strawberries to give it a fancy look. This is the simple and easy dessert recipes for teenagers to prepare.

Quick tip

Carefully wipe the strawberries from top to bottom using a paper towel to remove any moisture. They must be dry before dipping them in chocolate.

5. Banana Pudding:

Image: IStock

You Will Need:

• 1 packet of cream cheese
• 1 container of frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 can of condensed milk
• ½ package of vanilla wafers
• 1 package of instant vanilla pudding mix
• 3 cups cold milk
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 4 bananas, sliced

How To:

1. In a large sized bowl, beat cream cheese until soft and fluffy. Add the pudding mix, condensed milk, vanilla extract and cold milk until smooth.
2. Fold half of the whipped topping.
3. Line a shallow dish with vanilla wafers and arrange the sliced bananas evenly over it.
4. Pour the pudding mixture and top with the remaining whipped topping.
5. Chill for a few hours before serving. This is the best healthy dessert recipe for teenagers to try first.

You may also try making other puddings, such as dark chocolate pudding, and serve them with classic snacks such as donuts, s’mores (with marshmallows and chocolate), or other dessert options for your teenagers to enjoy during snack time.

6. Lemon Yogurt Tart:

Image: IStock

You Will Need:

For The Oat Crust:

• ½ cup hulled sunflower seeds, lightly toasted
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 6 tablespoons of butter, melted and cooled
• ½ teaspoon of sea salt
• ¼ cup of maple syrup

For The Filling:

• 4 ounces of cream cheese
• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 eggs + 1 yolk
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 1 tablespoon of lemon zest

How To:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 10-inch tart pan.
2. To make the crust, combine sunflower seeds, oats and sea salt in the food processor bowl and pulse until you get a smooth texture.
3. Stir in the melted butter and maple syrup and process until you get a coarse bowl.
4. Transfer the oat mixture to the tart pan, and press out the dough using a spatula. Bake the crust for 20 minutes or until it is golden brown in color.
5. In a large bowl, whip cream cheese on a high speed. Add yogurt and beat until you get a smooth consistency.
6. Add the yolk and eggs, one at a time and mix again.
7. Reduce the speed and add sugar, followed by the sea salt, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
8. Now pour the mixture into the oat shell and bake for 35 minutes or until the tart sets up.
9. Cool for an hour, slice and serve.

Quick tip

Before serving, chill the tart for a few hours to help prevent the filling from becoming too runny. It will stiffen up after enough chilling, making it easier to cut the pie.

7. Chocolate Cookies:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 package of devil’s food cake mix
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup vegetable oil

How To:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease the cookie sheets.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together eggs, oil and the cake mix until well blended.
3. Now fold in the chocolate chip.
4. Roll the double into a lemon sized ball and place on the cookie sheets 2 inches apart.
5. Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow the cookies to stand for 5 minutes before transferring to the wire rack to cool completely.

8. Chocolate Fudge Brownies:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup cocoa
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 2 cups sugar
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• 3 large eggs
• ¼ teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of espresso powder
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

How To:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease a baking dish
2. In a large bowl, place all the ingredients except the chocolate chips. Beat until you get a smooth consistency.
3. Spread the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25 minutes.
4. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes and then sprinkle the chocolate chips. You may also bake the dessert with Nutella or serve it alongside the dish; this is the delectable dessert for teenagers and sure to satisfy their sweet cravings.

9. Drizzled Chocolate Apple:

Image: IStock

You Will Need:

• 4 small to medium sized apples
• 4 ounces of yellow candy melts
• 4, 6-inch wooden dowels
• 4 ounces of orange candy melts
• 1 bag of semi sweet chocolate morsels
• 3 teaspoons of canola oil

How To:

1. Remove the stems from the apple and insert a dowel into each at the stem end.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine one teaspoon of oil and semi-sweet chocolate. Microwave for 1 minute and stir. Again microwave for 30 seconds until melted.
3. Dip the apples in the chocolate until it is coated evenly. Allow the excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl.
4. Insert the other end of the dowel in the Styrofoam to let the apples dry.
5. In another bowl, combine one teaspoon of oil and orange candy melts and melt according to the package instruction. Transfer the orange melts into a piping bag. Repeat the same method with the yellow candy melts.
6. Drizzle the melts over the apples and leave it to dry. It is one of the nutritious and healthy desserts for teenagers. They definitely love to dip when their dunking apple drizzled with chocolate.

10. Strawberry Icebox Cake:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

• 3 ¾ cups heavy cream, divided
• 2 pounds fresh strawberries, washed and dried
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 24 to 28 graham crackers
• 2 ounces of dark chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• ½ teaspoon of rose water

How To:

1. Cut the strawberries into thin slices.
2. Using a hand mixer, whip 3 ½ cups of cream until it doubles in sizes.
3. Add sugar, vanilla and rose water and whip to combine.
4. Spread a spoonful of whipped cream at the bottom of the baking pan and lay six graham crackers.
5. Cover the top of the graham crackers with a bit more whipped cream and place a single layer of strawberries. Repeat the method until you get four layers of graham crackers.
6. Spread the whipped cream on the top and swirl it lightly using the spoon. Add a few more strawberries on the top.
7. To make the ganache, heat ¼ cup of cream and then pour over the chopped chocolate. Leave it to stand for a few minutes and then mix until you get a thick, glossy and smooth mixture.
8. Drizzle the ganache with a spoon or use a squeeze bottle to drizzle.
9. Refrigerate the dessert for 4 hours or until the crackers soften completely.

11. Cookie Butter Pie:

Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

For the cookie butter crust

• 2 cups crushed cookie butter cookies (take some extra for topping)
• ½ cup butter melted (unsalted)

For the cookie butter filling

• 14 ounces jar of creamy cookie butter
• 8 ounces block of cream cheese (softened)
• 2 cups heavy cream (whipped stiff)

How To:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Crush the cookie butter cookies (a coarse meal-like). Put them in a ziplock bag and use a rolling pin to crush them
3. Combine the crumbs with ½ cup melted butter until the crumbs are evenly moist.
4. Take a pie dish and press the cookie mix to the bottom and a little up the sides
5. Bake for five to seven minutes or until set. Remove from the oven and cool completely.
6. Combine the cookie butter and cream cheese using a handheld mixer (about 2 minutes on medium-high)
7. Fold the whipped cream gradually until the mixture is smooth and fluffy
8. Pour into the pie dish and smoothen out the top
9. Sprinkle cookie butter crumbs
10. Refrigerate overnight or until set
11. Serve with whipped cream.

Some more desserts to try with several healthy ingredients include ice cream, mousse, trifle, shortcakes, parfaits, and blondies.

Infographic: Delicious Desserts For Teens

Fun, easy, and quick desserts are great to satisfy your teen’s sweet tooth. Take inspiration from these ideas and try them out on weekends or holidays. This infographic shares some delectable dessert ideas your teen will relish. Take a printout and stick it to your kitchen wall!

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Quick And Simple Dessert Recipes For Teens

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Try these delicious, fun, and easy jello dessert recipes that the teens will love. Try making these treats at home and enjoy!

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Jyoti BenjaminMS, RD, CSO, FAND, CD

Jyoti Benjamin has 25 years of experience as a clinical dietitian and currently works in Seattle. She focuses on teaching people the value of good nutrition and helping them lead healthy lives by natural means.Benjamin has a masters in Foods and Nutrition, and has been a longtime member and Fellow of AND (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) and the International Confederation of Dietetic Association.

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Sagari GongalaBSc, PG Diploma (Psychological Counseling)

Sagari was a math graduate and studied counseling psychology in postgraduate college, which she used to understand people better. Her interest in reading about people made her take up articles on kids and their behavior. She was meticulous in her research and gave information that could be of help to parents in times of need.

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Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

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Nida holds a bachelor's degree in Zoology and a postgraduate diploma in Clinical Genetics and Medical Laboratory Techniques from Goa University. Before joining MomJunction, she worked as a laboratory technician. She began content writing during her college years and has been featured as a co-author in a children's short story compilation book.

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