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    Home » Recipe Index » Desserts

    The Best Small Batch Desserts

    April 21, 2021 Updated January 18, 2023 By Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD Desserts

    five different desserts in a collage with text overlay

    These small batch desserts are great If you cook for one or two, because you may not want to eat a whole recipe of cookies, brownies or bars. You'll find single serving desserts and small batch dessert recipes here.

    five different desserts in a collage with text overlay

    Table of contents

    • Why make smaller batch desserts
    • Single Serving Desserts
    • Small Batch Desserts

    Why make smaller batch desserts

    One of the hardest parts of cooking for one is adjusting recipes so you don't have to eat the same meal or dessert day after day. Even as delicious as desserts are, it can be tough throwing away unfinished brownies or cookies.

    That's why I want to share this list of single serving and small desserts. Make enough for a couple days or a week and you'll enjoy them without feeling obligated to eat more than you'd like or throwing uneaten desserts away.

    In this list you'll find cookies, crisps, a chocolate cake!!, ice cream, brownies, and fruit filled desserts. Desserts for 'one' don't have to lead to mounds of leftovers or only be one mug cake that doesn't end up tasting like a traditional cake.

    Single Serving Desserts

    Make any of these easy desserts if you need dessert for one night. Milkshakes take just a couple minutes, and the baked desserts take up to 30 minutes, but they're easy and worth the wait.

    Apple Crumble Tart
    This easy single serving apple crumble tart is the perfect cool weather dessert. To save time, add a few ingredients to half of the shortbread like crust recipe to make the crumble topping. It's filled with tart apples for the perfect sweet, tart, crumbly bite.
    Check out this recipe
    spoonful of apple crisp in dish, square
    Butterscotch Milkshake
    5 minute creamy butterscotch milkshake for one is made with just 3 ingredients, when you use store bought butterscotch sauce. Or make it with my easy butterscotch recipe. Because it's so easy, it's a great spring/summer dessert to cool down with.
    Check out this recipe
    milkshake with caramel in glass
    Biscoff Milkshake
    A biscoff milkshake for one takes 5 minutes and 4 ingredients, so it's the perfect dessert when you need a quick dessert. Caramel and cinnamon flavors of Biscoff cookies and butter, blend together with creamy vanilla ice cream for a cool treat.
    Check out this recipe
    Milkshake with crumbled Biscoff cookies on top
    Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie
    Make this single serve chocolate chip cookie when you're in the mood for chocolate chip cookies, but don't have freezer or counter room. It's really easy, delicious, and will leave you with one big crispy, gooey, chocolatey cookie.
    Check out this recipe
    square image of chocolate chip cookie on plate
    Strawberry Banana Milkshake
    This 6 ingredient, 5 minute strawberry banana milkshake is a satisfying, quick dessert for one. It's got 2 secret ingredients to give it a summery bright strawberry flavor and is made with ingredients you can find in your fridge and freezer.
    Check out this recipe
    whole strawberry and whipped cream in glass
    Single Serving Apple Crisp
    This single serving apple crisp is the perfect easy fall dessert for one. It takes just 10 minutes to assemble, and about 30 to bake. It's good out of the oven, but honestly really shines at room temperature-if you can wait!
    Check out this recipe
    close up of apple crisp with ice cream
    Single Serving Brownie
    Make this single serving brownie when you've got a chocolate craving. It's got gooey chocolate chips, can be cooked to your preference, and just takes about 20 minutes from start to finish. You're just a few minutes to getting your chocolate fix.
    Check out this recipe
    ramekin with brownie and chocolate ice cream
    Skillet Peach Crumble
    This peach crumble dessert is made on the stove in just 15 minutes, it's the perfect quick summer dessert for one. All you need are fresh or canned peaches, and a couple pantry ingredients for the tasty crumble topping.
    Check out this recipe
    peach crisp with vanilla ice cream on a plate

    Small Batch Desserts

    Lots of times, it's just not worth it to bake something for 30 minutes for just one serving, that's where these 2-4 serving desserts come into play. Make a couple extra servings for leftovers. Eat through the week or freeze for later.

    Dark Chocolate Cookies (small batch)
    Have a chocolate craving, but don't want to make a whole batch of cookies? This small batch dark chocolate cookies recipe is just what you need. Eat what you can, freeze some if needed, but you're just 20 minutes from ooey gooey cookies.
    Check out this recipe
    close up of double dark chocolate small batch cookies on a cookie sheet
    Mini Chocolate Cake
    Make this 6 inch mini chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting to satisfy your chocolate cravings. It's perfect if you cook for one or two, so you won't get too tired of it before being able to eat it all.
    Check out this recipe
    chocolate frosted cake with 2 slices cut out
    Small-Batch Peanut Butter Cookies
    These one bowl, small batch peanut butter cookies are soft inside and crisp on the outside. They're made with pantry ingredients and are ready in about 25 minutes. This cookie makes about 6 thick cookies.
    Check out this recipe
    one peanut butter cookie on blue and wooden plates
    Blueberry Oreo Ice Cream
    This blueberry oreo ice cream recipe is the perfect way to cool down this summer. It's an easy no-churn recipe that you can actually scoop right out of the freezer. It's creamy, smooth, and bursting with flavor.
    Check out this recipe
    a scoop of blueberry oreo ice cream in a cream bowl
    One Bowl Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies
    This small batch cookie recipe just takes 30 minutes to make and is done in one bowl. It's perfect if you don't want a couple dozen cookies!
    Check out this recipe
    pile of chocolate chip cookies on a cooling rack
    Oatmeal Cherry Bars
    These oatmeal cherry bars are packed with fresh cherry flavor and a crumbly buttery oatmeal base and topping. Use frozen cherries to save money and eat them year round.
    Check out this recipe
    cherry oatmeal bar on a cream plate
    Valentines Chocolate Covered Strawberries
    These Valentines chocolate covered strawberries will be your new favorite Valentine's treat. These juicy strawberries dunked in silky chocolate take just 5-7 minutes to make, and are so delicious.
    Check out this recipe
    three chocolate covered strawberries with heart sprinkles on a plate with ingredients in background
    No Churn Frozen Greek Yogurt with Tart Cherry Sauce
    This homemade no-churn frozen Greek yogurt with tart cherry sauce is as delicious as it is easy. Grab all the ingredients at Sprouts for a convenient treat.
    Check out this recipe
    pouring tart cherry sauce onto frozen greek yogurt in a glass
    Small Batch Sugar Cookies
    Instead of making a whole batch of sugar cookies, make these 6 cookies and top them with your favorite sprinkles for a fun addition.
    Check out this recipe
    6 sugar cookies with sprinkles on them
    How to make s'mores in the oven
    Wonder how to make s'mores in the oven? Maybe you don't have a firepit or fire to cook s'mores or want easy s'mores. Cooking s'mores in the oven is easy and takes less than 10 minutes to make. Plus they're just as good as the campfire version.
    Check out this recipe
    close up of charred marshmallow s'more on a plate
    Cherry Chocolate Coconut Milk Chia Pudding
    This Cherry Chocolate Chia Pudding is a great way to use summer cherries. This recipe is great for dessert or even breakfast or a snack later. Top it with whipped cream to make it extra creamy and delicious.
    Check out this recipe
    chocolate cherry chia pudding in 2 mugs

    Want to get more single serving recipes or others like these small batch desserts delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Single Serving Cookbook.

    Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started.

    More Desserts

    • peach crisp with vanilla ice cream on a plate
      Skillet Peach Crumble for One
    • strawberry sauce in glass jar
      No Cook Strawberry Sauce
    • milkshake with caramel in glass
      Butterscotch Milkshake
    • whole strawberry and whipped cream in glass
      Strawberry Banana Milkshake

    About Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Colleen says

      April 26, 2021 at 11:38 am

      This is a perfect collection of delicious desserts. Exactly what I need for just my husband and me!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        April 27, 2021 at 3:52 pm

        yay! it's great for 1-2

        Reply
    2. veenaazmanov says

      April 26, 2021 at 11:22 am

      Thanks for such amazing and delicious recipes and ideas. Have to store them in my best collection. Everything so yum.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        April 27, 2021 at 3:52 pm

        great

        Reply
    3. Sonal says

      April 26, 2021 at 10:31 am

      What a great collection. I am eyeing to try that Mini chocolate cake. I think small batch baking is what we need these days. Most of the baking recipes yield such huge quantities that it’s overwhelming to bake and then finish those.

      Reply
    4. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

      April 26, 2021 at 10:20 am

      Thank you for the recipe, it was absolutely delicious and we all loved it!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        April 27, 2021 at 3:52 pm

        which one was your favorite?

        Reply
    5. Marlynn says

      April 26, 2021 at 9:45 am

      I love this collection of recipes! So often we don't need to make a huge batch and some of my fave recipes are in here.

      Reply

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    Rebecca, MS, RDN
    of Nourish Nutrition

    At Nourish Nutrition, you'll find bold, flavorful recipes for one. Most are single serving, and all have suggestions to use up the leftover ingredients so you can stop throwing away unused ingredients & leftovers!

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