Top Ten Reader Favorite Dessert Recipes

Today I'm sharing with you my readers' top ten favorite dessert recipes. These are the most highly rated, reliable recipes with rave reviews from readers like you!

Looking for a new dessert recipe to try? Bored with your regular baking recipes? You're sure to find a new favorite on this list!

These are my top ten reader favorite dessert recipes. This list is based on pageviews, star reviews, and comments from readers like you. You'll find a little bit of everything on this list - like cookies, sheet cake, pie filling, and cupcakes.

All of these dessert recipes are made from scratch with simple ingredients. No cake mix shortcuts and no complicated ingredients. Just simple directions and tips to help you bake with confidence!

10. Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookie Dippers

Shortbread cookies are buttery, dense, and tender - a nice change up from your everyday chocolate chip cookie! While shortbread can be tricky to master for the beginner baker, I think they're worth the extra effort.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookie Dippers

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookie Dippers are the perfect companion for a warm cup of coffee or cold glass of milk. Using the classic 1:2:3 shortbread ratio, these cookies turn out buttery and delicate. Plus, you need only 5 ingredients for this quick and easy cookie recipe.

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Close up of chocolate chips in shortbread cookies.

9. Birthday Cake Cookies

This was one of the first few recipes posted on The Toasty Kitchen back in 2017. I was determined to make a birthday cake cookie that didn't use a cake mix as the base. They've been a reader favorite for years!

Birthday Cake Cookies

Birthday cake cookies are chewy, buttery, and filled with white chocolate chips and sprinkles. Plus, they're made entirely from scratch - no need for a boxed cake mix today!

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A stack of cookies with rainbow sprinkles.

8. Vanilla Sheet Cake

After many reader requests, I finally made my vanilla cupcakes recipe (#5 on this list) into a cake. This recipe can be made into a 13x18 sheet cake (pictured), a 9x13 cake, or a 9-inch two layer cake.

Vanilla Sheet Cake

Topped with my favorite whipped buttercream frosting, this recipe can be made in three different pan sizes - even as a layer cake! It makes the perfect classic birthday cake.

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7. Mini Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes

If you love cheesecake and peanut butter cups, these mini cheesecakes are the best of both worlds!

Mini Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes

Mini peanut butter cup cheesecakes are cupcake-sized cheesecakes made with a chocolate graham cracker crust, peanut butter filling, and chocolate topping. These individually sized cheesecakes are rich, decadent, and perfect for any peanut butter lover.

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6. Gingerbread Loaf

Most popular during the holidays, this gingerbread loaf is reliable and easy to make! This recipe can also be made into gingerbread muffins.

Homemade Gingerbread Loaf

Homemade Gingerbread Loaf is soft, moist, and perfectly spiced with your favorite holiday flavors. Pair with your morning coffee, enjoy as dessert, or give as a gift.

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A serving plate of gingerbread with a red checked towel.

5. Homemade Vanilla Cupcakes

A classic vanilla cupcake made with simple ingredients. Perfect for any occasion and easy to customize with sprinkles and colored frosting.

Homemade Vanilla Cupcakes

Homemade vanilla cupcakes are tender and moist, and made entirely from scratch. These yellow cupcakes are topped with a sweet and velvety American buttercream frosting.

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Close up of a vanilla cupcake with rainbow sprinkles on the counter.

4. Strawberry Filled Cupcakes

For this recipe, I've taken my white cupcakes recipe and filled it with strawberry topping - two reader favorite recipes combined into one!

Strawberry Filled Cupcakes

Strawberry Filled Cupcakes are soft, delicate white cupcakes with fresh strawberry filling and whipped buttercream frosting. A crowd-favorite cupcake recipe.

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Strawberry filled cupcake sliced in half.

3. Cherry Pie Filling

Cherry pie filling is perfect for topping your next homemade cheesecake, turning into puff pastry cherry turnovers, or baking into a pie (instructions for making a pie are also included!).

Cherry Pie Filling

Make your own Cherry Pie Filling from scratch today. Try this filling in your next cherry pie, turnovers, or to top your next cheesecake.

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White bowl of cherry pie filling on a wooden counter top.

2. White Cupcakes

This is my own go-to recipe for cupcakes. Readers love pairing this with whipped buttercream frosting (my most popular frosting recipe!).

Easy White Cupcakes

Easy white cupcakes are soft, delicate, and surprisingly simple to make from scratch. These moist and light-as-air cupcakes are perfect for weddings, events, and birthdays.

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1. Easy Mini Cheesecakes

These cheesecakes have long been a reader favorite since posted in 2019. Readers also love pairing these with strawberry topping and raspberry topping!