79 Desserts to Bake When You Don’t Have Flour
Updated: Aug. 17, 2020Don't fret if you've run out of flour! We have desserts made with pantry staples, convenience ingredients and much more.
Peanut butter chocolate poke cake
“When my family is planning a get-together, I can count on three or four people asking if I’m bringing this chocolate peanut butter poke cake. If you don’t have a chocolate cake mix, use a white or yellow one and stir in 3 tablespoons of baking cocoa.” —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
Easy layer bars
These rich bar cookies will melt in your mouth! They’re great to have on hand for a snack.
Chocolate banana bundles
“Banana and chocolate are such an irresistible combo that I make this quick dessert often. You can also top them with the butter and brown sugar mixture left over from coating the bananas, or sprinkle on a dash of sea salt.” —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey
And if you’ve ever wondered what being a professional chocolate tester would be like, here’s what experts have to say about it.
Baklava
“Many ethnic festivals are held in my city throughout the year. One in May is the Greek Hellenic Festival. My family enjoys baklava—a traditional walnut strudel. The recipe uses phyllo dough, which is not difficult to work with. Just have your ingredients ready to go and follow the directions on the package. The results are scrumptious and well worth the effort.” —Judy Losecco, Buffalo, New York
S’more cheesecake
“This luscious dessert is just as wonderfully tasty as the campfire snack that inspired it. It’s a great way to savor a summer classic [at] any time of year. Our four-year-old daughter likes it so much that she’s requested it for her next birthday!” —Robin Andrews, Cary, North Carolina
Make sure you also consider adding this secret ingredient for the perfect s’mores.
Cocoa meringues with berries
“Meringues can be challenging on a humid day, but if you’re really craving one, meringues can be purchased at your favorite bakery. Add this sweet sauce, and you’re all set!” —Raymonde Bourgeois, Swastika, Ontario
Chocolate peanut butter dream bars
“Who doesn’t like this dessert duo? Add your favorite combination of candies to garnish the tops of these chocolate peanut butter dream bars.” —Cindi DeClue, Anchorage, Alaska
If you end up with leftover peanut butter after making this recipe, here’s the correct way to store it.
Easy cake mix bars
“I take this dessert to work for Friday pick-me-ups. It’s one of my favorite yellow cake bar recipes. I love to share them because they’re so easy to eat, easy to make and easy on the wallet.” —Amy Rose, Ballwin, Missouri
Bread pudding pie
“This unique dessert is a bread pudding-pie combo. It was created by my paternal grandmother’s family. They had a farm and made their own bread, which made this a low-cost dessert.” — Kelly Barnes, Lexington, Indiana
This breakfast bread pudding is also worth a try.
Banana bread pudding
“When I visited my grandmother in summer, I always looked forward to the comforting pudding she’d make. With its crusty golden top, custardlike inside and smooth vanilla sauce, this bread pudding is a real homespun dessert. Now I make it for my grandchildren.” —Mary Detweiler, Middlefield, Ohio
And if you end up loving this recipe, make sure you try it out with chocolate as well.
Strawberry-rhubarb upside-down cake
“I prepare this colorful dessert quite often in the summer when fresh rhubarb is abundant. I make this rhubarb cake with cake mix and take it to church potlucks. People actually line up for a piece.” —Bonnie Krogman, Thompson Falls, Montana
Pineapples also make for great upside-down cakes—find out how to make Martha Stewart’s favorite here.
Lemon supreme pie
“A friend and I often visit a local restaurant for pie and coffee. When they stopped carrying our favorite lemon supreme pie, I got busy in the kitchen and created this version, which we think tastes even better! The combination of the cream cheese and tart lemon is wonderful.” —Jana Beckman, Wamego, Kansas
Butterfinger cookie bars
“My boys went through a phase where they loved Butterfingers. We made Butterfinger shakes, muffins, cookies and experimented with different bars; this one was voted the best of the bunch. Make sure you have an extra candy bar on hand because it’s hard to resist a nibble or two while you’re chopping.” —Barbara Leighty, Simi Valley, California
Chocolate bavarian torte
“Whenever I take this eye-catching torte to a potluck, I get so many requests for the recipe.” —Edith Holmstrom, Madison, Wisconsin
This recipe sure has a vintage feel to it—and so do these other delicious options.
Butterscotch toffee cookies
“With its big butterscotch and chocolate flavor, my cookie stands out. I like to enjoy it with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. It’s my fallback recipe when I’m short on time and need something delicious fast.” —Allie Blinder, Norcross, Georgia
Here are some other delicious cookie recipes that you can make even when your pantry is bare.
Fresh blackberry pie
“I grew up on a farm, and we always picked fruits in early summer and used them to make desserts. This blackberry pie is a real stunner.” —Gladys Gibbs, Brush Creek, Tennessee
If you’re a fan of pie recipes, here’s why you shouldn’t rule out vintage pies.
Jam-topped mini cheesecakes
“We turned cheesecake into irresistible bite-sized snacks. Feel free to swap in any favorite flavor of jam.” —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Grandma’s rice pudding
“My sisters and I always loved the recipe for rice pudding our grandma made. After she passed away, I took it upon myself to try and find the secret to her rice pudding. It took quite a bit of experimentation, but I finally got it right! And I’m glad to share this easy recipe here.” —Margaret DeChant, Newberry, Michigan
Caramel chocolate trifle
“A highlight of our annual family reunion is the dessert competition. The judges take their jobs very seriously! Last year’s first-place winner was this tempting trifle.”—Barb Hausey, Independence, Missouri
Another great thing about this recipe is that it doesn’t require complicated ingredients, and neither do these other straightforward recipes.
Quick cherry turnovers
“Refrigerated crescent rolls let you make these fruit-filled pastries in a hurry. My family loves these turnovers for breakfast, but they’re so delicious, they’d be welcome any time of the day. Feel free to experiment with other pie fillings as well.” —Elleen Oberrueter, Danbury, Iowa
Fudgy mint cookies
“Chocolate lovers will get a double dose when they bite into this cake-like cookie. The cookies are especially popular served alongside a big scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream!” —Renee Schwebach, Dumont, Minnesota
If you end up with extra cookie dough after making this recipe, you’ll be happy to know that you can freeze it.
Strawberry shortcake puffs
“When my wonderful friend Kelly brought me a pint of strawberries, I didn’t want to just eat them straight (tempting as it was). I decided to make strawberry shortcake with my own pretty, elegant spin. These light and airy puff pastry stacks let the fruit shine.” —Jenny Dubinsky, Inwood, West Virginia
Black bean brownies
“You’d never guess these rich, velvety chocolate treats contain a can of black beans. Who would have thought black bean brownies would be so amazing?” —Kathy Hewitt, Cranston, Rhode Island
If you thought black beans were surprising, wait until you read up on this brownie recipe that contains red wine!
Cranberry layer cake
“I adapted a Bundt cake recipe to create this layer cake. Cranberries, walnuts and homemade frosting make it taste so delicious that you’d never guess it starts with a convenient cake mix.” —Sandy Burkett, Galena, Ohio
Cranberries are also a superfood—just like these other fall foods.
Pear bundt cake
“Next time you make [a] cake from a mix, try my easy and delicious recipe. The pears and syrup add sweet flavor and prevent the cake from drying out. And since there’s no oil added to the batter, this tender fall-perfect cake is surprisingly low in fat.” —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Meringue shells with lemon curd
“We love a dazzling dessert of meringue shells filled with sunny lemon curd. It’s sweet and tart, crunchy and fluffy. Top it with whipped cream and berries.” —Kris Brill, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
First time making meringue? Here’s the perfect temperature to make the best ones ever.
Can’t leave alone bars
“Convenient cake mix hurries along [with] the preparation of these tasty bars. I bring these quick-and-easy treats to church meetings, potlucks and housewarming parties. I often make a double batch so we can enjoy some at home.” —Kimberly Biel, Java, South Dakota
Make sure you also check out this old meringue-topped bar recipe.
Chocolate-dipped strawberry meringue roses
“Eat these pretty treats as is, or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea.” —Amy Tong, Anaheim, California
Peach pie
“I acquired this delicious peach pie filling recipe some 40 years ago when my husband and I first moved to southern Iowa and had peach trees growing in our backyard. It’s been a family favorite since then and always brings back memories of both summer and those happy early years.” — June Mueller, Sioux City, Iowa
Pumpkin pie custard
“Instead of pumpkin pie, try this flavorful light holiday dessert. My husband’s aunt shared the recipe after she brought this treat to a family party.” —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
Are you a fan of everything pumpkin? Here’s how you can make the perfect pumpkin pie.
Nutella hand pies
“These pint-size Nutella hand pies made with puff pastry are too good to keep to yourself!” —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Giant buckeye cookie
“I’m from Ohio, and we love our buckeye candy! Buckeyes are a delicious combination of peanut butter and chocolate, which is exactly what this cookie is. All you need is a box of cake mix, a few common pantry ingredients, and voila—you have a tasty dessert ready for family and friends in under an hour. You can customize it, too, by substituting other mix-ins for the chocolate chips. We serve it warm with ice cream or whipped cream.” —Arianna Harding, Cincinnati, Ohio
Cranberry pecan cookies
“These are so tasty and simple to prepare! Each delightful little cookie is loaded with cranberries, nuts and vanilla, giving them the taste of a treat that’s been slaved over.” —Louise Hawkins, Lubbock, Texas
These chocolate oatmeal pecan cookies are just as delicious!
Berry dream cake
“I use cherry gelatin to give a boxed cake mix an eye-appealing marbled effect. It’s so festive-looking. Top it with whatever fruit you like!” —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee
If you enjoy this recipe, make sure you try this vanilla cake recipe as well.
Jelly sandwich cookies
“Sandwiching jelly between two layers of the basic dough creates these stained glass-like creations. Your favorite raisin filling is excellent in these cookies, too.” —Gloria McBride, Payson, Utah
Your kids might love making cookies too—here are some recipes to try making with them.
Coconut cranberry tummies
“When my husband came home from the grocery store with six bags of fresh cranberries, I launched a full-scale effort to creatively use them all. Bursting with tart and sweet flavors, these cranberry coconut cookies are my favorite results from that experiment.” —Amy Alberts, Appleton, Wisconsin
If you’ve ever wondered if coconuts are actually nuts, here is your answer.
Butterscotch-toffee cheesecake bars
“I took a cheesecake bar recipe and added a new flavor combo to transform it! The butterscotch and toffee really taste divine here.” —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia
Butterscotch is just one of the many secret ingredients you can use to make your treats tastier—here are some others.
Palmiers
“It takes just two ingredients to make these impressive but easy-to-do French pastries, which are often called palm leaves.” —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Caramel apple strudel
“My father, who was born and raised in Vienna, Austria, would tell us stories about how his mother covered all the kitchen counters with dough whenever she made apple strudel. This recipe is a modern, delicious way to carry on part of my family’s heritage.” —Sarah Haengel, Bowie, Maryland
Dream cupcakes
“My grandchildren love these cream-filled cupcakes. They’re a special treat yet easy to make. And they keep nicely in the refrigerator.” —Dorothy Bahlmann, Clarksville, Iowa
Easy peanut butter oatmeal cookies
“This easy oatmeal cookie recipe is great with a glass of cold milk! With their peanutty flavor, these scrumptious cookies hit the spot. Plus, they couldn’t be easier to make!” —Marilyn Blankschien, Clintonville, Wisconsin
Berry-patch brownie pizza
“I just love the combination of fruit, almonds and chocolate that makes this brownie so unique. The fruit lightens the chocolate a bit and makes it feel as though you are eating something sinfully healthy.” —Sue Kauffman, Columbia City, Indiana
Cinnamon cherry cobbler
“It’s not a misprint—there really are just two ingredients in this spiced cherry dessert. It’s a good brunch for sweet-lovers, too.” —Terri Robinson, Muncie, Indiana
Family-favorite cheesecake
“This easy cheesecake recipe has been a family favorite for almost 20 years. It’s fluffy, delicate and absolutely delicious. I’ve shared it at many gatherings over the years and have even started baking it for our friends instead of Christmas cookies.” —Esther Wappner, Mansfield, Ohio
Chocolate caramel wafers
“To keep my holiday cooking quick, I’ve come to rely on fast recipes like this one. The crunchy-chewy tidbits are our youngster’s favorite.” —Susan Laubach, Vida, Montana
Cinnamon pecan bars
“I’m a special ed teacher and we bake these bars in my life skills class. It ‘s an easy recipe that my special-needs students have fun preparing.” —Jennifer Peters, Adams Center, New York
Cinnamon is also a spice with a long shelf life, just like these 32 other pantry staples.
Angel macaroons
“These chewy coconut cookies start with a boxed angel food cake mix.” —Renee Schwebach, Dumont, Minnesota
Italian pignoli cookies
“Cookies are the crown jewels of Italian confections. I can’t let a holiday go by without baking these traditional almond cookies rolled in mild pine nuts.” —Maria Regakis, Somerville, Massachusetts
Next, check out these creative substitutes to buy when pantry staples are out of stock.
Originally Published: August 17, 2020
Originally Published on Taste of Home