32 Tiny Desserts That Are Adorable and Delicious

Updated February 01, 2021

Good things come in small packages, and that rings true with these adorable tiny desserts. Whether it’s a cheesecake, pie or tart, these miniature desserts pack a lot of flavor in a few bites. Try recipes like Mini New York Cheesecakes and Mini Molten Chocolate Cakes with Mocha Sauce for a treat that’s healthy and delicious.

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Mini New York Cheesecakes

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These mini cheesecakes aren't just adorable--baked in a muffin tin, they're quicker to make than traditional cheesecake and perfectly portioned.

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Double Nut & Date Tassies

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The two-bite pecan tarts satisfy the sweet tooth with far less guilt than pecan pie.

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Pineapple Coconut Bites

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A retired writing professor and mother of two daughters, Jessie Grearson got inspiration for these mini tarts from a pineapple-coconut bar that her mother used to make. Her version successfully uses whole-wheat pastry flour and less butter and sugar.

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Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches

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You'll definitely want to make an extra batch (or 5) to have handy in your freezer in the summer. A great way to use up the last of that pint of sorbet or frozen yogurt. Kids will love them too!

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Mini Blueberry-Lemon Cheesecakes

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This muffin-tin mini cheesecake recipe is an adorable, healthy dessert that's the perfect cute size. If making 2 dozen seems like overkill, the recipe can easily be cut in half. If you avoid gluten, use gluten-free graham crackers to make the crust.

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Fried Apple Pie Rolls

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In this healthy take on apple pie, wonton wrappers stand in for pie crust, saving you calories and the headache of rolling out dough. We like to use Granny Smith apples because they hold their shape and provide tart balance to the sweet filling. Try dipping these handheld crispy treats in whipped cream.

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Mini Strawberry-Rhubarb Pies

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This muffin-tin recipe for strawberry-rhubarb pies is cute as can be and delicious too! These mini strawberry-rhubarb pies have a special crust made from almonds and white whole-wheat flour. Make sure you let the baked pies cool in the pan for the full 30 minutes so the filling has time to set. Serve with fresh whipped cream or a dollop of Greek yogurt.

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Mini Rum-Raisin Bread Puddings

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This raisin- and pecan-studded bread pudding recipe is made in a muffin tin. The cute little mini bread puddings will have all your friends and family swooning and asking for the recipe. Country bread with a solid crust gives the bread pudding a nice toothsome texture. If you don't care for rum, use apple cider in its place.

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Mini Berry Cream Pies

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Try this Mini Berry Cream Pies recipe the next time you want to whip up a quick healthy dessert. For this red-white-and-blue dessert, frozen mini phyllo cups work the best. Keep them nestled in their tray for easy transport to a picnic or potluck.

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Mini Frozen Baklava

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Try this recipe for frozen mini baklava bites using low-fat frozen yogurt the next time you want to whip up a quick dessert. Shelf-stable mini phyllo cups are widely available, but for this recipe the frozen cups are best.

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Mini Apple Pies with Cheddar

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Here's a healthy--and adorable--twist on deep-dish apple pie. This mini apple pie recipe will give you just a bit of something sweet and the melted wedge of Cheddar on top is a nod to the New England tradition of serving cheese with apple pie.

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Quick Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes

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Here we stir a little melted chocolate into ricotta cheese for a cheesecake-like topping for chocolate wafer cookies.

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Mini Molten Chocolate Cakes with Mocha Sauce

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Some molten-cake recipes call for simply underbaking the batter so the middles stay lava-like, but mini cakes get done so quickly it's best to give them a filling that won't set up. These rich, mocha-flavored morsels are guaranteed to stay moist and gooey, owing to a simple mocha ganache in the middle. Serve the cakes with a scoop of low-fat coffee ice cream and garnish with a chocolate-covered espresso bean, if desired. Recipe by Nancy Baggett for EatingWell.

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Leslie Malcoun's Pecan Tartlets

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Catherine Schumacher used to make hundreds of Christmas cookies for her family and friends. She even defrosted frozen leftovers for Fourth of July picnics at her Michigan farm. Her granddaughter, Leslie Malcoun, took over the baking when she got married more than 30 years ago, and to this day spends hours on old family favorites and experimenting with new recipes. Assistant Editor Carolyn Malcoun can't imagine Christmas without her mom's delightful mini pecan tarts.

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Apple-Cinnamon Mini Doughnuts

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These bite-size baked apple doughnuts have all the flavor of their fried counterparts with fewer calories. Serve plain for breakfast, with an afternoon cup of coffee or alongside whipped cream for an after-dinner treat.

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Chocolate & Nut Butter Bites

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Sweet satisfaction in seconds.

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Muffin-Tin Strawberry Shortcakes

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Skip rolling and cutting dough and use your muffin tin in this healthy strawberry shortcake recipe. Look for lemon curd in the store near jams and jellies or skip it and combine the berries with 2 tablespoons sugar in Step 4.

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Pineapple Empanaditas

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These miniature empanadas, tender pastry dough wrapped around pineapple filling, are just the right size for afternoon tea.

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Coconut-Dark Chocolate Truffles

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Coconut macaroons meet dark chocolate truffles in these little treats. Inside the snap of the dark chocolate shell lies the tender coconut-cocoa filling: a mix of naturally sweet dates, cocoa and coconut flour. Coconut flour is a healthy way to add decadent coconut flavor to this coconut-dark chocolate truffle recipe and other baked goods. It packs a whopping 5 grams of fiber per 2 tablespoons (with only 2 grams of total and saturated fat). Look for coconut flour near other gluten-free flours.

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Mini Pecan Pies

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The key to these decadent treats is the portion size--baking them in mini-muffin tins keeps the carbs and saturated fat in check. And maple syrup allows you to make this pecan pie recipe without corn syrup.

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Apple Mini Fruit Pizzas

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Round apple slices make a sweet, crisp, no-bake crust for these easy fruit pizzas topped with almond butter, chocolate chips and crunchy pistachios. This fun snack or healthy dessert cuts carbs from a classic cookie-crust fruit pizza.

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Mini Pistachio Cakes

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Adding matcha, a powdered green tea with a grassy flavor, balances the sweetness of these little tea cakes and adds gorgeous color too. You can add more matcha to the glaze for a festive green tint or sprinkle some on top. Alternatively, use dehydrated raspberry powder for a pink hue.

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Mini Pineapple Pound Cakes

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In this moist and delicious healthy pound cake recipe, we use coconut oil in place of butter because an enzyme in fresh pineapple can react with dairy when heated, resulting in an off flavor. Alternatively, you can use melted butter and canned pineapple. To make a large cake, bake in a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan for 35 to 40 minutes.

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Chocolate-Peppermint Mini Pies

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This mini pie recipe is an easier option for a holiday dessert that will dazzle a crowd. You can prepare these mini pies through Step 6 up to a day ahead. Remove from the freezer (Step 7) just before serving to keep the whipped topping from melting.

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Mini Angel Food Strawberry Shortcakes

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These adorable strawberry shortcakes are made with mini angel food cakes. These single-serve desserts are perfect for a picnic or party on a warm summer day.

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Peaches & Cream Mini Muffins

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Mini muffins are perfect for grab-and-go snacking. Try this recipe with fruity peaches and cream cheese chunks--they bake up in just 35 minutes and are perfect for sharing with family, friends, and coworkers!

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Orange-Spiced Mini Brownie-Cakes

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These decadent orange-spiced mini brownies can be made with sugar substitute for a diabetes-friendly option.

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Peanut Butter Blossom Mini Cakes

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The classic holiday peanut butter blossom cookie recipe gets re-made into diabetic-friendly, creamy peanut-butter cupcakes with only 81 calories each.

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No-Sugar-Added Mini Apple Pies

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These delectable single-serving tarts are gluten-free and sweetened with dates instead of refined added sugars. Top with a little unsweetened whipped cream to take this special--yet healthy--dessert to the next level.

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Gingerbread & Pear Upside-Down Cakes

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Round pear slices make whimsical toppers for this cheerful mini cake recipe.

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Mini Peach Melba Pies

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What's more fun than beautifully decorated individual dessert pies? These fruity hand-held treats are full of raspberry jam, peach pie filling, and fresh raspberries. Be creative and substitute any of your favorite pie fillings, preserves, and fresh berries--your guests will thank you!

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Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes

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These individual cheesecakes are made with a reduced-fat vanilla wafer crust and and filled with reduced-fat cream cheese and chocolate. They make a perfect light dessert.

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