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  4. Our 20 Most Popular Desserts of 2021

Our 20 Most Popular Desserts of 2021

Leah Goggins headshot
Leah Goggins December 17, 2021
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Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark

If you're craving a little something sweet, look to these recipes for delicious inspiration. In 2021, we loved the simple, fruity flavors of blueberry, lemon and strawberry—but we couldn't resist warm chocolate chip cookies and simple dump-and-bake cakes, either. It's no surprise that recipes like our Lemon-Blueberry Dump Cake and Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark were the dessert recipes people clicked on most this year.

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Blueberry-Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake

Blueberry-Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake
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This healthy pound cake recipe isn't just delicious--it also only requires one bowl to make. For the best cake texture, be sure to beat the sugar and butter together long enough in Step 2 to look creamy--the time it takes to get there varies according to the type of electric mixer you have. Serve with brunch or alongside a cup of coffee in the afternoon.

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Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark

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Lightly sweetened Greek yogurt gets studded with fresh strawberries and chocolate chips then frozen so you can break it into chunks just like chocolate bark (but healthier!). This colorful snack or healthy dessert is perfect for kids and adults alike. Use full-fat yogurt to ensure the creamiest bark possible.

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Lemon-Blueberry Dump Cake

Lemon Blueberry Dump Cake
Credit: Brie Passano
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Got an extra box of vanilla cake mix? Use it to make this easy blueberry-lemon dump cake! A layer of blueberries bakes with lemon-infused cake on top. With only 10 minutes of active time, this cake is perfect for busy nights or casual get-togethers.

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Mug Brownie

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You might want to keep a copy of this recipe in the pantry beside the cocoa for those moments when you crave a chocolaty treat. Cook this fudgy brownie in a mug in the microwave and it's ready in less than a minute!

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No-Sugar-Added Oatmeal Cookies

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Classic oatmeal cookies without all the sugar, these better-for-you gluten-free treats get their sweetness from ripe bananas and chopped dates.

 

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Cinnamon-Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

Cinnamon-Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
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This recipe takes oatmeal cookies up a notch with its cinnamony, buttery, delicious take on a much-loved classic dessert.

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No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

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Creamy natural peanut butter and chocolate team up in these easy and healthy no-bake cookies! Whip up a batch for after-school snacks, dessert or anytime your sweet tooth comes calling.

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Carrot Cake

carrot cake
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Carrots give carrot cake a health-halo effect--people think it's health food, but it's usually very high in fat and calories. But our version has about 40 percent less calories and 50 percent less fat than most. First, we use less oil in our batter. Then we skip the butter in the frosting (don't worry, it's still light and smooth). To ensure the cake is moist, we add nonfat buttermilk and crushed pineapple.

 

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Diabetic Carrot Cake

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With this luscious take on an all-time favorite, you can fit this low-sugar cake into a diabetic meal plan with style.

 

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Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
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Pulsing rolled oats with eggs, banana, brown sugar and oil creates the moist dough of these chocolaty muffins without a bit of all-purpose flour. These are two-bite muffins with a dense and gooey texture. They're delicately sweet and rich, too, so baking them as mini muffins makes them a perfect snack or quick morning bite.

 

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Apple-Pie Bread

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This easy everyday apple-pie bread makes a great breakfast-on-the-go with a cup of coffee. The fragrant spices typical of apple pie and the tender bits of baked apple inside also make it worthy as a healthy after-dinner dessert. Enjoy it warm from the oven with a pat of butter or cream cheese or keep it on your counter for a tasty treat during the week.

 

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Low-Carb Blueberry Muffins

Low-Carb Blueberry Muffins
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Just because you're watching carbs doesn't mean you can't have the classic breakfast pastry. In place of all-purpose flour, nutty almond and coconut flours make these muffins fluffy while slashing carbs. A bit of brown sugar blunts the tartness of fresh blueberries. Make these ahead for a grab-and-go breakfast for the week.

 

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Easy Peach Cobbler Dump Cake

plate with a slice of cake
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This peach dump cake serves up a fluffy, tender vanilla cake that's studded with juicy, sweet peaches. This peach cake is so simple it's sure to become a favorite summertime dessert. Using a box of organic cake mix makes the recipe prep even easier.

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Blueberry-Lemon Crumb Muffins

blueberry lemon crumb muffin
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Blueberries and lemon are a natural pairing in these light and airy muffins with a delicate brown sugar crumble. If you like an extra blast of lemon flavor, use lemon extract rather than vanilla. These muffins are best with fresh blueberries, but you can substitute with frozen. Don't thaw them before you stir them into the batter.

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Kids and adults alike will love this easy peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe, which--unlike most cookie recipes--doesn't call for flour. These gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are soft and chewy and, with only five simple ingredients, they can easily be whipped up by young chefs and enjoyed as an after-school treat. They're also perfect for a holiday party or for a cookie swap.

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Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins

Tin full of Carrot Cake Muffins
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Carrot cake meets muffins in this healthy breakfast recipe. Whole-wheat pastry flour along with plenty of carrots and toasted walnuts add fiber while applesauce keeps the muffins moist and helps cut back on sugar.

 

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One-Bowl Chocolate Cake

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This easy-to-make chocolate cake is dark, moist, rich--and only dirties one bowl! Not quite as easy as boxed cake mixes, but those often contain trans fats. Our simple "from scratch" recipe gives you a home-baked cake with healthful canola oil and whole-wheat flour.

 

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Bev's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Bevs Chocolate Chip Cookies
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EatingWell reader Beverley Sharpe of Santa Barbara, California, contributed this healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe. She gave chocolate chip cookies a healthy update by cutting back on sugar and incorporating whole grains. To increase protein, Sharpe replaces the rolled oats with 1 cup almond meal.

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Cinnamon Streusel Fresh Apple Bars

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These sweet, cinnamon-flavored apple bars are the perfect accompaniment for your afternoon cup of coffee or tea.

 

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Easy Pumpkin Dump Cake with Streusel Topping

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A dump cake recipe is exactly what it sounds like--you simply dump all of the ingredients into a pan and bake. There isn't a step where you stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture; instead, it goes into the baking pan in three stages and the result is a pudding-like cake with a streusel-like topping. The two parts together are delicious (and you'd be hard-pressed to find an easier fall dessert)!

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    1 of 20 Blueberry-Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake
    2 of 20 Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark
    3 of 20 Lemon-Blueberry Dump Cake
    4 of 20 Mug Brownie
    5 of 20 No-Sugar-Added Oatmeal Cookies
    6 of 20 Cinnamon-Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
    7 of 20 No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies
    8 of 20 Carrot Cake
    9 of 20 Diabetic Carrot Cake
    10 of 20 Flourless Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
    11 of 20 Apple-Pie Bread
    12 of 20 Low-Carb Blueberry Muffins
    13 of 20 Easy Peach Cobbler Dump Cake
    14 of 20 Blueberry-Lemon Crumb Muffins
    15 of 20 Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    16 of 20 Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins
    17 of 20 One-Bowl Chocolate Cake
    18 of 20 Bev's Chocolate Chip Cookies
    19 of 20 Cinnamon Streusel Fresh Apple Bars
    20 of 20 Easy Pumpkin Dump Cake with Streusel Topping

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