Our Favorite One-Bowl Baking Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze (2024)

Maybe you love to bake—but cleaning up isn't your favorite. If so, you're not alone. Unfortunately, many recipes for baked goods require several bowls for measuring and mixing. Cake recipes often call for one bowl for dry ingredients, another for creaming butter and sugar, and sometimes even a third for mixing it all together.

When you want the joy of baking without the hassle of cleanup, try our smart, streamlined recipes for cakes, cookies, brownies, muffins, and quick breads. All require just one bowl for mixing—or come together in the food processor or mixer. But just because they're straightforward recipes doesn't mean they scrimp on taste—you'll find plenty of glorious flavors packed into these fuss-free desserts.

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Martha's Plum Skillet Cake

Our Favorite One-Bowl Baking Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze (1)

A simple skillet cake like is as easy and delicious as it gets. Slices of fruit in the batter are all the decoration this cake needs. Serve it with whipped cream, crème fraîche, or ice cream for a truly crowd-pleasing dessert.

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Blondies with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts

Our Favorite One-Bowl Baking Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze (2)

What's not to like about this treat? Our unbeatable blondie recipe combines the buttery flavor and chocolate chips from everyone's favorite cookies with the appealing texture of the best brownies.

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One-Bowl Chocolate Cake

Our Favorite One-Bowl Baking Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze (3)

Birthday? Anniversary? Going-away party? No matter the occasion, this super-easy, one-bowl layer cake is the perfect dessert for any gathering where chocolate lovers are expected to make an appearance.

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04of 16

Fig Crumble Bars

Our Favorite One-Bowl Baking Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze (4)

Using one batch of dough for both the crust and streusel topping in this fruit-packed favorite means fewer dirty dishes—in fact all you need is the food processor.

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Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Our Favorite One-Bowl Baking Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze (5)

Skillet cookies are magical. They offer minimal cleanup, but deliver maximum flavor. Made in one bowl, baked in a skillet (no special pans needed), and cut into slices to serve, this giant, fudgy chocolate version is just irresistible.

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Raspberry-Filled Molten Chocolate Cupcakes

Our Favorite One-Bowl Baking Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze (6)

These are fancy enough for company, but require only one bowl, a hand mixer, and six ingredients. Raspberries are sprinkled between two layers of chocolate batter that bakes just long enough for the exterior to solidify, while the center remains deliciously gooey.

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Morning Glory Muffins with Banana

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Ideal for breakfast and dessert, these muffins are beyond easy to make. An added bonus? They're low in fat but surprisingly moist, thanks to the carrots, banana, and raisins.

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Breton Butter Cake

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Those French bakers know a thing or two; this supremely simple cake uses just one bowl, but produces an irresistible confection with a crisp, dense, almost shortbread-like texture.

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Busy-Day Dump Cake

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This chocolate cake recipe wins for most minimal cleanup—the ingredients are blended in the very pan that goes into the oven. Plus, you don't even need an egg to make this delicious dessert. Instead of making frosting, serve the cake with vanilla ice cream.

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Flourless Peanut-Chocolate Cookies

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These chocolate chip and peanut-studded peanut butter cookies are a snap to make. Not only are they flourless, but they're also butter free; the peanut butter provides all the fat needed.

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Chocolate-Zucchini Cakes with Walnuts

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No one will ever guess there is zucchini in these moist little treats—nor will they guess they are so simple to make. Before baking, top each cupcake with half a walnut for a welcome burst of crunchy texture.

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Brown Sugar, Maple, and Pecan Pound Cake

Our Favorite One-Bowl Baking Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze (12)

The ingredients for this nuanced treat are blended in the mixer bowl. While it's easy to make, it takes a while to bake. Even so, the rich maple cake—which is studded with pecans—is well worth the wait.

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Coconut-Apricot Macaroons

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Chopped, dried apricots and flakes of coconut come together to form a fruity, sweet dessert that's as easy to make as it is delicious. The longest—and hardest—part of this recipe is waiting while the macaroons bake.

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Pistachio Cupcakes with Raspberries

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For when you need a special treat, but want it to be easy and a tad healthy, there are these delicate cupcakes packed with silvered pistachios and fresh raspberries. No frosting necessary.

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Flourless Double-Chocolate Pecan Cookies

Our Favorite One-Bowl Baking Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze (15)

Dark and decadent, these gluten-free cookies strike the perfect balance of texture—perfectly chewy, with chopped pecans throughout for a nutty, crunchy finish.

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Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes

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If you need to make dessert for a lot of people, this recipe yields up to 48 cupcakes and uses just one bowl. Cocoa powder gives them a deep chocolatey flavor.

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Our Favorite One-Bowl Baking Recipes That Make Cleanup a Breeze (2024)

FAQs

What is the one bowl method in baking? ›

In the quick-dump, or one-bowl, method, all the ingredients except the leavening agent are put into a bowl and mixed vigorously (preferably with a power mixer), the leavening agent added, and mixing completed.

What to bake when bored with friends? ›

  1. 70 Fun Things to Bake When You're Bored and Craving Something Sweet. ...
  2. 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies. ...
  3. Blackberry Jam Pie-Crust Straws. ...
  4. Cookies-and-Cream Shortbread Cookies. ...
  5. Cardamom Cream-Filled Bundt Cake. ...
  6. Chocolate Skillet Cake. ...
  7. Gluten-Free Apple Rose Tart. ...
  8. Chrissy Teigen's 3-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse.
Jan 26, 2022

Is the bowl method worth it? ›

The bowl method for curly hair involves repeatedly scrunching and dipping your hair into a bowl of water to define your curls. While it is a bit more time-consuming than other methods, we say the bowl method is worth a try—it doesn't cost anything, and you could end up with your most defined curls yet.

What is the number one rule of baking? ›

#1 Read through the recipe

Make sure to quickly skim the recipe before you start baking to understand the general flow and key steps. You can even make notes on the recipe or highlight key points to help you along.

What baked goods do people buy most? ›

Best selling bread items
  • White dinner rolls.
  • Vienna loaf.
  • Cob loaf.
  • Bread rolls.
  • Hot dog buns.
  • Sourdough and Artisan loaves.
  • Breadsticks.
  • Croissants.

What should I bake for my best friend? ›

Tasty Desserts to Bake with Your Friends
  • Strawberry Cheesecake–Stuffed Pound Cake.
  • Blueberry Cinnamon Roll Bake.
  • Chocolate Fondue Banana Bread Boat.
  • Caramel Crumble Cake Stuffed Apples.
  • Chocolate Rainbow Surprise 'Box' Cake.
  • Cinnamon Roll Pull-Apart Bread.
Sep 9, 2019

What can you cook for a lot of people? ›

19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
  • Taco Bar.
  • Meatballs.
  • Butter Chicken.
  • Lasagna.
  • Chili.
  • Homemade Pizza.
  • Baked Pasta.
  • Skewers.
Apr 4, 2023

What to bake when you are stressed? ›

  1. Homemade Tagalong Cookies (Girl Scout Copycat Recipe)
  2. The Best Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe.
  3. Pumpernickel Sausage Cheese Toasts (Hanky Panky Recipe)
  4. No Chill Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe.
  5. Easy Apple Strudel Recipe.
  6. Easy 30-Minute Strawberry Shortcake Recipe.
  7. Lava Flow co*cktail Recipe (No Banana)
  8. Creamy Shrimp Pasta Salad.

How do you mix a cake with one bowl method? ›

In a bowl, beat together the warm butter, sugar, eggs, liquids, spices, and salt. If starting with an all-in-one recipe, beat together the oil, eggs, sugar, liquids, spices, and salt. Mix up to 5 minutes if a tender texture is desired. Mix 20 seconds if a denser texture is desired.

What is the bowl method order of products? ›

Simply put, the bowl method is exactly what it sounds like. You wash your hair as you normally would, apply shampoo and conditioner, follow with leave-in conditioner and curl cream, then brush out your lovely locks with a wet brush.

What is the difference between the one bowl method and the creaming conventional method for shortened cakes? ›

The creaming method is where the fat and sugar are creamed together first until they are light and fluffy, and then the remaining ingredients are added and mixed together until combined1 . The all-in-one method is where all of the ingredients are added to the bowl at once and mixed together until combined2 .

What do you use for the bowl method? ›

Quick overview of the method I learned is to wash and condition your hair like normal, then flip your hair upside down and wet it in a bowl. Cover with leave in conditioner, then dip your hair a few times into the water, taking it out and scrunching the curls together as they naturally clump.

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