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

Easy recipe ideas for brownies, cupcakes, cakes, bars, and more.

plum cake
Credit: Mike Krautter

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.

01 of 13

Martha's Plum Skillet Cake

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Credit: Mike Krautter

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.

02 of 13

Blondies With Chocolate Chips and Walnuts

blondies baked goods
Credit: John Kernick

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.

03 of 13

One-Bowl Chocolate Cake

one bowl chocolate cake
Credit:

Dana Gallagher

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.

04 of 13

Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

cake
Credit:

Bryan Gardner

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.

05 of 13

Apple-Raspberry Pandowdy

apple-raspberry pandowdy served in pan
Credit: Dana Gallagher

This pie-like dessert is much easier than its traditional cousin. It's essentially an apple cobbler, covered with batter, then topped with raspberries and sugar to make a sweet crust—and it all comes together in just one pan. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

06 of 13

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.

07 of 13

Breton Butter Cake

Breton butter cake
Credit: Charles Schiller

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.

08 of 13

Busy-Day Dump Cake

busy day chocolate cake
Credit: Johnny Miller

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.

09 of 13

Flourless Peanut-Chocolate Cookies

flourless peanut chocolate cookies
Credit: Johnny Miller

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.

10 of 13

Chewy Coconut Macaroons

macaroons

Perhaps the easiest cookie to make, a great coconut macaroon like this one never fails to please. It's golden and crunchy on the outside, soft and sweet and chewy on the inside.

11 of 13

Cheesecake Cupcakes With Sour Cream Topping

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This is a big-batch recipe that's perfect for feeding a crowd. Cheesecake batter comes together quickly in a food processor, and is then poured into foil cupcake liners. You may need a bowl to make the sour cream topping, if desired, or blend quickly in the same food processor.

12 of 13

Oatmeal-Raisin Bars

Oatmeal rasin bars
Credit:

Rachel Marek

These delicious oatmeal-raisin bars are hearty and filling, perfect to pack for school lunches or summer picnics. Mix them up in a single bowl in less than 10 minutes.

13 of 13

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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