10 Easy Desserts You Can Make in a Muffin Tin

Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
updated May 29, 2019
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(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

While muffin tin desserts might feel “cutesy,” I’ll argue that they’re pretty darn practical. Sure, mini things are fun, but they also make a lot of sense regardless of the size group you’re serving. They travel well, don’t need to be cut or shared, and are usually just the right size to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth after dinner. Here are 10 of our favorite mini treats.

A thick slice of cheesecake is often too rich to really enjoy after a big dinner, which is why these mini versions are the perfect solution.

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A couple of cans of refrigerator biscuits are the secret to these pull-apart sweet breads that can either be dressed with cinnamon sugar, lemon sugar, or Nutella.

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While you can make the pound cake yourself for these playful mini ice cream cakes, picking up one from the grocery store is a smart timesaver.

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You don’t need a child’s birthday as an excuse to make these colorful cupcakes. Since they come together in just one bowl, really any day of the week is a good day to bake them.

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

When it takes just five ingredients and about half an hour to make pumpkin pie, suddenly the dessert stops becoming a once-a-year treat.

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

If you’re need in of a little vacation, we highly suggest making a batch of these sunny key lime pie minis — candy lime wedge optional.

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While muffins are more often breakfast than dessert, loading them up with chocolate means they can firmly rest in the latter category, too.

(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

These pretty apple rose pies are much easier to make than they look, but will impress almost anyone.

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While these fancy cheesecakes can be made in a mini cheesecake pan, a mini or regular muffin tin filled with cupcake liners works great, too.

(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

Adding hot coffee to the cupcake batter here helps bloom the cocoa powder to intensify its flavor while boosting the cake’s richness.