148 fast cake recipes

Middle Eastern halvah cake made with tahini, semolina, and warm spices, soaked in a citrusy orange-lemon syrup. Dense, fragrant, and not overly sweet.

Low-calorie pumpkin muffins made with skim milk powder, pumpkin pie spice, grated carrots, and raisins. No oil, no butter, and only 7 tablespoons of flour in the whole batch.

Chicken and black pepper dumplings drop peppery baking-mix dumplings onto a creamy chicken, pea and carrot base. A cozy one-pot dinner built from cooked chicken, ready in about 20 minutes.

Italian fig and raspberry crostata with almond cream filling on a buttery sweet pastry crust. Fresh figs, scattered berries, and a dusting of powdered sugar make this tart stunning.

Low-calorie applesauce raisin squares with whole wheat flour, natural bran, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, topped with sliced almonds. Just 61 calories per square.

Low-fat spiced bran muffins with molasses, honey, ginger, cloves, golden raisins, and walnuts. Made with egg whites and nonfat yogurt instead of butter and whole eggs.

Soft banana cookies with brown butter penuche frosting: mashed ripe bananas in a cake-like dough, topped with a boiled brown sugar icing that hardens into a shiny, fudgy shell.

Soft, chewy oatmeal cookies sweetened naturally with banana and raisins, loaded with chunky peanut butter and cinnamon. No added sugar. Makes just 2 big satisfying cookies.

French-style prune and Armagnac cake with a cornmeal crumb, yogurt for moisture, and a boozy glaze from the prune soaking liquid. Rustic and elegant.

Fat-free apple muffins made with applesauce, diced apples, and grated carrots. Cinnamon and cloves add warmth while artificial sweetener keeps them low-calorie. Perfect for guilt-free breakfasts.

Apple topped cake with whole wheat flour, honey, egg whites, and yogurt in the batter, crowned with sliced apples and a cinnamon-sugar drizzle. A lighter bake.

Lavender herb bread baked in the bread machine with cottage cheese, honey, thyme, and basil. A floral, savory loaf with tender crumb that slices beautifully for sandwiches or toast.

Whole wheat banana pancakes with warming spices, walnuts, and honey. Hearty silver dollar-sized breakfast ready in 25 minutes.

Orange chocolate chip quick bread made with baking mix, yogurt, fresh orange juice, and zest. A lower-calorie citrus-chocolate loaf that's moist and easy to make.

Dilly rice muffins fold cooked rice, fresh dill, scallions, and parsley into a quick muffin batter. Savory, herby, and ready in 30 minutes. A great way to use leftover rice.

Baked doughnuts made with Bisquick, applesauce, and yogurt for a lighter twist on a classic. Finished with a sweet almond glaze, these skip the deep fryer but keep all the golden, nutmeg-spiced flavor.