If you're familiar with my blog, you know that Unique Desserts are my jam! I am happiest when my recipes are a little unexpected. A little over-the-top. Soooo I am very pleased to put together this roundup of all my favorites!
So what makes a recipe unique? This roundup of Unique Desserts includes many combinations of flavors that maybe you haven't seen before. Some of them are something fairly common, like cookie dough, used in a totally different way (like in my Cookie Dough Cream Puffs and Sugar Cookie Dough Bark)!
Oh, and one more thing: I just love a bake with color! Food colors have a time and place in my kitchen (see: birthdays and holidays), but otherwise I like to let the ingredients make my colors for me. There isn't a drop of food coloring in a single one of these recipes!
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Unique Cookies & Bars
Cookies and bars tend to be rather humble in the baking world--but not these! Each of these cookie recipes is rather unexpected, in the best possible way!
Honey Lavender Latte Cookies
These Honey Lavender Latte Cookies are espresso sugar cookies frosted with honey lavender buttercream! Your favorite drink in cookie form!
Check out this recipe!
Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
These Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies are cream cheese sugar cookies sandwiched with swirls of strawberry cream cheese frosting!
Check out this recipe!
Caramel Apple Cookies
These Caramel Apple Cookies are crisp, buttery, and sandwiched with homemade dulce de leche!
Check out this recipe!
Apple Crisp Macchiato Bars
These Apple Crisp Macchiato Bars have a crisp espresso shortbread crust topped with an apple-cinnamon filling, then with a crunchy cinnamon-espresso topping! These bars are so cozy and delicious!
Check out this recipe!
Strawberry Thyme Blondies
These Strawberry Thyme Blondies are a dream combination oftextures and flavors! The browned-butter blondies are topped with astrawberry-thyme mascarpone mousse that is *almost* too pretty to eat!
Check out this recipe!
Sage Cookies with Cranberry Buttercream
These Sage Cookies with Cranberry Buttercream are an unexpected treat! The sage sugar cookies are sandwiched with cranberry buttercream, for an outstanding combination of flavors and textures!
Check out this recipe!
Orange Shortbread Cookies with Cranberry Glaze
These Orange Shortbread Cookies are the most flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread you've ever tasted! Flavored with orange zest and orange oil, with a beautiful glaze made from fresh cranberries, you'll want make these beauties for the holidays and all winter long!
Check out this recipe!
Unique Cakes & Cupcakes
This section includes layer cakes, pound cakes, cupcakes, and angel food cakes! I think I'm most proud of the angel food cakes, since most recipes focus on toppings for an angel food cake rather than flavoring the cake itself (which is one of my favorite things to do)!
Blueberry Angel Food Cake
This Blueberry Angel Food Cake is light and fluffy with serious blueberry flavor thanks to freeze-dried berries! And can we talk about that color??
Check out this recipe!
Mocha Banana Cake
This Mocha Banana Cake is four layers of banana cake filled with espresso cream cheese frosting, cocoa nibs, and grated chocolate!
Check out this recipe!
Cornmeal Pound Cake with Blueberry Whipped Cream
This Blueberry Cornmeal Pound Cake is a slightly sweet cornmeal buttermilk pound cake topped with blueberry crème fraîche whipped cream!
Check out this recipe!
Caramel Apple Angel Food Cake
This Caramel Apple Angel Food Cake is a light, fluffy apple angel food cake drizzled with a caramel glaze and homemade salted caramel sauce, then topped with cinnamon apple chips!
Check out this recipe!
Sangria Cake
This Sangria cake has three layers of tender red wine cake with sangria buttercream! The flavors of berries, orange, and red wine make this cake taste like your favorite summer beverage!
Check out this recipe!
Tropical Angel Food Cake
This Tropical Angel Food Cake is a mango-pineapple angel food cake topped with coconut whipped cream, toasted coconut, and pineapple "flowers!" This cake is light, fluffy, and has serious tropical flavor!
Check out this recipe!
Chocolate Champagne Cake
This Chocolate Champagne Cake has super chocolatey champagne cake with champagne Italian meringue buttercream and dark chocolate ganache! For your next celebration, or anytime!
Check out this recipe!
Strawberry Angel Food Cake
This Strawberry Angel Food Cake is light and fluffy with serious strawberry flavor thanks to freeze-dried berries! Also delicious using blueberries, with the bonus of a showstopping purple color!
Check out this recipe!
Apple Cider Cupcakes with Cranberry Buttercream
These Apple Cider Cupcakes with Cranberry Buttercream are moist (sorry not sorry), delicious apple cider cakes topped with sweet-tart cranberry Swiss meringue buttercream. Fall in cupcake form! <3
Check out this recipe!
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Unique Cream Puffs
I've made so many (insane) cream puff recipes that they get their own section! I love how a cream puff is a (delicious) blank canvas for whatever flavors you can dream up!
Pecan Pie Cream Puffs
These Pecan Pie Cream Puffs are brown sugar craquelin cream puffs filled with pecan pie filling and bourbon whipped cream!
Check out this recipe!
Root Beer Float Cream Puffs
These Root Beer Float Cream Puffs are filled with root beer pastry cream and topped with vanilla bean whipped cream! They have all the flavors of the classic soda shop treat, right down to the cherry on top!
Check out this recipe!
Caramel Apple Cream Puffs
These Caramel Apple Cream Puffs are a classic cream puff filled with caramel pastry cream and apple preserves, then drizzled with homemade salted caramel sauce!
Check out this recipe!
Cookie Dough Cream Puffs
These Cookie Dough Cream Puffs are filled with a smooth, fluffy, safe-to-eat chocolate chip cookie dough, then drizzled with dark chocolate ganache!
Check out this recipe!
Pumpkin Tiramisu Cream Puffs
These Pumpkin Tiramisu Cream Puffs are brushed with espresso and marsala wine, filled with spiced pumpkin mascarpone mousse, then dusted with cocoa powder!
Check out this recipe!
Dulce de Leche Cream Puffs
These gorgeous Dulce de Leche Cream Puffs are filled with dulce de leche cream, dipped in thick, shiny dark chocolate glaze, then drizzled with more dulce de leche!
Check out this recipe!
Unique Pies
Look, I'm as big a fan of a classic apple pie as the next person. That said, sometimes it's nice to put a twist on tradition (Apple Date Pie) or to shake things up completely with something never seen before (Blackberry Lavender Brownie Pie)!
Chocolate Coconut Pie with Dalgona Coffee Topping
This Chocolate Coconut Pie has a toasted coconut pastry crust filled with dark chocolate custard, topped with dalgona coffee swirled with whipped coconut cream! It's toasted coconut meets a mochaccino and I am HERE for it!!
Check out this recipe!
Blackberry Lemon Meringue Pie
This Blackberry Lemon Meringue Pie has a classic pastry crust filled with whipped blackberry ganache and homemade lemon curd, all topped with a *mountain* of toasted honey meringue!
Check out this recipe!
Gingerbread Pumpkin Pie
This Gingerbread Pumpkin Pie has a classic pumpkin pie filling inside a gingerbread crust! Topped with spiced whipped cream, this pie would be perfect for all your holiday festivities!
Check out this recipe!
Blackberry Lavender Brownie Pie
The crust of this beauty is a fudgy brownie swirled with blackberry jam. The filling is a lavender-infused dark chocolate icebox pie, all topped with blackberry meringue. The flavors and textures are outstanding!
Check out this recipe!
Apple Date Pie
This Apple Date Pie is a twist on tradition! Here, a classic flaky pastry crust is filled with spiced apples and the caramel flavors of dates and brown sugar!
Check out this recipe!
Cinnamon Pie with Apple Cider Meringue
This Cinnamon Pie with Apple Cider Meringue has a flaky pastry crust filled with a cinnamon cream cheese filling, piled high with apple cider meringue, then topped with homemade apple chips! This unique pie is perfect all Fall long!
Check out this recipe!
Kahlua Brownie Pie
A decadent dark chocolate Kahlua icebox pie with brownie crust, topped with three flavors of whipped cream!
Check out this recipe!
Pumpkin Coconut Pie
This dreamy Pumpkin Coconut Pie puts a Fall spin on a classic! The filling is a coconut cream/pumpkin spice custard, topped with cinnamon-vanilla whipped cream, toasted coconut, and candied pumpkin seeds!
Check out this recipe!
Unique Tarts
Another one of my favorite things to make, these tarts have lots of flavors of curds, custards, and pastry creams! I also threw in a couple galettes--not to be overlooked with their amazing flavor, and they're so much easier to make than a tart or pie!
Rosemary Almond Apple Galette
This Rosemary Almond Apple Galette is a rustic beauty! Its sweet pastry is filled with homemade almond paste, apples, and rosemary sugar!
Check out this recipe!
Chocolate Mango Tart
This summery Chocolate Mango Tart has a chocolate pastry crust that's brushed with melted chocolate before being filled with mango curd and topped with fresh whipped cream and cocoa nibs! Oh, and the prettiest chocolate leaves ever!
Check out this recipe!
Hazelnut Fig Galette
This Hazelnut Fig Galette has a sweet pastry crust filled with homemade hazelnut paste, topped with figs drizzled with honey and vanilla bean paste! Absolutely fantastic served with a dollop of crème fraîche!
Check out this recipe!
Cereal Milk Tartlets
These Cereal Milk Tartlets have a funfetti blondie crust filled with pastry cream made with Lucky Charms cereal milk! Topped with homemade vanilla bean whipped cream and Lucky Charms marshmalows, these little cuties are magic!
Check out this recipe!
Ginger Grapefruit Tart
Grapefruit rarely get the spotlight, but it's all about the sweet-tart grapefruit in this Ginger Grapefruit Tart! A sweet, grapefruit-and-ginger pastry crust filled with grapefruit curd and topped with toasted honey meringue and crystallized ginger!
Check out this recipe!
Vanilla Plum Tart
This Vanilla Plum Tart is a sweet pastry crust filled with fresh plums and vanilla sugar! Perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Check out this recipe!
Apple Maple Custard Tart
A classic pastry shell filled with maple custard and topped with sliced apples. Refreshingly Fall!
Check out this recipe!
Blueberry Curd Tart
This Blueberry Curd Tart is a sweet pastry crust filled with homemade blueberry curd! You'll fall in love with both the flavor and that gorgeous color!!
Check out this recipe!
Coconut Pineapple Tart
This Coconut Pineapple Tart has a coconut crust filled with homemade pineapple curd! Topped with pineapple "flowers", this tart is a tropical dream!
Check out this recipe!
Strawberry Peach Tart
A sweet pastry crust filled with strawberry vanilla bean pastry cream and topped with fresh strawberries and peaches. Summer on a plate!
Check out this recipe!
Champagne Citrus Tart
This Champagne Citrus Tart has an orange-scented sweet pastry crust filled with champagne pastry cream and topped with champagne-glazed citrus! A mimosa in dessert form!
Check out this recipe!
More Unique Desserts
Last but *definitely* not least, here are all the recipes that didn't quite fit into a category. There are sweet rolls, cheesecakes, and more! My personal favorite is the Caramel Apple Shortcakes made with cornmeal biscuits!!
Caramel Apple Shortcake
This Caramel Apple Shortcake is cornmeal buttermilk biscuits with caramel baked apples, cinnamon-cardamom whipped cream, and homemade salted caramel sauce!
Check out this recipe!
Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake
This No Bake Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake is layers of strawberry and vanilla bean cheesecake in a graham cracker crust, topped with strawberry crunch topping! Completely no bake and delicious, you'll want this beauty on repeat in your kitchen!
Check out this recipe!
Butterscotch Banana Muffins
These Butterscotch Banana Muffins are soft, moist banana muffins with butterscotch chips! A twist on a classic! <3
Check out this recipe!
Cookie Dough Cheesecake with Brownie Crust
This Cookie Dough Cheesecake with Brownie Crust is three desserts in one! A fudgy brownie is topped with (eggless!) chocolate chip cookie dough, then with a layer of no-bake vanilla bean cheesecake!
Check out this recipe!
Blueberry Meringues
Crisp, chewy meringue kisses flavored with blueberry powder and dipped in dark chocolate.
Check out this recipe!
Strawberry Powdered Sugar Doughnuts
Tender, baked vanilla bean doughnuts coated in strawberry powdered sugar! A twist on a classic!
Check out this recipe!
Salted Caramel Apple Marshmallows
Soft, fluffy apple marshmallows dipped in homemade salted caramel. Fall indulgence!
Check out this recipe!
Vanilla Bean Blondie Cheesecake
This Vanilla Bean Blondie Cheesecake is a creamy, no-bake vanilla bean cheesecake with a funfetti blondie crust and whipped cream!
Check out this recipe!
Chocolate Dulce de Leche Rolls
These soft Chocolate Dulce de Leche Rolls are filled with chocolate filling and homemade dulce de leche, then topped with dulce de leche cream cheese frosting swirled with chocolate ganache! The ultimate in breakfast decadence!
Check out this recipe!
Sugar Cookie Dough Bark
This Sugar Cookie Dough Bark is a classic dark chocolate bark covered with safe-to-eat sugar cookie dough cut-outs and festive sprinkles!
Check out this recipe!
Almond Rolls with Cherry Glaze
Filled with homemade almond filling and topped with a gorgeous cherry glaze, you need these Almond Rolls with Cherry Glaze at your next brunch! Or...anytime, really. 😀
Check out this recipe!
So there you have it! This original roundup has over FORTY unique dessert recipes, but you know that I'll have more in no time! Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear from you! Reach out in a comment below or reach out to me on Instagram. I'd love to hear from you!
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