25 Easy Chocolate Desserts for Every Occasion

A straightforward cocoa cake built on buttermilk and vegetable oil, with 20 minutes of prep and 35 in the oven. It is the one to bake when you want a classic chocolate layer for a crowd of 12.

Four individual cakes made from 6 ounces of chopped bittersweet chocolate, butter, eggs and a little flour. They take only 27 minutes from bowl to table, which makes them a good answer to a last-minute dinner party dessert.

Dutch-process cocoa and strong brewed coffee go into this poke cake batter, which makes enough for 12 servings. Allow about an hour in total, including the bake.

A cocoa, oil and water batter with a splash of white vinegar, baked into 48 bite-size cupcakes in about 30 minutes. This is the practical choice for a party table, a bake sale or a school event.

A German chocolate cake built on semisweet and unsweetened chocolate melted with hot water or strong coffee, with separated eggs in the batter. At 16 servings and about 85 minutes in total, it is a good fit for a larger celebration.

Melted butter, cocoa powder and a half cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips give this brownie its fudgy texture. A 9-serving pan is done in 40 minutes.

A one-bowl brownie that leans heavily on cocoa: three-quarters of a cup of cocoa powder to only half a cup of flour. It uses pantry staples and takes about 40 minutes.

Six ounces of dark chocolate (60 to 70 percent cacao) and cocoa form the base, topped with the salted caramel and pecans in the title. It takes 47 minutes in total and cuts into 12 squares.

A cocoa brownie batter marbled with half a cup of creamy peanut butter. The recipe makes 16 servings and takes 50 minutes in total.

This one starts from a boxed 9×13 brownie mix, then adds chopped Oreos, marshmallow fluff and milk chocolate chips. It makes 24 servings in 55 minutes, so it is useful when you need a big batch quickly.

A graham cracker crust topped with a cream cheese layer, whipped topping and instant chocolate pudding. It is a layered bar that goes together in about 40 minutes.

A graham cracker crust, a cream cheese filling with finely diced fresh strawberries, and a chocolate topping made from semi-sweet chips and heavy cream. Most of the 4 hours 30 minutes is chilling time, so it works well as a make-ahead dessert.

Cocoa powder in the dough, butter and two kinds of sugar, ready in about 25 minutes from start to finish. It is the fastest cookie in this collection.

Cocoa, sugar, oil and eggs make a rich dough that is rolled in confectioners’ sugar before baking, which gives the cracked, powdered look. The 4 hours 25 minutes total time includes chilling.

Cocoa cookie dough wrapped around a chocolate center. The recipe makes 12 cookies and takes just over an hour in total, so seal the dough well around the filling.

Instant chocolate pudding mix, dark cocoa powder and optional espresso powder go into this dough, which makes 44 chewy cookies. That yield is why it is a good pick for cookie swaps and big gatherings.

Bittersweet chocolate, butter, separated eggs and chilled heavy cream folded into a light mousse. It serves four and needs about 4 hours 30 minutes in total, most of it chilling.

A short ingredient list: 100 g of dark chocolate (70 percent cocoa solids), double cream, egg whites, caster sugar and vanilla. It serves four and needs about 2 hours 25 minutes in total, most of it chilling.

A chocolate cookie crust filled with semi-sweet chocolate chips, cream cheese and whipped heavy cream, with no oven needed. It serves eight and sets in about 4 hours 20 minutes.

A blind-baked pie crust filled with a silky mixture of unsweetened chocolate, butter, sugar and eggs, then topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. It serves eight and needs about 4 hours 40 minutes including chilling.

Choux pastry made with milk, water, butter, flour and eggs, filled with pastry cream. The recipe makes 12 and takes about 2 hours, and it is the most technical bake in this collection.

Only four ingredients: semi-sweet chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and salt. It makes 24 pieces and needs about 2 hours 15 minutes, mostly chilling.

A dairy-free fudge made with dark chocolate chips (at least 60 percent cacao), full-fat coconut milk and a finish of flaky sea salt. It makes 16 pieces and sets in about 2 hours 15 minutes.

Dark chocolate (70 percent cocoa or higher) and chilled coconut cream, flavored with fresh orange zest and juice and rolled in cocoa powder. The recipe makes 12 and takes about 2 hours 15 minutes in total.

Milk chocolate, shredded kataifi pastry, pistachio cream and tahini, set into 12 chocolate cups. It takes about an hour in total.