10 Easy Treats to Make in a Hurry

Carrie Lowrance

Crosswalk Contributor
Updated Dec 20, 2024
10 Easy Treats to Make in a Hurry

The treats on this list, both sweet and salty, are easy to make, require minimum bake time (if any), and need few ingredients:

It never fails. You are in the middle of something and your kid comes and says, “Mom, I need something to take to the bake sale tomorrow.” Or you forget about a get together or meeting that you need to bring a dessert for. Or your husband comes home and tells you there’s a potluck at work tomorrow and he needs to bring something. Immediately, panic sets in. What can you make that’s easy and won’t take you all night? No worries, I’ve got you covered.!

The treats on this list, both sweet and salty, are easy to make, require minimum bake time (if any), and need few ingredients:

1. Rice Krispy Bars


Rice Krispy bars are a classic with bar desserts. That gooey, buttery, crispy bar hits the spot every time and takes us back to our childhood. Luckily, all you need to make these are some Rice Krispies, marshmallows, and butter. 

What I love most about these is that they are so versatile. You can use different cereal from Cocoa Krispies to Fruity Pebbles and beyond. You can also add other things to them like peanut butter, butterscotch, or chocolate. My favorite way to make Rice Krispy bars is Scotcheroos, which use butterscotch chips, peanut butter, and chocolate. If you make these, you won’t be disappointed, I promise. 

2. Potato Chip Bars

If you are looking for a sweet and salty treat, listen up. Grab a bag of potato chips, a bag of marshmallows, butter, and some chocolate chips. Melt the butter and add the marshmallows and continue melting. Once fully melted, add the potato chips and stir to coat with the marshmallow. Then pour the mixture into a 9-inch pan lined with parchment paper and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Let cool and cut into squares. Not only is this recipe easy, it’s also versatile. You can stir other things in with your potato chips, like candy or nuts, and top them with sprinkles or melted chocolate. 

3. Taco Crackers 

These crackers make a great snack. Pour some oyster crackers, oil, and taco seasoning in a roaster pan and stir. Then pop them in the oven for ten to fifteen minutes. (You can find the recipe on Taste of Home.)

4. Ranch crackers 

If you have a ranch dip lover in your life, they will love these crackers. I make them the same way, only with dry ranch dressing and a few extra seasonings: dill weed, onion powder, garlic powder, and lemon pepper seasoning. (You can find the recipe on Taste of Home.)

5. Almost a Candy Bar 

If you are in the mood for something chewy, crunchy, and gooey, these bars will not disappoint. Made with store-bought cookie dough, granola bars, butterscotch chips, mini marshmallows, walnuts, pretzels, peanut butter chips, and chocolate chips, these bars are a candy lovers' dream. I haven’t made them in a while, but when I do and take them to a potluck; they disappear fast. (You can find the recipe on Taste of Home.)

6. Ritz Cracker Cookies

My friend Beth in high school taught me how to make these. You take two ritz crackers and spread peanut butter in between them. Then you dip them in chocolate and let them set. Crunchy, salty, peanut buttery, and chocolaty. Yum!

7. Dipped Oreos

Who says you need to buy those fancy dipped Oreos in the store that cost an arm and a leg for twelve cookies? Instead, buy a package of regular Oreos (not double stuff or a fancy flavor), some chocolate bark, and some colored sugar or sprinkles.

Melt the chocolate bark in the microwave in thirty-second intervals. When melted, dip the Oreos and then place them on a baking rack with a baking sheet under it lined with parchment paper to catch the drips. Sprinkle with decorations, let harden, and enjoy. 

8. Cake Balls 

Cake balls are easy to make and so versatile. A basic recipe comprises cake mix, frosting, candy coating and sprinkles. Bake the cake, cool it and crumble it. Then add the frosting and mix. Once you've incorporated the cake and frosting, shape the mixture into balls and set them on a parchment-lined baking pan. Next, melt the candy coating and dip the balls in it and then roll in sprinkles for a festive touch any time of year. (You can find all kinds of recipes for cake balls on sites like Taste of Home and Pinterest.) 

9. Oreo Balls

The basic recipe for Oreo balls comprises Oreos, cream cheese, chocolate melting wafers, and garnishes. Crush the Oreos and mix with cream cheese with a paddle spatula. Shape the mixture into balls and then melt the chocolate wafers. Dip the balls into the melted wafers and then roll in sprinkles. You can find all kinds of Oreo ball recipes online as well. I’ve also seen them made in variations like Nutter Butter. (You can find the recipe on Taste of Home.)

10. Cake Mix Treats/Elevated Brownies

One of the easiest treats you can make is an elevated cake mix. You can add all kinds of things to a cake mix to make it taste like it came from a bakery like coffee, dried fruits, nuts, etc. Another easy option is to make an elevated bundt cake with a cake mix. Some of my favorites include pear bundt cake (which uses a can of pears), lemon jello cake (which uses lemon cake mix and lemon jello with a lemon glaze) and chocolate pudding bundt cake (which uses a box of chocolate pudding and chocolate chips). 

Some of my favorite books about cake mixes include The Cake Mix Doctor, The Cake Mix Doctor Returns, and The Chocolate Cake Mix Doctor. They all contain recipes that will elevate a box cake mix to something extraordinary. We have all three versions in our household.

Another easy option is brownies. Brownies are also very versatile and simple to make. You can add all kinds of things to them like chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips. Dried fruits and nuts. Even crushed up cookies or candies. You can frost or leave them unfrosted, or simply sprinkle them with colored candy sprinkles. 

Some of my all-time brownie recipes include mint chocolate cookie brownies, Hershey's vanilla chip brownies (these are homemade, but taste like candy) and buttermilk brownies (also homemade). Regardless if you choose a box or have the ingredients to make them from scratch, brownies are a snap to whip up. Also, if you don’t have a box of brownie mix, don’t panic. You can easily make homemade brownie mix at home and can find recipes for the mix on Pinterest. 

So the next time your family members come to you needing a treat for the next day, you don’t have to panic. Choose something from this list, grab the ingredients from the store, and then you’ll be ready to rock that bake sale, potluck, or event with friends in no time. 

Resources:

Taco Crackers (from Taste of Home)
Ranch Crackers (from Taste of Home)
Almost a Candy Bar (from Taste of Home)
Cake Balls (from Taste of Home)
Oreo Balls (from Taste of Home)
Hershey’s Vanilla Chip Brownies (from Cooks.com)

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