Surprise! These delicious dessert recipes all feature a hidden filling that takes an ordinary cake, cookie or cupcake to a new level of tasty.
33 Desserts with a Surprise Inside
1/33
Peanut-Filled Devil’s Food Cupcakes
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe features a luscious peanut butter filling surrounded by devil's food and then iced with a rich layer of ganache. They're to die for! —Mary Lou Timpson, Colorado City, Arizona
2/33
Cranberry-Orange Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
16 servings (1-1/2 cups sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
At the summer tourist resort my husband and I operate in Ontario, we prepare all the meals for our guests, so I'm always trying out new recipes. —Sheree Swistun, Winnipeg, Manitoba
3/33
Cheesecake-Stuffed Strawberries
Total Time
20 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These luscious cheesecake-stuffed strawberries are the perfect bite-sized dessert. —Stephen Munro, Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia
4/33
Truffle-Filled Cookie Tarts
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I made chocolate truffles as a Christmas tradition for many years. I created this recipe to incorporate my truffles into the center of fudgy cookies. It was a hit with friends and family.—Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania
5/33
Cherry Surprise Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I tuck a rich chocolate surprise into each of these cute bites. Candied cherries add a colorful finishing touch. —Gloria McBride, Payson, Utah
6/33
Orange Ricotta Cake Roll
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I come from a big Italian family. When I was growing up, my mom cooked and baked many delicious meals and desserts from scratch. Now I do the same for my family. This cake is my finale to our special-occasion dinners. —Cathy Banks, Encinitas, California
7/33
Cream-Filled Pumpkin Cupcakes
Total Time
55 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a charming use for pumpkin. Bursting with flavor and plenty of eye-catching appeal, these sweet and spicy filled cupcakes are bound to dazzle your family any time of the year. —Ali Johnson, Petersburg, Pennsylvania
8/33
Rhubarb Cookies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
We have two prolific rhubarb plants, so I’m always looking for new ways to use the harvest. The recipe for these soft, delicious cookies, flavored with coconut, was given to me by a friend. —Shauna Schneyder, Idaho Falls, Idaho
9/33
Chocolate-Drizzled Ravioli Cookies
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My daughter Madalyn came up with the recipe for these Oreo-filled ravioli. Our family couldn't stop eating them! Even her teachers were asking her to make them and to share the recipe! —Sarah Sandifer, Bamberg, South Carolina
10/33
Surprise Carrot Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A cousin gave me this carrot cake recipe. It's a wonderful potluck pleaser with its "surprise" cream cheese center. My husband and our two young children love it, too! —Lisa Bowen, Little Britian, Ontario
11/33
Strawberry Pillows
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Make cookie trays extra special with these mini pie look-alikes stuffed with sweet strawberry preserves. Yum! —Amy Sauerwalt, Columbia, Maryland
12/33
Mint-Filled Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
40 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
I tuck a peppermint patty inside these treats for a fun surprise. The bites will melt in your mouth. —Karen Nielson, St. George, Utah
13/33
Raspberry Chocolate Puffs
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This chocolaty, flaky dessert is one of my favorite show-off recipes because
it makes a spectacular presentation. The best part? It’s actually surprisingly easy and quick to make. —Anneliese Deising, Plymouth, Michigan
14/33
Walnut-Filled Pillows
Total Time
40 min
Servings
28 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These tender cookie pillows, filled with a delicious walnut mixture, are my husband's favorite. He says it wouldn't be Christmas without them. —Nancy Kostrej, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
15/33
Hamantaschen
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
about 6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Traditionally called hamantaschen, these crisp, buttery triangle cookies truly do melt in your mouth. It's a good thing this classic Jewish dessert recipe makes a big batch because no one can stop after eating just one! —Mildred Lorence, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
16/33
Orange Dream Mini Cupcakes
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The bright taste of these cute cupcakes reminds me and my friends of orange-and-vanilla frozen treats. —Jen Shepherd, St. Peters, Missouri
17/33
Peanut Butter & Jelly Cupcakes
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband's love for classic peanut butter and jelly inspired this recipe. The strawberry buttercream and peanut butter frosting are a delicious combination. —Kelly McCrea, North Kingsville, Ohio
18/33
Chocolate Macaroon Cupcakes
Total Time
50 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A delightful coconut and ricotta cheese filling is hidden inside these chocolate cupcakes. —Dolores Skrout, Summerhill, Pennsylvania
19/33
Spiced Pumpkin Ice Cream Puffs
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
32 cream puffs
From the Recipe Creator:
This extraordinary dessert showcases homemade pumpkin ice cream and cream puffs. The effort is worthwhile...and you can make the parts ahead of time for easy assembly later.—Richard Lasher, Stuarts Draft, Virginia
20/33
Sherbet-Filled Angel Food Cake
Total Time
1 hour 35 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s a cool way to treat angel food cake: Fill it with sherbet or ice cream. We finish this cake with a tart, sweet lime glaze. —Leah Rekau, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
21/33
Cherry Snowballs
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A juicy maraschino cherry is the secret center tucked inside these special cookies. My mom was inspired to create this by a recipe she clipped out of a newspaper more than 30 years ago. —Evy Adams, West Seneca, New York
22/33
Almond Bonbon Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These bonbons remind me of England, with a touch of America. Dip cooled cookies into one frosting or each side into different frostings. Have fun adding any kind of sprinkle toppings you like. — Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
23/33
Chocolate-Filled Angel Food Cake
Total Time
1 hour 50 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This decadent angel food cake has a secret tunnel of Amaretto-and-chocolate-flavored whipped cream and a luscious chocolate glaze. It's sure to impress. —Leah Rekau, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
24/33
Forgotten Cookies
Total Time
55 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These crisp, delicate cookies are light as a feather. Mini chocolate chips and chopped nuts are a delightful and yummy surprise in every bite. Mom knows this fun dessert is a fitting finale to a big meal. —Gloria Grant, Sterling, Illinois
25/33
Peppermint Patty Sandwich Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
At my annual holiday party, these cookies are a big hit with everyone, especially when I mix festive food coloring or crushed candy canes into the filling. —Amy Martin, Vancouver, Washington
26/33
Cream-Filled Cupcakes
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These chocolate cupcakes have a fun filling and shiny chocolate frosting that make them different from any other. They always disappear in a flash! —Kathy Kittell, Lenexa, Kansas
27/33
Lemon Meringue Angel Cake
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I've been told that this dessert tastes exactly like a lemon meringue pie and that it's the best angel food cake anyone could ask for. I'm not sure about all of that, but it is delightful to serve, and each slice is virtually fat free. —Sharon Kurtz, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
28/33
Cream Cheese Chocolate Cupcakes
Total Time
45 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Smooth cream cheese inside makes these cupcakes so rich. The classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate chips comes through in every yummy bite. You'll be asked to make them again and again. —Shirley Dunbar, Mojave, California
29/33
Cranberry Stuffed Apples
Total Time
3 hours 10 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cinnamon, nutmeg and walnuts add a homey autumn flavor to these stuffed apples, while the slow cooker does most of the work. —Graciela Sandvigen, Rochester, New York
30/33
Moist Lemon Angel Cake Roll
Total Time
45 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Tart and delicious, this pretty cake roll will tickle any lemon lover's fancy. Its feathery, angel food texture enhances its guilt-free goodness. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
31/33
Walnut Horn Cookies
Total Time
55 min
Servings
about 8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
At our house, it wouldn't be Christmas without these Pennsylvania Dutch cookies, which are known locally as kiffels. —Sharon Allen, Allentown, Pennsylvania
32/33
Sugar Plum Phyllo Kringle
Total Time
50 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Thanks to store-bought phyllo dough, this pastry is easier to make than it looks. Serve it not only for breakfast, but also for dessert with a scoop of ice cream. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona
33/33
Lemon Angel Food Cake
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
In Grande Prairie, Alberta, Debbie Segate relies on tangy lemon pie filling and a few other ingredients to quickly dress up a store-bought angel food cake. "If there's time, I use a boxed mix to bake the cake," she adds.
