52 Recipes That Start With a Cookie Crust

Fruit Pizza

These pretty fruit pizzas have been a hit every time I've served them. They start with premade cookie dough, making them super simple. —Janet O'Neal, Poplar Bluff, Missouri

Giant Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich

I created this giant peanut butter cookie cake for my husband, adding light and low-fat products to the cookie dough. It was so fantastic that I fixed it with conventional ingredients for guests. Since it can be made ahead of time and frozen, it cuts stress for busy hostesses. And really, who doesn't love peanut butter ice cream? —Joann Belack, Bradenton, Florida

Cream Cheese Cookie Cups

Need a quick dessert? Try these yummy cookie bites. For a pretty look, use an icing bag to pipe the filling into the cups, then top each with mini M&M's. —Rachel Blackston, Mauk, Georgia

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

If you delight in the taste of chocolate, then this is the cheesecake for you. Every creamy bite melts in your mouth. It's so impressive yet not difficult to prepare-I whip up this dessert each time I want a yummy treat for my family, friends or co-workers. —Mary Jones, Cumberland, Maine

Black Forest Tart

Cherry pie filling and a melted chocolate drizzle top a rich, fudgy cake made from chocolate cookie crumbs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Banana Split Supreme

Transform the classic flavor of a banana split into a whole new recipe! This is a cool, creamy treat with no last-minute fuss since you just pull it from the freezer. It always gets praise from our big family. —Marye Franzen, Gothenburg, Nebraska

Mini Neapolitan Baked Alaskas

Surprise—there's ice cream inside these tiny showstoppers! Dinner guests will be thrilled with the pretty presentation. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Glazed Strawberry Cheesecake

This ruby-red showstopper has been a family favorite for more than 30 years. When I take it to potluck parties and other get-togethers, we devour every last bite. —Jan Decarlantonio, Centreville, Maryland

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

These little cheesecakes make a fun dessert that's just right for cooks who don't have a lot of time for fussy recipes. Plus, you get to eat a whole mini cheesecake yourself! —Kay Keller, Morenci, Michigan

Chocolate-Cherry Ice Cream Cake

Oh say can you see this amazing dessert at your next gathering? I make it ahead of time and keep it in the freezer, wrapped in foil, for a week or so before serving. —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia

Taffy Apple Pizza

This sweet treat has something for everyone. With peanut butter, apple, peanuts, caramel topping and a sugar cookie crust, the pleasing pizza pie is sheer delight! —Melissa Beachy, Guthrie, Kentucky

Cranberry Cheesecake

Every year when the cranberries are harvested, my family looks forward to eating this cheesecake. —Nairda Monroe, Webberville, Michigan

Raspberry Ice Cream Delight

This gorgeous make-ahead dessert is a light, refreshing ending to a summer meal. I first made it for my aunt's 85th birthday dinner and everyone loved it! —Nancy Whitford, Edwards, New York

Chocolate & Coconut Cream Torte

My grandmother passed this recipe down to me years ago and now I make it for my own grandchildren. When preparing, make sure the chocolate layer is properly chilled before adding the next layer, or the coconut will sink into it. —Jason Purkey, Ocean City, Maryland

Cookies & Cream Brownies

You won't want to frost these brownies, since the marbled top is too pretty to cover up. Besides, the indulgent cream cheese layer makes them taste as if they're already frosted. The crushed cookies add extra chocolate flavor and a fun crunch. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

Contest-Winning Raspberry Cream Pie

This recipe is delicious with either fresh-picked or frozen raspberries. That means you can make it year-round. One bite of raspberry pie will instantly turn winter to summer. —Julie Price, Nashville, Tennessee

Trail Mix Cookie Cups

My granddaughter helped create these cookie cups for the first time by using ingredients from my pantry and fridge. We used trail mix to jazz them up. —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia

Honey Pecan Cheesecake

Birthdays and holidays are great times for cheesecake, and Christmas is ideal for this particular one. In our annual church baking contest, it won first place! —Tish Frish, Hampden, Maine

Contest-Winning Pumpkin Cheesecake Dessert

With its gingersnap crust and maple syrup drizzle, this rich and creamy spiced pumpkin dessert never fails to get rave reviews. It cuts nicely, too. —Cathy Hall, Phoenix, Arizona

Creamy Coffee Pie

It’s easy to stir mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips and crushed sandwich cookies into coffee ice cream to create this irresistible frozen dessert. —Cherron Nagel, Columbus, Ohio

Macaroon Ice Cream Torte

My family loves frozen treats. With chocolate four ways, this one is so beautiful, people think it came from an ice cream shop. —Barbara Carlucci, Orange Park, Florida

Blackberry Cheesecake Bars

Sugar cookie dough is a speedy way to turn ricotta and mascarpone cheeses topped with blackberries into beautiful bars. — Terri Crandall, Gardnerville, Nevada

Rocky Road Cookie Cups

Traditional rocky road ice cream has nuts, marshmallows and chocolate. Using prepared cookie dough makes it easy to put the flavors together in these fast, kid-friendly cups. —Charlotte McDaniel, Jacksonville, AL

Red Velvet Cheesecake

Festive and oh, so good, this cheesecake will become a fixture on your Christmas dessert menu. The red velvet filling is spiked with cocoa, topped with cream cheese frosting and baked in a chocolate cookie crumb crust. —Karen Dively, Chapin, South Carolina

Creamy Lime Pie with Fresh Berries

I combined the tangy tastes of lime and cilantro with cream cheese for this unusual berry pie that showcases seasonal fruit. The ginger cookies add zip to the crust. —Anneliese Barz, Fort Mill, South Carolina

Elegant Orange Blossom Cheesecake

The aroma of orange zest hints at how heavenly this delicate cheesecake tastes. Gingersnap cookie crumbs make a distinctive crust, while glazed orange slices become a blossomlike topping. —Sharon Delaney-Chronis, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pumpkin Gingersnap Ice Cream Pie

My family and I always try new desserts during the holidays. This one was a clear winner, so we now make it for all occasions! —Patricia Ness, La Mesa, California

Caramel Peanut Fantasy

Packed with peanuts and gooey with caramel, this do-ahead treat is one sweet dream of a dessert to serve company. With an easy cookie crust and scrumptious candy bar layers, it goes together quickly—and will disappear just as fast! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Chocolate Peanut Pie

I entered this pie in our county fair, and it was selected grand champion. Who can resist a tempting chocolate crumb crust and a creamy filling with big peanut butter taste? Be prepared to take an empty pan home when you serve this pie at your next potluck. —Doris Doherty, Albany, Oregon

Frozen Peppermint Delight

If you’re looking for a dessert that’s festive, delicious and easy to make, this is the one for you. Drizzled in hot fudge sauce and loaded with pretty peppermint pieces, this almost tempting treat will have guests asking for seconds. —Pam Lancaster, Willis, Virginia

Peanut Butter Custard Blast

"Ooey, gooey, great!" is how friends and family describe this chocolate-peanut butter dessert. I appreciate the make-ahead convenience. —Marilee Evenson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Pumpkin Delight Magic Bars

My mother never wrote down her delightful recipes, so I created this recipe as a holiday tribute to her. They're creamy, sweet and a little tart. Eat with a fork so you can scoop up all the delicious topping ingredients that might tumble off. —Lisa Glassman, Boynton Beach, Florida

Double Chocolate Almond Cheesecake

This cheesecake is easy to make—but it’s definitely not easy to wait till the next day to eat it! The recipe came from a friend and former co-worker. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

Salted Caramel Cappuccino Cheesecake

After spending years living in Seattle, I’ve become a coffee junkie! I had to relocate across the country for a time, so I created this cheesecake with the flavors of salted caramel, coffee and espresso. It lifted me up on days when I felt blue about leaving one of the world’s amazing coffee destinations. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington

Frozen Mud Pie

Here's one of those "looks like you fussed" desserts that is so easy it's become a standard for me. I love the mocha version, but pure chocolate lovers may prefer using chocolate chip ice cream. The cookie crust is a snap to make. —Debbie Terenzini-Wilkerson, Lusby, Maryland

Gooey Chocolate-Peanut Bars

These are so easy to make and take no time at all. They’re great to package up for those college kids looking for something from home. Everyone will want this recipe. —Elaine Grimme, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie

If you’re looking for a classic autumn dessert, try this pumpkiny cheesecake pie. It’s a winner at potlucks and on the Thanksgiving table. The gingersnap crust forms a spicy sweet foundation. —Sharon Crockett, La Palma, California

Chocolate Chip Cookie Delight

This is a simple chocolate dessert recipe for any type of potluck occasion, and the pan always comes home empty. —Diane Windley, Grace, Idaho

Easy Mocha Cream Pie

This chocolate crust is excellent with a cool no-bake mocha filling. — Gina Nistico, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Luscious Almond Cheesecake

I received this recipe along with a set of springform pans from a cousin at my wedding shower 11 years ago. It makes a heavenly cheesecake. My son Tommy has already told me he wants it again for his birthday cake this year. —Brenda Clifford, Overland Park, Kansas

Frozen Mocha Torte

For an easy, make-ahead dessert that's elegant and luscious, try this recipe. The perfect blend of mocha and chocolate is in each cool, refreshing slice. —Aelita Kivirist, Glenview, Illinois

Key Lime Bars

I love key lime pie, but some people are reluctant to take a whole slice of pie. These bars give just the right taste of key lime and freeze well, so I can keep a stash for when I need a tart treat. —Kristine Staton, Broomfield, Colorado

Mudslide Cheesecake

Change up cheesecakes with different liqueur flavorings. This “mudslide” version with coffee and Irish cream is my husband's favorite. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Ice Cream Cookie Dessert

Our family loves dessert, and this chocolaty, layered treat is one of Mom's most-requested recipes. It's so easy to prepare this Oreo ice cream cake! —Kimberly Laabs, Hartford, Wisconsin

Neapolitan Cheesecake

This rich, creamy cheesecake is a crowd-pleasing standout. It has won first-place ribbons at numerous fairs and is my family’s favorite dessert. It’s an indulgence sure to elicit oohs and aahs when served to guests. —Sherri Regalbuto, Carp, Ontario

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake

I'm originally from Paraguay, and dulce de leche reminds me of where I came from. If you can't find it at your grocery store, try caramel ice cream topping instead. It tastes different, but this decadent dessert will still be amazing. —Sonia Lipham, Ranburne, Alabama

Peanut Butter Icebox Dessert

Leftover crushed cookies create the yummy crust for this crowd-pleasing dessert. It’s covered with a smooth cream cheese mixture, chocolate pudding and whipped topping for a lovely layered look. —Nancy Mueller, Bloomington, Minnesota

Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

My husband loves cheesecake, and this favorite is from a cookbook I bought long ago for $1 at a yard sale. We love raspberries and chocolate—what a match! —Mickey Turner, Grants Pass, Oregon