21 Cheat Day Desserts That’ll Have You Breaking All the Rules
When cheat day rolls around, dessert is the main event. These desserts are the ones you save for when you’re ready to throw out the rulebook. They bring rich, sweet flavors and indulgent textures that make sticking to the plan impossible. If you’re going to break the rules, these are the 21 desserts worth doing it for.
Blackberry Crumble Pie
Blackberry Crumble Pie is packed with sweet, juicy blackberries and topped with a buttery crumble. This dessert takes about an hour to bake, giving you just enough time to prepare for breaking the rules. The tart blackberries and sweet topping make this a must for any cheat day. One bite, and you’ll wonder why you ever followed the rules in the first place.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Crumble Pie
Cookies and Cream Hot Chocolate Bombs
Cookies and Cream Hot Chocolate Bombs are a rich treat that’s more than just a hot drink. With white chocolate truffles, hot cocoa, and cookie crumbles, this dessert only needs 15 minutes to prepare. As they melt into creamy hot chocolate, they turn every sip into a dessert-worthy experience. Perfect for a cheat day moment that defies dessert boundaries.
Get the Recipe: Cookies and Cream Hot Chocolate Bombs
3-Ingredient Pavlova Recipe (Chewy & Crunchy!)
This pavlova is a chewy and crunchy meringue dessert made with just egg whites, sugar, and heavy cream. Ready in just over an hour, this treat delivers a sweet, marshmallow-like center with a crisp outer shell. It’s light enough to make you think you’re sticking to the rules, but its indulgence says otherwise. Pavlova might be simple, but it’s a cheat day winner in disguise.
Get the Recipe: 3-Ingredient Pavlova Recipe (Chewy & Crunchy!)
Blueberry Ice Cream
Blueberry Ice Cream blends fresh blueberries, milk, and cream for a refreshing and indulgent treat. This no-egg recipe takes about 30 minutes of prep time, with the sweet taste of blueberries shining through every spoonful. It’s a cool and creamy dessert that makes cheat days feel like summer. Get ready for a scoop of guilt-free rule-breaking.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Ice Cream
Blackberry Lime Tart with Edible Flowers
This Blackberry Lime Tart mixes tangy lime with sweet blackberries in a buttery crust, topped with edible flowers. It takes around an hour to prepare, offering a combination of vibrant, tart, and sweet flavors. The edible flowers add a touch of beauty, but it’s the taste that breaks all the rules. This tart turns every cheat day into a work of art.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Lime Tart with Edible Flowers
Peach Crumble Bars
Peach Crumble Bars combine juicy peaches with a buttery oat topping for a dessert that’s impossible to resist. These bars come together in about 45 minutes, making them the perfect cheat day indulgence. The sweet peach filling and crumbly topping offer a satisfying treat with every bite. Whether fresh or canned, peaches were made for days when rules don’t apply.
Get the Recipe: Peach Crumble Bars
Pineapple Ice Cream Cakes
Pineapple Ice Cream Cakes mix creamy ice cream with sweet pineapple in a dessert that feels like a mini tropical vacation. It takes just 30 minutes to assemble these cakes, plus freezing time. The refreshing pineapple flavor pairs perfectly with the smooth ice cream, making these a summer cheat day essential. For a rule-breaking twist, serve these at your next cookout.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Ice Cream Cakes
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies pack a double punch with rich cocoa and chocolate chips in every bite. Ready in 30 minutes, these cookies bring intense chocolate flavor, making them ideal for cheat days. The gooey chocolate chips melt in your mouth, leaving you satisfied but ready for more. Have these cookies with milk and forget the rules entirely.
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Key Lime Pie with Coconut Whipped Cream
Key Lime Pie with Coconut Whipped Cream blends tart key lime with a sweet coconut topping, creating a balanced dessert. This pie takes about 2 hours to prepare, including chilling time, and delivers a tangy flavor with every bite. It’s the kind of treat that makes you forget cheat days even exist. Serve it cold, and let the lime-coconut combo take over.
Get the Recipe: Key Lime Pie with Coconut Whipped Cream
Chewy No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
These Chewy No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars come together in 15 minutes with oats, peanut butter, and honey. No baking is needed, making them a quick and satisfying cheat day treat. The peanut butter adds richness while the oats give it a hearty texture. Keep these handy for when breaking the rules sounds like a good idea.
Get the Recipe: Chewy No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Mini Apple Pies
Mini Apple Pies are individual treats filled with cinnamon-spiced apples in a flaky crust, perfect for cheat day moments. These pies take about 45 minutes to prepare, offering the comfort of a classic dessert in a bite-sized form. The sweet, spiced apple filling pairs with the buttery crust for a warm, delicious bite. Add a dollop of whipped cream for an extra rule-breaking indulgence.
Get the Recipe: Mini Apple Pies
Glazed Strawberry Brownies with Frozen Strawberries
Glazed Strawberry Brownies feature sweet, buttery strawberry flavor wrapped in a moist, fudgy brownie. With frozen strawberries and only 20 minutes of prep, this recipe lets you savor summer berries year-round. These brownies might be quick, but they pack in plenty of flavor to justify any cheat day. Break all the rules, because strawberry brownies are calling your name.
Get the Recipe: Glazed Strawberry Brownies with Frozen Strawberries
Spiced Pear Cobbler
Spiced Pear Cobbler combines tender pears, warm spices, and a buttermilk biscuit crust for a comforting dessert. It takes about an hour to make, with the aroma alone tempting you to throw out any rules. The combination of cinnamon and pears offers a cozy sweetness perfect for indulgence. This is the kind of dessert that makes you glad cheat days exist.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Pear Cobbler
Homemade Strawberry Shortcake
Homemade Strawberry Shortcake is layered with juicy strawberries, fluffy biscuits, and whipped cream for a classic dessert. Ready in 30 minutes, this shortcake brings sweet and fresh flavors together in every bite. The soft biscuits and juicy strawberries create a perfect harmony that begs to be enjoyed. Skip the rules and dive into this cheat day favorite.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Strawberry Shortcake
Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies
Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies bring together tart cranberries, rich chocolate chunks, and chewy oatmeal. These cookies take just 30 minutes from start to finish, making them a quick option for your cheat day lineup. The balance of sweet and tart flavors offers a unique twist on a classic cookie. For a cheat day, these cookies are a sweet escape from the ordinary.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp blends sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb under a crunchy oat topping, ready in an hour. The mix of flavors creates a perfect balance between sweet and tart, making it ideal for cheat days. The crisp topping adds just the right amount of texture to the soft fruit filling. Serve it warm with ice cream, because rules were meant to be broken.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Apple Cinnamon Rolls combine soft, doughy rolls with spiced apples and a sweet glaze, taking about 2 hours to prepare. The warm apple and cinnamon filling creates a cozy and comforting dessert that’s hard to resist. These rolls are perfect for any cheat day breakfast or dessert. Let the sweet glaze do all the talking while you forget about the rules.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Butterscotch Apple Crisp
Butterscotch Apple Crisp layers spiced apples with a sweet butterscotch oat topping, making it a rich and comforting dessert. It takes about an hour to prepare, and the blend of apples and butterscotch creates a warming, cozy flavor. This is the kind of dessert that makes cheat days worth every bite. Forget the rules, because this crisp is made for indulging.
Get the Recipe: Butterscotch Apple Crisp
Butter Pecan Cookies
Butter Pecan Cookies are filled with crunchy pecans and rich buttery flavor in every bite. These cookies take just 30 minutes to prepare, making them perfect for a quick cheat day treat. The buttery richness and nutty crunch offer a satisfying dessert experience. Keep these cookies on hand for when the rules just don’t matter anymore.
Get the Recipe: Butter Pecan Cookies
Citrus Dream Tart
Citrus Dream Tart features a tangy citrus filling paired with a buttery crust, taking about an hour to prepare. The bright lemon, lime, and orange flavors make this tart a refreshing treat for cheat days. It’s light, zesty, and just what you need when you’re breaking the rules. When the craving hits, this tart is your go-to excuse to forget everything else.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Dream Tart
Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust
Easy Lemon Bars combine a tangy lemon filling with a buttery shortbread base, taking just 45 minutes to bake. The tart lemon contrasts with the rich shortbread for a satisfying cheat day treat. Each bite offers a balance of sweet and tangy flavors that are hard to resist. On cheat days, these lemon bars prove that rules are simply meant to be ignored.
Get the Recipe: Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust
