Recipes Desserts 9 Desserts You Can Make Without a Mixer By Food & Wine Editors Published on May 7, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Bridget Hallinan A stand mixer or a hand mixer can definitely come in handy when you're making cakes, cookies, or other desserts, but if you don't own one, or it isn't handy, don't worry. There are plenty of recipes that don't require anything more than a bowl, a spoon, and some elbow grease. Look for recipes that have melted butter or use oil instead of butter—often these will skip the step of creaming butter and sugar together, which is where a mixer (or stop determination with a whisk) are crucial. 01 of 09 Salted Caramel Brownies View Recipe Jennifer Causey These Vallery Lomas brownies are a legend in the Food & Wine test kitchen because they are truly just that delicious. The salted caramel means that these are more knife and fork brownies than pick up and eat, but it's beyond worth it. Get the Recipe 02 of 09 Banana–Chocolate Chip Snack Cake with Salted Peanut Butter Frosting Antonis Achilleos Snacking cakes are a category of desserts that are just as delicious and casual as their name would suggest. Though the cake itself requires no mixer, the frosting does. Not a problem! Simply swap it out for your favorite glaze, or use a whisk and some serious elbow grease. Get the Recipe 03 of 09 Grapefruit Cornmeal Cake © Con Poulos This lightly sweet, citrus-y cake has an optional poppyseed glaze. It makes an excellent dessert, but it's equally as nice served with coffee or eta as a mid-day snack, or as breakfast. Get the Recipe 04 of 09 Olive Oil Cake With Blackberries © Roland Persson Danny Meyer's elegant olive oil cake comes together quickly and is he perfect vehicle for seasonal fruit. 05 of 09 Breton Butter Cake © Greg DuPree This version of a kouign amman, the classic laminated Bretton pastry, is made using pizza dough folded around layers of butter and sugar. ill Get the Recipe 06 of 09 Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies Bridget Hallinan Not only do these peanut butter cookies not require a mixer, they don't need flour, making them perfect as a gluten-free option. Get the Recipe 07 of 09 Lemon Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen This lemon cake is made in just one bowl, harnessing the flavors of honey and olive oil to enhance the tartness of the citrus. The cream cheese icing does require a mixer—or some real work with a whisk—but it's just as delicious without it, or with a glaze of your choice. Get the Recipe 08 of 09 Maple-Bourbon Banana Pudding Cake © Fredrika Stjärne Got an overripe banana? Convert it to this delicious, sticky maple-bourbon treat. The best part might be the sauce it creates for itself at the bottom. Get the Recipe 09 of 09 Brown Sugar Cake with Ricotta and Blueberries Jennifer Causey This dense, chewy cake is closer to a blondie than a traditional layer cake, making it an excellent vehicle for ice cream, whipped cream, or sweetened ricotta and berries. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit