Delicious Ramekin Dessert Recipes: Perfect Single-Serve Treats for Any Occasion
Craving a sweet treat but don’t want a whole cake or pie lingering? You’re in the right place! Explore this fantastic list of 26 Ramekin Dessert Recipes, specifically designed for individual servings or intimate desserts for two. They’re ideal for an easy date night or simply satisfying your sweet tooth without excess.
Dessert has always been my ultimate weakness. If I’m not careful, it’s all too easy to indulge in more sweets than I care to admit. Like the time I was testing my chocolate peanut butter mug cake recipe and ended up with four delicious mug cakes. As tempting as it was to devour them all, I knew my waistline wouldn’t be pleased.
Working from home often means I don’t have many opportunities to share leftover desserts. While I do visit a coworking space once a week where I can share my bakes, that wasn’t an option during the pandemic. During that period, I found myself baking far less from my cookbooks because there was simply no one around to help me enjoy the treats. Many of you might be facing a similar dilemma now, with remote work becoming more common. You love to bake, but the days of sharing your creations with coworkers are gone, leaving you with too many tempting leftovers.
The perfect solution for this modern baking challenge? Baking in ramekins! These individual ceramic dishes allow you to prepare smaller, perfectly portioned desserts. This means you can enjoy your favorite sweets without wasting any extras or accumulating unwanted pounds. Imagine a warm, gooey brownie, a tender cookie, a rich piece of cake, or even sophisticated treats like crème brûlée and bread pudding, all made just for you or to share with one other person.
That’s precisely why I’ve curated this collection of the best Ramekin Dessert Recipes. Each recipe yields dessert for one or two, ensuring you’re never overwhelmed by a house full of sweets. These small-batch recipes are perfect for concluding an easy date night dinner, celebrating special occasions like Valentine’s Day, or simply when a handful of chocolate chips isn’t enough to satisfy your serious dessert craving.
What is a Ramekin?
A ramekin is a small, round ceramic baking dish, typically featuring a fluted exterior. These versatile dishes are the perfect vessel for serving individual desserts, offering an elegant presentation and precise portion control. While most commonly associated with desserts, ramekins are incredibly versatile in the kitchen. They are often used to portion serving sizes, whether you’re meticulously monitoring your calorie intake, preparing multiple individual meals, or serving an appetizer like a baked dip or a side dish.
Beyond portioning, ramekins can transform ordinary desserts into delightful deep-dish versions. For example, my Single Serving Chocolate Chip Cookie becomes an extra-thick, wonderfully chewy treat when baked in a ramekin. I also find them incredibly useful for savory cooking; I often crack eggs into ramekins before sliding them into a hot skillet for over-easy eggs. This prevents the whites from spreading too thin, ensuring perfectly shaped eggs every time.
Don’t have ramekins yet but still craving something sweet for two? Don’t worry! Check out my collection of romantic desserts for two, many of which utilize a variety of other small baking pans you might already have on hand.
What Size Ramekins Do I Need?
Most of my ramekin dessert recipes are developed for 6-ounce ramekins, which is widely considered the standard size for individual dessert portions. This size strikes a perfect balance, offering a satisfying amount without being overly indulgent. However, ramekins come in various sizes, ranging from smaller 4-ounce options (great for bite-sized delights or very rich desserts) to larger 8-ounce or even 10-ounce dishes, suitable for more generous portions or savory bakes like pot pies.
Finding ramekins is usually quite easy! You can purchase them at most stores with a kitchenware section, such as Walmart, Target, or even department stores like Kohls. If you’re on a budget, don’t overlook thrift stores; you can often find great quality ramekins for a fraction of the price. For convenience, you can also easily buy them online from retailers like Amazon (affiliate link), where you’ll find a wide selection of shapes, colors, and materials like ceramic, porcelain, or even tempered glass.
When selecting ramekins, consider their material. Ceramic and porcelain are excellent choices because they distribute heat evenly, ensuring your desserts bake beautifully. They’re also durable and look elegant on any table. Always check if they are oven-safe, microwave-safe, and dishwasher-safe for maximum convenience. Owning a set of versatile ramekins will open up a world of small-batch baking possibilities!
Why I Love Ramekin Desserts: The Benefits of Small-Batch Baking
The primary reason I’m so passionate about ramekin desserts is their inherent ability to facilitate small-batch baking. For years, I’ve been dedicated to creating “dessert for two” recipes because I don’t have a large family to feed. Standard 8×8 or 9×5 inch baking pans are often far too large for just one or two servings, leading to an abundance of leftovers that can quickly go stale or tempt me into overeating.
Ramekins solve this problem beautifully. When a craving for cheesecake strikes, instead of pulling out a large springform pan, I can easily whip up my delightful cheesecake for two. This allows for instant gratification with perfectly portioned indulgence. Similarly, if I need a quick chocolate fix, my super-fast single-serve brownie, ready in just 1 minute in the microwave, is the ideal solution.
Beyond portion control, ramekin desserts offer several other compelling advantages:
- Reduced Waste: You only make what you need, minimizing food waste.
- Freshness Guaranteed: Every dessert is freshly baked and warm, often served straight from the oven or microwave.
- Perfect for Date Nights & Special Occasions: These individual treats feel more personal and romantic, elevating any meal.
- Variety without Overload: You can experiment with different flavors or types of desserts without committing to a large batch. One night it’s a fruit crisp, the next a molten lava cake!
- Faster Baking Times: Smaller portions generally cook much quicker than full-sized desserts, meaning less waiting and more enjoying.
- Healthier Choices: By controlling portions, you can more easily manage your calorie intake and maintain a balanced diet while still enjoying your favorite sweets.
- Easy Cleanup: A small ramekin is much easier to wash than a large baking pan.
Embracing ramekin desserts has truly transformed my baking habits, making it a joy to create fresh, delicious treats exactly when the craving strikes, without any guilt or excess.
How to Gift Dessert in Ramekins
Ramekins come in a dazzling array of colors, patterns, and designs, making them a wonderfully charming and practical gift! Not only do your loved ones receive a delicious, homemade dessert, but they also get to keep and reuse the beautiful ramekin itself. It’s a gift that keeps on giving!
To create a thoughtful ramekin dessert gift, choose a non-perishable or easily transportable recipe. My Brownies For Two, for example, are a perfect choice. Once baked and cooled, simply place the ramekin (or two!) into a pretty, food-safe cellophane bag or a small gift box. You can then tie it with a lovely ribbon, add a personalized tag, or even include the recipe card so the recipient can recreate the magic themselves.
Consider pairing the ramekin dessert with a small spoon, a tea bag, or a gourmet coffee packet for an extra special touch. This makes for an excellent housewarming gift, a thoughtful gesture for a friend, a delightful present for a teacher, or a sweet treat for a neighbor. It shows you put thought into not just the food, but also the lasting utility of the vessel.
Ready to bake the best ramekin dessert recipes? Get started with the delicious inspiration below!
Our Top Ramekin Dessert Recipes
Looking for small desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth? Check out this list of Ramekin Dessert Recipes! Recipes make 1-2 servings, perfect for portion control and intimate gatherings.
Air Fryer Cheesecake
Air Fryer Cheesecake is a creamy dessert for two that makes two ramekin cheesecakes without preheating the oven! Serve them with whipped cream and fresh fruit.
Brownies For Two
Ooey gooey Deep Dish Brownies For Two are homemade brownies from scratch in two ramekins.
Single Serve Brownie (Oven)
Single Serve Brownie means a fudgy chocolate dessert for one without being tempted by a whole pan. Can be made in the microwave!
Microwave Brownie
This Microwave Brownie made in a ramekin is a quick single serve chocolate dessert you can make in under 5 minutes. It’s a warm and fudgy eggless brownie for one for those days you need it the most.
Mini Lava Cakes
Mini Lava Cakes are rich and decadent molten chocolate cakes baked in two ramekins then served with a dusting of powdered sugar and whipped cream. They make the perfect dessert for two for your date night at home.
Red Velvet Lava Cakes
Red Velvet Lava Cakes are rich and decadent red velvet molten cakes baked in two ramekins then served with cream cheese whipped cream. They make the perfect dessert for two for Valentine’s Day and date night in general.
Single Serving Chocolate Chip Cookie
This eggless Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie means eating a warm chocolate chip cookie for one.
Microwave Chocolate Chip Cookie
This Microwave Chocolate Chip Cookie is a warm and gooey eggless chocolate chip cookie for one cooked in the microwave. Ready from start to finish in under 5 minutes!
Microwave Oatmeal Cookie
This Microwave Oatmeal Cookie with chocolate chips is a quick eggless oatmeal cookie for one cooked in the microwave. Ready from start to finish in under 5 minutes!
Microwave Peanut Butter Cookie
This Microwave Peanut Butter Cookie is a warm and nutty no egg peanut butter cookie for one cooked in the microwave. Ready in under 5 minutes from start to finish!
Single Serving Sugar Cookie
This Single Serving Sugar Cookie is a soft sugar cookie with sprinkles that doesn’t require a mixer to make.
Microwave Sugar Cookie
This Microwave Sugar Cookie is an eggless sugar cookie in a mug or ramekin cooked in the microwave. Ready from start to finish in under 5 minutes!
Cheesecake For Two
Cheesecake For Two can be customized with different toppings and batters as a fun dessert for two.
Chocolate Souffle Recipe for Two
lifeloveandgoodfood.com
Chocolate Soufflé Recipe with a dollop of fresh Kahlua whipped cream
Apple Crisp For Two
Your kitchen will smell like fall when you bake up warm and bubbly Apple Crisp For Two with a buttery streusel and creamy vanilla ice cream!
Peach Cobbler For Two
Peach Cobbler For Two are warm, bubbly individual peach cobblers topped with tender dough and ice cream.
Blueberry Cobbler For Two
Blueberry Cobbler For Two is a warm and bubbly individual
blueberry cobbler baked in two ramekins then topped with tender dough from scratch without cake mix or canned biscuits.
Pear Crisp
Welcome fall into your kitchen with warm and bubbly Pear Crisp For Two with creamy vanilla ice cream and a tart blood orange sauce.
Rhubarb and Almond Crumble
www.everyday-delicious.com
This rhubarb almond crumble is a must during rhubarb season!
Easy Strawberry Mousse
www.carolinescooking.com
This easy strawberry mousse is a delicious balance of wonderful strawberry flavor and smooth creaminess.
Creme Brulee For Two
www.bostongirlbakes.com
Creme Brulee For Two is so simple to throw together and takes only minutes to prep.
Pineapple Banana Bread Pudding
zonacooks.com
This Pineapple Banana Bread Pudding has a
crusty golden-brown top, soft gooey inside and tropical flavors of banana and pineapple.
Mini Apple Pies
Mini Apple Pie For Two baked in ramekins with a homemade pie crust and apple pie filling
Mini Cherry Pies
Do not let summer pass you by without making Mini Cherry Pie For Two! They’re individual cherry pies baked with a homemade pie crust and cherry pie filling.
Mini Strawberry Pies
If you’re overflowing with a bounty of fresh juicy strawberries, it’s time to make Mini Strawberry Pies! They’re individual strawberry pies baked in ramekins with a buttery, flaky homemade pie crust and of course juicy homemade strawberry pie filling.
Mini Peach Pies
Summer just got a bit sweeter with these Mini Peach Pies! They’re individual pies baked in ramekins with a flaky, butter pie crust bursting with a juicy peach pie filling.
Eggless Pumpkin Pie (Gluten Free)
This easy crustless Eggless Pumpkin Pie without evaporated milk is baked in two ramekins so you can have your pie without leftovers.
Instant Pot Lava Cake
instantpotcooking.com
This molten Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake has a melted chocolate center and can be made in any pressure cooker.
Kahlua Tiramisu for Two
Kahlua Tiramisu for Two