Short and Sweet

75 effortless desserts made with everyday, accessible ingredients, each in one pan—no stand mixer required—from baking expert Dan Langan.

Dan Langan has never met a recipe he couldn’t improve upon: he believes there’s always more flavor to coax from ingredients, better texture to develop, and of course, a quicker path to rewards (with fewer dishes, too). His drive to make baking more enjoyable has led him to develop more relaxed recipes that always delivered great results.

Every recipe in Short & Sweet features a brief list of accessible ingredients (no specialty flour here!) and minimal tools (all you need is a bowl and a whisk!) so you can save time and money. Dan shares streamlined classic confections such as melt-in-your-mouth Butter Sprinkle Cookies and Strawberry Shortcakes, whose light and airy texture comes from adding egg to the biscuit dough. He has creative twists like Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies, where thin crackly brownie crust meets rich vanilla-y swirls, and even chilled delights, like Ruby Raspberry Sherbet, smooth and soft thanks to a touch of honey. Dan even quickens rise times for yeasted and kneaded bakes like Hot and Buttered Soft Pretzels, and Philly Provolone Pizza so you can enjoy fuss-free savory bakes, too. Plus, Dan gives his top tips for substitutions and smart baking techniques, so dessert is always within reach.