This simple baked pasta dessert is the kind of clever pantry recipe that feels almost too easy to work, yet it turns into a sweet, comforting casserole with very little effort. Using dry bow tie pasta, pie filling, cinnamon sugar, and butter creates a cobbler-like dessert with tender pasta pieces tucked into a jammy fruit filling, making it a fun choice for National Dessert Day or any time you want a budget-friendly treat from a handful of ingredients.
Serve this warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to balance the sweet fruit and buttery topping. It also pairs nicely with hot coffee after dinner or a mug of chai tea in the afternoon, and if you want to dress it up a little more, a light dusting of powdered sugar just before serving makes it feel especially dessert-worthy.
4-Ingredient Oven Baked Bow Tie Pasta Dessert
Servings: 6 to 8
Ingredients
12 ounces dry uncooked bow tie pasta
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease an oven-safe glass casserole dish.
2. Spread the dry uncooked bow tie pasta evenly in the prepared casserole dish.
3. Spoon the cherry pie filling over the pasta, distributing it as evenly as possible.
4. Drizzle the melted butter over the top, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar as evenly as you can across the dish.
5. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 to 15 minutes more, until the pasta is tender and the top looks glossy and slightly caramelized. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Variations & Tips
Apple Pie Version: Swap the cherry pie filling for apple pie filling for a flavor that tastes a bit like a shortcut apple dumpling bake. A pinch of extra cinnamon works especially well here.
Berry Version: Blueberry or mixed berry pie filling also works nicely and gives the dessert a darker, more jewel-toned finish. Serve this one with whipped cream instead of ice cream for a lighter feel.
Texture Tip: Because dry pasta needs moisture to soften, make sure the fruit filling is spread thoroughly and the dish is covered tightly for the first part of baking. If the mixture seems too thick, a small splash of water can help the pasta cook more evenly.
Serving Tip: This dessert is best served warm after a short resting time, which helps the filling thicken slightly and makes scooping much easier.
