If you are in 1.13 or later you can choose the Buffet world type, then choose desert as the biome to use, which will be the only biome that generates, with strongholds and everything else generating as normal (for an extra challenge you can choose "caves" (like the Nether, including a bedrock ceiling, so you'll probably want to enable the bonus chest for its torches so you have light to start with) or "floating islands" (like the outer End; strongholds may be floating over the void) as the terrain). 1.8-1.12.2 has the Customized world type which can be set to one biome (in this case it will include all variants of desert (desert hills, desert M) and rivers), as well as giving you more control over how terrain generates (you can also choose a preset and edit the biome to desert).
Unfortunately the Caves setting is bugged in 1.13.2 such that the bonus chest as well as villages generate above the bedrock ceiling. Probably in all updates of 1.13
Strongholds and mineshafts on the other hand seem to generate where they should.
Looking to start a stream series where I get to The End only in a desert, and I would like the static goal of getting to The End.
If you are in 1.13 or later you can choose the Buffet world type, then choose desert as the biome to use, which will be the only biome that generates, with strongholds and everything else generating as normal (for an extra challenge you can choose "caves" (like the Nether, including a bedrock ceiling, so you'll probably want to enable the bonus chest for its torches so you have light to start with) or "floating islands" (like the outer End; strongholds may be floating over the void) as the terrain). 1.8-1.12.2 has the Customized world type which can be set to one biome (in this case it will include all variants of desert (desert hills, desert M) and rivers), as well as giving you more control over how terrain generates (you can also choose a preset and edit the biome to desert).
TheMasterCaver's First World - possibly the most caved-out world in Minecraft history - includes world download.
TheMasterCaver's World - my own version of Minecraft largely based on my views of how the game should have evolved since 1.6.4.
Why do I still play in 1.6.4?
Unfortunately the Caves setting is bugged in 1.13.2 such that the bonus chest as well as villages generate above the bedrock ceiling. Probably in all updates of 1.13
Strongholds and mineshafts on the other hand seem to generate where they should.
Just testing.