Easy party desserts will help you feed a crowd at your next dinner party. Make ahead treats for a special occasion are easy to prep and serve at room temperature. Delicious desserts include easy cakes, cookies, cheesecake desserts, and so much more.
Easy party desserts are the best part of planning a special occasion.
Make-ahead desserts are a great idea for helping you to fill a dessert table with the perfect treats.
This is a list of my personal favorite desserts that my family has used for dinner parties and special events for years and years.
Lemon Torte
This make-ahead lemon torte is a classic party favorite and is loved by everyone we've served it to.
Creamy layers of lemon pudding whipped topping, and a cream cheese filling top a crispy cookie crust.
It is a light and refreshing perfect ending to your dinner party but also travels well if you're in charge of bringing dessert.
Easy Poke Cake
An easy poke cake like my strawberry kiwi cake is the perfect simple dessert for beginner bakers.
An angel food cake has ribbons of chilled strawberry Jello and a Cool Whip frosted top. It tastes best when you make it ahead and chill it in the fridge.
Serve it with fresh strawberries and slices of kiwi.
Vanilla Cheesecake with Strawberry Sauce
A great idea for an easy party dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth is one of my personal favorite party hacks!
Pick up a giant vanilla cheesecake from Costco or a box of mini cheesecakes from the grocery store and plan a "Top Your Own Cheesecake Bites" bar.
Set out fresh fruits, whipped cream, and a sweet dessert sauce to drizzle over the top.
My strawberry sauce or triple berry sauce are great options, but I have an entire list of cheesecake toppings for you to pick from for any season of the year.
Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
One of the best ways to take a simple boxed cake mix to the next level for a birthday party is to make an easy homemade frosting for decorating the top.
You can turn them into bite-size desserts by using a mini muffin tin which is the perfect recipe for filling a dessert tower.
Just whip up a batch of my easy cream cheese frosting or this decadent chocolate cream cheese frosting for swirling over the top of each mini cupcake.
Garnish them with sprinkles, candies, fresh berries, or nuts to match your party menu.
Coconut Cake with Pineapple Filling
Bake a simple boxed cake mix and no one will guess you took a shortcut when you top it with my homemade pineapple filling, a layer of cream cheese frosting, and fresh shredded coconut on top!
This would make a stunning birthday party cake but is absolutely delicious for any dinner party you have planned.
Easy Homemade Brownies
Another easy recipe for making homemade bite-sized desserts is my daughter's favorite rich and fudgy homemade brownies made with melted chocolate chips.
This is the perfect treat for chocolate lovers who want to take them to the next level by garnishing them with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, a dollop of whipped cream, or fresh berries.
Easy Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
Vanilla ice cream sandwiches and layers of Cool Whip topping with drizzles of chocolate sauce and caramel sauce is an excellent party dessert for the summer heat with very little effort.
My favorite make-ahead ice cream sandwich cake serves a lot of people if you cut the squares into smaller portions.
Easy Ice Cream Sundae
Hosting large crowds can be a bit of a challenge when it comes to picking the perfect recipe for a simple dessert. You need something easy to serve that pleases a lot of people with different tastes.
You can turn a basic tub of vanilla ice cream into a surprisingly elegant dessert for your next dinner party by planning unique ice cream sundae toppings.
Make a big pan of my easy roasted cherries and serve them warm over the vanilla ice cream. You could add dark chocolate chips for sprinkling over the top.
Or choose a "Build Your Own Sundae" Bar with all the fresh ice cream toppings your guests need to build one of these 20 easy ice cream sundae recipes.
Set out big piles of ice cream cones and bowls so everyone can choose their favorite way to eat the treat.
Strawberry Jello Pretzel Dessert
This classic make ahead strawberry jello pretzel dessert recipe is often found on the dessert table at every special occasion you can imagine. It is the perfect ending for a baby shower or bridal shower because it is so light and creamy.
Fresh strawberries are tucked inside a strawberry Jello layer. Cool whip and cream cheese create a sweet and tangy filling on top of a crispy, salty pretzel crust.
Crescent Roll Cheesecake
This portable potluck-friendly crescent roll cheesecake combines the flavors of a crispy cinnamon churro and a creamy vanilla cheesecake in one delicious bar.
Don't miss the dozen or so fun flavor variations included in the recipe:
Banana Pudding (No Bananas)
After seeing it on dessert table after dessert table, I finally decided to go rogue and make an easy banana pudding with no bananas. While not exactly traditional, it tastes amazing.
But if you're a purist, no worries. I included instructions for adding the fresh bananas if you insist.
Classic Strawberry Shortcake
This classic strawberry shortcake recipe can be made ahead in just 20 minutes.
Serve the biscuit style shortcakes on a pretty platter next to a large bowl of the fresh strawberries mixture.
Set out cans of whipped cream or tubs of whipped topping and let your guests assemble their own desserts!
Strawberry Cream Pie
This easy strawberry cream pie recipe is the perfect make ahead party dessert.
It should chill for 8 hours in the fridge before slicing so you can have all your party prep out of the way.
Make Ahead Apple Slab Pie
Next time you need an easy treat, plan ahead and prep this rich and buttery make-ahead apple slab pie.
It is a great option when you want to prep it ahead and bake it fresh right before your dinner party. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream.
If you want to really showcase the fall flavors, add a drizzle of salted caramel sauce over the top.
Southern Style Peach Cobbler
The only thing my mom and sister want during our annual family beach vacation is for me to bake a pan of my easy southern style peach cobbler.
This is such an easy recipe, I can make it at a rental kitchen in a few minutes.
The sweet and juicy peaches are tossed with brown sugar and are covered in a crispy cobbler topping that pairs perfectly with vanilla ice cream in the summer heat.
Easy Cherry Crisp
When it comes to fresh fruit desserts, this cherry crisp recipe is my all time favorite easy treat.
I freeze fresh cherries every summer so I can make this baked dessert any time of year. The crispy oatmeal and butter topping has a hint of almond and is a delicious twist on the classic recipe.
It's one of the most amazing dinner party desserts, I've never had a guest turn down a warm dish with melty vanilla ice cream.
Easy Cherry Pie
Another great option for using frozen cherries is my make ahead cherry pie.
This delicious dessert is a great option when you need a room temperature dessert that can sit on the dessert table for a long period of time.
If you bake it fresh before your next party, it can be served warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream over the top.
Freezer-Friendly Apple Crisp
Next time you need to feed a crowd and want a make ahead baked dessert, try my freezer-friendly apple crisp!
The warm fall flavors of cinnamon and apple with a buttery crisp topping can be prepped ahead and frozen. Just bake it fresh before the event and don't forget the vanilla ice cream!
Easy Tiramisu
The best part of my easy tiramisu recipe is that it is a perfect option for turning into bite sized mini desserts if you prep it ahead in individual serving cups.
Instead of making the large pan as directed in the recipe, simply break the lady finger cookies into smaller pieces and layer them in sweet mini dessert cups for your dessert table.
Store the cups on a platter in the fridge for an easy treat you can make the day before.
Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
Listen up, chocolate lovers. These Mexican hot chocolate cookies are the perfect easy party dessert after a heavy meal.
They are loaded with dark chocolate flavor and a not-too-spicy kick of cayenne. They satisfy your sweet tooth with a little bit of crispy crunch but without overwhelming your palette.
Bake them ahead and keep them in an airtight container until you're ready to serve them for an easy treat.
Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
Before you scoff at the idea of serving fresh baked chocolate chip walnut cookies as a party dessert, consider that these delicious cookies are a much beloved favorite and would make an easy finale at your dinner party!
Serve them warm from the oven with icy glasses of cold milk.
But if you insist on dressing them up for your dinner party, serve them alongside platters of chocolate-covered strawberries from the grocery store!
Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
Sweet peanut butter blossom cookies have that easy peanut butter cookie bottom with the melty chocolate kiss on top.
If you need a simple sweet treat this is one of the best bite-sized desserts ever.
Saltine Cracker Toffee
Melted chocolate and butter are a match made in heaven with these easy saltine cracker toffee bites.
Break them into bite sized pieces for adding to your dessert table during the holiday season or any time you want a decadent chocolate treat.
Technically, I'd consider this one of the easiest cookie recipes ever and even beginners will have great luck making the dish for a lot of people.
Shortbread Pecan Pie Bars
Chewy and crispy shortbread pecan pie bars are a perfect easy dessert recipe for big Thanksgiving dinner parties but I enjoy eating them any time of year.
They are a perfect easy party dessert when you need to package them in an airtight container for bringing the dessert.
Cut them into generous squares or turn them into a bite-sized dessert by cutting them into small pieces.
Cookies and Cream Bars
These Oreo cookie filled cookies and cream blondie bars have dark chocolate chips and white chocolate chips for extra richness.
Press the cookie dough into a 9 x 13-inch pan for an easy baked dessert you can make ahead.
Butterscotch Blondies
This easy butterscotch blondies recipe is mixed together quickly in just one mixing bowl and then baked for a rich and delicious party treat that won't melt in the summer heat.
I love the brown sugar batter with the crispy pecans and butterscotch chips! It's a cozy party dessert your guests will love.
Hello Dolly Bars
Hello Dolly bars are a chewy layer bar made with graham crackers, shredded coconut, and dark chocolate chips.
They are another great cookie bar recipe that you can cut into bite-sized desserts for a crowd.
Caramel Apple Tart
The easiest way to make a caramel apple tart is to bake a giant sugar cookie crust, layer it with a cream cheese icing, and sprinkle fresh chopped apples and caramel over the top.
You could bake it round like a pizza and cut it into wedges or bake it rectangular in a baking pan and cut it into bite-sized squares.
Tangy Lemon Curd and Buttery Shortbread Cookies
This classic English dessert would be a light and elegant dessert for large crowds.
Fill beautiful platters with storebought or homemade shortbread cookies.
Then fill pretty dipping bowls with my easy homemade lemon curd for your party guests to spoon over their cookies.
It's an easy way to satisfy your sweet tooth with very little effort in serving.
Pistachio Fluff Fruit Salad
Is it a party dessert or is it a fruit salad? Let your dinner party guests decide how they want to enjoy this vintage pistachio fluff fruit salad.
I serve it on my buffet table and smile as guests take a spoonful as a side dish with their meal or circle back for a sweet ending to the party.
Top it with toasted pecans just before serving for extra crunch.
Pineapple Marshmallow Salad
If you want a refreshing and juicy party treat, this pineapple marshmallow salad is loaded with oranges, pineapple, and coconut.
Turn it into a tray of mini desserts by preparing it in individual dessert cups for your dessert table!
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