Recipe Roundup

37 Party Desserts to Make the Night a Little Sweeter

Hanging out with friends is even better when dessert’s this good.

October 12, 2022

Apple Cranberry Crisp topped with icecream in a skillet with a serving taken out

Of course, the guests are the highlight of any party. But these party desserts will brighten your evening even further. These crowd-pleasing options include a towering cake layered with cocoa pudding, impressive looking (but secretly easy) custards, and flavor-packed cookies that’ll disappear from the plate faster than you can say anything about doing the dishes. There are lots of low-stress make-ahead desserts here, which let you focus on prepping savory snacks (or a main dish and sides, depending on your party’s vibe). Scroll down before you plan your next gathering.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
1/37
Marbled Pumpkin-Maple Cheesecake Bars
If you're looking for party desserts that can be eaten out of hand, these autumnal cheesecake bars are just what you need. Swirled with cheesecake and spiced with ginger, they're a flavorful, impressive bite that can be prepped in advance.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova
2/37
7UP Cake
We don't need any excuse to dig through our favorite cake recipes, but a party certainly is a good reason. And this particular Southern cake is a fun one for any gathering. Your guests will never guess the secret ingredient.
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Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova
3/37
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Serve this elegant dessert to cap off a dinner party. A dollop of whipped cream on top is optional—ice cream or sorbet work well, too.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
4/37
Fortune Cookie Magic Shell Sundae
Wow your guests with homemade “magic shell” topping—a bit of melted coconut oil quickly turns blender-pulverized fortune cookies into a pourable sauce that hardens when it hits a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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Photo by Alana Kysar and Brooklyn Dombroski
5/37
Butter Mochi
This perfectly chewy, slightly sticky, and just-dense-enough coconut-custard glutinous rice cake just wants you to slice off another sliver.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
6/37
Simple Bread Pudding With Melted Ice Cream Sauce
If the last time you had a great bread pudding was in a restaurant, it's time to make one at home, pronto. Instead of a complicated sauce, you'll drizzle melted ice cream on top.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
7/37
Chocolate Pots de Crème
The perfect party dessert is one that doesn't stress you out at the last minute. These luscious chocolate puddings are simple to make and can be prepped a few days before your guests arrive.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog
8/37
Apple Pie Cookies
We always love a slice of apple pie, but these handheld treats are much easier to serve to a group.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
9/37
Nanaimo Bars
This iconic Canadian confection requires no baking, and chills in the fridge while you prepare whatever else you're serving at the party.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
10/37
Super-Moist Yellow Cake With Rich Chocolate Frosting
Looking for birthday cake ideas? This is our ultimate version of the birthday classic, with a fluffy, moist interior and a luscious chocolate frosting. The secret to the great texture is all in the mixing method.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou
11/37
Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars
You might be surprised how quickly a tray of these banana-pudding-meets-cheesecake bars can disappear.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
12/37
Gâteau au Yaourt Pour le Dîner
Grand Marnier soaking syrup and a rum glaze turn a simple French yogurt cake into a dinner party star.
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Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova
13/37
Panna Cotta
This jiggly dessert is one of our most popular recipes of all time. You can serve it in any season, with whatever fruit you have on hand, or a simple grating of chocolate or citrus zest.
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Photo by Alex Lau
14/37
Malted “Forever” Brownies
We're a little obsessed with chewy brownies. Chilling these in the fridge after baking gets their texture right.
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