Recipe Roundup

37 Party Desserts to Make the Night a Little Sweeter

Hanging out with friends is even better when dessert’s this good.
Apple Cranberry Crisp topped with icecream in a skillet with a serving taken out
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Anna Hampton

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.

  • Square pumpkin cheesecake bars with brown and golden swirls.
    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 Judy Kim
    15/37

    Pear Tart With Dulce de Leche Drizzle

    Red Starkrimson pears give this flaky tart its glamorous look; you can skip the leaf decorations on the sides to keep things easier. But the drizzle of dulce de leche? It's worth the effort.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano
    16/37

    Sicilian Cannoli

    Desserts at a party are all about delight—and everyone is delighted when they see a tray of cannolis. This version has the chocolate, pistachios, and candied orange peel mixed right into the creamy filling so you get optimal flavor in every bite.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
    19/37

    Gooey Butter Cake

    The signature dessert of St. Louis is just what its name suggests—a wonderfully gooey butter cake that doesn’t quite set when baked.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano
    20/37

    Easy Chinese Bakery–Style Whipped Cream Cake

    This fluffy, tender whipped cream cake is a staple of family celebrations. Top with melon balls, berries, cut mango, or whatever fruit you like.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    21/37

    Tre Latte Olive Oil Cake

    This rich-yet-airy cake from Don Angie in New York is an Epicurious editor favorite. 

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    22/37

    Gâteau Basque

    If you've been tasked with bringing dessert to a dinner party, this sturdy French classic is a surefire hit.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    23/37

    Banana Cream Pie With Bourbon Whipped Cream

    Better banana cream pie starts with homemade pudding—not a mix. Crown with bourbon-scented whipped cream, or leave the booze out, depending on your crowd's preferences.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne & Jason Schreiber
    24/37

    Goat Butter Shortbread

    Goat’s milk butter is mildly tangy, complementing the whole wheat flour and wheat germ in these understated cookies.

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  • photo by Gentl & Hyers
    29/37

    Burnt-Caramel Custards

    These flavorful custards are quite easy to make, and get their grownup flavor from the toasty caramel and flaky salt.

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  • The New Easy, photography by William Meppem
    30/37

    Chocolate Chunk Share Cookie

    This giant dark chocolate cookie is best with ice cream and sticky dulce de leche on top.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Diana Yen
    31/37

    Two-Ingredient Truffles

    Make a full assortment of homemade truffles, and your guests will likely ask for goodie bags to take some home.

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  • Photo by Sara Remington
    32/37

    Peanut Butter Pie

    This creamy peanut butter pie is great with a graham cracker crust, but you could sub Oreos if you prefer.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano and Stevie Stewart
    33/37

    Original New York Cheesecake

    This luscious, tangy cheesecake requires no adornment, but you could top with fresh fruit or fruit compote if you wish.

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  • Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    34/37

    Texas Sheet Cake

    Need something quick for a crowd? Think Texas sheet cake. It's a large, thin layer of tender chocolate cake slathered with gooey chocolate frosting and sprinkled with toasted nuts. The frosting gets poured onto the cake when they are both still warm.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
    35/37

    Sheet-Pan Brownie Thins

    These brownies don't require any special equipment: all you need is a standard 18x13" rimmed baking sheet and a bowl. The batter gets spread into a thin layer yielding rich, chewy (not cakey!) brownies that are perfect for lingering over at a dinner party.

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  • Photo by JP Bevins, Food Styling by Molly Baz
    36/37

    3-Ingredient Gingersnap Icebox Cake

    Use whatever jam, marmalade, or fruit preserves you like in this crowd-pleaser; raspberry or cherry would be especially nice.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Susan Spungen
    37/37

    Snickerdoodle Party Cookies

    What transforms an everyday cookie into one of our favorite party desserts? Generous spice and lots of toffee and cornflake texture, plus a sparkly finish.

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