Desserts are the perfect way to end a dinner party on a sweet note, giving your guests a memorable, indulgent finale. From timeless classics, like cakes and pies, to elegant individual servings of cookies and puddings, the right dinner party dessert can elevate any gathering.
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I love hosting dinner parties because they’re such a fun way to bring friends together without all the stress of a big event. I know, I know, dinner parties seem scary! But they don’t have to be — no excuses allowed.
You can host a dinner party for a special occasion, like a birthday, a promotion or even an anniversary, or just because… and you can make it as complicated or as simple as you want.
As I always say, hosting doesn’t have to be complicated, and I enjoy finding simple ways to make the night feel special.
One of my favorite parts is planning the desserts — whether it’s a classic dessert, like a pie, a quick, no-bake treat or a few individual sweets for everyone to enjoy.
It’s always the perfect sweet ending to a great evening, and having people over makes it all the more rewarding!
Choosing a dinner party dessert:
When deciding on your dinner party menu, you have so many options to satisfy your sweet tooth, as well as those of your guests.
Here are some things to consider as you’re plotting out which delicious dessert to make and share:
Use the season to your advantage. Seasonality can influence your dessert choices. (After all, fresh berries are excellent in the summer, but they’re disappointing in the winter.) Make your dessert more suited to the time of year. Frozen treats and fruity cobblers in the summer, rich and comforting cakes and warm desserts in the winter.
Think outside the box (mix). Sweet treats come in all shapes, sizes, difficulties and flavors. You don’t have to have a classic cake or pie! You can instead go for cupcakes or individually-portioned parfaits.
Calculate the quantity needed. Always plan to have a little extra dessert, because people might like seconds! Cakes and pies are great because they can serve many people in one recipe, but individually-portioned desserts like hand pies and cupcakes are easy to prep ahead of time.
But what about desserts to bring to a party?
If you’re a party guest instead of the host, a lot of these desserts work just the same as if you were hosting.
The most important thing to consider when you are bringing a dessert as a guest is what might travel well. For me, desserts like cookies travel better than cakes. Dessert bars work the same way, and dessert dips are brilliant for this because you can make them early, pop them in your favorite airtight container for traveling, and then bring them with you.
It all depends on what you’ve got the bandwidth to make and what is sturdy enough to travel with you to the event.
No matter if you’re the host or the guest, are some of our favorite easy dessert recipes, organized by seasonality, for your next dinner party. Not only are they delicious, but they’re fun desserts to make and share:
Dinner Party Desserts for ANY Season
1
Cheesecake Dip
This creamy Cheesecake Dip is simple to prepare and pairs beautifully with fresh fruit or graham crackers. It’s an easy, interactive dessert that brings everyone together after dinner.
Studded with dark and bittersweet chocolate chips, these light and fluffy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are the perfect chewy consistency and so easy to eat. Inspired by a birthday cookie cake, these easy chocolate chip bar cookies are perfect for sharing.
Chocolate Ooey Gooey Bars are chocolate cheesecake dessert perfection. These brownie cheesecake bars make an amazing treat and are excellent for sharing. Baked to ooey gooey perfection, these decadent cheesecake brownies are ready to enjoy in less than an hour. Makes 24 bars.
Strawberry Chocolate Cake is the perfect springtime dessert! This single layer chocolate sheet cake is topped with a layer of strawberry cream cheese frosting, then another layer of a fudge-y chocolate frosting. It's perfect to bake and share with anyone who adores chocolate and strawberries.
Oreo Rice Krispie Treats are the best no bake dessert for any occasion. Chunks of the beloved chocolate sandwich cookie are nestled into the crispy rice cereal, and the combination is scrumptious. Made with just 5 ingredients, these homemade rice krispie treats are easy to make, share and enjoy!
Let's whip up homemade Sour Cream Funfetti Cupcakes today! These sprinkle cupcakes are the perfect dessert for a party or any get together and are easy to make from scratch (without the box mix.) All you need are a handful of pantry ingredients, rainbow sprinkles and a few chilled goods to make the BEST Confetti Cupcakes!
Classic Shortbread Cookies are buttery, crisp and so delicious. This simple 5-ingredient recipe requires very little time and effort to make the most perfect shortbread cookie you’ve ever tasted.
Dense, decadent and rich brownies go perfectly with an ice cold glass of milk! Whip up these easy and delicious Classic Chocolate Brownies for your friends and family today!
The perfect combination of sweet, salty and chewy, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are simply the best! Easily made at home and perfect for sharing (or storing in the freezer), these homemade cookies are comforting, gooey and utterly scrumptious.
Homemade Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats are the best no bake dessert for any chocolate lover. All you need are 6 simple ingredients to make these chocolate krispie rice treats. Learn how to make them your own here!
These mini cakes pack warm fall spices and a hint of rum, making them a cozy and flavorful dessert. Their individual size makes them perfect for a fall dinner party. Top them with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or caramel sauce for an extra touch of sweetness.
Spiced Apple Upside Down Cake with Bourbon Caramel Glaze
Celebrate fall flavors and cooler temperatures by baking a Spiced Apple Upside Down Cake with Bourbon Caramel Glaze! Apple-filled and bursting with cinnamon, ginger and allspice, this boozy cake is sure to be loved when served to family, friends or guests. Perfect for a dinner party, a holiday shindig or even the showstopping Thanksgiving dessert, this Spiced Apple Upside Down Cake with Bourbon Caramel Glaze is a cake the whole family can love.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars combine seasonal flavors to make the best pumpkin dessert. A gorgeous, smooth pumpkin cheesecake layer bakes on top of a dense, rich brownie base. Speckled with chocolate chips, these decadent cheesecake brownies are the perfect autumnal dessert.
A classic fall dessert, bourbon pecan pie offers a rich, nutty flavor and a touch of sweet bourbon for depth. It's a crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for a seasonal dinner party, like Friendsgiving.
Lightly sweetened, brightly colored and utterly delicious, Sweet Potato Pie Dip is a unique spin on the classic! Made with a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, this sweet potato dessert is a simple seasonal dessert to serve for Thanksgiving and beyond.
Tart cranberries balance the fluffy, tangy cake in this seasonal dessert, making it a great winter treat. The bright cranberries add a pop of color and flavor, ideal for the holidays.
An assortment of cookies provides variety and allows guests to sample different flavors. It’s a simple yet festive option for a winter dinner party, with something for everyone on a tray or dessert spread.
Looking for the perfect food gift to make and share this holiday season? Festive Christmas Peppermint Bark is studded with Oreo cookies and peppermint crunch for the perfect no bake dessert. This recipe takes less than an hour to make and can be adapted to your tastebuds!
Brighten up the holidays by making a Creamy Cranberry Tart! Calling for simple ingredients, this cranberry dessert recipe is creamy, tart and flavorful! Perfect for Thanksgiving, holiday parties, Christmas Eve and more, this Cranberry Tart is a tasty win.
Light and airy with an intense dark chocolate flavor, soufflés are an elegant dessert that’s sure to impress. Their rich, molten centers are perfect for cozy gatherings.
Bread pudding is a warm, comforting dessert that is perfect for cold winter nights. The rich caramel sauce over soft bread pudding creates a satisfying end to a chilly dinner party.
Carrot Cupcakes offer a perfect balance of sweetness and spice, a classic flavor for springtime. Topped with cream cheese frosting, they’re a light yet flavorful option that’s easy to serve individually.
Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
These cupcakes celebrate the arrival of fresh strawberries, with a double dose of strawberry flavor in both the cake and frosting. They're vibrant and perfect for spring dinner parties when you need a grab-and-go option.
Tangy lemon and sweet figs come together in these cheesecake bars, and you don’t have to mess with a complicated water bath or springform pan. People can grab one or more if they like!
This Carrot Cake Dip recipe tastes like cream cheese frosting meets carrot cake. Fold grated carrots, cinnamon and toasted pecans into a sweet cream cheese base, then serve with crispy cinnamon-sugar wontons. This is an easy no-bake spring dessert that is perfect for Easter, a potluck or any other spring gathering.
Strawberry and Blueberry Hand Pies make the PERFECT summer dessert. Bursting with fresh blueberries and strawberries, these naturally sweet, handheld pies sing of seasonal flavors. Not only do they taste of the season, but they’re wrapped in a decadent buttery crust. Perfect for a Memorial Day weekend picnic, July 4th or any other summertime get together, these Strawberry and Blueberry Hand Pies can be made in advance and will be adored by all!
These indoor s’mores bring the campfire tradition to your dinner party without the need for a fire. They're easy to make en masse in the oven and a nostalgic summer treat for guests of all ages.
These mini ice cream cakes are colorful and fun. The layers of ice cream are easy to customize with your favorite flavors, keeping the dessert light and cool. Birthdays happen year-round so you can serve these in summer or anytime!
These summery handheld pies are filled with juicy blackberries and peaches. They're portable and mess-free, and you can customize them with your favorite seasonal fruit flavors.
This easy S'mores Dip is the best dessert for chocolate lovers and an easy way to enjoy those smores flavors we all know and love. Layers of melty chocolate, crunchy Graham crackers and toasted marshmallows come together to make this delicious dip. Bake this goodness up for an easy dessert any time of year.
Looking for a show stopping dairy free dessert? Look no farther than this easy, homemade Peach Cobbler! This biscuit-topped dessert is the best peach cobbler recipe to serve family or a crowd during the summer.
A cool and creamy treat, these popsicles are made with roasted strawberries for a rich, concentrated flavor. They're a refreshing and easy-to-serve and make-ahead dessert for hot summer nights.
This Cannoli Dip recipe delivers all the flavor of a classic cannoli without the fuss of frying or filling. Made with a mixture of ricotta and mascarpone, this perfectly sweetened, lusciously creamy dessert dip comes together in less than 10 minutes and serves a crowd. Serve it with your favorite dippers and watch it disappear.
After-dinner drinks are an extra special touch that make people feel welcome to the very end of the night. And it also is a great way to send the message that after dessert and this cuppa, the gathering is ending, and it’s time to head home.
You can keep it simple. After dinner, serve up some hot chocolate, hot tea or a coffee drink to go with dessert. It doesn’t have to be fancier than that!
But you can take things up a notch. Pairing the right drinks with your dinner party desserts can elevate the entire experience. You can even choose a boozy dessert cocktail, like a s’mores martini. These are usually dessert drinks, and they can even serve as dessert if you like!
Coffee cocktails like Baileys coffee or even a glass of amaretto on the rocks, can be a nice digestif for guests who prefer something less sweet.
Dessert wines are another option. Here are a few to consider:
For rich, chocolate-based desserts like cakes or brownies, a glass of ruby port or tawny port is a classic match. They have deep, fruity notes that complement the chocolate.
For fruit tarts or lighter treats, a crisp Moscato d’Asti or a late-harvest Riesling can enhance the dessert’s flavors with their sweetness and slight acidity.
With creamy puddings or custards, you might also try a Sauternes.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
Honestly, I love easy elegant desserts that involve simple ingredients to serve for any occasion, but they are especially delicious after a dinner party.
Here are some things I might do when preparing to host friends and serve dessert:
Prepare one or two make-ahead desserts so that you don’t have to stress about putting that together last minute before guests arrive for your dinner party.
Practice your plating ahead of time to elevate the presentation and impress. After all, there’s nothing more show-stopping than a decadent dessert.
Utilize garnishes, such as fresh herbs, edible flowers or a dusting of powdered sugar or chocolate curls, to make a statement and take your sweets to the next level.
Bigger party? It might be a good idea to choose a few desserts of different flavors and textures. (After all, each of us has different taste buds, and our perfect dessert might not be the same.) Use them to create a dessert station or stack them on tiered trays for variety.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a good dessert to bring to a dinner party?
For me, a good dessert to bring to a dinner party is one that is easily transported. You will not find me bringing a layer cake or a single-layer cake to a dinner party ever, because I will be concerned about transporting that.
When I am bringing dessert with me to a party, I like to bake cookies or cookie bars, or make a seasonal twist on a classic that people know and love. I also really like a dessert dip because it brings in the fun flavors of the season without requiring a ton of time on your part to make something that looks and feels special.
What are some easy desserts to impress?
I think that depends on you and what would impress you. For me, an easy dessert that impresses is something that has wonderful flavor and that looks beautiful. Any of the desserts listed above fall into this category for me.
How do I choose which dessert to make for my dinner party?
First, you need to think about the menu that you’re already serving, as well as the season that it’s in. Light desserts tend to pair well with richer mains, and seasonal flavors feel intentional. I have organized the collection above by season to make it easier on you.
Can I make my dessert ahead of time?
That depends on the recipe itself, but you can make many of these in advance. Check the individual recipes for make-ahead instructions.
Do I need special equipment or baking skills?
No. I’ve listed a mix of simpler desserts with some more advanced options. Choose your recipe based on your comfort level and what you already have in your kitchen. It doesn’t make sense to go out and buy fancy equipment for something that you’re only going to use once. You want to utilize the tools you’ve already got.
How far in advance should I plan to make my dessert?
Ideally, you should choose your dessert a few days in advance so you know what ingredients you need to purchase. You can make many desserts the day before the gathering (but be sure to check the individual recipe to confirm!), so that will take the pressure off dinner party day, whether you are a guest or the host.
How do I plate these desserts beautifully?
Simple is always elegant and it all depends on the recipe, too. A fresh garnish like mint, berries or even a sprinkling of powdered sugar, and a nice plate are all you need. Check the individual recipes for plating suggestions and inspiration.
What is the easiest dessert to serve to a crowd?
For me, that’s any recipe that can be made ahead of time and doesn’t require last-minute plating.
Now the real question is: which one of the dessert ideas from this recipe collection is the first you want to try?
About the Author:
Erin Parker is the recipe developer, food photographer and founder of The Speckled Palate, where she shares recipes, many Southern and Louisiana-inspired, and easy, low-key entertaining ideas since 2011. Whether you’re searching for a weeknight dinner or a party menu, Erin’s recipes are made for sharing with the people you love. Learn more about Erin and learn more about TSP.
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