25 Best Cooking for a Crowd Desserts
Dessert always sounds like a great idea when you're signing up to bring something for a get-together—until you have to make it, that is. If you're not sure which dessert to bring to your next dinner party—or holiday party!—here are 25 desserts for a crowd that will instantly be gobbled up by your friends. From big batch desserts to easy individual servings, these desserts have something for everyone.
Blueberry Peach Cobbler
Fiber, antioxidants, and, oh yeah, dessert! Throw some peaches and blueberries in with biscuits, butter, brown sugar, and voila! You have a fruit-focused after-dinner treat for the whole holiday table.
Get our recipe for this Blueberry Peach Cobbler.
Grilled Banana Split
Holiday cooking may not usually call for a grill, but if you live in a place where you can, this dessert is proof that you should. Nutty, chocolaty, and, most importantly, decked by two grilled banana slices, our Grilled Banana Split is legendary.
Get our recipe for this Grilled Banana Split.
Crispy Apple Turnover
An absolute holiday classic, our take on the all-American apple pie comes in individual servings. Easy to grab, share, and pile on a plate with every other dessert at the party, this after-dinner treat is tasty and adorable.
Get our recipe for this Crispy Apple Turnover.
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ice cream sandwiches are a classic for kids of all ages (and kids at heart). Our new take on the timeless treat replaces cookies with a healthier alternative: graham crackers. Set up a station on your dining room table, and let the younger family members build 'em themselves!
Get our recipe for Easy Ice Cream Sandwiches.
Fudgy Brownies
The name says it all here. What could be more of a crowd-pleaser than perfect fudgy brownies? Serve 'em warm with ice cream to add to the "wow" factor.
Get our recipe for Fudgy Brownies.
Olive Oil Ice Cream
Your guests have not seen this before—that we can almost guarantee. Sweet and a little salty, serve this homemade ice cream with a pie (or fudgy brownies!) to put an impressive spin on the classic ice-cream-and-pie combination. It's an elevated treat worth trying.
Get our recipe for this Olive Oil Ice Cream.
Tiramisu
This tiramisu is joyful and triumphant. Packing all the flavor of a top-notch rendition but with a lighter touch, our tiramisu is another single-serving win for the dessert spread.
Get our recipe for this Tiramisu.
Banana Pudding
Here's a downright impressive dessert option—take this decadent pudding dish to the new neighbors' holiday swap to show some true southern hospitality.
Get our recipe for this Banana Pudding.
Chocolate Pudding with Olive Oil and Sea Salt
It's like the pudding cup Dad used to slip into your lunchbox, but gone grownup! With salt, sugar, and a whole lot of chocolate, this chocolate pudding dish will have the whole family reminiscing.
Get our recipe for this Chocolate Pudding with Olive Oil and Sea Salt.
Ricotta Cheesecake with Blueberries
Our Ricotta Cheesecake has all the goodness of cheesecake, without the heaviness. Health-conscious, gorgeous, and traditional, this dessert is at the top of all your guests' wish lists.
Get our recipe for this Ricotta Cheesecake with Warm Blueberries.
Sundae with Grilled Pineapple and Rum Sauce
Another dessert that begs you to bring out the grill for your holiday meal, this sundae with grilled pineapple and rum sauce will go down in family history. With warm, homemade rum sauce, flakes of coconut, and tangy-sweet pineapple to top it all off, this unique take on a sundae is completely delicious.
Get our recipe for this Sundae with Grilled Pineapple and Rum Sauce.
Apple Pie with Crunch Topping
A healthy twist on possibly the most traditional holiday dessert, the namesake crunch in this recipe comes from oats and almonds. So go ahead, have that second slice!
Get our recipe for this Apple Pie with Crunch Topping.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
There is definitely more than one take out there on this dessert, but there's not another as satisfying and as golden as ours. Mix dark chocolate chips in with the cookie dough, and bake batches for the whole crowd. You can even give them as gifts in holiday-themed tins—they're that good!
Get our recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Our oatmeal chocolate chip concoctions don't disappoint, either. Buttery, salty, and sweet, they're a great way to end the night.
Get our recipe for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Banana-Nutella Crepes
It's not traditional, and that's why we love it. Take one of our favorite food combos (banana and chocolate) and fold it into a crepe to add some French flair to your holiday soiree. The individual serving sizes are perfect for a big group with lots of desserts to sample!
Get our recipe for this Banana-Nutella Crepe.
Molten Chocolate Cake
Our mouths are watering just looking at this photo. These delicacies are super easy to make, especially in a batch of single-servings. Your guests will love the thoughtfulness almost as much as they love the chocolate-lava filling.
Get our recipe for this Molten Chocolate Cake.
Apple Crumble
Apple pie, apple crisp, and apple turnovers are delicious, but the crumble takes the cake. Our version changes with the seasons—this fall and winter, toss in cranberries and pears to make a dessert that's both old-fashioned and totally innovative.
Get our recipe for this Apple Crumble.
Chocolate Chip Blondies
Always a crowd-pleaser, you can never go wrong with bringing blondies. This recipe takes just 15 minutes to prepare and only around 20 minutes to bake, so it's a quick dessert you can make in larger batches.
Get our recipe for these Chocolate Chip Blondies.
Pumpkin Pie Bars
Sure, you could make pumpkin pie. But for quicker divvying up at parties, it doesn't get easier than these pumpkin pie bars.
Get our recipe for these Pumpkin Pie Bars.
Dessert Nachos
You can check any holiday dessert list (check it twice!) and odds are you won't find "dessert nachos." But if you're catering to a more experimental food crowd, we think these are a necessity. They're incredibly easy to share, and these nachos could easily take a festive turn by adding a peppermint (or even a red and green M&M) topping.
Get the recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction.
Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Whoopie Pie
There is nothing better than a whoopie pie, at any time of year. But with snow falling and Christmas carols ringing, we truly cannot imagine a better trifecta than dark chocolate, candy canes, and whoopie pies. Whip up this dessert for your next holiday party and leave everyone wondering where it's been all their lives.
Get the recipe from Your Cup of Cake.
Gingerbread Cupcakes with Molasses Cream Cheese Frosting
This recipe takes two quintessential holiday season flavors—gingerbread and molasses—and combines them beautifully. Throw on your own festive sprinkles for a personalized touch!
Get the recipe from Gimme Some Oven.
Pumpkin Almond Butter Freezer Fudge
A holiday season complete with a piece of fudge every night before bed is, in our opinion, a holiday season done right. This version of the timeless treat calls for almond butter and coconut oil, making it not only way healthier than standard fudge, but also vegan for your guests with dietary differences!
Get the recipe from Fit Foodie Finds.
Bacon Brittle
Brittle packs powerful taste, has a signature crunch, and can cause constant cravings. Basically, it's the bacon of holiday desserts. This recipe combines the two legendary indulgences for a perfect shareable dessert.
Get the recipe from The View from Great Island.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
Pies are a classic for holiday parties, but the recipes can get pretty sophisticated. This season, indulge your inner child and go the simple route—make one giant chocolate chip cookie, put it in a pie dish, and call it cookie pie. It's a guaranteed hit for all ages and sophistication levels.
Get the recipe from Averie Cooks.
