Hosting is, hands-down, one of my favorite hobbies. Don’t get me wrong—I’ve had moments of regret during prep and cleanup. Nevertheless, I’m here to show you that feeding a large group doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen or break the bank. Yes—it’s possible to create a dish for every part of your meal that’s affordable, delicious, and yields enough for plenty of guests to enjoy. These dessert recipes to feed a crowd are sure to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth without the stress. We’ve got everything from no-bake treats to make-ahead picks. There’s sure to be something to fit everyone’s palate.
Good dessert recipes for feeding a crowd have a few key elements. First, how many people can your dessert feed? Typically, I turn to cookies or a cake recipe when I have over four people in attendance. Then there’s the aspect of giving the people what they want—if I happen to have picky eaters in attendance (no shame!) I’ll opt for a lower-ingredient recipe that eliminates any acquired tastes.
Whatever crowd you’re looking to accommodate, this list has plenty of options that’ll inspire you to create stunning, meal-making desserts.
Why We Love It: Whether you’re constructing this board during the holiday season or simply to end your gathering on a sweet note, it’s the perfect option for quick, throw-together grazing. Adding store-bought sweets to a large serving platter is the easiest way to serve dessert without any baking or prepping.
Hero Ingredient: For presentation, dust your board with a bit of powdered sugar.
Why We Love It: Cookies make great dessert recipes to feed a crowd, as you can increase or decrease the size of your batches according to your guest headcount. When Elizabeth Ho from Birdhouse Bakeshop shared this holiday Linzer cookie recipe with our team, we were stunned at how simple yet elaborate-looking these treats were. For the citrus curd, the options are unlimited—throw in anything from orange extract to dried lavender.
Hero Ingredient: Vanilla paste or vanilla bean seeds help bring an element of sweetness to these cookies.
Why We Love It: This cookie recipe, brought to us by Daphne Oz, is sweet meets savory. The flavor contrast is their highlight—blending the sweet and light shortbread with nutty sesame seeds and rich, creamy tahini.
Hero Ingredient: What would a chocolate chip cookie be without chocolate chips?
Why We Love It: There’s something undeniably gorgeous about Linzer cookies. Their elevated appearance presents the illusion of a complex dessert that’s surprisingly simple to make. With their crumbly shortbread, chocolate ganache filling, and a generous dusting of powdered sugar, these cookies have it all.
Hero Ingredient: A splash of Grande Mariner, while not required, enhances the orange flavor.
Why We Love It: Last year, these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies were on repeat in my kitchen. Dusted with the perfect sprinkle of flaky salted and filled with chopped dark chocolate, these elevated chocolate chip cookies belong in your recipe book.
Hero Ingredient: It’s the pumpkin puree. Enough said.
Why We Love It: If you, like myself, are a PSL fanatic, these pumpkin spice cookies are for you. With a glaze equivalent to sweet cream on your latte, dusted with cinnamon, and filled with pumpkin pie spice flavors, these are a great dessert for welcoming in the fall season.
Hero Ingredient: The cinnamon glaze is elite.
Why We Love It: When the weather starts to warm up, I stray from dense, overly sweet dessert recipes. Instead, I gravitate toward lighter flavors while incorporating fresh fruits or extracts. With a sweet and textured crumble topping and stunning fresh strawberries, this olive oil cake makes for both the best seasonal dessert and breakfast the following morning.
Hero Ingredient: Greek yogurt helps this cake retain its moisture.
Why We Love It: Claire Ptak’s take on the classic apple tarte tatin is simply divine. She uses fresh peaches, light and fluffy puff pastry, and a nutty almond peach leaf custard. Needless to say, I’m obsessed.
Hero Ingredient: I’m a firm believer that fresh peaches are the way to go here.
Why We Love It: We have a plethora of options when it comes to keeping things GF, but this is one of my personal favorites. With a batter including whole milk ricotta for a moist sponge, lemon zest, and fresh raspberries, it’s a simple way to keep things grain-free and delicious.
Hero Ingredient: I love the use of almonds as this cake’s topping.
Why We Love It: This cake is the intersection of simple and elegant while still being a crowd-pleasing dish for everyone to enjoy. The mascarpone cream combines sweet, light, and comforting flavors with a presentation that will have everyone in awe.
Hero Ingredient: Strawberries, of course!
Why We Love It: Everyone loves a chocolate cake, and this recipe is no exception. The icing is made from chocolate chips, cream cheese, and heavy cream, keeping things mildly sweet to balance out the cake’s richness.
Hero Ingredient: Almond flour is a great GF alternative to typical AP flour.
Why We Love It: This snack cake isn’t just low-ingredient—it’s a breeze to throw together, too. Creamy peanut butter is a base ingredient for this recipe and likely a pantry staple you have on hand. Pair this cake with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee for a simple, romanticize-your-life moment.
Hero Ingredient: This peanut butter Greek yogurt frosting is to die for.
Why We Love It: This recipe is a no-bake delight, using minimal ingredients and plenty of ingredients you likely have on hand. It’s one of those make-ahead recipes that need to sit for a while, but that’s precisely what makes it one of the best easy dessert recipes to feed a crowd.
Hero Ingredient: Lemon cookies are a crucial component.
Why We Love It: If a strawberry shortcake and a pound cake had a baby, it would probably look like this delicious gluten-free cake with fresh strawberries and a spiced cardamom coconut cream frosting. Baking any dessert with citrus zest is a great way to mix up the flavors of seemingly simple desserts, and this cake speaks to how easy the process really is.
Hero Ingredient: Coconut yogurt (or any yogurt of choice) gives this cake the perfect amount of added moisture.
Why We Love It: This pumpkin cake is another one of the fall recipes I couldn’t stop baking last season. What makes this cake one of the best easy dessert recipes to feed a crowd is that it’s super rich—meaning you can slice small and serve more.
Hero Ingredient: It’s hard to pick just one, but I’d have to say the addition of cinnamon gives this cake a savory and spiced fall element.
Why We Love It: I’ve been a lover of carrot cake for as long as I can remember, but I hadn’t settled on a go-to recipe before I found this one. This cake has a subtle hint of orange, paired with a crunchy texture from toasted pecans. And, of course, the cream cheese frosting is a must.
Hero Ingredient: Orange zest in the frosting is a game-changer.
Why We Love It: Nothing is more holiday-esque than peppermint and hot chocolate. The two flavors were practically meant for each other, and when they’re incorporated into an innovative dessert, there’s no going wrong. This cake also gets bonus points for being gluten-free.
Hero Ingredient: Whipped cream frosting? Yes, please.
Why We Love It: Bite-sized snacks can be a fast and easy way to craft some of the easiest desserts for large-scale gatherings. If a whole cake isn’t in the cards for your crowd, snack cakes are a great option for popping in the oven and serving in a pinch. Plus, this recipe uses pantry staples that will likely prevent any last-minute grocery shopping.
Hero Ingredient: Freshly grated nutmeg enhances the flavor of your batter.
Why We Love It: The opportunities for baking and cooking with rhubarb are endless. Aside from its show-stopping appearance, this rhubarb cake is packed with fresh and tart fruit flavors that make for a perfect match with a sweet and flaky cake. The best part—it’s only six steps!
Hero Ingredient: Just a splash of orange juice added to your rhubarb compote makes this cake all the more bright.
Why We Love It: I’m fully on board with the olive oil cake trend. These cakes boast a unique texture and flavor that surprises guests who may be expecting your stereotypical fluffy cake. Adorned with candied oranges and a simple glaze in place of heavy frosting, it’s packed with flavor while being elegantly simple.
Hero Ingredient: Toasted walnuts give this cake a nutty flavor that contrasts the tangy citrus.
Why We Love It: There’s something about the combination of an olive oil cake with fruit that makes these recipes so special. This particular cake, inspired by Mina Stone’s classic recipe, has the ideal dense and sponge-like texture with spiced elements from cinnamon and cloves.
Hero Ingredient: While optional, cognac adds a special fruity and sweet touch.
Why We Love It: Everyone in Texas has a tres leches recipe that they swear by, but this might be one of my favorites (unbiased opinion, of course). After trying and testing numerous variations over the years, this version with rum and a hint of espresso or cold brew continues to win me over.
Hero Ingredient: A bit of cardamom is essential in the best tres leches recipes.
Why We Love It: Icebox cakes are a year-round hit in my household, but this one in particular is a recipe repeat. It’s a dessert that’s not overwhelmingly sweet, as ripe mangos create a natural sweet element without any artificial flavors. The cardamom cream pairs perfectly as a subtle and soft base for your fresh fruit.
Hero Ingredient: This salty pistachio crumble? Insane.
Why We Love It: There’s something about a chai spice blend that brings a sense of comfort and coziness into any dish. When it comes to the holiday season, I can’t help but turn to this chai carrot cake recipe, which doubles as a delicious dessert and a lovely centerpiece.
Hero Ingredient: This cake is a true testament to how versatile of an ingredient carrots are.
Why We Love It: It’s hard to go wrong with a buttermilk pie. This recipe’s presentation is just the tip of the iceberg—the creamy, custard-based filling has a crème brûlée-like texture that’s sheltered by a light and flaky pie crust.
Hero Ingredient: A dollop of whipped cream to serve is essential!
Why We Love It: As far as fruit desserts are concerned, this recipe is at the top of my list. Requiring only five ingredients, it’s a quick and easy way to throw together an easy dessert recipe that won’t take too much time in the kitchen.
Hero Ingredient: This strawberry cheesecake ice cream is always on my grocery list.
Why We Love It: Everyone has been raving over this one-bowl brownie recipe for the past few months, so of course, I had to see what the hype was about. Needless to say, it did not disappoint. When it comes to brownies, I have high standards, and this recipe checks all of my boxes. With an airy, souffle-like texture with crispy edges, I could go on about these brownies for days.
Hero Ingredient: The flaky sea salt garnish brings it all together.
Why We Love It: This is THE summer dessert and a recipe I come back to every year. These baked lemon bars consist of a gluten-free graham cracker crust and a light and tangy custard-like filling, topped with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, of course.
Hero Ingredient: Tapioca starch may not currently be a pantry staple in your household, but it might be after trying this recipe.
Why We Love It: There’s something about a cobbler recipe, a bit of ice cream, and a sweet crumble topping that makes me crave a hot summer day by the pool. While you can swap in any fruit of choice for this cobbler, blackberries celebrate the best of the summer season.
Hero Ingredient: A bit of vanilla ice cream, homemade or store-bought, is essential.
Why We Love It: The best thing about a fruit salad is that it can be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled to make one of the easiest dessert recipes to feed a crowd. With summer peaches, ripe blueberries, and a variety of other fresh favorites, this fruit salad makes for a dish that no one will turn down.
Hero Ingredient: Use a bit of lemon zest and juice to enhance your fruit’s flavors.
Why We Love It: Have you ever seen a more stunning muffin? These olive oil muffins are just the smaller version of an olive oil cake and make for great individual bites. The edible flowers make these muffins look much deceptively complicated, where in reality, there’s not much to them.
Hero Ingredient: Greek yogurt adds to the moisture and flavor.
Why We Love It: This comforting dessert features tender apples infused with warm spices. With cinnamon, sugar, and butter, the apples become soft and caramelized, making this a dessert that won’t take too much time but will leave your guests satisfied.
Hero Ingredient: Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Why We Love It: ‘Tis the season for no-bake recipes. Offering all the flavors of pumpkin pie in an easy-to-serve bar form, these are perfect for fall (or year-round if fall flavors are your jam) gatherings. They can be easily cut and transported, making them a convenient alternative to a traditional pie.
Hero Ingredient: Brown butter is essential for creating the buttery caramel flavor.
Why We Love It: This easy dessert recipe combines the natural sweetness of fresh apples with a low-sugar crumble topping, offering the comforting flavors of traditional apple crumble while incorporating fiber and nutrients.
Hero Ingredient: A bit of apple cider vinegar adds the perfect punch and extra flavor to your filling.
Why We Love It: White chocolate is highly underrated, especially when paired with any fruit. For a no-bake bar that’s still rich and sweet, these lemon cardamon slices are a decadent option that is easy to serve and store.
Hero Ingredient: Like I said, it’s white chocolate’s time to shine!
Why We Love It: This classic dessert is generally a crowd-pleaser, but this raspberry version takes things up a notch. It’s one of our best recipes of all-time for a reason.
Hero Ingredient: Chambord (raspberry liqueur) adds a dark, fruity quality to this classic treat.
Why We Love It: Individual desserts aren’t always easy to pull off when they’re not in the form of muffins, brownies, or bars. However, these strawberry shortcakes are the exception, and they’re gluten-free so that no one gets left out of the fun.
Hero Ingredient: Coconut milk or cream keeps your whipped cream dairy-free (and still delicious).
Why We Love It: I love any excuse to whip up a skillet dessert, especially when I’m serving a crowd. This take on a double chocolate cookie with chopped chocolate chunks is perfect to slice up and serve with a bit of ice cream.
Hero Ingredient: Espresso powder, while optional, adds a great contrast to the sweetness of the chocolate.
Why We Love It: It’s sometimes a challenge to make a good-quality salted caramel dessert. The artificial versions aren’t always what I’m aiming for after my meal. Luckily, this recipe contains both a homemade caramel sauce, a cheesecake layer, and a rich brownie layer. It’s the best of all worlds.
Hero Ingredient: Flaky sea salt works like a charm.
Why We Love It: Last, but certainly not least, is this chocolate charcuterie and fondue board. For a dessert that doubles as an activity, this is perfect when served with a few skewers at the dinner table so that each guest can pick and choose their favorite sweets.
Hero Ingredient: This chocolate fondue is simple and sweet.
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