44 Easy Desserts for a Crowd (Because Everyone Loves a Sweet Treat)

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

"The sweet-and-salty riff on North Carolina lemon pie rose to prominence after chef Bill Smith’s rendition was featured on NPR," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen explains. "The crust is made from crushed saltine crackers, which balance the sweet-tart filling, and the pie takes almost no time to assemble and bake, making it ideal for beginner bakers."

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 32 cookies

Do you love Starbucks's Cranberry Bliss Bars? Consider these a cookie version of them. "Scoop the dough into balls and freeze them for up to a month before thawing and baking," Gillen suggests. "Or, if you’re on a roll, you could bake the cookies and freeze them up to a month before serving."

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 12

"Whether you know them as seven-layer bars, magic bars or Hello Dolly bars, there’s no denying the deliciousness of this cookie-like 1960s recipe," Gillen writes. They have everything but the kitchen sink, from coconut flakes to butterscotch chips to chopped pecans.

• Time Commitment: 5 hours and 10 minutes (includes freezing)
• Why I Love It: make ahead, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

In case you're not convinced fresh-squeezed OJ blows the store-bought kind away, this gem will change your mind. "It’s like Hawaiian shave ice meets grown-up snow cone," Gillen writes, "and the recipe couldn’t be easier to make—after all, there are only four ingredients."

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8 to 10

It's totally coffee-free, but take a bite, and you won't miss the caffeine one bit. "The striking pink topping is just a dusting freeze-dried raspberries that have been powdered in a food processor...but a smattering of fresh berries or a touch of lemon zest would be equally delicious and elegant," Gillen recommends.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, kid-friendly
• Serves: 24

Even picky eaters are no match for the nostalgic magic of these sprinkle-dappled treats. "They’re festive and fun, but way easier to make than a triple-tiered masterpiece," Gillen raves. "Plus, they’re easy to slip in a lunchbox or send with your kid for a class celebration."

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 9

As far as sweetened condensed milk recipes go, this is one of the easiest (and tastiest) you can make. "You don’t even need an ice pop mold, although it adds to the effect," Gillen says. "Disposable cups or even Champagne flutes make excellent substitutes."

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes (plus chilling)
• Why I Love It: make ahead, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
• Serves: 25 to 30

Your favorite childhood sammie, elevated and giftable. "Shortcutting homemade fudge with marshmallow creme is one of the oldest candy tricks in the book," Gillen says. "Just be sure to slice it into small pieces; this stuff is capital-S sweet."

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 16

"Give me a nostalgic dessert that reminds me of the best part of my middle school lunches, and, well…I’ll probably try to eat the whole recipe," Gillen admits. These adorable handhelds are only eight ingredients away, rainbow nonpareils included.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 24

Any cookie recipe that starts with two sticks of butter is one worth baking. "You can totally wing it with just your hands and a spatula, but I’ve found that a small cookie scoop (about one tablespoon) makes portioning fast and flawless," Gillen says.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 16 to 18

Crunchy nuts, brown butter and a splash of booze bring these otherwise standard chocolate chippers to a whole new level. "You can refrigerate the dough for a day before scooping, or freeze the dough balls up to a month in advance to eliminate your stress entirely," Gillen says.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

All the pudding-inspired, cookie-dappled flavor of the O.G.—only in a much more sophisticated package. "With a Nilla wafer crust and slightly tangy whipped topping, it’s sweet and rich without being cloying," Gillen explains. "Oh, and the best part? No water bath."

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Do you like black and white cookies? This colorful spin is just as drool-worthy, promise. "They’re a fruity take on the classic chocolate and vanilla treat, and they get their dreamy blush color from powdered freeze-dried berries instead of dye," Gillen writes.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10 to 12

Come fall and winter, you'll want to bake this potluck dessert on repeat. "It’s like an oversize version of the moist, fluffy farmstand doughnut with a tender, softly spiced crumb and a brown butter icing to gild the lily," Gillen explains.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24

There's no need to wait until December to whip up these decadent cookies. "A simple, three-ingredient cheesecake filling is just the tangy contrast this ultra-rich cookie needs to keep it from tasting too sweet," recipe creator Candace Davison explains. "Freezing the dough balls before baking prevents them from spreading too much."

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 16

The recipe calls for making a brown sugar-apple cider caramel sauce from scratch, but Davison has a shortcut up her sleeve. "Combine a cup of unwrapped, soft caramels with two tablespoons of heavy cream, microwaving in 30-second intervals and stirring in between until it's all melted and easy to drizzle."

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, gluten free
• Serves: 12

Even your hard-to-please tía will have a hard time turning these coquito-inspired goodies down. "A generous dose of rum extract and warm spices honor the drink’s boozy, wintry flavor," recipe creator and PureWow food editor Taryn Pire explains. P.S.: They’ll keep for up to four days in an airtight container.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 10

This gorgeous cake is deceptively easy to master. Just mix up two packages of the best cake mix you can find and follow recipe creator Erin McDowell's simple instructions to combine them into an Insta-worthy checkerboard pattern. 

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly beginner-friendly
• Serves: one 9-inch roll

The only thing better than a freshly baked cinnamon roll? A giant freshly baked cinnamon roll. Store-bought pizza dough acts as the base for a quick and easy crowd-pleaser that leaves your house smelling next-level delicious.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, slow cooker recipe, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8

This decadent dessert practically cooks itself and serves eight people. The pudding is great warm, at room temperature or chilled and lasts up to five days in the fridge to boot. Thanks, Crockpot.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan
• Serves: 4

If you can use a blender, you can whip up this restaurant-quality, healthy-ish chocolate dessert. It's also gluten- and dairy-free, so everyone can dig their spoon in. (Note: The recipe serves four, so double or triple it for a crowd.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

Not only is skillet cake delicious, but it’s also rustic and cute. Top each slice of this easy dessert for a crowd with some French vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce for an extra-decadent finish. 

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
• Serves: one 9-inch cake

If you can slice oranges, you can make this impressive-looking cake. (Plus, it's full of vitamin C, so it's practically a fruit salad, right?) To nail the ombré effect, McDowell recommends using an assortment of Meyer lemons and navel, cara cara and blood oranges.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
• Serves: one 8-by-8 cake

Dollops of each batter bake into an asymmetrical pattern that's reminiscent of cow spots. Slice and serve the cake with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar, a smear of berry jam, a drizzle of mocha glaze or nothing at all. (Your guests will request a second slice no matter what.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, gluten free
• Serves: 12

The nut-based crust is the key to this gluten-free dessert for a crowd, and the ganache only calls for three ingredients. In the words of Ina Garten, how easy is that? (Spoiler: very.)

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 to 8

File this under Most Low-Lift Potluck Desserts of all time. Once you make the chocolate and white chocolate dips, the rest is totally riffable: Fill the board with fresh fruit, sliced cake, cookies, pretzels, marshmallows and beyond.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: one 8-by-8 pan

Sure, the bars are the true star. But you'll want to make a double (or triple) batch of the four-ingredient espresso glaze. It'll taste divine drizzled on banana bread, vanilla ice cream, brownies and everything in between.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 20

“The nutty toastiness of the malted milk powder in this recipe gives these cookies an edge over your average sugar cookies that makes them worth seeking out,” Snacking Bakes cookbook author Yossy Arefi writes. “Only some of the butter in this recipe is melted, which helps keep the dough cool and thick enough to scoop and bake right away.”

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 16

Boxed brownie mix for the win. This dessert for a crowd includes a homemade chili crisp recipe that's loaded with chopped nuts for texture, but we won't tell if you use your favorite store-bought version instead to make the sweet twice as convenient.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: no bake, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 to 8

For the uninitiated, an icebox cake is a no-bake treat, consisting of layered wafers, creams and other ingredients, that sets in the refrigerator. If you can’t find thin, crispy chocolate wafers, substitute chocolate wafer sandwich cookies or split Oreos.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 12

These poppables are like a cross between Reese’s peanut butter cups and Krackel chocolate bars. Use dairy-free chocolate chips and maple syrup instead of honey to make these candies completely vegan-friendly.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

“This buttery cake will absorb a good deal of the rhubarb’s cooking juices,” recipe developer Abra Berens writes. “But expect it to be a bit juicer than a traditional pineapple upside-down cake. The addition of a bit of cornstarch helps keep it from being a complete and total mess.” I'll meet you at the farmers market.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

This intensely vanilla-y dessert for a crowd comes from Kardea Brown’s cookbook, The Way Home, a collection of Lowcountry Southern recipes inspired by her family’s Gullah and Geechee heritage. It features a custard-y filling, and if you're looking for a shortcut, you can sub the homemade crust for store-bought.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes (includes cooling time)
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 9

Craving a taste of summer without having to deal with the whole fire pit thing? Enter this simple, picky eater-proof dessert recipe for a crowd that comes together in a single pan with seven ingredients. Ta-da.

• Time Commitment: 8 hours
• Why I Love It: Instant Pot recipe, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

A beautiful cheesecake is great for every occasion, and honestly, a group setting is best for this easy-to-make confection, because the leftovers are deliciously dangerous. Here, jam and fresh berries are combined for the brag-worthy topping.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 8 to 12

Remember those incredible cookie cakes your family would order every year for your birthday when you were a kid? Well, now it can be your birthday whenever you're in the mood (and in 40 minutes flat, no less).

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24

How long has it been since you’ve had a homemade Rice Krispie treat? Probably way too long. Let’s change that. You're only five ingredients and one pot away, after all...

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 20

Every group get-together is made better by a tray of brownies, especially when they’re homemade, fudgy and crackly on top. Dust them with confectioners’ sugar right before the group is ready to dig in.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: 8

It only takes 20 minutes to whip up an apple crisp, and your picky eaters will devour it even quicker. Have ice cream, whipped cream or blue cheese crumbles (yes, really) at the ready to top this treat off right.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Why I Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 15

You’ll be inviting friends over just to have an excuse to make a big batch of this super-easy, four-ingredient vegan fudge. It stars dates, peanut butter and cacao powder, rather than a boatload of sugar.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

This crust-free cheesecake, hailing from Spain’s Basque Country, is sophisticated and European, but also ridiculously easy to make, promise. Slice it at room temp for a lava cake-like texture in the center.

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Salty, sweet, gooey and begging to be eaten without utensils, no other dessert needs to exist once you make a big batch of these indulgent bars. (Well, except ice cream to top them off.)

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 12

Appearance isn’t the most important part of this decadent chocolate cobbler, which is ideal for newbie bakers. (Thanks, boxed brownie mix). Serve it warm and your book club will be asking for the recipe—and a repeat invitation.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegan, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 2

Yay, a frozen dessert that’s paleo, vegan and delicious. This easy dessert recipe serves two, so just scale it up to accommodate the crowd (plus leftovers), who will be blown away by your healthy ice cream alternative.