45 Crowd-Pleasing Potluck Desserts
These will basically guarantee you get re-invited.
It's potluck time, and the dessert table is stacked. But how do you decide on one single treat that'll surely get you on the repeat invite list? Look no further, these 45 potluck-perfect dessert recipes are instant crowd-pleasers. We've got a little something for everyone too, like super-rich chocolate-y cookies, fluffy layer cakes, and even fruit-packed masterpieces that only look impossible. Do yourself a huge favor and save yourself some leftovers in advance, lest your friends beat you to the dessert table. 😉
When it comes to being a potluck MVP (Most Valuable Potlucker), we like to prioritize sweet treats that are easy to slice and share. We're major fans of the three B's (bars, brownies, and blondies), because when have you ever been able to say no to a magic cookie bar? Yeah, we thought so. If you, like us, are kind of maximalists when it comes to baking, our recipes for orange Creamsicle bars, strawberry Pop-Tart blondies, and honey peanut butter blondies are anything but basic.
Got a literal crowd to feed? Our favorite desserts are often those you can make a huge pan of and then let your guests just dive right into, no frills needed. Layered masterpieces like our banana pudding, brownie lasagna, and triple-chocolate trifle just require a bit of prep and assembly before it's time to dig in. And the same is true of our sweet spins on snacking boards, which come in both a peach & cherry shortcake dessert board variety as well as a berries and cream charcuterie board that'll have you wishing all snacking boards were as sweet as these.
Best-Ever Brownies
Nothing says chocolate decadence like a brownie, and our tried-and-true favorite recipe is no exception. Starring both melted chocolate and unsweetened cocoa powder, these dense, fudgy brownies deliver all the intense chocolate goodness everyone will love.
Get the Best-Ever Brownies recipe.
Confetti Butterfly Cupcakes
Layer cakes are spectacular, but they’re not always the most practical—enter, cupcakes! Specifically these ultra-adorable confetti butterfly cupcakes (also known as fairy cakes in the U.K.). They’re perfect for birthdays, baby showers, and tons of other spring and summer occasions.
Get the Confetti Butterfly Cupcakes.
Strawberry Pop-Tart Blondies
Buttery, chewy, and filled with strawberry jam, this dessert combines the nostalgia of Pop-Tarts and the classic comfort of blondies in one adorable bar cookie. The bite-size treats are great for breakfast or brunch, but also make a fun party dessert— plus they’re easy to pull together.
Get the Strawberry Pop-Tart Blondies recipe.
Carrot Cake
Regardless if you're a fan of its moist, spiced flavor that makes it a standout against standards like vanilla and chocolate, or if you simply think of it as the ideal vehicle for cream cheese frosting (we feel you!), having a quality carrot cake recipe up your sleeve is a must. Covered with plenty of tangy cream cheese frosting, our tried-and-true recipe is tender, perfectly spiced, with all the textures and flavors you’re looking for. This recipe is bound to be your new go-to.
Get the Carrot Cake recipe.
Fantasy Fudge
Marshmallow fluff makes this shortcut fudge just as good as the real thing. We love this fudge for how easy it is to whip up and how customizable it is. You can top these rich pieces with anything your heart desires, from classic candy like Oreos or other cookie pieces to nuts like pecans or walnuts. Get creative with it!
Get the Fantasy Fudge recipe.
Orange Creamsicle Bars
These triple-layered orange bars have us feeling all nostalgic for the classic frozen Popsicle treat that inspired them. But we won’t linger on it for too long because, just like the inspiration, these bars are irresistibly good. They’re creamy, dreamy, and the perfect blend of citrusy orange and vanilla bean flavor paired with a graham cracker crust.
Get the Orange Creamsicle Bars recipe.
Berries & Cream Charcuterie Board
Nothing says summer like fresh berries, and we’ll take any excuse to eat them by the pint. Luckily, at Delish, anything can become a charcuterie board, including the iconic combination of berries and cream.
Funfetti Cheesecake
Why choose just one dessert for your birthday celebration when you can have two classics in one? If you love festive Funfetti but are more of a cheesecake person, this Funfetti cheesecake is the dessert for you. With the creaminess of cheesecake and the fluffiness of birthday cake, this two-in-one treat has it all. Plus, it couldn't be easier to make: The crust is made with the cake mix—you bake the cheesecake filling directly on top after it cools—and the cheesecake is topped with simple vanilla frosting.
Get the Funfetti Cheesecake recipe.
Coconut Cream Cupcakes
Inspired by the beloved coconut cream pie, these stuffed cupcakes have all the classic components of the original dessert, sans pie crust. You won't miss it though, because in its place are our soft and fluffy vanilla cupcakes. 😍
Get the Coconut Cream Cupcakes recipe.
Magic Cookie Bars
Though dump cakes might be the easiest dessert to make, Magic Cookie Bars come a close second. And we'd reckon that these are even more customizable and even more delicious. The condensed milk adds as the perfect chewy conduit to the coconut and whatever toppings you choose. We have tried all sorts of chocolate chips from dark to peanut butter as well as a whole slew of nuts, like pistachios and walnuts. We encourage you to find your ideal combinations to discover the true magic of these bars.
Get the Magic Cookie Bars recipe.
Cannoli Cupcakes
Let's be real: The filling of the cannoli is the best part. That's why these cupcakes are so amazing—they're stuffed to the brim with the good stuff.
Get the Cannoli Cupcakes recipe.
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Mango Key Lime Cheesecake
This copycat has creamy mango and Key lime cheesecake, a layer of fluffy mango mousse, and a layer of mango glaze, all encased in a vanilla-coconut crust. Topped with TCF’s signature whipped cream tower, this dessert is great for when you want a fruity, sweet indulgence that'll really make your potluck feel special.
Get the Copycat Cheesecake Factory Mango Key Lime Cheesecake recipe.
Oreo Pie
If your childhood was spent begging for an Oreo pie from the freezer section of your local grocery store, this grown-up recipe of a nostalgic classic is for you. With an Oreo cookie crust, a sweet yet tangy filling and a crushed Oreos topping, this dessert is for cookies-and-cream lovers only. The prep for this pie only takes 10 minutes, making it the easiest dessert to make in advance for any potluck or dinner party year round.
Get the Oreo Pie recipe.
Chantilly Cake
Chantilly cake, a towering layer cake stuffed with fresh berries and blanketed in whipped cream frosting. The impressive dessert marries the delicious simplicity of a classic yellow cake with the berries and cream combo that makes shortcakes shine. What’s even sweeter? The all-American dessert has a charming origin story that started in a grocery store bakery.
Get the Chantilly Cake recipe.
Coconut Key Lime Cheesecake Bars
We love a dessert mashup (we see you, brookie), but what if you upped the ante and combined three sweets instead of just two? That’s exactly what we did with these easy bars, which combine the best of Key lime pie, coconut cream pie, and cheesecake into one next-level treat.
S'mores Skillet Cookie
A massive chocolate chip cookie (with EXTRA chocolate) topped with toasty marshmallows? We're in love with this take on a s'mores that can easily serve a crowd.
Get the S'mores Skillet Cookie recipe.
Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
Homemade ice cream—is there anything better? Sure, you could buy it in a pint or trek to a scoop shop, but ice cream made in your own kitchen not only tastes better, it has a bit of magic to it. The best part is you don't need any fancy equipment to make this homemade ice cream.
Get the Cookies and Cream Ice Cream recipe.
Honey & Peanut Butter Blondies
These blondies are like a classic peanut butter & honey sandwich in dessert form. They're thick and chewy with all of the honey flavor shining through and will make you feel like a kid again. The peanuts add a great crunch to every bite, but are totally optional.
Funfetti Dip
It’s time to channel your inner big kid. Think white cake laced with confetti sprinkles that explode into colorful polka dots (just like in our perfect birthday cake). If you love it as much as we do, it’s time to switch it up and try a quicker, simpler version of Funfetti in dip form—because why not! Think of it like a vanilla buttercream frosting. This Funfetti dip is a fluffy mixture of butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar. The nostalgic flavor comes from imitation vanilla extract and the crunch from confetti sprinkles.
Get the Funfetti Dip recipe.
Peanut Butter & Strawberry Crisp
This take on a fruit crisp tastes like eating a PB&J: The sweet, jammy strawberries taste so good against the crispy, slightly salty peanut butter topping. It’s also super-easy to throw together and is perfect for any potluck—don't forget the ice cream!
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine and if wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.