Here are the best potluck desserts that will make you the most popular guest at a party! When friends and family come together to share a meal, it's always nice to contribute. I've gathered together all the best potluck dessert recipes to please a crowd for every occasion.
Jump to:
- Best Potluck Desserts Recipes
- 1. Red Velvet Brownies
- 2. Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes
- 3. Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 4. Nutella Cupcakes
- 5. Red Velvet Muffins
- 6. Funfetti Cookies
- 7. Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
- 8. Pink cupcakes
- 9. No Bake Cheesecake Bites
- 10. Tiramisu Cookies
- 11. White Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- 12. Espresso Brownies
- 13. Baked Raspberry Donuts
- 14. Brownie Blondies
- 15. Strawberry Cupcakes
- 16. Biscoff Brownies
- 17. Sugar Donuts
- 18. Chocolate Ice Cream Bars
- 19. Matcha Brownies
- 20. Oatmeal Craisin Cookies
- 21. Beignets
- 22. Palmiers
- 23. Baked Chocolate Donuts With Chocolate Glaze
- 24. Lemonade Bundt Cake
- 25. Matcha Tiramisu
- 26. Earl Grey Macarons with Lemon Curd Filling
- 27. Chocolate Marble Loaf Cake
- 28. Salted Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bars
- 29. Brown Butter Pecan Pie Bars
- 30. Key Lime Pie Bars
- 31. Peanut Butter Cookies
- 32. Strawberry Angel Food Cake
- 33. Peanut Butter Bars
- 34. Texas Sheet Cake
- 35. Lemon Bars
- FAQ
- Related Potluck Dessert Recipes
- Top 35 Best Potluck Desserts
Feeding a crowd is no easy feat, but with everything from super portable cookies and brownies to potluck desserts you can share, this list of dessert recipes for potluck has you covered.
Best Potluck Desserts Recipes
1. Red Velvet Brownies
Brownies are always such a popular dessert for potluck as they're so portable, and this decadent recipe is one of my all-time favorite red velvet desserts.
Super dense and fudgy with a rich chocolatey taste that's perfectly complimented by a tangy cream cheese marbelling. And, of course, that iconic red velvet color and crackly top. Bake a double batch, though, as you certainly won't be able to stop eating them.
2. Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes
Cupcakes are also really portable, which makes them ideal potluck desserts for gatherings and parties. A tender, soft vanilla cupcake sponge is topped with the most amazing cream cheese frosting and strawberry shortcake crumble topping.
I love making mini desserts for potluck as everyone can have their own. And whilst they look super fancy, these cupcakes are actually one of my favorite easy recipes for potluck.
3. Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
This is one of my personal favorite potluck desserts. Gooey, soft, and chewy cookies flavored with brown butter and sprinkled with sea salt are so good that no one will be able to leave them on the plate! Box up these cookies for potluck and wait for the compliments to roll in.
I give you all the best tips on baking perfect cookies every time, and what's more, taking cookies to potluck means there's no need for washing up! I'm sure you'll agree this makes them one of the best desserts for potluck.
4. Nutella Cupcakes
If you're a Nutella fan, you simply must add this to your list of cupcake recipes for potluck. The super moist chocolate hazelnut cupcakes are both filled and frosted with indulgent, creamy Nutella frosting and topped with crunchy chopped hazelnuts, too. Surely, no one can resist them!
Homemade cupcakes are such easy desserts to bring to a party because they're tasty and simple, and everyone loves them.
5. Red Velvet Muffins
You'll certainly be popular if you make these tasty muffins for potluck. Stuffed with gooey white chocolate chips, red velvet muffins make a great addition to the potluck dessert spread.
Read my guide on how to store muffins and keep them fresh so that they arrive at your event as tasty as possible.
6. Funfetti Cookies
How fun are these? If there are kids coming to the party, they'll love these cute cookies covered with bright funfetti sprinkles. But grown-ups will love them, too, and they have an elevated taste and texture that always makes them popular. Certainly, cookies are also great if you are looking for inexpensive desserts for a crowd.
7. Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
Both cookies and cheesecake always go down well at potluck parties, so try this ultimate dessert mash-up. A perfectly soft and chewy cookie stuffed with strawberry flavor has a cream cheese disk hidden inside. It gives each bite a silky tang of cheesecake that no one will expect!
This is certainly one of those types of cookies where everyone eats more than one, so make sure you bring enough. Cookies are really easy to
8. Pink cupcakes
These super pretty cupcakes have the most beautiful marbled frosting, so they're sure to grab all the attention on the potluck desserts table.
What's more, the sponge recipe is foolproof, and the cupcake frosting only has 3 simple ingredients and takes just minutes to whip up. You can decorate them further to your liking with edible pearls or funfetti, or have them plain.
9. No Bake Cheesecake Bites
Everyone loves cheesecake, but it can be messy to serve when people are helping themselves. So here is where cheesecake bites enter the chat! With the same buttery graham cracker crust, tangy cheesecake taste, and juicy strawberry flavor, they are perfect for potluck.
What's more, they only take 30 minutes to prepare, and they are not baked. In conclusion, they're no hassle! When it comes to easy potluck desserts, no bake desserts are the way to go.
10. Tiramisu Cookies
If you're looking for fun and unique cookie recipes to take as potluck desserts, this is the one for you. All the taste and texture of a classic Tiramisu, but in a cookie form! In conclusion, these cookies are really portable, really unusual, and individual-sized, too.
11. White Chocolate Covered Strawberries
If you're looking for lighter potluck desserts, try this. Chocolate-dipped strawberries take just minutes to make but are full of flavor and much healthier than a lot of other potluck offerings too. If you love white chocolate desserts and fresh fruit, try this!
12. Espresso Brownies
Sometimes, we all need a pick-me-up. But what you may not know is that using espresso powder in chocolate desserts really brings out the chocolate flavor. So, as well as a delicious coffee kick, you get even more of a rich chocolate taste. And that's on top of the trademark fudgy texture and signature crinkly top.
13. Baked Raspberry Donuts
These tasty donuts have juicy raspberries pressed into the batter, giving each bite a burst of real fruit flavor. Then, they are covered with a silky raspberry glaze, too, which makes them super pretty to look at. Fruity desserts are often good to bring to potluck, as chocolate often features heavily in everyone else's!
In fact, out of all the different kinds of donuts, glazed fruity donuts are my favorite.
14. Brownie Blondies
Can't decide between brownies and blondies? There's no need! Make my easy brownie blondies recipe for potluck, and no one has to choose. You get all the rich, chocolaty taste of brownies coupled with the lighter, more butterscotch taste of blondies. All in one bite! Furthermore, this is a really simple recipe to make, so even beginners can master it.
15. Strawberry Cupcakes
I love making these cupcakes for summer potluck. The strawberry cupcakes have the most amazing moist and fluffy texture, with a super soft and tender vanilla sponge topped with fresh strawberry cream cheese frosting.
The pretty pink color of my special homemade frosting comes from real fresh strawberries, which infuse it with real fruity flavor, so there is no need for added food coloring or synthetic flavorings.
16. Biscoff Brownies
Are you as obsessed with Lotus Biscoff desserts as me? The flavor is unrivaled, and the Biscoff craze shows no signs of slowing down. Take a box of these brownies with you to a party and watch them vanish. The layer of Biscoff butter (and you can make your own homemade Biscoff spread, too) gives such an amazing taste to each bite.
17. Sugar Donuts
Simple, sugary donuts are one of my favorite desserts to take to potluck, as everyone's eyes just light up when they see them. Baked donuts (also known as cake donuts) are much easier to make as you don't need to deep fry them, and this also makes them healthier, too. You can play with the flavors and try adding some cinnamon to the sugar, too, to add a hint of spice.
A tray of freshly baked donuts will be a hit with a crowd, trust me!
18. Chocolate Ice Cream Bars
Whilst bringing ice cream to potluck might be a bit more challenging, it is always popular! My no-churn ice cream bars are loaded with flavor, but you don't need an ice cream machine, so they are much easier and quicker to make. If you are hosting a potluck party, this makes an ideal dessert that everyone will love, especially in warmer weather! Surely, potluck summer desserts never looked better.
19. Matcha Brownies
If you haven't tried any matcha desserts before, you simply must make these brownies. The slightly bitter flavor of matcha pairs so perfectly with sweet white chocolate, and coupled with the fudgy brownie texture, it's irresistible. Plus, the vibrant green color means this is one of those easy potluck desserts that will really stand out on the table!
20. Oatmeal Craisin Cookies
Bake a batch of these healthy oatmeal cranberry cookies for potluck; they're super easy yet loaded with craisin, cinnamon, and brown sugar flavors. With a chewy outside and gooey inside, the texture is out of this world, and they manage to be both wonderfully rich yet very well-balanced in sweetness.
You can swap out the craisins for regular raisins if you prefer, but the dried cranberries give a more tart and unusual flavor that I love.
21. Beignets
These tasty little French fritters are a potluck dessert designed to please a crowd. Their light, sweet, and pillowy texture makes them irresistible little bites, and they look super cute, dusted with powdered sugar in a bowl. Guests can even dip them in whipped cream or enjoy with fresh fruit or they are perfect on their own.
22. Palmiers
This is one of those quick and easy potluck dessert recipes that you can knock up in no time. It's so simple, but they look super elegant in a little bowl, and you only need a package of store-bought puff pastry and a bit of sugar. That's it! These 2-ingredient palmiers come together in just 40 minutes, so they work as last minute desserts to bring to a party if you're tight on time.
23. Baked Chocolate Donuts With Chocolate Glaze
Chocolate donuts have to be near the top of the list of crowd-pleasing potluck desserts. I don't know anyone who wouldn't eat one! And my baked donuts are so simple to make even beginner bakers can knock them up in no time. The easy glaze gives them a super professional appearance; no one will believe you made them yourself.
24. Lemonade Bundt Cake
This lemonade bundt cake is bursting with citrus flavor and is much easier to make than you might think. Its glaze and lemon simple syrup load it with a zesty, tangy lemon taste, and it has the best moist texture, too. and tangy lemon taste. For a fresh-tasting dessert for potluck, try this.
Lemon and raspberry go so well together, so I decorated this easy bundt cake with both fresh and freeze-dried raspberries. Also, I put yogurt in the cake batter to make it extra moist. Try it and see!
Read my guide with expert tips on how to get bundt cake out of the pan if you have always struggled with it in the past.
25. Matcha Tiramisu
You will love this twist on a famous European dessert. The creamy, classic taste of tiramisu is elevated even further with a pinch of matcha, which gives it a glowing green hue as well as a delicious taste. You can make your own homememade ladyfingers or use store-bought, and this is certainly one of those potluck desserts to please a crowd. And feed a crowd!
26. Earl Grey Macarons with Lemon Curd Filling
Macarons are such elegant little French pastries! The warm tea flavor of these beautiful treats contrasts so well with the bright burst of lemon curd filling. The chewy crunch of macarons is such a unique texture, and everyone always loves them so much. Plus, they really do look stunning.
Whilst macarons can be a bit more challenging to make, your effort will not go unnoticed. If you want a potluck dessert to impress, make macarons. And you can take my online macaron class first to nail all the skills you need.
27. Chocolate Marble Loaf Cake
An easy loaf cake is a great cake for potluck, and the beautiful marbled sponge adds a lot of visual interest to the plate as well as being super tasty! You can leave it plain or top it with tasty frosting. I like to add my peanut butter frosting. Certainly, it's always been a winning potluck recipe for me.
28. Salted Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bars
The obsession with salted caramel shows no signs of slowing down, and it really isn't hard to see why. Couple it with the rich and tangy taste of cheesecake, and you've got a winning dessert. Making the beautiful swirled effect is a lot easier than you might think, and you'll just need a chopstick or the end of a spoon.
Cheesecake bars are an easy dessert to serve at potluck as you can leave them out ready for guests to pick up. But be warned, they'll be popular with a crowd!
29. Brown Butter Pecan Pie Bars
Brown butter and pecan pie together? Honestly, what could be more delicious? Pie bars are super easy to make and are ideal potluck dessert recipes as they can be cut into any size to suit the numbers. Make several sheets of them and bring them in the baking trays to make your life even easier!
30. Key Lime Pie Bars
For a fresh and zesty dessert, try these key lime pie dessert bars. Bright and fresh, and full of citrus taste, guests will surely form a long queue to get their hands on one! I love the bright green zest on top to really make them pop.
A handy tip is to use a hot knife to slice up the pie bars and get a really clean edge to show off the layers. Everyone will think you bought them, and didn't make them yourself!
31. Peanut Butter Cookies
Peanut butter cookies will always be popular with large groups, as peanut butter is such a universally adored flavor. And what's more, it gives these cookies the most amazing texture as well as nutty taste. They stack really well, so you can wrap them in aluminum foil to transport them with you or bring them in Tupperware.
32. Strawberry Angel Food Cake
The light and fluffy texture of this easy angel food cake will have everyone gossiping. But making it in a container means it is so much easier to spoon out and serve.
Simply make the dessert, store it in the fridge until needed, and then take it to the party. There's no need for plating it up or arranging anything further, it's good to go. You can top with other fresh fruits depending on the season, but strawberries and cream are always a reliable and popular option.
33. Peanut Butter Bars
The glossy, rich, and fudgy chocolate coating on these bars is something else. What's more, these bars only require pantry staple ingredients and take hardly any effort to make. They’re so easy! But they look and taste divine. They're sweet, salty, heavy on the peanut butter, super chocolatey, and every last bite is full of taste and texture.
34. Texas Sheet Cake
Everyone loves a Texas sheet cake for potluck. And this one is simply irresistible! This chocolate cake is baked in a jelly roll pan and has a light and tender sponge. But the cooked chocolate frosting made with melted butter, milk, chocolate, and powdered sugar has added pecans for a nutty taste that guests won't be able to get enough of.
It's poured over the cake whilst still warm, creating a fudgy and undeniably delicious chocolate cake to share.
35. Lemon Bars
To finish off a big meal, I think lemon desserts are always wise. The citrus tang cuts through all of the other heavy foods and gives everyone a bit of a lift. What's more, these bright and tangy lemon bars are super easy to make and, of course, really portable, so you can easily bring them to the potluck party.
FAQ
Many guests will bring mains or sides, so desserts are the best dish to take to potluck as it's often what is needed the most.
Yes! Take desserts that feed a crowd and are easy to serve and transport. Cookies, brownies, sheet cakes, pie bars, and muffins are all great potluck desserts to please a crowd.
Choose recipes with basic ingredients, minimal steps and no fancy equipment.
Related Potluck Dessert Recipes
Top 35 Best Potluck Desserts
- Red Velvet Brownies
- Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Nutella Cupcakes
- Red Velvet Muffins
- Funfetti Cookies
- Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
- Pink cupcakes
- No Bake Cheesecake Bites
- Tiramisu Cookies
- White Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Espresso Brownies
- Baked Raspberry Donuts with Raspberry Glaze
- Blondie Brownies
- Strawberry Cupcakes
- Biscoff Brownies
- Sugar Donuts
- Chocolate Ice Cream Bars
- Matcha Brownies
- Oatmeal Craisin Cookies
- Beignets
- Palmiers
- Baked Chocolate Donuts With Chocolate Glaze
- Lemonade Bundt Cake
- Matcha Tiramisu
- Earl Grey Macarons with Lemon Curd Filling
- Chocolate Marble Loaf Cake
- Salted Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bars
- Brown Butter Pecan Pie Bars
- Key Lime Pie Bars
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Strawberry angel food cake
- Peanut Butter Bars
- Texas Sheet Cake
- Lemon Bars
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe(s)
- Go to the individual recipes.
- Enjoy the best Potluck Desserts ever!
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