45 Make-Ahead Dessert Recipes That Make Hosting Easier Than Ever

By Mary Shannon Wells
September 20, 2019
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
There’s nothing we love more than a make-ahead recipe. Whether it’s a trusty casserole waiting patiently in your freezer, a slow-cooker recipe that’s ready when you get home from work, or a batch of fudge you can hold onto until the weekend’s party, make-ahead recipe are valuable to every busy Southern cook. That’s why we gathered all of our best make-ahead desserts in one convenient location for you. Christmas cookie swap? Make it ahead. Potluck dessert for a crowd? Make it ahead. Kid’s birthday cake? Make it ahead. With dozens of make-ahead dessert options, you’ll be prepared for any and every event you can imagine. If you need food gifts for teachers during the holidays or a bake-sale ready dessert during the spring, these make-ahead desserts will see you through it all. These make-ahead desserts will save you time and oven space ahead of gatherings big and small.  
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Creamy Peach Icebox Cake

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Creamy Peach Icebox Cake

You only need a handful of ingredients to put this impressive-looking cake together.

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Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze

This beautiful cheesecake combines festive gingerbread with bright lemon for a holiday dessert that’s totally new. Not only does the cheesecake need to chill for at least eight hours, but the glaze can be made up to two days in advance, so you can make this recipe piece by piece leading up to your Christmas dinner.

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Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Cake mix cookies? Count us in! The higher oil content in these cookies helps them save better than other recipes.

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Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova Cake

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova Cake

If you have family with dairy sensitivities or allergies, they’ll be amazed that this stunner is actually dairy-free.

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Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley

Recipe: Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

Bourbon balls are an amazing cocktail party dessert that guests can grab and go as they please without stopping to cut a slice of cake or requiring you to clean dessert spoons once the party is over. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week or frozen for as long as you need.

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Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Banana Pudding Poke Cake

It’s preferred for this moist cake to be chilled overnight for the best results, so it’s the perfect big-batch way to make banana pudding ahead.

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Crème Brûlée Cheesecake

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Crème Brûlée Cheesecake

This elegant cheesecake will wow dinner guests with its presentation, and you can get it done the night before and let it chill overnight before finishing off the gorgeous caramelized top.

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Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines

This New Orleans favorite treat is a go-to food gift during the holidays, and it can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week.

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Fresh Peach Ice Cream

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Fresh Peach Ice Cream

There’s nothing better than a bowl of homemade ice cream on a steaming summer day, and with this easy recipe, you can have it at the ready all season long.

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Luscious Lemon Bars

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Luscious Lemon Bars

Classic lemon squares are a luncheon staple, and this recipe can be stored in the freezer for up to one month for every last-minute drop-by.

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Chocolate Parfaits

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Chocolate Parfaits

This simple layered dessert is perfect for when the kids have company, as everyone gets the same portion and it’s easy to make ahead.

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Tres Leches Cake

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Tres Leches Cake

This luscious cake needs ample time to chill to soak up all three milks in the recipe, so your only option is to make it ahead, which helps out the day of your party.

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Mamie Eisenhower’s Chocolate Fudge

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Mamie Eisenhower’s Chocolate Fudge

This vintage fudge recipe has been a go-to of Southern cooks for decades, and it keeps for up to two weeks, so it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

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Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

This adorable mini dessert is easy for cocktail parties or gift-giving during the holidays.

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Oreo Cheesecake

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Oreo Cheesecake

This kid-friendly cake will bring back a wave of nostalgia for adults, too.

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Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake

When topped with fresh blueberries, this chilled dessert is ready for your Fourth of July celebration. Your family will be incredibly impressed when you show up with this layered stunner.

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Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings

Credit: Jim Franco

Recipe: Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings

This comforting bread pudding has all of your favorite fall flavors, and it can be made in individual ramekins or your trusty 13x9 dish.

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Salty-Sweet Nut Brittle

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Salty-Sweet Nut Brittle

This holiday staple can be stored for up to two weeks, so you can have it on hand for any last-minute gift needs.

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Orange-Buttermilk Trifle

Credit: Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Thom Driver

Recipe: Orange-Buttermilk Trifle

Every element of this impressive-looking trifle can be made in advance, so you can work on it little by little the week of your dinner party.

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Cappuccino Swirl Bars

Credit: Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Cappuccino Swirl Bars

These layered bars look and taste fancier than they are to make, and they can be refrigerated for up to three days before you have the girls over to enjoy them.

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Vanilla Macarons

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Vanilla Macarons

A tip from the Test Kitchen: Macarons are actually best the day after assembly, so they’ll save you time and taste even more delicious the next day.

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Key Lime Icebox Cake

Credit: Photo: Hector M Sanchez; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Vanessa Rocchio

Recipe: Key Lime Icebox Cake

Southerners have been turning to icebox cakes and pies for decades when they’re in need of a no-cook, make-ahead dessert that will feed a crowd, and this is one of our best.

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Salted Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Salted Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Make this yummy fall cookie dough up to two days in advance and bake it the day of your get-together so your house smells amazing.

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Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Packed with all the traditional flavors of banana pudding, this dreamy cheesecake will both impress and delight your crowd.

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Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream

A scoop of homemade ice cream adds the most delicious personal touch to any dessert.

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Apple Stack Cake

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasi; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Apple Stack Cake

Because this gorgeous cake needs to “ripen” for two to three days before serving, you have no choice but to make it ahead. This stunner is a labor of love, but the payoff is unreal.

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Rebecca's Black Bottom Icebox Pie

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Rebecca’s Black Bottom Icebox Pie

Chill this decadent chocolate pie for at least eight and up to 24 hours before adding the whipped topping and serving to hungry guests.

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Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel

You might think of bread pudding as a cold-weather treat, but fresh summer peaches bring it right into the season.

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Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies

Credit: Courtesy of Damaris Phillips

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies

Chef Damaris Phillips shared this sweet recipe with us (the first one she ever wrote!). To be sure no sweet tooth goes without tending to, this dough can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for one week or the freezer for six.

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Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

A cake made with layers of ice cream sandwiches says one thing and one thing only: Let’s celebrate! (No occasion required.)

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Rum Balls

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Rum Balls

This boozy confection first appeared in our December 1993 issue, and it’s been popping up on dessert tables and in gift boxes ever since. They keep in the refrigerator for up to one month, so have a stash handy throughout the holidays for drop-by guests.

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