40 Retirement Party Dessert Ideas

By Zoe Denenberg

Retirement parties are a great occasion to celebrate many years of hard work dedicated to your company or your career. While retirement parties all pay homage to an honored guest, there’s no one right way to throw a retirement soiree. They can be celebrated during the day or at night, at the office, a restaurant, or a venue. They can be themed or come-as-you-are, casual or formal, catered or potluck. But, no matter how you choose to commemorate a retirement, one thing is certain: any good party must have fabulous desserts.

Organizing a fantastic and cohesive dessert spread is no easy task, so we’re here to help you plan your sweet spread. There’s no better way to show your love, dedication, and reverence than with homemade cakes, pies, or cookies. So whether you’re the planner, the retiree, or a potluck partygoer, these recipes will wow the retirement party crowd.

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Chocolate Mousse Cake

Micah Leal

Recipe: Chocolate Mousse Cake

Featuring chocolate cake, mousse, and ganache, this rich cake is a chocolate-lover's dream.  

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Rose Petal Cupcakes

Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Rose Petal Cupcakes

Simplicity with a touch of floral refinement. Rose petal decorations transform plain vanilla cupcakes into a stunning display piece.

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Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

You can never go wrong with chocolate chip cookies. This recipe elevates the favorite dessert with brown butter, which adds a nutty, caramelized flavor to the time-tested classic.

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Peaches and Cream Pie

Micah Leal

Recipe: Peaches and Cream Pie

Peaches and Cream Pie combines two Southern staples (chess pie and peaches) to create a supremely fresh and bright party dessert. This cheery, nostalgic pie can't be beat.  

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Mini Confetti Cakes

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Mini Confetti Cakes

You’d never guess that these elegantly-decorated Mini Confetti Cakes were cut out of a sheet cake.

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Lemon Chiffon Pie

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Lemon Chiffon Pie

Breeze into retirement with this light, airy Lemon Chiffon Pie. For an added personal touch, ditch the store-bought pie dough and try making your own.  

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Sweet Tea Bundt Cake

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Sweet Tea Bundt Cake

Prepare your retiree for the sweet tea porch-sipping lifestyle with this adorable Sweet Tea Bundt Cake. This cake may look simple, but it's soaked in Sweet Tea Glaze to add extra moisture and flavor.

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Easy Coconut Macaroons

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Easy Coconut Macaroons

Your guests will adore these bite-sized mounds of crisp coconut with a soft, airy center. If you're feeling adventurous, try dipping the macaroon bottoms in melted chocolate.  

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Chocolate Torte

Micah Leal

Recipe: Chocolate Torte

Rich in dark chocolate and naturally gluten-free, this decadent Chocolate Torte will be an instant fan-favorite.  

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Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes

When you're feeding a crowd, cupcakes are optimal for easy serving and pre-determined portion control. This inventive recipe transforms sticky, messy pineapple upside-down cake into a portable, potluck-friendly treat.  

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Mama Dip's Rum Cake

Peter Frank Edwards

Recipe: Mama Dip's Rum Cake

Help the retiree forget all about the stress of office life with this moist and boozy rum cake.

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Kentucky Bourbon Pie

Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Kentucky Bourbon Pie

This pie may have been originally fashioned for the Kentucky Derby, but its winning combination of chocolate, bourbon, and pecans earns it a place at our table year-round.  

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Icebox Fruit Cake

Micah Leal

Recipe: Icebox Fruit Cake

An oldie but a goodie. Fruitcake may get a bad rap, but this Icebox Fruit Cake recipe reimagines the classic fruitcake with a speedy, no-bake approach. It's full of nostalgic holiday flavor and fit for any party spread.  

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Cream Cheese Brownies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Cream Cheese Brownies

A cream cheese swirl transforms boring brownies into stunning party-ready treats.

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Vanilla Bean Macarons

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Vanilla Bean Macarons

Feeling fancy? Try your hand at baking this elegant French favorite. You’re sure to impress all the partygoers with your technique and bravado.  

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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Dipping these rich chocolate cookies in powdered sugar gives them their lovely signature crinkle-top texture.

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Chocolate Bundt Cake

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Chocolate Bundt Cake

Accented with edible pansies, this Chocolate Bundt Cake is simple, yet addictive.

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Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies

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

Recipe: Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies

Double down on the chocolate in these Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies. With bourbon and espresso to compliment the deep chocolate flavor, these brownies hit all the right notes.

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Lemon-Lime Meringue Pie

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

Recipe: Lemon-Lime Meringue Pie

Key lime meets lemon meringue in this dreamy citrus-fusion pie.

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Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Repurpose that boxed cake mix sitting in your pantry to make these beautiful Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies.

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Raspberry-Almond Crumble Bars

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

Recipe: Raspberry-Almond Crumble Bars

These Raspberry-Almond Crumble Bars can be enjoyed all on their own or paired with other hand-held bars for an epic dessert platter.

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Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Leave bowls of these cute Chocolate Covered Pretzels around the venue for guests to snack on throughout the party.

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Grapefruit Cheesecake

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

Recipe: Grapefruit Cheesecake

The bitterness of grapefruit pairs well with this creamy, smooth cheesecake.

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White Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: White-Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Add a burst of fresh fruit to the retirement party dessert spread with these simple, yet fabulously adorned White Chocolate-Covered Strawberries.

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Red Velvet Cheesecake

Abby Hocking / Food & Wine

Recipe: Red Velvet Cheesecake

This beauty combines the rich, chocolatey flavors of red velvet with the dense tang of cheesecake to make a new favorite dessert fusion.

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Spiced Pecan Pie Bars

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

Recipe: Spiced Pecan Pie Bars

Cut these bars into quarters for a party-ready platter of bite-sized spiced pecan pie squares.

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Lemon Yogurt Cake

Micah Leal

Recipe: Lemon Yogurt Cake

Yogurt lends this lemon cake a silky-smooth consistency, and it adds a tangy lightness to the cream topping.  

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Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

In the South, we love our mayonnaise, and we're not afraid to hide it. It's the all-star ingredient to bring moisture to this classic Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake.

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Fresh Peach Coffee Cake with Pecan Streusel

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

Recipe: Fresh Peach Coffee Cake with Pecan Streusel

This versatile coffee cake can be served morning or night. It's the perfect way to finish off a daytime retirement party. Try serving this Peach Coffee Cake with vanilla ice cream.

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Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

No party is complete without a plate of Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies. The sight of these cute chocolate-drop cookies will bring you right back to grandma’s kitchen at Christmas time.

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Cheesecake Cookies

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Cheesecake Cookies

Topped with glossy maraschino cherries, these creamy and voluminous Cheesecake Cookies will stand out in a potluck dessert spread.

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Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

Southern Living

Recipe: Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

Instead of sticking to a tried-and-true potluck, get more specific and theme your retirement party as a cookie swap! These classic Lemon Thumbprint Cookies are sure to satisfy.

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Banana Pudding Poke Cake

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

Recipe: Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Poking holes in your freshly-baked cake will ensure that you'll get some delicious pudding topping in every bite.

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Lemon-Coconut Chess Bars

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

Recipe: Lemon-Coconut Chess Bars

The sharp, tart flavor of lemon is accentuated by crisp crust and toasty coconut in these layered dessert bars.

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Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes

Micah Leal

Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes

Use those extra farmers' market strawberries to make these fresh and fruity cupcakes.

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Homemade Pop Tarts

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Homemade Pop Tarts

For a throwback-themed retirement party, make these easy homemade Pop Tarts! Their nostalgic flavors and whimsy will bring the retiree right back to their childhood.  

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Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Sheet cake is the perfect way to feed a crowd. So when the retirement party invite list starts to grow, keep this Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake recipe on hand. 

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Pineapple-Coconut Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Vanessa McNeil Rocchio

Recipe: Pineapple-Coconut Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting

Celebrate the start of retirement with these tropical cupcakes. You have many days of sitting in the sun to look forward to.

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Charlotte Russe Cake

Micah Leal

Recipe: Charlotte Russe Cake

Stun with this Charlotte Russe Cake without ever turning on your oven. This cool no-bake cake is ideal for an intimate summer retirement gathering.  

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Lemon-Vanilla Pound Cake with Lavender Glaze

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Lemon-Vanilla Pound Cake with Lavender Glaze

Even those skeptical of floral flavoring will fall for this Lemon-Vanilla Pound Cake with an oh-so-subtle Lavender Glaze.

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