Food and Recipes Desserts 45 Easy Desserts For A Crowd Fit For Every Occasion By Southern Living Editors Updated on November 14, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Jennifer Causey It's no secret that Southerners know how to throw an event. Here, a small soiree often ends up with a three-page guest list. Blame our Southern hospitality. After all, we always say, 'the more, the merrier!'The task may seem intimidating, but there's no need to fret about feeding a large group. With these simple desserts for a crowd, preparing food for a whole house full of folks has never been easier. From Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies to Auntie's Apple Cake, chocolate to strawberry, these irresistible desserts will fulfill everyone's cravings. Invite the whole crew to enjoy these treats, or make a batch for a small group so you can all have a few helpings. We promise we won't judge. 01 of 45 Pecan-Peach Cobbler Beth Dreiling Hontzas We're so peachy-keen on this multi-layered cobbler. Complete with several layers of pecan-laden pie crust, this cobbler is full of fresh peaches. The golden, bubbling pie crust is sure to entice a crowd. 02 of 45 Cappuccino Swirl Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Calling all coffee lovers! These cappuccino swirl bars with crushed coffee beans on top keep us energized throughout the day. Store-bought wafers make this fancy-looking dessert easy to assemble. 03 of 45 Cream Soda Confetti Sheet Cake Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox As whimsical as it is bright, this sheet cake is just what your birthday bash needs. The freeze-dried strawberries naturally dye this cake's icing and flavor it tangy-sweet. Top with confetti sprinkles, and you are ready for any event. 04 of 45 Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake Alison Miksch; Prop styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Mary-Claire Britton The secret to melt-in-your-mouth cake? Just add mayonnaise. This chocolate cake, enriched with coffee, is the surprising twist on a classic dessert you've been looking to bake. 05 of 45 Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Blissfully rich, these dark chocolate brownies are irresistible. What makes these treats so decadent is the bourbon and espresso mixture that creates a rich, fudgy texture. Flaky sea salt is the icing of choice on this particular cake. 06 of 45 Kitchen Sink Cookies Jennifer Causey Everything but the kitchen sink! These cookies are jam-packed with oats, almonds, and chocolate chips. The best thing about this recipe is you can customize it based on what's available in your pantry. You'll always have a new way to present these delicious cookies. 07 of 45 Sea Salt-Caramel Cake Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall The perfect mixture of salty and sweet, you can't beat this caramel cake. Caramel frosting covers this layered cake, finished with flaky sea salt sprinkles. It's perfect for the holidays or any day you want to impress a crowd. 08 of 45 Apple Pie Cookies Micah A. Leal It's everything you love about warm apple pie but in cookie form. The dough resembles a sweet biscuit as it's fluffy and tender. Cinnamon icing makes this pie-in-a-cookie form simply irresistible. 09 of 45 Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes Alison Miksch Drizzle chocolate and buttermilk glaze over these bite-sized mini bundt cakes to make them oh-so decadent. Unsweetened cocoa, bittersweet chocolate, and semisweet chocolate morsels are three reasons why chocolate fans will love this dessert. The mini, individual-sized treats are perfect for a crowd. 10 of 45 No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely No bake? No problem! This easy peanut butter-fudge ice cream is oh-so-creamy. Everyone will love a slice of this sweet frozen pie. 11 of 45 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Caitlin Bensel These thumbprint cookies are so tasty they might rival Grandma's recipe. Peanut butter and chocolate always taste better together, and this simple classic cookie gives you the best of both worlds. These peanut butter cookies topped with chocolate will be a crowd favorite. Plus, you only need pantry staples to make them. 12 of 45 Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies Sonja Gardner The perfect dessert to make if you're in a time crunch, these peanut butter cookies only call for four ingredients. In 35 minutes, these cookies made with peanut butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract will be your new go-to. Press a fork on top before baking to add a little design to these simple cookies. 13 of 45 Little Layer Chocolate Cake Southern Living This cake, made up of 18 tiny layers, is fluffy and irresistible. Each layer is perfectly baked and wedged between decadent chocolate icing. It's the best cake-to-icing ratio recipe you'll find. 14 of 45 Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Beth Dreiling Hontzas These classic chocolate chip cookies are a classic. Two types of chocolate—bittersweet chunks and semisweet chips—make these cookies some of the best you'll ever try. Flaky sea salt adds the perfect finishing touch. 15 of 45 Blackberry Jam Cake Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox This berry-filled cake with extra creamy cream-cheese frosting is certainly our jam. Caramel-cream cheese frosting makes this delightful cake a little more savory. You'll wish this delicious cake was more than three layers. 16 of 45 Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Micah A. Leal Although typically made during the holidays, these Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are so easy-to-love. You might get requests for them year-round. Espresso enhances the chocolate flavoring, which is balanced by adding salt. 17 of 45 Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Jennifer Causey These ooey-gooey and chewy cookies are guaranteed to fly off the plate. Browning the butter makes all the difference in this traditional chocolate chip recipe. When the butter turns a beautiful golden-brown hue, you'll know it's ready. 18 of 45 Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies Southern Living Presidential and family-approved, these cookies will impress at any party. Filled with oats, coconut, and pecans, these chocolate chip cookies, known as Cowboy Cookies, are famous for a reason. With all these mix-ins, these cookies will be a winner at your next event. 19 of 45 Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner This cherry-flavored soda pop is a Southern favorite, and so are these Cheerwine-infused cupcakes. This pale pink mixture tastes like almond extract and mild cherry—plus, it's delicious. Top with a maraschino cherry for a beautiful presentation. 20 of 45 Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Hummingbird Cupcakes are our go-to springtime recipe. The traditional three-layer cake transforms beautifully into cupcakes, each garnished with pineapple wedges. This moist cake recipe with toasted pecans will stand out on the dessert table. 21 of 45 Auntie's Apple Cake Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Apples are a signature autumn staple, so we created the ultimate apple cake with a brown-sugar drizzle. It's filled with everything a classic apple dessert should have—fresh apples, pecans, spices, and pralines. Try using Pink Lady, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp apples. 22 of 45 Lemon-Vanilla Pound Cake with Lavender Glaze Hector Manuel Sanchez This indulgent Lemon-Vanilla Pound Cake will make any day brighter. Baking soda and sour cream make this pound cake moist and tender. Plus, lemon juice is the perfect way to incorporate a unique flavoring. 23 of 45 Charlotte Russe Cake Micah Leal This no-bake, tangy cake filled with zesty lemon custard will be the talk of the party. This cake is rich and sweet, surrounded by ladyfingers. The fresh blackberries pair perfectly with the lemon-thyme syrup that glazes the top of the cake. 24 of 45 Chocolate-Zucchini Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Getting your daily dose of vegetables with this healthy yet devilishly good cake is easy. Grated zucchini blend seamlessly with the chocolate-filled mixture. Roasted pistachios on top of the brown butter frosting add an extra pop of color. 25 of 45 Mini Confetti Cakes Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Isn't everything better when it's bite-sized? Frost these mini cakes with homemade whipped cream for a smooth, clean texture. Sometimes store-bought cake mix is what your dessert table needs. 26 of 45 Texas Skillet Cake Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox We brought our Southern touch to this cake by baking it in a cast iron skillet to create a soft, gooey center. Top with chocolate frosting and toasted chopped pecans for the classic Texas Sheet Cake flavoring. Make sure to add the frosting while the cake is still warm, as it thickens while it cools. 27 of 45 Cream Cheese Brownies Micah A. Leal Offset rich brownies by creating this swirled cream cheese masterpiece that offers a tangy, sweet combination. Each square will be dense and perfectly soft. Make sure to let the brownies cool completely before cutting them into squares. 28 of 45 Strawberry-Lemonade Cake Jen Causey We can't help but feast our eyes on this summer delight. This cake, packed with strawberry jam, is a juicy combination of fresh strawberries and lemons. Add a little food coloring to enhance the frosting's pink color. 29 of 45 Lemon-Lime Meringue Pie Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling; Tina Bell Stamos You can make this fluffy citrus pie all summer long. Lemon or lime fans will be pleasantly surprised as this pie is a cross between a lemon meringue and a Key Lime pie. It's tart, sweet, and perfect for any occasion. 30 of 45 White Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Micah A. Leal Elevate your fresh strawberries by dipping them in white chocolate and drizzling them with semi-sweet chocolate. This impressive presentation is easier than it looks. Piping or ziplock bags make it easy to craft your own strawberry masterpieces. 31 of 45 Chocolate Bundt Cake Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Combine brownie mix with chocolate cake to create the ultimate heavenly chocolate cake. Choose flowers labeled as edible for that extra special finishing touch. You can find these in specialty-food stores. 32 of 45 Luscious Lemon Bars Southern Living The perfect addition to any luncheon or tea, these refreshing lemon bars are quite the treat. Make these up to one month before your event. These lemon bars freeze well. 33 of 45 Hello Dolly Bars Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell Hello Dolly Bars are sinfully sweet and the perfect delight to bring to a holiday gathering. The classic Hello Dolly gets a twist in this cookie bar recipe. Chocolate, coconut, pecans, and graham crackers combine for one delicious dessert. 34 of 45 Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake Hector Sanchez This cake combines summer's best-known beverages: sweet tea and lemonade, to make a heavenly dessert. Inspired by the classic Arnold Palmer drink, this cake uses tea bags in the mixture. You can substitute vodka or bourbon for lemon juice if you like making alcohol-inspired desserts. 35 of 45 Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies Greg DuPree Jump into fall baking with these rich pumpkin brownies. Both pumpkin and chocolate fans will love these brownies. For the perfect slice, let these treats chill overnight. 36 of 45 Coca-Cola Chocolate Cake Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Soda pop is the secret ingredient to make your cake moist and fluffy. Double to cola flavoring by adding a Fudgy Coca-Cola Cake Frosting. With six ingredients, you can have the perfect frosting complementing this cake. 37 of 45 Mississippi Mud Cake Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Marshmallows, chocolate frosting, and pecans fill this classic sheet cake. Our favorite things piled into one dessert? Yes, please. 38 of 45 Classic Birthday Cake Micah A. Leal With all the flavoring of a confetti cake, this easy homemade sheet cake can feed a crowd—birthday or no birthday. Add a variety of colorful sprinkles to bring more joy to this dessert. It's delightfully fluffy. 39 of 45 Blond Texas Sheet Cake Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Everyone loves Texas Sheet Cake, so try this version with a delightful twist. Instead of doubling down on the chocolate, try a white cake mix and almond extract for this "blonde" version. Top with Coconut-Pecan Frosting for the perfect finish. 40 of 45 Cheesecake Cookies Caitlin Bensel These adorable cookies are perfect for a holiday cookie swap but just as perfect for a summer barbeque. The bite-sized cheesecake creations will be the hit of any party's dessert table. Just remember to let them cool first. 41 of 45 Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake Hector Sanchez This sheet cake is a real "springtime crowd-pleaser." Fresh strawberries and lemon juice add a refreshing twist to a traditional sheet cake. Strawberry frosting is the perfect complement. 42 of 45 Two-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake Jessica Furniss / Southern Living This dessert can't be any simpler. You have a cake ready for a crowd with just two ingredients: canned crushed pineapple and angel food cake mix. Whipped topping is optional (but recommended). 43 of 45 Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars Photo: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY; FOOD STYLING: CHELSEA ZIMMER Letting these cookie bars cool before slicing a piece for yourself will be challenging. It has the ingredients of your favorite candies in a brownie cookie combination. Make these ahead of your event and store them in the refrigerator for up to three days (if you can resist eating them). 44 of 45 Chocolate Lasagna Southern Living You'll love dessert lasagna once you discover it. Start with a layer of crumbled chocolate cookies and butter, then layer a mixture of cream cheese, sugar, milk, and whipped topping. Finish with chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and a sprinkling of chocolate chips. 45 of 45 Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies Micah A. Leal Turn one of your favorite cakes into cookies with this recipe. Red velvet cookies have dense chocolate flavoring of cake in an individual serving. Sprinkling white chocolate throughout makes a beautiful presentation. Want appetizers to go along with these crowd-pleasing desserts? Check out our best-ever appetizers. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit