Food and Recipes Desserts Potluck Desserts That Will Feed a Crowd By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is a Digital Associate Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories.She grew up in Mobile, Alabama, which she insists is home to the country's first Mardi Gras (not New Orleans) and now lives in Birmingham with her husband and rescue pup Rocky, whose name is unrelated to The University of Tennessee (Roll Tide). Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 11, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Micah A. Leal Potlucks are a Southern thing. What could be better? Hanging out with friends, family, and other loved ones while tasting a unique dish that each guest brought to showcase. Whether you're attending the church homecoming, a family reunion, friendsgiving, or a monthly neighbor potluck, you always want to bring an A-game recipe. It's the ultimate compliment when you hear, "Who made the chicken salad? I have got to get that recipe!" Go ahead and sign up to bring dessert to the next get-together, because these potluck dishes have got you covered. These potluck desserts have high yields for even the biggest gatherings, and there's something for every occasion. 01 of 61 Banana Pudding Poke Cake This Banana Pudding Poke Cake is rich and delicious, bursting with fresh banana flavor and big enough to feed a crowd. 02 of 61 Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake This party-perfect sheet cake tastes like spring in a bite. 03 of 61 Chocolate Lasagna Southern Living Recipe: Chocolate Lasagna Since we rediscovered this vintage recipe, we prefer sweet lasagna over savory. 04 of 61 Fudge Cake Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Fudge Cake This decadent chocolate cake comes together with a handful of pantry staples. 05 of 61 Two-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake Jessica Furniss/Southern Living Recipe: Two-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake This 9x13-inch cake recipe is so impressive you might not tell everyone how easy it is. But with just two ingredients, boxed angel food cake mix and a can of crushed pineapple, you can make dessert for a dozen. While it cools focus on some impressive potluck sides. 06 of 61 Easiest Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe Southern Living Recipe: Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies You only need four ingredients and 35 minutes (prep and bake time together!) to make a huge batch of these sweet peanut butter cookies. 07 of 61 Pecan-Peach Cobbler Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Pecan-Peach Cobbler This fresh peach cobbler couldn't be easier for serving a crowd in the summertime. 08 of 61 Luscious Lemon Bars Southern Living Recipe: Luscious Lemon Bars Lemon bars are a forever attendee at any potlucks we host. 09 of 61 Rose Petal Cupcakes Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Rose Petal Cupcakes No one will ever suspect these gorgeous cupcakes started with a box of cake mix. 10 of 61 Cranberry-Almond Cookies Ralph Anderson; Styling: Mary Lyn Hill Recipe: Cranberry-Almond Cookies Stray away from the usual chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies with this recipe that would be fun for the holidays. 11 of 61 Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars There's no better combo than chocolate and peanut butter, and these bars are the best way to enjoy them. 12 of 61 Brownie Trifle William Dickey; Styling: Cari South Recipe: Brownie Trifle There's nothing more decadent than a layered chocolate dessert. 13 of 61 Apricot-Almond Thumbprint Cookies Hector Sanchez Recipe: Apricot-Almond Thumbprint Cookies If you're serving a seriously big crowd, this recipe makes about six dozen. 14 of 61 Carrot Cake Cupcakes Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting Get everything you love about carrot cake in easy-to-serve cupcake form! Top with egg-shaped, chocolate-coated malted milk balls if you're gathering around Easter. 15 of 61 Mini Chocolate Chess Tarts Photo: Alison Miksch Recipe: Mini Chocolate Chess Tarts This recipe makes dozens of tarts, so every guest can easily pick one (or two) up and still have room on their plate other potluck goodies. 16 of 61 Cappuccino Swirl Bars Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Cappuccino Swirl Bars These bars look impressive, but they're so easy to make. They're perfect for a book club potluck or girlfriends' get-together. 17 of 61 Cream Soda Confetti Sheet Cake with Strawberry-Sour Cream Buttercream Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cream Soda Confetti Sheet Cake with Strawberry-Sour Cream Buttercream Cream soda and confetti sprinkles make this cake ready to party, regardless the occasion. 18 of 61 Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes Photo: Alison Miksch Recipe: Mini Triple Chocolate-Buttermilk Pound Cakes These mini pound cakes are the best for quick grab-and-go service. 19 of 61 Vintage Fresh Apple Cake Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Amy Burke Recipe: Fresh Apple Cake This warm fall cake would be perfect for the church homecoming potluck. 20 of 61 Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies An all-time classic, chocolate chip cookies will never fail you when you need a dessert recipe. 21 of 61 Hello Dolly Bars Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell Recipe: Hello Dolly Bars You're a few ingredients and a little time away from three dozen of these gooey, irresistible bars. 22 of 61 Strawberry-Blueberry Cupcakes Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Hadas Smirnoff Recipe: Strawberry-Blueberry Cupcakes These berry-filled cupcakes can be made ahead and frozen for when you're in a pinch. Both the cupcakes and frosting make use of fresh summer berries. 23 of 61 Red Velvet-Raspberry Tiramisu Trifle Iain Bagwell Recipe: Red Velvet-Raspberry Tiramisù Trifle This stunning dessert would be festive for a Christmas potluck. 24 of 61 Texas Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing Iain Bagwell Recipe: Texas Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing As with any good Texas sheet cake, be sure to pour the warm icing on the fresh-from-the-oven cake so they meld together for the most indulgent result. 25 of 61 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Has anyone ever been able to turn one of these bite-sized beauties down? 26 of 61 Lemon-Coconut Chess Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Lemon-Coconut Chess Bars These luscious bars taste like a tropical vacation. 27 of 61 Coconut Tres Leches Sheet Cake Alison Miksch Recipe: Coconut Tres Leches Sheet Cake With three kinds of milk, every bite of this coconut cake is moist. 28 of 61 Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges Our most popular cake of all time, the ever-delicious Hummingbird Cake, gets the cupcake treatment with this pretty little recipe. 29 of 61 Pumpkin Fudge Photo: Ralph Anderson Recipe: Pumpkin Fudge Switch up your traditional fudge recipe this fall with a pumpkin twist. 30 of 61 Death by Chocolate Micah A. Leal Recipe: Death by Chocolate Chocolate lovers, you're welcome. 31 of 61 Toasted Oatmeal Cookies Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Toasted Oatmeal Cookies Toasting the oatmeal doesn't add much time but adds so much depth to these chewy cookies. 32 of 61 Citrus Bars Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Orange BarsRecipe: Lime BarsRecipe: Grapefruit Bars You know there will be a plate of brownies and chocolate chip cookies at the potluck, so brighten up the spread with colorful citrus bars. 33 of 61 Heavenly Angel Food Cake Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Heavenly Angel Food Cake Light, fluffy, and oh-so-satisfying, angel food cake is always a crowd-pleaser. 34 of 61 Nutty Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies Southern Living Recipe: Nutty Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies Both the cookies and the filling in these thumbprint cookies have a blend of chocolate and peanut butter for the dreamiest result. 35 of 61 Toasted Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Toasted Coconut-Pecan Cupcakes with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting If you're a coconut cake fan, you have no excuse not to try this decadent, coconut-filled recipe. 36 of 61 Butterscotch-Spice Trifle Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Butterscotch-Spice Trifle This beautiful trifle makes the most of fall flavor with spice cake layers. 37 of 61 Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake This Arnold Palmer-inspired cake will be the star of a summer potluck. 38 of 61 Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake Alison Miksch Recipe: Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake Use your farmers' market haul of fresh fruit for this fun summer cake. 39 of 61 Cherry Pie Bars Greg Dupree Recipe: Cherry Pie Bars Enjoy classic cherry pie in big-batch form with these bars that have a simple and sweet ingredient list. 40 of 61 Cheesecake Cookies Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Cheesecake Cookies If you're attending a cookie swap during the holiday season, these cheesecake cookies will knock the competition out of the park. Not that it's a competition, but, if it were, you'd definitely win. 41 of 61 Fresh Citrus Cupcakes With Orange Buttercream Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett Recipe: Fresh Citrus Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream These mini cupcakes will add a bright pop to any dessert table. 42 of 61 Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake Alison Miksch Recipe: Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake If your friends obsess over pumpkin spice during fall, this sheet cake is the one you should bring to every potluck and friendsgiving. 43 of 61 So Good Brownies Jennifer Davick Recipe: So Good Brownies When in doubt, a batch of warm brownies will always be well-received. 44 of 61 Mini Bourbon-and-Cola Bundt Cakes Iain Bagwell Recipe: Mini Bourbon-and-Cola Bundt Cakes Bourbon and cola cocktails are a favorite tailgate drink, but the flavor combo will become your new favorite tailgate dessert with this recipe. 45 of 61 Chocolate Trifle Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Chocolate Trifle Even the most novice cooks can put together a gorgeous trifle that will look impressive (but is so easy!). 46 of 61 No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars Iain Bagwell Recipe: No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars If it's too hot to even turn your oven on but you need a potluck dessert, look no further than this no-bake treat. 47 of 61 Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge Southern Living Recipe: Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge This first-lady favorite dessert is one of our go-to desserts for feeding a crowd. 48 of 61 Coca-Cola Cake Southern Living Recipe: Coca-Cola Cake If you're attending a potluck with little ones, you should do the honors of introducing them to this vintage favorite dessert. 49 of 61 Lemon-Almond Bars Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Lemon-Almond Bars If you're a diehard lemon bar lover, you'll enjoy this twist on the classic. 50 of 61 Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle Iain Bagwell Recipe: Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle Sprigs of fresh rosemary are a festive garnish if you're making this trifle for a holiday party. 51 of 61 Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Cups Victori Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Cups These cookie cups will stand apart from the usual spread of cookies and bars, and you can make this dough ahead to save you time the day of your potluck. 52 of 61 Blond Texas Sheet Cake Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Blond Texas Sheet Cake This easy twist on a classic Texas Sheet Cake starts with a box of cake mix to save you time. 53 of 61 Mexican Hot Chocolate Trifle Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate Trifle This beautiful trifle is perfect for a holiday potluck when you need a crowd-pleasing dessert. 54 of 61 Spiced Pecan Pie Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Spiced Pecan Pie Bars Ground cinnamon and ginger give classic pecan pie a welcome zing in this big-batch recipe. 55 of 61 Lemon Thumbprint Cookies Southern Living Recipe: Lemon Thumbprint Cookies These little lemon bits are filled with raspberry jam for a fruity punch, and this recipe makes a ton of them for even your biggest potluck. 56 of 61 Mini Confetti Cakes Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Mini Confetti Cakes These sweet little cakes will wow everyone at your spring potluck. 57 of 61 Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies Greg DuPree Recipe: Pumpkin-Chocolate Brownies Give your brownies a welcome fall twist with this unique recipe that's perfect for a Thanksgiving potluck. 58 of 61 Mississippi Mud Cake Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Mississippi Mud Cake This classic Southern sheet cake has never been turned down at a potluck. 59 of 61 Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies Southern Living Recipe: Laura Bush's Cowboy Cookies These cookies couldn't be stuffed with more sweetness if we tried. 60 of 61 Pecan Pie Bars Lee Harrelson Recipe: Pecan Pie Bars If your crowd is too big to feast on a pecan pie, make it in bar form so everyone can enjoy. 61 of 61 Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling Torie Cox Recipe: Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes Beets are a natural way to dye your favorite sweets a luscious red, and no one will be able to taste the difference. 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