Food and Recipes Desserts 35 Make-Ahead Dessert Recipes That Make Hosting Easier Than Ever 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 July 27, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. And every Southern cook knows that no meal is complete without dessert on the table. 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. 01 of 35 Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies 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. 02 of 35 Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova Cake 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. 03 of 35 Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls 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. 04 of 35 Banana Pudding Poke Cake 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. 05 of 35 Crème Brûlée Cheesecake 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. 06 of 35 Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer 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. 07 of 35 Fresh Peach Ice Cream 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. 08 of 35 Luscious Lemon Bars 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. 09 of 35 Chocolate Parfaits 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. 10 of 35 Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge 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. 11 of 35 Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites Jennifer Davick Recipe: Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites This adorable mini dessert is easy for cocktail parties or gift-giving during the holidays. 12 of 35 Oreo Cheesecake Micah A. Leal Recipe: Oreo Cheesecake This kid-friendly cake will bring back a wave of nostalgia for adults, too. 13 of 35 Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake 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. 14 of 35 Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings 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. 15 of 35 Salty-Sweet Nut Brittle 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. 16 of 35 Cappuccino Swirl Bars 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. 17 of 35 Key Lime Icebox Cake 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. 18 of 35 Salted Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies 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. 19 of 35 Banana Pudding Cheesecake 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. 20 of 35 Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream A scoop of homemade ice cream adds the most delicious personal touch to any dessert. 21 of 35 Apple Stack Cake 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. 22 of 35 Rebecca's Black Bottom Icebox Pie 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. 23 of 35 Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel 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. 24 of 35 Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies 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. 25 of 35 Ice Cream Sandwich Cake 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.) 26 of 35 Rum Balls 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. 27 of 35 Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake Micah A. Leal Recipe: Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake If you've been assigned to bring dessert to this year's Friendsgiving, don't show up with a store-bought pumpkin pie. Wow everyone with this multi-layer, Instagram-worthy cheesecake. 28 of 35 No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars Iain Bagwell Recipe: No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars We can assume that just from reading "No-Bake, "Fudgy," and "Toffee," you already want to make these insanely delicious bars, but you'll love them even more when you find out you can put them together the night before. 29 of 35 Plum Pudding Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Plum Pudding Although the name is misleading (no plums here), this classic holiday confection is truly a must-try for avid bakers. 30 of 35 Cherry-Spice Cake Trifle Alison Miksch Recipe: Cherry Spice Cake Trifle There's no need for a Christmas centerpiece when you have this gorgeous creation to show off! Layers of holiday spice cake, cherry and cranberry filling, homemade custard, and a fluffy, fresh whipped topping make each bite unbelievable. 31 of 35 Classic Gingerbread Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Classic Gingerbread This year, all Santa wants by the tree is old-fashioned gingerbread—he told us himself. This recipe can be stored for up to three days in advance. Don't forget a wintry sprinkle of powdered sugar and dollop of Brown Sugar-and-Ginger Whipped Cream. 32 of 35 Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars Who doesn't love peanut butter and chocolate together? Cover and store these for up to three days after baking for school functions or neighbors in need of a treat. 33 of 35 Strawberry-Pretzel Pie Jennifer Davick Recipe: Strawberry-Pretzel Icebox Pie Remember that Strawberry-Pretzel Salad Grandma brought to every potluck when you were a kid? This reimagined pie version of it will give your generation a whole new reason to love the flavor combo. 34 of 35 Chocolate Trifle Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Chocolate Trifle Easy enough for any novice baker, this chocolate-lover's trifle needs at least eight hours to chill before serving, so you can finish it up well in advance of your party. 35 of 35 Creamy Peach Icebox Cake 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit