Food and Recipes Desserts 38 Adorable Mini Desserts for Hassle-Free Hosting By Zoe Denenberg Zoe Denenberg As a professional baker, Zoe Denenberg has spent the past two years traveling across the country—from Alabama to Hawai'i—working in farm-focused pastry kitchens. She has written about food, travel, and culture for Southern Living since 2019. See more of Zoe's work at https://zoedenenberg.wixsite.com/portfolio and follow her on Instagram. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 19, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Alison Miksch Whether you're hosting a bridal shower, an afternoon tea party, or book club, these elegant miniature desserts are sure to be a hit. Layer cakes and sheet cakes may be an easy route to take when you're feeding a crowd, but preparing miniature desserts is a great way to personalize each guest's experience. You can mix and match with flavor combinations, allowing for a diverse range of dessert offerings. From delicate Chocolate-Almond Petit Fours to Buttermilk-Lime Mini Cakes, we have something for everyone. With these miniature desserts, your guests can choose from a selection of various pastries without the pressure of committing to a thick slice of cake. And feeding a group couldn't be easier—these desserts are pre-portioned, making for easy serving. We absolutely adore these miniature desserts. Not only do they look like they've been plucked right out of a bakery shop window, but they're also bite-sized packages of sensational flavor. Trust us—they taste as good as they look. 01 of 38 Buttermilk-Lime Mini Cakes with Vanilla-Mascarpone Buttercream Greg DuPree Recipe: Buttermilk-Lime Mini Cakes with Vanilla-Mascarpone Buttercream These elegant miniature cakes will stun at any bridal shower or ladies' luncheon. Buttermilk makes these cakes extra-fluffy. 02 of 38 Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes Southern Living Recipe: Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes Chocolate lovers rejoice: these cupcakes are brimming with lots of decadent cocoa flavor. 03 of 38 Snowball Cake Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Recipe: Snowball Cake These wintery cakes get a dusting in coconut flakes to replicate the look of falling snow. 04 of 38 Cheesecake Cookies Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Cheesecake Cookies We absolutely adore the flavors of a homemade cheesecake, but the baking process can be time-intensive. These Cheesecake Cookies are easy to make and taste just as great! 05 of 38 Molten Red Velvet Cakes HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ Recipe: Molten Red Velvet Cakes Want to whip up something special for date night? Get ready to swoon over these Molten Red Velvet Cakes. 06 of 38 Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes Micah Leal Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes Looking for a use for all those fresh farmers' market strawberries? Bake them into cupcakes. 07 of 38 Mini Chocolate Chess Tarts Photo: Alison Miksch Recipe: Mini Chocolate Chess Tarts These bite-sized tarts balance a creamy chocolate filling with a short, buttery crust to make a winning dessert. 08 of 38 Tres Leches Cake Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Tres Leches Cake A Mexican classic, these cakes are super-moist from a soak in a mixture of condensed milk, evaporated milk, and coffee liqueur. 09 of 38 Pecan Tassies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pecan Tassies Use a miniature muffin tin to cook these Southern treats. They're a cross between caramelized pecan pie and crumbly shortbread cookies. 10 of 38 Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs Recipe: Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies Sweet and salty caramel and apples marry beautifully in these hand pies. Best of all, they're portable, so you can bring them on your fall picnics with no hassle. 11 of 38 Chocolate-Almond Petit Fours Southern Living Recipe: Chocolate-Almond Petit Fours These polished desserts look so professional, your guests will think that these elegant petit fours came from the bakery. 12 of 38 Mini Apple Pies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Mini Apple Pies Distill all that festive fall spice down into these miniature pies. Make a variety of flavors—such as pumpkin and pecan—to create a lovely platter. 13 of 38 Rose Petal Cupcakes Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Rose Petal Cupcakes These elegant cupcakes will make a stunning centerpiece for your engagement party or baby shower. 14 of 38 Hazelnut Financiers with Strawberry Jam and Lemon Puree Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Mary Claire Britton Recipe: Hazelnut Financiers with Strawberry Jam and Lemon Puree Topped with fresh strawberry jam and lemon puree, these Hazelnut Financiers are both nutty and fruity-fresh. 15 of 38 Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes Want to impress at the ladies' luncheon? Just bring out these personal Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes and prepare to receive lots of compliments. 16 of 38 Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns These sticky buns double as breakfast and dessert. Serve them to finish off your dinner party, then munch on the leftovers with coffee in the morning. 17 of 38 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 Garnished with candied pineapple wedges, these Hummingbird Cupcakes are the portable version of our favorite storied layer cake. 18 of 38 Mini Pumpkin Pies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Mini Pumpkin Pies Don't worry about portioning out the perfect pie slice—these miniature pumpkin pies are full of fall flavor in one miniature bite. 19 of 38 Petite Blueberry Cheesecakes Jennifer Davick Recipe: Petite Blueberry Cheesecakes Why just have a slice when you can have an entire personal cheesecake all to yourself? 20 of 38 Strawberry-Blueberry Cupcakes Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Hadas Smirnoff Recipe: Strawberry-Blueberry Cupcakes Full of fresh strawberries and blueberries, these cupcakes are oh-so-seasonal and ready for the summer. 21 of 38 Rum-Glazed Sweet Potato Cakes Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Recipe: Rum-Glazed Sweet Potato Cakes These miniature cakes are layered with complex flavors and textures that will delight your palate. 22 of 38 Mini Cream Scones Micah A. Leal Recipe: Mini Cream Scones If you're hosting a proper English tea, these Mini Cream Scones will pair beautifully with some earl grey. 23 of 38 Mini Coconut-Key Lime Pies Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Mini Coconut-Key Lime Pies Present these tropical pies on an elegant party platter at any fun warm-weather event. 24 of 38 Grand Marnier Cakes Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Ana Kelly Recipe: Grand Marnier Cakes Packed with lovely citrus flavors, these miniature pound cakes are glazed in orange for an extra punch. 25 of 38 Mini Bourbon-and-Cola Bundt Cakes Iain Bagwell Recipe: Mini Bourbon-and-Cola Bundt Cakes Reimagine Dad's favorite drink in these chocolatey, miniature soda cakes. 26 of 38 Mini Pecan Monkey Bread Loaves Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Mini Pecan Monkey Bread Loaves We love pull-apart loaves of monkey bread, but there's no denying that they're messy. These miniature versions are the perfect mess-free solution. 27 of 38 Mini Pecan Pies Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski Recipe: Mini Pecan Pies These baby cups of pecan pie taste like the holiday season distilled into one bite. 28 of 38 Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Cups Victori Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Cups These cookie cups are topped off with a lovely dollop of caramel frosting. Add gold sprinkles for extra sparkle. 29 of 38 Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley Recipe: Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls A bourbon ball is a staple in the Southern dessert rotation, and this version is wonderfully nutty and fudgy. 30 of 38 Snickerdoodle Doughnut Hole Muffins Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Snickerdoodle Doughnut Hole Muffins The kids will go crazy for these miniature muffins—pack them as a special lunchbox treat this week. 31 of 38 Mini Strawberry Tarts Greg Dupree Recipe: Mini Strawberry Tarts Get all the charm of a fruit tart in a bite-sized package with these Mini Strawberry Tarts. 32 of 38 Coconut Cheesecake Squares Southern Living Recipe: Coconut Cheesecake Squares A toasted coconut topping gives these cute cheesecake squares a tropical flair. 33 of 38 Mint Julep Cupcakes Datz Restaurant Group Recipe: Mint Julep Cupcakes Get your Derby on year-round with these party-perfect Mint Julep Cupcakes. The mint green color is oh-so-charming. 34 of 38 Praline Mini Cakes Southern Living Recipe: Praline Mini Cakes Drizzle these mini cakes in Brown Sugar Icing for an indulgent fall treat. 35 of 38 Lane Cupcakes Southern Living Recipe: Lane Cupcakes The storied Lane Cake gets downsized in these cute-as-can be cupcakes. 36 of 38 Mini Red Velvet Cakes Southern Living Recipe: Mini Red Velvet Cakes Sandwiched with cream cheese icing, these Mini Red Velvet Cakes are exceptionally elegant. 37 of 38 Mini Confetti Cakes Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Mini Confetti Cakes These mini cakes couldn't be easier to execute; your guests will never guess the personal rounds are cut out of a sheet cake. 38 of 38 Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes Alison Miksch Recipe: Mini Triple Chocolate-Buttermilk Pound Cakes Personal pound cake? Sounds like a dream come true. Personal pound cake loaded with three kinds of chocolate? Say no more. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit