20 easy desserts perfect for last-minute hosting
When friends or family pop by unexpectedly, the last thing you need is a high-maintenance recipe. These simple, reliable desserts are hosting life-savers. Fast to assemble, easy to serve, and guaranteed to disappear from the plate. With crowd-pleasing flavors and no stress required, you can impress your guests even on your busiest days.
Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Cups
These salted caramel peanut butter cups are a yummy treat that combines creamy, rich peanut butter with caramel’s sweet and gooey texture. The salty-sweet combination creates a perfect balance of flavors. There’s nothing more impressive than making homemade sweets and treats like these. Did I mention that these cups are no-bake and require zero special tools? These no bake salted caramel cups may be small but they are a candy that is big on taste!
Get the recipe: Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Cups
Bisquick Apple Cobbler
This is a quick and easy Bisquick apple cobbler recipe that dreams are made of! What can be more delicious than warm spiced apples in a cobbler served with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream? Absolutely nothing! This lightly spiced sweet treat with fresh apples has all the fall feels and is made with a short list of pantry staples. This cozy autumnal, easy-to-make dessert will be a family favorite. There’s just so much to love about this old-fashioned cobbler made easier with Bisquick!
Get the recipe: Bisquick Apple Cobbler
Lemon Sheet Cake
Get ready to pucker up and indulge in the zesty goodness of this lemon sheet cake recipe! Bursting with fresh lemon flavor and topped with a tangy lemon glaze, this light and moist cake is an absolute crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re a die-hard lemon lover or just need to satisfy your sweet tooth, this citrus-infused treat is a surefire way to brighten up any occasion. The melt-in-the-mouth sponge cake gets topped with a lemon glaze for a tangy slap and a yummy finish.
Get the recipe: Lemon Sheet Cake
Puffed Wheat Squares
Puffed wheat squares are a classic, easy Canadian treat that brings the nostalgia of childhood. These puffed wheat cakes are chocolatey and chewy, and you can whip up a batch of these no bake dessert squares in no time. These super simple puffed cereal squares are hard to mess up, making them great for anyone new to baking or treat-making. Chocolatey, malty, chewy, and crisp, they’ll have you obsessed with their rich taste and outrageous crunch. If you love Rice Krispie squares, they are their chocolatey and wheat cereal cousins!
Get the recipe: Puffed Wheat Squares
Confetti Squares
Remember those delightful treats from childhood potlucks? Butterscotch confetti squares are just that—a nostalgic no-bake dessert that combines creamy peanut butter, sweet butterscotch chips, and colorful mini marshmallows into chewy, irresistible bites. They’re incredibly easy to make and perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth without turning on the oven. Whether you’re looking to share a simple dessert at a gathering or indulge in a quick homemade treat, these squares are sure to bring a smile to your face.
Get the recipe: Confetti Squares
Instant Pot Fireball Apple Shortcakes
Looking for a dessert that brings cozy autumn vibes and a bit of boozy fun? These Instant Pot Fireball apple shortcakes are the answer. Apples are simmered with cinnamon whisky, maple syrup and warm spices, creating a rich, syrupy filling that pairs perfectly with sponge cake, whipped cream and caramel. It’s an easy yet impressive treat, ideal for fall gatherings or a fun midweek indulgence.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Fireball Apple Shortcakes
Cranberry Fluff
It’s creamy and dreamy! Fall in love with this cranberry fluff salad recipe with its perfect balance of sweet and tart. This salad is a creamy, sweet-tart delight that will become a favorite at your Thanksgiving or Christmas table. It’s made with fresh or frozen cranberries, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and a blend of cream cheese and whipped topping. Whether serving as a side dish or a festive dessert, this colorful, crowd-pleasing cranberry salad is always a big hit at family dinners or potlucks.
Get the recipe: Cranberry Fluff
7 Up Pound Cake
This Bundt cake from xoxoBella is perfect for when you are craving a light, citrusy dessert! This old-fashioned 7 Up pound cake is made in a Bundt pan and is made with 7 Up soda along with lemon and lime zest for a citrusy, tangy burst of flavor in every single bite. Pound cake recipes have been around for a long time and are a year-round favorite. They’re popular because they are easy to make and bake and offer a tender crumb, moist texture, and plenty of flavor. It’s an easy-to-make cake, crazy delicious, and sure to bring a bit of nostalgia to the table.
Get the recipe: 7 Up Pound Cake
Slow Cooker Banana Cake
Did you know you can make the most amazing banana cake in your slow cooker? If not, you must try this recipe. Slow cooker banana cake comes out moist, sweet, and delicious. The cake is topped with a simple cream cheese frosting and then you can add banana slices and walnuts on top if you like. This dessert baked right in your slow cooker using overripe bananas and pantry ingredients will be your new favorite recipe. If you’re looking for an easy cake recipe guaranteed to come out moist and perfect, try this Crockpot cake recipe soon!
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Banana Cake
Lemon Posset Brûlée
Blending sweetness, tartness and a creamy texture, a lemon posset brûlée is elegant enough for a dinner party as well as simple enough to become a real staple. If you love the zingy zippy flavor of lemons, you’re going to love this easy posset recipe with lemon juice, lemon zest, cream, sugar and, if you want it, a splash of vanilla too. This lemon dessert is a TikTok trend that you are sure to love! Whip it up to surprise the family or host your very own Bridgerton party and serve this to thrill your dinner guests.
Get the recipe: Lemon Posset Brûlée
Mixed Berry Jello Dessert
This vibrant and refreshing mixed berry jello dessert combines the sweet and tangy taste of mixed berries with a decadent condensed milk jello layer. Perfect for any occasion, from a casual family potluck to summer cookouts or picnics, this retro jello dessert is super impressive (yet oh-so-simple). Flaky crust, fresh berries, and a jello layer make this a must-try dessert that will disappear in a flash!
Get the recipe: Mixed Berry Jello Dessert
Apple Pie Cupcakes
Hold up! These apple pie cupcakes are a delicious combination of the perfect vanilla cupcake and spiced apple pie. It’s homemade apple pie in cupcake form! They include a creamy, light buttercream (with a hint of cinnamon spice), fluffy and moist vanilla sponge, and cool and stuffed with a sweet apple pie filling. These are semi-homemade cupcakes that will have your guests begging for the recipe. I love serving these fruit filled cupcakes as a handheld dessert or a little partner to coffee.
Get the recipe: Apple Pie Cupcakes
Easy Monkey Bread
This easy monkey bread recipe uses canned biscuit dough and is sweetened with white and brown sugar and flavored with cinnamon. It’s a delicious pull-apart bread that is easy to make and is sure to be a hit whenever you choose to make it. As you’d expect, this monkey bread recipe smells incredible while it cooks, and you won’t be able to resist trying a bit as soon as it’s ready. The melted buttery brown sugar sauce on top is especially delicious. This sticky, sweet pull-apart bread is going to be a new favorite! A buttery cinnamon sugar topping makes this a Pillsbury monkey bread that you will make often!
Get the recipe: Easy Monkey Bread
Baklava Crinkle
If you’re in the mood for a dessert that’s both stunning and delicious, you’ve got to try this baklava crinkle (aka muakacha)! This delightful treat takes all the flavors of traditional baklava—think crispy phyllo dough, crunchy nuts, and sweet syrup—and combines them into a fun, crinkly cake that’s sure to impress. I love how easy it is to make, especially since it uses store-bought phyllo dough, which saves so much time in the kitchen. With its beautiful golden layers and that irresistible sweet drizzle, this dessert is perfect for any occasion. Take a bite, you’ll be hooked on this delightful twist on a classic favorite!
Get the recipe: Baklava Crinkle
Air Fryer Baked Apples
These cozy, sweet and spiced air fryer baked apples are the perfect fall dessert, easy enough for weeknights but fancy enough for guests. Gala apples are hollowed out and filled with a warm, creamy oatmeal mixture that’s rich with maple, caramel and cinnamon. A quick spin in the air fryer makes them soft and golden in no time. This is a comfort dessert that’s easy to love, quick to prep and totally worthy of your autumn baking lineup.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Baked Apples
Rice Krispie Turkey Legs
Looking for Thanksgiving rice krispie treats that the kiddos will love? Whip up these Rice Krispie turkey legs as a special sweet treat for Thanksgiving. You don’t need many ingredients to make them and they’re a kitchen fun project for the holiday season – the kids will definitely want to help make these Thanksgiving snacks. With marshmallows, pretzels, vanilla wafers, and Cocoa Krispies, they offer so much sweet appeal in every bite! They make a totally fun addition to your holiday dessert table that will have everyone talking.
Get the recipe: Rice Krispie Turkey Legs
Banana Pudding
This banana pudding from xoxoBella is creamy, cool and full of classic flavor. A buttery vanilla wafer crust gives it the perfect base while the cream cheese layer adds a hint of tang that balances the sweetness. Smooth vanilla pudding keeps each bite light and silky, and the fresh banana slices make it refreshing and delicious. It’s the kind of nostalgic fruit dessert that disappears fast at every gathering.
Get the recipe: Banana Pudding
Twinkie Poke Cake
This homemade twinkie poke cake from xoxoBella is a fun twist on a classic favorite. A soft yellow cake base pairs with a creamy marshmallow filling that soaks into every bite. It looks fancy but comes together easily with simple pantry ingredients. You’ll make the cake, poke it full of holes then pipe in the sweet cream filling before adding a dusting of powdered sugar. The result is a nostalgic treat that tastes like childhood memories in cake form.
Get the recipe: Twinkie Poke Cake
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
This chocolate mayonnaise cake (yes, you heard that right!) delivers a rich, moist, and deeply chocolatey treat that’s surprisingly simple to make. The mayonnaise acts as both the fat and moisture source, giving the cake an incredibly tender texture and keeping it fresh for days, far longer than cakes made with butter or oil. It’s the perfect recipe for anyone who loves a classic chocolate cake with a delicious twist.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Oreo Brownies
These Oreo brownies are rich, fudgy, and absolutely loaded with chunks of Oreo cookies in every bite. Each square is the perfect balance of deep chocolate flavor and crunchy cookie goodness, making them irresistible to anyone who loves Oreos. They’re wonderfully easy to make at home, yet taste like something from your favorite bakery. This recipe gives you tall, decadent brownies with a soft, chewy center and a crackly top, making them an ideal dessert for parties, potlucks, or simply a cozy afternoon treat with a cup of coffee or milk.
Get the recipe: Oreo Brownies
