When making dessert for a crowd, you want a recipe that's inexpensive, only has a few ingredients, easy to make, and delicious!
I've got you covered. In this post, I'm sharing some of my favorite crowd-pleasing dessert recipes that will be the hit of any potluck or party.
If you need to make a dessert that can feed a lot of people, a 9 x 13 pan or large trifle bowl is going to be your best friend. Anything you make in this size dish will feed 10-12 people or more, so it's easy to double or triple the recipes as needed.
Many of these desserts can also be made ahead and are very easy to transport.
Easy Dessert Recipes That Will Feed a Crowd
Dump Cake - easy dessert for a crowd
Dump cake is what it sounds like: You dump a few ingredients in a pan and bake it. It's not the most appetizing name in the world, but dump cake tastes fantastic!
The first time I tried traditional dump cake at a party, I was like "What in the world did I just eat?" In a good way.
I'm typically not a fan of canned pineapple or pie fillings, but there's some sort of magic that happens when these four ingredients are mixed together. And it's one of the easiest desserts ever.
Here are some favorite dump cake recipes:
Poke Cake
A poke cake is just a twist on box cake mix. You bake the cake according to package directions, then poke holes in the top and pour another ingredient into the holes to add flavor and moisture.
Popular poke cake recipes include:
No Bake Cheesecake Desserts
These desserts involve layering pudding, a sweet cream cheese mixture, and something crunchy as a base. If you're looking for a dessert for a summer BBQ, or you just don't feel like turning on the oven, here are some great no bake dessert recipes to try:
- Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Dessert
- No Bake Oreo Dessert
- Blueberry Lush
- Key Lime Pie Cheesecake Dip
Cookies
I love serving a "main" dessert and more of a snacky dessert (such as cookies) for a party. Besides, everyone LOVES grabbing a cookie at a party, you can even put them out with your appetizers for a fun change. Here are a few favorites:
- Chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips
- Cranberry sugar cookies
- Oatmeal craisin cookies (no mixer required!)
Ice Cream Cake
Ice cream cake is a fantastic no bake dessert for the warmer months. The best thing about this recipe is that you can completely make it your own!
- Customizable homemade ice cream cake with cookie crust
Trifle
Trifles are the perfect dessert to make for a crowd because one recipe usually produces a lot of servings. Trifle bowls make a nice presentation, but you can just as easily use an inexpensive clear plastic bowl. Here are some favorite trifle recipes:
Of course, brownies and cookies are always a hit as well, but if you're looking for something a little different, these recipes should fit the bill. What is your favorite dessert to eat at large gatherings?