Tired of the usual potluck dessert ideas? Step up your game with any of these show stoppers!
The Best Potluck Desserts No One Thinks to Bring
Updated on Oct. 01, 2024
Chocolate Chip Cookie Delight
This is a simple chocolate delight recipe for any type of potluck occasion, and the pan always comes home empty. —Diane Windley, Grace, Idaho
1/32
2/32
Chocolate Chip & Pecan Meringue Bars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I've had recipes for chocolate chip cookies and pecan meringues in my collection for a number of years—and I combined them to make these bars! They're a lovely addition to any holiday cookie tray. —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
3/32
Rhubarb Custard Bars
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Once I tried these rich, gooey bars, I just had to have the recipe so I could make them for my family and friends. The shortbread-like crust and the rhubarb and custard layers inspire people to find rhubarb that they can use to fix a batch for themselves. —Shari Roach, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
4/32
Brownie Bourbon Bites
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Chocolate and chopped pecans flavor these simple, spirited treats. Make a double batch so you can give some as gifts and savor the rest!—Paula Kirchenbauer, Newton, New Jersey
5/32
Apple Fritter Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I was experimenting with a beer bread to make it into a dessert and came up with this delectable apple fritter cake. —Ann Marie Eberhart, Gig Harbor, Washington
6/32
Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
What did I do when I couldn’t decide between two of my favorite desserts? I combined them! This snickerdoodle-blondie hybrid proved even better with caramel, always a favorite ingredient. —Niki Plourde, Gardner, Massachusetts
7/32
Cannoli Dip
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Ricotta is one of my family's favorite ingredients. I made up the cannoli filling and broke up some ice cream waffle shells to use as "chips and dip"—it was an instant hit! It's also good served slightly warm. —Ann Marie Eberhart, Gig Harbor, Washington
8/32
Cranberry Crunch Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
New Jersey is known for its cranberries, and this cake is a delicious way to use them. The marshmallows melt and seep through the cake, making it moist and very tasty. It’s great for brunch or just with a cup of coffee! —Adelaide Krumm, Manasquan, New Jersey
9/32
Chewy Peanut Butter Pan Squares
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
With seven of us in our family, including two teenage boys, these peanut butter squares never last long! It's hard to believe how simple they are to prepare. —Deb DeChant, Milan, Ohio
10/32
Peach Cobbler Dump Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is one of the best peach dump cake recipes in the world. It's sweet, tender cake with a beautifully crisp cobbler topping. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, and dessert's golden. —Keri Sparks, Little Elm, Texas
11/32
Gooey Chocolate-Peanut Bars
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These are so easy to make and take no time at all. They’re great to package up for those college kids looking for something from home. Everyone will want this recipe. —Elaine Grimme, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
12/32
Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I love cinnamon rolls, but working with yeast can be scary. These cookies give you the taste of a cinnamon roll in cookie form—no yeast required! They look like flattened cinnamon rolls and feel special enough to serve around the holidays. —Erin Raatjes, New Lenox, Illinois
13/32
Strawberry Shortcake Puffs
Total Time
25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When my wonderful friend Kelly brought me a pint of strawberries, I didn’t want to just eat them straight (tempting as it was). I decided to make strawberry shortcake with my own pretty, elegant spin. These light and airy puff pastry stacks let the fruit shine. —Jenny Dubinsky, Inwood, West Virginia
14/32
Chocolate-Raspberry Whoopie Pies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I’ve saved this jam-filled whoopie pie recipe for years after cutting it out of a newspaper. It’s one of my grandson's personal favorites. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
15/32
Apple Snickerdoodle Dump Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
With an apple farm just down the road, I'm always looking for creative ways to use up those bushels. We love this cozy apple snickerdoodle dump cake with caramel drizzle and a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. —Rachel Garcia, Honolulu, Hawaii
16/32
Easy Mexican Brownies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I was hosting a fun Mexican-themed cocktail party and needed a quick dessert. Dressing up an ordinary boxed brownie mix made life easy and delicious! —Susan Stetzel, Gainesville, New York
17/32
Blueberry-Lemon Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I was young when I married, so I watched my mother-in-law to learn baking. This cake with fresh blueberries is one of her beauties. —Bonnie Roberts, Newaygo, Michigan
18/32
Behr Track Cookie Bars
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The holidays are the perfect time to indulge in these ooey-gooey, salty-sweet peanut butter bars. A lot of people comment that the pretzels in the filling are a pleasant surprise. Just make sure to cut cookie bars small—they're super rich. —Megan Behr, Marion, Iowa
19/32
Pig Pickin’ Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is one of my favorite cakes. It’s moist and light yet so satisfying. I’ve been adapting it for years and now it’s almost guilt-free. —Pam Sjolund, Columbia, South Carolina
20/32
Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Strawberry shortcake is one of my favorite desserts. I thought it would be great to capture all that wonderful flavor, so I made these strawberry shortcake cookies topped with pink strawberry frosting. —Allison Anderson, Avondale, Arizona
21/32
Root Beer Float Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I add root beer to both the cake batter and fluffy frosting of this summery dessert to get that great root beer float taste. Serve this moist cake to a bunch of hungry kids and watch it disappear! —Kat Thompson, Prineville, Oregon
22/32
Easy Pecan Pie Bars
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm always searching for fast and easy recipes to take to the teachers lounge. The staff goes nuts for these shortcut pecan pie bars. —Kathro Yoder, Defiance, Ohio
23/32
Cream Cheese Cookie Cups
Total Time
25 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Need a quick dessert? Try these yummy cookie bites. For a pretty look, use an icing bag to pipe the filling into the cups, then top each with mini M&M's. —Rachel Blackston, Mauk, Georgia
24/32
Apple-Spice Angel Food Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I dressed up an angel food cake mix with some nuts, spice and applesauce to make an easy and light dessert. I serve it with a dollop of whipped topping mixed with a half cup of sour cream. —Joan Buehnerkemper, Teutopolis, Illinois
25/32
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blondies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I converted these blondies to be gluten free so that my family could enjoy a comforting dessert. We were craving brownies one night, and these cakelike treats hit the spot. They are a fantastic spin on gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. —Becky Klope, Loudonville, New York
26/32
Frito Candy
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Yep, they’re made with corn chips, but don’t let that fool you. These salty sweets were a staple after meetings at the quilt guild I once belonged to. —Carol Tramp, Wynot, Nebraska
27/32
Triple-Layer Cookie Bars
Total Time
45 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My family just loves these chewy chocolaty and peanutty bars. They're perfect for dessert and snacks. I make them whenever I get a craving for something sweet and special. —Diane Bradley, Sparta, Michigan
28/32
Coconut Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this coconut cake recipe in a newspaper many years ago and modified it to suit my taste. This is my all-time favorite cake, and my family and friends absolutely love it. —Lynne Bassler, Indiana, Pennsylvania
29/32
Cherry Dream Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I serve this cherry cake for holidays because it’s so festive and easy. No one will know your secret is adding a package of cherry gelatin to a boxed cake mix! —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee. Looking for more easy recipes? Try these potluck desserts that can be made with packaged cookies.
30/32
Salted Pecan Shortbread Squares
Total Time
50 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My shortbread squares are the ultimate go-to for cookie trays and gift-giving. The buttery caramel and toasted nuts make it tough to eat just one. —Diana Ashcraft, Monmouth, Oregon
31/32
Saltine Toffee
Total Time
25 min
Servings
2 pounds
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone loves these salty-sweet treasures—their flavor is simply irresistible. The bark is like brittle, but better. Get ready for a new family favorite! —Laura Cox, Brewster, Massachusetts
32/32
Pina Colada Tube Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We named this a “pina colada” cake because it has coconut, pineapple and rum. It’s a soothing finish at the end of a big spread. —Debra Keil, Owasso, Oklahoma
