45 Potluck Desserts That Everyone Will Love

These delectable treats are transport-friendly and easy to serve a crowd.

easy chocolate cupcakes
Credit: Bryan Gardner

Potlucks are the perfect opportunity to bring people together and share some of our favorite dishes, along with the stories behind them. Cooking for a crowd is no easy feat and not just any recipe will do. For potluck parties, it takes creativity to choose recipes that are easy to prepare, transport, and serve.

Ahead, we share some of our favorite potluck party desserts that check all the boxes: sweet, transportable, and easy to share and serve. We focus on desserts served in squares, bite-sized portions, or as finger foods like cookies, cupcakes, and brownies—perfect for guests to grab and go without any fuss. Whichever you decide to make, it's sure to be a hit.

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Big-Batch Triple-Chocolate Brownie Bars

Big batch brownies with milk
Credit: Marcus Nilsson

These sheet-pan bar cookies are perfect for stocking up on sweet treats or feeding a crowd. Plus, you can store them in the freezer for up to a month. These bittersweet bites are packed with white chocolate, cocoa powder, nuts, and dried fruit. Before serving, let them come to room temperature.

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Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Credit:

Yossy Arefi

Carrot cake is a fan favorite for many—the savory and sweet flavor combination of these moist, lightly spiced cupcakes is finished with classic cream cheese frosting. Carrot cake in cupcake form is much easier to transport to a potluck and serve to guests.

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Peach-Pie Crumble Bars

peach-crumble-021-d112025.jpg
Credit: Bryan Gardner

These peach pie bars are a sign of a summer backyard barbecue. Serving this delicious, seasonal dessert in bar form is perfect for a potluck because it doesn't require silverware—just grab and enjoy!

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Peanut Butter Cookies

Easy PB Cookies
Credit:

Grant Webster

If you're in a baking rut and searching for something trusty to pull together quickly, try our classic peanut butter cookies. They only require five ingredients—odds are you already have them in your pantry.

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Coconut-Pecan Tart

coconut-pecan tart topped with flaky sea salt
Credit: Dana Gallagher

A mouthwatering, gluten-free sweet treat everyone will rave about. This coconut-pecan tart starts with a foolproof, no-bake, press-in crust made from coconut and almond flour. The filling is a mixture of butter, sugar, cream, and condensed milk, along with semisweet chocolate and pecans.

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Chocolate-Zucchini Sheet Cake With Cream-Cheese Frosting

chocolate zucchini sheet cake with cream cheese frosting
Credit: Ryan Liebe

Destined to be a potluck party showstopper, this delectable, moist chocolate-zucchini sheet cake comes together in just an hour. We dress it up with sugared zucchini blossoms to garnish.

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Vegan Blueberry Crisp

vegan blueberry crisp on plate
Credit: Bryan Gardner

An all-inclusive dessert that is sure to delight year-round, our vegan blueberry crisp is simply delicious. We add toasted almonds for extra crunch to the oat topping. This potluck dessert is perfect for summer, and you can top it off with scoops of ice cream.

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Crispy Cereal Treats

full grid of crispy rice cereal treats
Credit: Kirsten Francis

These no-bake cereal treat bars are great for kids. You can choose whichever cereal is the fan favorite and mix it with melted marshmallows and butter—just like making Rice Krispies treats.

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Everything Cookies

everything cookies
Credit: Chris Simpson

Crunchy, sweet, and savory—these everything cookies satisfy every craving. You can add whatever you like to the recipe and make swaps to incorporate your favorite mix-ins.

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Lemon-Glazed Sheet Cake

lemon glazed sheet cake
Credit: Alpha Smoot

Not only will this bright-colored cake look beautiful (and quite impressive) on the potluck dessert spread, but it also tastes incredible. The fresh and tangy lemon flavor pairing is the epitome of a summertime party dessert.

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Black-Bottom Cupcakes

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Credit: Mike Krautter

While these black-bottom cupcakes aren't frosted, they're still incredibly sweet. Each cupcake is filled with cream cheese, offering a creamy, delicious surprise with every bite.

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Fig-and-Plum Cake

fig-and-plum cake served in a white dish
Credit: Justin Walker

This seasonal cake features plums and figs layered on top of a buttery cake crust. It's an ideal dessert for sharing at a potluck party because you can pre-slice it into squares for serving.

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S'mores Bars

smores bars in heart and square shapes
Credit: Kana Okada

Bring this ooey-gooey fireside treat without the mess. These s'mores bars have everything we love about s'mores—chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers. It's the perfect recipe if you're short on time and need to make enough for a crowd.

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Raspberry-Almond Crisp

raspberry almond crisp
Credit: Chris Simpson

Fruit crisps are always a foolproof crowd favorite. If you're second-guessing what to bring to a potluck, it's always a safe choice. Our raspberry and almond crisp only takes 10 minutes to prep and can be served with vanilla ice cream or yogurt.

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Fudgy Turtle Brownies

fudgy turtle brownies stacked on cutting board
Credit: Ren Fuller

Inspired by the decadent, old-fashioned chocolate turtle candies, our fudgy turtle brownies are layered with melted chocolate, pecan halves, and creamy caramel. We can attest these will be a hit, so make a couple of batches to ensure everyone can indulge.

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Vanilla-Rhubarb Tart

vanilla rhubarb tart
Credit: Con Poulos

A sophisticated fruit tart filled with fresh rhubarb and notes of vanilla bean. The detailed design makes it ideal for special potluck occasions and is sure to be an impressive feature on the dessert spread.

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Strawberry Biscuit Sheet Cake

strawberry biscuit sheet cake
Credit: Alpha Smoot

This dessert combines everything that we love about strawberry shortcake paired with irresistible, flaky, buttery biscuits. For fresh fruit flavors, we top it with whipped cream and loads of strawberries.

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Butter-Pecan Blondies

butter pecan blondies
Credit: Ren Fuller

Turn your pantry staples into a fall-flavored masterpiece. Our butter-pecan blondies have a touch of dark rum to enhance the flavor. Blondies are perfect for potluck gatherings due to their small size.

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Buckwheat Chocolate-Chip Cookies With Sea Salt

sea salt buckwheat chocolate chip cookies
Credit: Mikkel Vang

Surprise your guests' taste buds with these buckwheat chocolate chip cookies topped with flaky sea salt. The buckwheat gives this classic cookie a toasty undertone. Note: These cookies require refrigeration for up to eight hours before baking, so be sure to budget enough time.

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Lemon Curd Soufflé Tart

lemon curd souffle tart topped with powdered sugar
Credit: Emily Kordovich

Delicious, elegant, and a crowd favorite—our lemon curd soufflé tart can do it all. It's made with a simple pâte sucrée dough and a quick homemade lemon curd as the filling.

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Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

peanut butter blossom cookies
Credit: Bryan Gardner

One of our go-to, easy desserts to make for any occasion. They're foolproof and bound to be a crowd pleaser. You won't take any leftovers home from the party—these delicious cookies tend to disappear fast.

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Pull-Apart Vanilla-Wafer Cupcake Cake With Berries

wafter berries cupcake cake

A festive and delicious dessert option for the Fourth of July or Memorial Day. The cupcakes make it easy to serve at a party, and the fresh, seasonal berries are the "cherry" on top.

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Lime Sandwich Cookies

lime sandwich cookies
Credit: Ren Fuller

These two-bite Brazilian "lemonade" cookies are photo-worthy and quite tasty. Two sugar cookies are sandwiched with a tangy citrus filling and dusted with powdered sugar. The cutouts make for a cute, summery dessert that everyone will love.

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Dark Chocolate-Walnut Date Bar

dark chocolate walnut date bar
Credit: Sidney Bensimon

A decadent, vegan, and gluten-free dessert layered with dark chocolate, walnuts, dates, and peanut butter. This no-bake recipe requires you to simply layer all the ingredients into a loaf pan, freeze it, and cut it into bars for serving.

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Big Almond-Orange-Ginger Cookie

big almond orange ginger cookie
Credit: Louise Hagger

If you're looking for a dessert full of fall flavors, try our fragrant, citrus-packed almond bar cookie. We cut it into pie-like wedges for sharing and kick things up a notch by topping each slice with a scoop of blood-orange sorbet.

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Marshmallow Fudge

marshmallow fudge
Credit: Bryan Gardner

Chocolate fudge is a timeless dessert that everyone is sure to rave about. It's the perfect mini sweet treat to pass around at a party, and it packs a punch of flavor. We make these fudge bars extra sweet by adding marshmallows for a fluffy effect.

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Snickerdoodle Crumb Bars

snickerdoodle crumb bars
Credit: Alpha Smoot

We think of these Snickerdoodle crumb bars as a hybrid between coffee cake and Snickerdoodle cookies. Layered with crumbly streusel and cinnamon sugar, these bars are irresistible—making them perfect to bring to a party.

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Caramel-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Credit: Armando Rafael

If you're a chocolate chip cookie fan, wait until you try these caramel-stuffed chocolate chip cookies. It's an even sweeter take on the classic cookie we all know and love, elevating it to a whole new level. The gooey inside, matched with crispy edges, makes this cookie truly show-stopping.

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Apricot Cobbler

apricot berry cobbler
Credit: Martyna Szczesna

We'd be lying if we didn't say the topping is what makes this apricot cobbler a fan favorite. The fruity summer cobbler is topped with buttery, flaky biscuits. It's delicious when served warm and topped with ice cream. For serving a crowd, this one casserole dessert dish makes transportation stress-free.

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Bourbon-and-Brown-Sugar Cake With Berries

bourbon and brown-sugar cake with berries
Credit: Kate Mathis

A festive cake for the Fourth of July or Memorial Day that we guarantee will be a go-to summer dessert for years to come. It's a bourbon and brown sugar-based cake that has crispy edges and is light on the inside.

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No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake for a Crowd

no-bake ricotta blueberry cheesecake
Credit: Alpha Smoot

No-bake, no-pressure. This blueberry cheesecake is the perfect low-effort potluck dessert that everyone will enjoy. It's served chilled, making it a refreshing dessert option for the summer.

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Blueberry Crumble

blueberry crumble
Credit: Bryan Gardner

This is the perfect recipe to make on a hot summer day. Our blueberry crumble calls for 2 pounds of fresh berries—the best ones are always found at your local fruit stand. We love serving it with scoops of vanilla ice cream or tangy Greek yogurt for a creamy, cool finish.

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Chocolate-Chip Streusel Brownies

chocolate-chip streusel brownies
Credit: Linda Pugliese

If you can't decide between brownies or cookies, why not make both? To create this mouthwatering treat, start by pouring your brownie batter in the pan and dollop the cookie dough over it. While it bakes, the batter and dough mix together to create the best of both worlds in one simple treat.

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Cowboy Cookie S'mores

cowboy cookie smores
Credit: Linda Pugliese

We put a unique spin on the beloved s'more and turned it into a cookie—only better. These cowboy cookies are packed with oats, pecans, coconut, and dark chocolate, with a toasted marshmallow sandwiched in the middle.

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Chocolate Sheet Cake With Vanilla Buttercream

chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream
Credit: Alpha Smoot

Inspired by the rich, decadent flavors of a devil's food cake, we created our classic chocolate sheet cake covered in vanilla buttercream frosting. While it's rich in flavor, it's not overly sweet, making it ideal for more sophisticated palates.

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Coconut Cake With Berries and Cream

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Credit: Johnny Miller

Inspired by the famous tres leches cake, this coconut-spiked sponge cake is drenched in condensed milk, heavy cream, and coconut milk. For a fresh finish, serve this sheet pan cake with freshly whipped cream and berries.

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Strawberry Cupcakes

Strawberry Cupcakes

If strawberries are in season, this recipe is a must for your next potluck party. The cupcakes are made with a yellow cake batter, and diced strawberries are folded in for a burst of flavor with each bite. A pale pink strawberry meringue buttercream frosting is dolloped on top, along with a picture-perfect strawberry for garnishing.

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Chocolate Coconut Bars

Chocolate-Coconut Bars
Credit:

Brie Goldman

Coconut-flavored desserts are some of our favorite treats to indulge in. These chocolate-coconut bars are chewy, sweet treats that will have guests coming back for more.

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Cookies and Cream Sheet Cake

cookies-and-cream sheet cake recipe
Credit: Con Poulos

A cookies and cream ice cream-inspired sheet cake. Better yet, serve this cake with scoops of cookies and cream ice cream.

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Raspberry-Swirl Cheesecake Cupcakes

raspberry swirl cheesecake cupcakes
Credit: Sang An

These bite-sized cheesecakes will disappear before you know it. Everyone loves a classic raspberry cheesecake, and serving them in cupcake wrappers makes them ideal for a potluck party.

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Easy Chocolate Cupcakes

easy chocolate cupcakes
Credit: Bryan Gardner

You can't go wrong by bringing chocolate cupcakes to the party. They're a rich, dense potluck dessert that everyone will devour.

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Cupcake Cake Pops

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Credit:

decorvow

Go the extra mile with baking everyone's favorite miniature dessert. They're light, fluffy, covered in tangy buttercream frosting, and drenched in sprinkles to top it off.

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4-Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cake

Flourless Chocolate Cake
Credit:

Jason Donnelly

This flourless chocolate cake is simple to make and rich with flavor (what more could you want?). It's the perfect go-to dessert to add to your repertoire when you need a delicious treat to bring to a party in no time.

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Baked Cake Donutes

baked donuts
Credit: Bryan Gardner

Homemade cake donuts are a nostalgic fan-favorite treat. Get creative with the frosting and sprinkles to customize each with different flavors.

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Buckeyes

buckeyes
Credit: Bryan Gardner

These delectable peanut butter and chocolate bite-sized treats are popular in the Midwest but are sure to be enjoyed at parties anywhere. They're a peanut butter lover's dream dessert—dip the peanut butter mixture into melted chocolate and refrigerate it to harden.

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