Recipes and Cooking Party Recipes Seasonal Recipes Our 19 Best Potluck Desserts to Feed a Crowd These potluck desserts are easy to make and transport and will surely be crowd-pleasers at any gathering. By Laura Denby Laura Denby Instagram Laura Denby is New York-based food and drink writer with a degree in Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education and a WSET level 2 Award in Wine and Spirits. After years of cooking in professional kitchens, she now spends her time experimenting with the newest kitchen and home products and writing about them. She loves to cook, travel, drink wine and hang with her rescue pup, Eddie. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on April 25, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Jason Donnelly Big gatherings are better when everybody contributes, and that's why we love a potluck! It takes the pressure off the host, and everyone gets to sample something new. If you're looking to spice up the usual potluck desserts, we've rounded up the best sweet treats to take to your next gathering. 22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful 01 of 19 No-Bake Butterscotch Bars View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul These pretty bars are the perfect no-bake potluck desserts. They get their flavor from butterscotch pudding and crushed candy bars. Even better? You can make them ahead. If you're the planning type, make these in advance and freeze them. Just be sure to set them out 30 minutes before serving. 02 of 19 Cinnamon-Walnut Cracker Bars View Recipe Carson Downing Leave the oven off in favor of these no-bake potluck desserts. We can never resist a sweet and salty combo; this potluck dessert recipe is no exception. Chill these until firm and enjoy at room temperature. 18 Elegant No-Bake Desserts That Are Easy to Make 03 of 19 Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies View Recipe Blaine Moats This all-time favorite recipe yields 60 cookies, making it a perfect potluck dessert recipe for your next neighborhood get-together. The pumpkin cookies really do melt in your mouth, so prepare for these to go quickly. 04 of 19 Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownies View Recipe Blaine Moats A lot of the best potluck desserts aren't gluten-free. These potluck sweets solve that problem by accommodating those with special dietary restrictions. Serve warm with whipped cream, or enjoy at room temperature. 22 Gluten-Free Family Meals That Taste Great! 05 of 19 White Chocolate-Cranberry Crispy Treats View Recipe Blaine Moats We've taken a childhood favorite, no-bake potluck dessert and added creamy white chocolate chunks and sweet cranberries. It's a delightful twist on one of the best potluck desserts for kids and adults. Make them in advance and serve at room temperature for an extra easy treat. 06 of 19 Fresh Strawberry Bars View Recipe Andy Lyons Who knew PB&J was one of the best desserts to take to a potluck? Rich peanut butter bars are topped with a layer of strawberry jam and heaps of fresh strawberries in this unbeatable potluck dessert. To make it ahead of time, wrap the bars in foil and store at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Top with berries and jam just before serving. New Ways to Eat Peanut Butter and Jelly 07 of 19 Cherry-White Chocolate Chip Cookies View Recipe Carson Downing Maraschino cherries add a sweet blush to these white chocolate chip cookies. Their enchanting appearance makes them one of the best desserts for a potluck. For an even prettier presentation, dip the cookies in melted white chocolate. 18 Decadent White Chocolate Desserts 08 of 19 Malted Milk Ball Cookies View Recipe Jay Wilde Who would guess that these potluck sweets contain whole-bran cereal? Malted milk balls are a crunchy surprise in these quick and easy cookies that are easy to make in advance, can sit at room temperature, and will delight a crowd. 09 of 19 Blueberry Slab Pie View Recipe Jason Donnelly This easy potluck dessert is baked on a baking sheet rather than a pie dish, so prep, transporting, serving, and cleanup are all a breeze. The blueberry filling has a simple sweet taste with a bit of spice, and the sugary crumb topping pulls the dessert together. Though tastier when warm, you can enjoy it at room temperature too. The Best Blueberry Dessert Recipes Ever Created in Our Test Kitchen 10 of 19 Coffee and Cookie Brownies View Recipe Blaine Moats The perfect way to wrap up any potluck party, coffee lovers will swoon over this make-ahead potluck dessert. Chewy brownies are wedged between a flaky pastry crust and melted chocolate pieces in our coffee-infused bar. Serve at room temperature and enjoy. 11 of 19 Orange Cream-Pop Cupcakes View Recipe Blaine Moats Looking to get a little more creative with your potluck cake recipes? Our tasty cupcakes are as cute as a frozen pop on a stick! Save some time by using cake and pudding mixes for your batter. Then go all out with our homemade orange and cream cheese frosting that's sure to make this treat the star of the potluck table. Test Kitchen Tip Bring these cupcakes in an insulated carrier, then take them out at dessert so the heat doesn't make the frosting go bad. 12 of 19 Oatmeal Cookies View Recipe Blaine Moats Cinnamon-laced and packed with brown sugary goodness, these classy cookies are one of the most delicious and easy potluck desserts for any get-together. For some sweet variations, try our oatmeal-raisin or oatmeal-chocolate chip recipes. 13 of 19 Lemon-Lime Bars View Recipe Andy Lyons Try a fresh take on an easy potluck dessert with these zesty lemon-lime bars. A light sprinkling of powdered sugar adds a little sweetness to these tart bars. Zesty Lime Sandwich Cookies 14 of 19 Chocolate-Raspberry Drops View Recipe Brie Passano For an easy potluck dessert recipe that's sure to wow a crowd, go beyond the basic chocolate chip cookie by adding sweet-tart raspberries to the mix. Be sure to use frozen raspberries, so they hold their shape and don't blend into the batter. Store and serve at room temperature. These Raspberry Desserts Are a Delicious Combo of Sweet and Tart 15 of 19 Cappuccino-Caramel Oat Bars View Recipe Karla Conrad Sink your teeth into one of these chewy and delectable potluck sweets. The sweet and creamy caramel will invite you into these pecan-cappuccino bars, while the hearty oats and bold espresso flavor will have you reaching for more. 16 of 19 Cherry-Crumble Pie Bars View Recipe Scott Little In the mood for a fruity dessert to take to a potluck? Try these. Zesty lemon peel adds zing to this crumbly fruit bar, while almond extract and brown sugar add extra sweetness. Your guests won't be able to put them down. Store them in the refrigerator and serve at room temperature if you make them ahead of time. 15 Fruit Bar Desserts for a Sweet Finish to Your Meal 17 of 19 Spiked Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes View Recipe Jason Donnelly Get the potluck party started with spiked raspberry lemonade cupcakes! A splash of berry liqueur in a fresh, zesty lemon cake will make this potluck dessert the highlight of your next get-together. The lemon and raspberry garnish is a pretty finishing touch. 18 of 19 Caramel-Cashew Bars View Recipe Relive the memory of biting into your favorite old-time candy bar with these potluck sweets. Creamy caramel and cashews or roasted peanuts on a delicious shortbread cookie take you back to the good old days. Sprinkle a few marshmallows over the crust before baking for chewy sweetness. If you plan on making these ahead of time, store and serve them at room temperature. 19 of 19 White Chocolate Brownies View Recipe Blaine Moats Out with the old and in with the newest and best potluck desserts. Our buttery white chocolate brownies with crunchy macadamia nuts are a delicious spin on the traditional brownie treat. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit