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Are you struggling to find the right desserts for a dinner party you’re hosting soon? If yes, I’ve got your back. And if you’re not, I’ve still got your back. All these dessert ideas are perfect for dinner parties, family dinners, or just personal treats to enjoy with friends.
When it comes to dinner parties, it pays to be organised in my experience. Plan things ahead, prepare ahead if possible, and give yourself enough time to mess up and try again. Because, again, in my experience, things tend to go awry when you’re stressed and in a rush. (Just saying.)
Anyway, let’s get into the good stuff, shall we?
130 Desserts for a Dinner Party
If I could give you three simple tips to plan for a dinner party, they would be the following:
1 – Make sure you can actually make what you’re actually planning to make. (I once had a tiramisu-based accident whilst attempting to feed five people.)
2 – Check that no-one has allergies or dietary restrictions. It’s not a good idea to poison that one person who’s allergic to peanuts.
3 – Consider creating two desserts, allowing people to pick their favourite.
Individual Desserts for a Dinner Party
It is a lot easier to serve up individual desserts than one or two larger ones. It might not seem like that at first, especially with the extra bits and pieces you’ll likely need to make it happen, but it makes customising a lot easier. It also means you can create non-dairy, gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian desserts for specific people.
Thankfully, you’ll find a range of individual desserts for a dinner party here. Many of them are super simple to whip up, too. And they’re all delicious. Well, I think they are, anyway.
- Honeycomb, Chocolate, and Raspberry Cranachan by Tesco Real Food
- Bakewell Tart Scones by BBC Good Food
- Chocolate Biscuit Puddings by Jamie Oliver
- White Russian Cheesecake Shots by Tesco Real Food
- Banana Pudding Cups by Veggie Desserts
- Cocoa Cream with Amaretto Cookie Crumble and Zabaione by Amy Gulick / GBC
- Lemon Posset by Hungry Healthy Happy
- Rhubarb and Custard Tart by Jamie Oliver
- Lemon Curd Mousse by Jane’s Patisserie
- Easy Chocolate Molten Cakes by BBC Good Food
Chocolate Desserts for a Dinner Party
I don’t know about you but I’m a sucker for a chocolatey dessert. I’ll always pick the most chocolate-packed dessert from any restaurant menu, so of course I’d have a whole section designated to chocolate alone. One might say that I have a bit of a sweet tooth.
You might be surprised by just how many desserts can be jazzed up with a little bit of chocolate. Cheesecakes, cakes, tarts, pudding pots… I might need to create a whole listicle featuring the joys of chocolate desserts for a dinner party or other event. What do you think?
- Chocolate and Toffee Marble Cheesecake by Annabel Karmel / THF
- Billionaire’s Tart by Jane’s Patisserie
- Chocolate Magic Cake by Mummypage’s Kitchen / Mummy Pages
- Chocolate Ganache Cake with Amarena Cherries by Willie Harcourt-Cooze / GBC
- Guylian Spiced Chocolate Tarts by Patisseries Makes Perfect
- Chocolate Caramel Swirl Cake by Baking Queen 74
- No-Bake Triple Chocolate Cheesecake by Jane Dunn / THF
- Chocolate Pots by Hungry Healthy Happy
- Chocolate Brownie Trifle by Jane’s Patisserie
- Guinness Chocolate Cake by Karen Burns-Booth / GBC
Tarts for a Dinner Party
Tarts are one of the best, easiest, and more common desserts for a dinner party. There are too many ways to customise them than I can count, and you can even make gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan versions, so everyone will be happy.
Another great reason to make tarts for a dinner party is the fact that they can be made in advance (in most cases). Having dessert done and dusted the night before means you won’t need to worry about it on the actual day. Again… winning.
- White Chocolate Raspberry Tart by Jane’s Patisserie
- Gooseberry and White Chocolate Frangipane Tart by Delicious Magazine
- Manchester Tart by Tesco Real Food
- Peppermint Crisp Tart by Greedy Gourmet
- Rhubarb and Blueberry Tarte Tatin by Fab Food 4 All
- After Eight Tart by Jane’s Patisserie
- Salted Chocolate Tart by Nigella Lawson
- Strawberry Rhubarb Tart with Crumble Topping by Where Is My Spoon?
- Rhubarb and Pear Crumble by Greedy Gourmet
- Bakewell Tart by BBC Good Food
Cakes for a Dinner Party
The simplest of cakes and desserts look instantly overhauled with a garnish and some presentation. The latter is everything when it comes to food. That’s why posh restaurants always serve food up with a garnish of some sort, such as parsley.
You can make anything look fancy with a decent garnish, such as a few chocolate shavings, some edible flowers (yes, they exist), or fresh fruit. There are also stencil-like items you can use to sieve icing sugar in designs and shapes over cakes, such as a Victoria sponge. A little bit of presentation really does go a long way!
- Lemon Tendercake with Blueberry Compote by Nigella Lawson
- Easy Carrot Cake by BBC Good Food
- Rose and Pistachio Milk Cake by Jamie Oliver
- Mary Berry Salted Caramel Cake by Supergolden Bakes
- Rhubarb and Orange Drizzle Cake by Louise Robinson / GBC
- Vanilla and Rhubarb Cake by Baking Queen 74
- Pear, Pistachio, and Rose Cake by Nigella Lawson
- Dorset Apple Cake by BBC Good Food
- Strawberry Mousse Cake by Baking Queen 74
- Espresso Bundt Cake with Salted Chocolate Ganache by Patisseries Makes Perfect
Dinner Party Crumble Ideas
Crumbles are great winter warmer desserts, especially with custard. You can easily pull off a summer crumble, though. Seasonal fruits are a really good way of seeming in-the-know, if you know what I mean. You’ll look like a pro!
And just in case you don’t like custard, there are plenty of other accompaniments you could serve up to your guests. You could offer up some double cream, whipped double cream, squirty cream, ice cream, or whatever kind of cream you like. What’s your favourite type of cream? (Mine’s double cream.)
- Fruit and Nut Crumble with Whiskey Custard by Alex Greene / BBC Food
- Pear, Chocolate, and Ginger Crumble by Fab Food 4 All
- Frozen Berry and Apple Crumble by Jamie Oliver
- Apricot and Almond Crumble by Justine Pattison
- Berry Oat Crumble Tart by Tesco Real Food
- Apple and Blackberry Crumble by Greedy Gourmet
- Plum and Apple Crumble by Supergolden Bakes
- Strawberry and Almond Crumble by Nigella Lawson
- Deconstructed Maple Apple Crumble by Kate Doran / GBC
- Peach, Ginger, and Almond Crumble by Rukmini Iyer / THF
Cheesecake Ideas for Dinner Parties
If you’re going to serve up dessert at a dinner party, it’s good to have a mix of different textures and flavours. Some people like crunchy; others prefer soft and squishy. In order to please everyone, you’ll need to have both. That’s why I’ve presented a range of different flavours, textures, and types of dessert in this list.
Cheesecake is one of the easiest things to whip up if you have the right ingredients, and you can customise it in so many different ways. Make one with chocolate, or one with fruit, or one with both. Play around with the flavours a little as you test the desserts you plan to make. I bet you’ll create something brilliant!
- Chocolate Lime Cheesecake by Nigella Lawson
- Pear and Butterscotch Cheesecake by Delicious Magazine
- Burnt Basque Cheesecake by Edd Kimber / GBC
- Baked Lemon Cheesecake by Jamie Oliver
- Lemon and Lime Cheesecake by Tesco Real Food
- Banoffee Cheesecake by Greedy Gourmet
- Pumpkin Cheesecake by Nigella Lawson
- Rocky Road Cheesecake by Claire Clark / GBC
- Blackcurrant Ombre Cheesecake by Jamie Oliver
- No-Bake Lemon Curd Cheesecake by Where Is My Spoon?
Fruit Desserts for a Dinner Party
Fruit is a slightly healthier choice for dessert than chocolate-packed puddings and tarts… but not always. Apples, oranges, and other fruits aren’t always the first thing people think of when preparing to have guests, but as you’ll soon see, there are some pretty magnificent ways to cook and/or serve them up.
A heavy dessert isn’t always a great idea when you’ve had two or more courses already. Something a little lighter and more refreshing might be a good idea. Take a look at these and see if any of them tick the right boxes for you:
- Peach and Almond Tart by BBC Good Food
- Deep-Fried Custard with Rhubarb Dipping Sauce by Delicious Magazine
- Rhubarb and Custard Bread and Butter Pudding by Tesco Real Food
- Orange Tart by Greedy Gourmet
- Passionfruit Tart with Orange Pastry by Mary Berry / BBC Food
- Orange Scented Brioche Pudding by Nigella Lawson
- Flat Apple and Vanilla Tart by BBC Good Food
- Orange, Cardamon, Pistachio Pavlova Crown by Tesco Real Food
- Mango, Passionfruit, and Limoncello Pavlova by Mary Berry / BBC Food
- Roast Fruit Cobbler by Nadiya Hussain / BBC Food
Pie Desserts for a Dinner Party
Apple pie is a classic American dessert but that’s certainly not your only option when it comes to pie desserts for a dinner party. They’re believed to have been around since around 2,500 BC, so it’s hardly any wonder that they’ve changed in terms of filling and ingredients over the years.
Not only are they versatile, pies are the focus of eating competitions, annual celebrations, and several other traditions from many countries and cultures around the world. There is also a ‘Pi Day,’ which is dedicated to the mathematical constant and often enjoyed with savoury and sweet pies.
- Rhubarb Blueberry Pie by Where Is My Spoon?
- Spiced Pecan Pie by Cyrus Todiwala / BBC Food
- African Prince Pie by Greedy Gourmet
- Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Crumble by Jamie Oliver
- Spiced Apple Lattice Pie by Fab Food 4 All
- Pumpkin and Amaretto Pie by Matt Tebbutt / BBC Food
- Honey Pie by Nigella Lawson
- Skinny Filo Pumpkin Pie by Where Is My Spoon?
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie by Martha Swift / THF
- Key Lime Pie with Ginger Pastry by Ryan Chong / BBC Food
Boozy Dessert Recipes for Dinner Parties
Do you like your desserts with some extra punch? I present to you, the booze dessert recipes for dinner parties segment of the article. Some might call it the best part. (Me, for example.)
What do you fancy? Guinness? Prosecco? Pimms? Baileys? I’ve got all of those and then some, and they’re not all tiramisu related, I promise. Actually, while we’re on the subject of tiramisu, it’s a delicious Italian dessert that pretty much everyone I know loves and can be made as boozy (or not) as you like.
- Buttermilk Pound Cake with Pimm’s Soaked Fruits by Simon Rimmer / BBC Food
- Raspberry Prosecco Trifle by Jane’s Patisserie
- Mango-misu by Delicious Magazine
- Gin and Citrus Syllabub by Tesco Real Food
- Espresso Martini Tiramisu by The Charles Family / BBC Food
- Gin and Tonic Cheesecake by Greedy Gourmet
- Baileys Bread and Butter Pudding by Jane’s Patisserie
- Guinness and Baileys Crepe Cake by Mummy Pages
- Strawberry Daiquiri Tart by Delicious Magazine
- Boozy Black Forest Trifle by Matt Tebbutt / BBC Food
Gluten-Free Dessert Ideas for a Dinner Party
Just because you follow a gluten-free diet, doesn’t mean you need to miss out on a lush dessert during dinner parties, or at any other event or occasion. There are plenty of ideas you can call upon, and I think I’ve found some of the best and easiest to put together.
Whether it’s a cake, a crumble, a pavlova, or a pie, there’s a little gluten-free something for everyone – and there’s no need to miss out on taste. That’s what I call winning, wouldn’t you?
- Chestnut Slice with Cream and Red Currants by Red Online
- Apple and Blackberry Pie by Nigella Lawson
- Lemon Drizzle Cake by BBC Good Food
- Mel’s Rainbow Pavlova by Tesco Real Food
- Ginger and Pear Polenta Cake by Veggie Desserts
- Baked Vanilla Cheesecake by Red Online
- Cherry and Pistachio Crumble by Victoria Glass / GBC
- Rose and Pepper Pavlova with Passionfruit and Strawberries by Nigella Lawson
- Passionfruit and Coconut Cake by Howard Middleton / BBC Food
- Chocolate and Raspberry Gateaux by Red Online
Vegetarian Dinner Party Dessert Ideas
Not all desserts are as vegetarian as you’d think (speaking from a newbie on the vegetarian team), so I’ve done the hard work of searching so you don’t have to. All these recipes are delicious, suitable for vegetarians, and will likely make all your guests’ mouths water.
I highly recommend looking for dessert recipes from around the world from time to time. There are so many delicious delights you have yet to explore. Gulab Juman is an Indian dessert comprised of dumplings make from milk, deep friend, and soaked in rosewater and cardamon flavoured sugar syrup.
- Banana and Nutella Crumble Tartlets by DK Publishing / THF
- Chocolate Orange Cheesecake by Greedy Gourmet
- Ultimate Plum and Apple Cobbler by BBC Good Food
- Peach Bellini and Pink Praline Pavlova by Delicious Magazine
- Blueberry and Buttermilk Panna Cotta by Paul Hollywood / BBC Food
- Orange and Rhubarb Amaretti Pots by BBC Good Food
- Fruits of the Forest Cheesecake by Greedy Gourmet
- Banoreo Cheesecake by Supergolden Bakes
- Pumpkin Pudding by Love and Lemons
- Chocolate Orange Brownie Tart by BBC Good Food
Vegan Desserts for a Dinner Party
As always, I haven’t forgotten about the vegans who like a sweet dessert from time to time. I have personally tried a couple of these desserts myself, and you’d never even know they were vegan, making them perfect to serve up at dinner parties and plenty of other events.
Of course, you could always substitute dairy and other non-vegan ingredients for vegan safe ones. That gives you the opportunity to create many of the non-vegan desserts for a dinner party on this page. Here’s a fun fact for you: many high-quality dark chocolate types are vegan-friendly. (Always check, though.)
- Gingerbread Sticky Toffee Pudding by Aimee Ryan / GBC
- Biscoff Cake by Supergolden Bakes
- Raspberry Cheesecake by Love and Lemons
- Sponge Cake by BBC Good Food
- Tofu Chocolate Mousse by Veggie Desserts
- Redcurrant Slush Sorbet by Nigella Lawson
- Summer Fruit Tart by Love and Lemons
- Raspberry, Almond, Sherry, and Saffron Trifle by Mildred’s Vegan Cookbook / GBC
- Apple Meringue by Supergolden Bakes
- Tiramisu by BBC Good Food
Desserts for a Dinner Party: Others
And finally, we come to the ‘others,’ that don’t really belong in the other sections featured on this page. Alternatively, they would have messed up the numbers in my other sections, which I really hate. (It’s weird, I know.)
Just always remember not to take on a big dessert idea if you don’t really want to follow through with it. You can always serve up a store-bought dessert and pretend you made it. I won’t tell anyone if you don’t!
- Black Forest Gateaux by Greedy Gourmet
- Pimms Cheesecake by Carnation
- Watermelon and Aperol Jelly by Waitrose
- Sugar-Free Apricot Pavlova by Baking Queen 74
- Hazelnut Dacquoise with Salted Chocolate Ganache by Patisseries Makes Perfect
- Raspberry Ice Cream Sundaes by Carnation
- Banana Panettone Pudding by Jamie Oliver
- Blueberry and Lemon Curd Sundaes by Waitrose
- Banoffee Tray Bake by Carnation
- Eton Mess Summer Trifle by Tesco Real Food
And that’s that, my friends. You have reached the end of my list of 130 desserts for a dinner party, and I hope you’ve found a few recipes that fit the bill for you and your guests.
I appreciate the time you’ve taken to stop by today. Why not take a peek at some of the other recipe collections featured on Buzzy Kitchen? These ones are my personal favourites: