15 Potluck Desserts That Always Wow A Crowd
Potlucks call for desserts that are easy to bring and guaranteed to get eaten. Favorites like lemon cheesecake bars, Oreo balls, caramelitas, and cupcakes are easy to transport and always crowd pleasers.
For something a little eye-catching, we included potluck desserts like pineapple upside-down cupcakes or a copycat bundt cake that looks beautiful on the table. These potluck dessert recipes are guaranteed to have everyone going back for seconds (and thirds).
1. Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
These travel well since there’s no frosting to smudge or delicate decorations to worry about. They’re sturdy enough to stack in your carrier but look fancy enough that people will think you spent all day baking.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
2. Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes
Individual portions mean no messy cutting at the potluck table, and everyone gets their own neat serving. Each cupcake looks like it came from a bakery, with caramelized pineapple and a cherry on top.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes
3. Double Chocolate Cookies
Cookies are always potluck winners because they’re grab-and-go friendly and easy to serve. These pack a serious chocolate punch, so even the pickiest dessert lovers will be impressed with your contribution.
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Cookies
4. Funfetti Rice Krispies Treats
Most guests expect regular store-bought Rice Krispies treats, so this homemade recipe made with fun, colorful sprinkles will be a standout on the dessert table. They take only 10 minutes to prepare and will be gobbled up quickly.
Get the Recipe: Funfetti Rice Krispies Treats
5. Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Make these the day before your potluck, and they’ll actually taste better after chilling overnight. The beautiful, swirled appearance makes them look sophisticated sitting on any dessert table.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Cheesecake Bars
6. Cannoli Dip
Cannoli Dip takes all the flavor of the classic Italian pastry and transforms it into a creamy, crowd-pleasing dessert. It’s an easy make-ahead treat that feels indulgent without any fuss.
Get the Recipe: Cannoli Dip
7. Oreo Balls
These bite-sized Oreo balls are made with just three ingredients and couldn’t be easier to make. They look fancy, but you can make dozens ahead of time and store them until you need them for your potluck.
Get the Recipe: Oreo Balls
8. Frosted Banana Snack Cake
Sheet cakes are potluck favorites because they feed a good-sized crowd and slice into neat squares.
The creamy peanut butter and honey frosting on top is incredibly tasty and complements the banana flavor of the cake. Cut them into squares beforehand for easy serving.
Get the Recipe: Frosted Banana Snack Cake
9. M&M Cookie Bars
Bar cookies save time since you can bake the whole batch at once without rolling out individual dough balls. The colorful M&Ms make them fun, festive, and hard to resist for kids and adults alike.
Get the Recipe: M&M Cookie Bars
10. Puppy Chow
Make a big batch of puppy chow and watch it disappear at your potluck. The chocolate and peanut butter flavor is always a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Puppy Chow
11. Cherry Turnovers
Hand pies are ideal for potlucks because they’re naturally portion-controlled and easy to eat while mingling. The flaky pastry makes them look bakery-quality without the bakery price.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Turnovers
12. Thin Mint Cupcakes
Chocolate and mint shine in these easy cupcakes, complete with creamy mint buttercream. While optional, you can finish each cupcake with a Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie (or your favorite brand) for a fun touch.
Get the Recipe: Thin Mint Cupcakes
13. Blackberry Pie Squares
Enjoy the comfort of a blackberry pie without the hassle of cutting individual slices. These pie squares stack nicely in containers and won’t fall apart when people serve themselves.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Pie Squares
14. Nothing Bundt Cake Copycat
This copycat chocolate Nothing Bundt cake tastes like the real thing, but is way cheaper to make at home. The homemade cream cheese frosting is divine! We recommend slicing this ahead of time to make it easier to serve at your potluck.
Get the Recipe: Nothing Bundt Cake Copycat
15. Carmelitas
Rich, gooey bars like these are potluck showstoppers because they satisfy sweet tooths and look wonderfully indulgent. You’ll always go home with an empty plate when you bring these.
Get the Recipe: Carmelitas
