23 Family-Style Desserts Everyone Can Share

Family-style desserts are perfect for when you need to feed a crowd or want something everyone can dig into together. These treats are made for sharing – no individual plating needed! Most of these can be made ahead which is great for holidays or parties. These 23 recipes range from super easy to more involved, but they all make enough for a group and create that cozy feeling of passing around something homemade.

Classic Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream

This is comfort food at its best – tender spiced apples under a crunchy oat topping. The key is cutting the apples the same size so they cook evenly and not making the topping too thick or it won’t get crispy. Any apple variety works but a mix of tart and sweet is best. This serves 8-10 people easily and tastes amazing warm with vanilla ice cream melting on top. Perfect for fall when apples are cheap and plentiful. Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Lava Cake for Two

Wait, this one doesn’t belong here since it says “for two” right in the name! But you can easily multiply the recipe to make individual lava cakes for a whole family. The molten chocolate center is what makes these special – they need to be timed just right so the outside is set but the inside stays gooey. These are impressive looking but surprisingly easy to make. Great for special occasions when you want to wow everyone. Get the recipe here.

Peach Cobbler with Biscuit Topping

The biscuit topping on this cobbler is fluffy and buttery, way better than the cake-like toppings some recipes use. Fresh peaches are amazing in summer but frozen work fine the rest of the year. The fruit gets all bubbly and jammy underneath the golden biscuits. This feeds a crowd and looks beautiful served family-style right from the baking dish. Nothing beats warm cobbler with cold ice cream on a summer evening. Get the recipe here.

Tiramisu in a Trifle Bowl

Making tiramisu in a big trifle bowl instead of individual portions makes it perfect for sharing. You can see all the pretty layers through the glass which looks impressive. The coffee-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone cream layers taste just like traditional tiramisu but are easier to serve to a group. This needs to chill overnight so it’s perfect for making ahead. Great for dinner parties when you want something fancy but not fussy. Get the recipe here.

Banana Pudding Parfait

This Southern classic is usually made in individual cups but making it in one big bowl or trifle dish works great for families. Layers of vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, and vanilla wafers create a dessert that’s nostalgic and delicious. Some recipes use whipped cream folded into the pudding which makes it lighter. The wafers get soft and cake-like as they sit which is part of the charm. This gets better overnight as the flavors meld together. Get the recipe here.

Mixed Berry Galette

A galette is like a rustic pie that’s way easier to make since you don’t need a pie pan. You just roll out the dough, pile berries in the center, and fold the edges up around them. It looks homemade in the best way – imperfect but beautiful. Any combination of berries works and you can use frozen ones too. This serves 6-8 people and looks gorgeous with a scoop of ice cream or dollop of whipped cream. Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

This giant cookie baked in a cast iron skillet is fun for sharing. Everyone gets their own spoon and digs in while it’s still warm and gooey. The edges get crispy while the center stays soft and melty. Some recipes add a scoop of ice cream right on top which melts into the warm cookie. This is perfect for casual family dinners or movie nights when you want something sweet but not fancy. Get the recipe here.

Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake

This takes the classic strawberry shortcake concept but makes it into a proper layer cake that serves a crowd. Fluffy biscuit layers get split and filled with whipped cream and strawberries. The key is macerating the strawberries with sugar first so they get juicy and syrupy. This looks impressive but isn’t hard to make if you can make biscuits. Perfect for spring and summer when strawberries are at their best. Get the recipe here.

Lemon Bars Sheet Pan

Making lemon bars on a sheet pan instead of a smaller pan means you can feed a whole crowd. The tangy lemon filling over a buttery shortbread crust is always a hit. The trick is not overbaking them – the filling should still jiggle slightly when done. A dusting of powdered sugar on top makes them look pretty. These are great for potlucks or bake sales since they’re easy to cut into squares and transport. Get the recipe here.

Brownies with Peanut Butter Swirl

These fudgy brownies get dollops of peanut butter swirled through before baking which creates pretty patterns and pockets of peanut butter goodness. The combo of chocolate and peanut butter is always a winner. Some recipes use chunky peanut butter for extra texture. These are rich so small squares are plenty. Perfect for kids’ parties or anytime you need a crowd-pleasing dessert that’s not too fancy. Get the recipe here.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

A good carrot cake is moist, spiced, and loaded with shredded carrots that you can barely taste. The cream cheese frosting is what really makes it special – tangy and not too sweet. Some recipes include nuts or raisins but they’re optional. This cake actually gets better after a day as the flavors meld together. Great for birthdays or Easter when you want something homemade but not too sweet. Get the recipe here.

Homemade Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is rich and sweet with a filling that’s like candy and nuts in a flaky crust. The key is not overbaking it – the center should still jiggle slightly when done. This is traditional holiday dessert that serves 8-10 people easily. Some recipes add bourbon which enhances the flavor but isn’t necessary. A small slice goes a long way since it’s so rich. Perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you want something special. Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Fondue with Fresh Fruit

This is interactive dessert that’s fun for families. You melt chocolate with cream and everyone dips fruit, marshmallows, or cookies into the warm chocolate. The key is keeping the chocolate warm but not hot or it’ll seize up. Strawberries, bananas, and pineapple are classic choices but any fruit works. This is great for date nights or family game nights when you want something fun and different. Get the recipe here.

Key Lime Pie Bars

These have all the tangy goodness of key lime pie but in bar form that’s easier to serve to a crowd. The graham cracker crust and tart lime filling taste just like the traditional pie. Regular limes work if you can’t find key limes – just use a bit more juice. These need to chill completely before cutting which makes them perfect for making ahead. Great for summer parties when you want something cool and refreshing. Get the recipe here.

Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

This combines two breakfast favorites into one amazing dessert. Day-old cinnamon rolls get soaked in custard and baked until golden and puffy. Some recipes add extra cinnamon or a glaze on top. This is comfort food at its finest and perfect for using up leftover cinnamon rolls if you ever have such a thing. Great for brunch or casual dinner parties when you want something warm and comforting. Get the recipe here.

Blueberry Cheesecake Squares

These have a graham cracker crust, creamy cheesecake layer, and fresh blueberries on top. Making cheesecake in bar form instead of a whole cake makes it easier to serve a crowd. The blueberries can be fresh or you can make a simple blueberry sauce. These need to chill overnight so they’re perfect for making ahead. Great for summer gatherings when you want something elegant but not too heavy. Get the recipe here.

S’mores Nachos

This puts a fun twist on campfire s’mores. You spread graham crackers on a sheet pan, top with chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, then broil until the marshmallows are golden. Everyone gets a fork and digs in while it’s still warm and gooey. This is perfect for kids’ parties or family movie nights when you want something fun and interactive. Way easier than making individual s’mores over a fire. Get the recipe here.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

This retro cake has caramelized pineapple and cherries on the bottom that becomes the top when you flip it out. The buttery cake underneath soaks up some of the pineapple juices which keeps it moist. This looks impressive but isn’t hard to make. The key is letting it cool for a few minutes before flipping so the fruit doesn’t slide off. Great for potlucks since it travels well and looks pretty. Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

These take regular chocolate chip cookies and turn them into ice cream sandwiches that are perfect for sharing. You make big cookies, let them cool completely, then sandwich ice cream between two cookies. Some recipes roll the edges in mini chocolate chips or sprinkles which looks fancy. These can be made ahead and frozen which is handy for parties. Kids especially love these but adults do too. Get the recipe here.

Raspberry Crumble Bars

These have a buttery base, raspberry filling, and crumbly topping. You can use fresh raspberries in summer or frozen the rest of the year. Some recipes mix in other berries too. The bars need to cool completely before cutting or the filling will be too runny. These are tart and sweet and not too heavy. Perfect for spring and summer gatherings or anytime you want something fruity and delicious. Get the recipe here.

Churros with Chocolate Dipping Sauce

These fried dough sticks are crispy outside and soft inside, rolled in cinnamon sugar while still warm. The chocolate sauce for dipping is thick and rich. Making churros takes some practice with the frying but they’re so worth it. Everyone loves picking up a warm churro and dunking it in chocolate. These are best eaten right away while still warm and crispy. Perfect for parties or special family dinners. Get the recipe here.

Maple Walnut Fudge

This rich fudge has maple flavor and crunchy walnuts throughout. The key to good fudge is getting the temperature right – too hot and it gets grainy, not hot enough and it won’t set. This makes a big batch that can be cut into squares for sharing. The maple flavor is more subtle than you’d expect which keeps it from being too sweet. Great for holidays or anytime you want something special to share. Get the recipe here.

Fresh Fruit Pizza with Sugar Cookie Crust

This “pizza” has a giant sugar cookie as the crust, cream cheese frosting as the “sauce,” and fresh fruit as the toppings. It looks colorful and impressive but isn’t hard to make. You can arrange the fruit in patterns or just scatter it randomly. This is perfect for summer when fruit is at its best. Kids love helping arrange the fruit toppings. Great for birthdays or family gatherings when you want something that looks special but isn’t too sweet.Retry Get the recipe here.