25 Make-Ahead Desserts for Parties, Picnics & Holidays

Making desserts ahead of time saves you so much stress when you’re hosting. You can focus on the main dishes and not worry about timing everything perfectly. These 25 desserts actually taste better after sitting overnight or longer, and most of them travel well too. Some need to be kept cold but lots of them can sit out for hours without going bad, which is perfect for outdoor parties.

Classic Tiramisu

This Italian dessert gets better every day it sits in the fridge. The ladyfinger cookies soak up all the coffee and mascarpone flavors and get perfectly soft. You gotta make this at least 4 hours ahead but it’s even better after 2 days. The best part is there’s no baking involved so your oven stays free for other stuff. Perfect for dinner parties when you want something impressive that’s actually pretty easy. Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Lava Cake Cups

These individual chocolate cakes have melted chocolate centers that ooze out when you dig in. You can make the batter and pour it into ramekins up to 2 days ahead, then just bake them right before serving. They only take 12 minutes in the oven so you can pop them in while clearing dinner plates. Everyone always thinks these are way harder to make than they actually are. Get the recipe here.

Lemon Bars with Powdered Sugar

The tangy lemon filling on these balances perfectly with the sweet shortbread crust. They actually need to chill overnight to set properly, so making them ahead isn’t just convenient – it’s required! The powdered sugar on top makes them look fancy. These travel really well for picnics and potlucks since they’re already cut into squares. They keep for like a week in the fridge too. Get the recipe here.

Strawberry Shortcake Trifle

This is way easier than making individual shortcakes and looks gorgeous in a big glass bowl. You layer store-bought pound cake, strawberries, and whipped cream, then let it all soak together overnight. The cake absorbs the strawberry juices and gets all moist and flavorful. Perfect for summer parties and you can make it 2 days ahead. Kids go crazy for this cause it looks like a fancy parfait. Get the recipe here.

Salted Caramel Brownies

The salted caramel topping on these makes regular brownies taste gourmet. You can make the brownies and caramel sauce separately ahead of time, then assemble them the day of your party. The salt on top really brings out the chocolate flavor. These are rich enough that you can cut them small and still satisfy everyone. They keep at room temperature for days which is perfect for potlucks. Get the recipe here.

Key Lime Pie Squares

These have all the tangy goodness of key lime pie but in handheld bar form. The graham cracker crust is easier to make than pie pastry and the filling sets firm enough to cut into neat squares. They need at least 4 hours to chill but taste best after overnight. Perfect for summer parties cause they’re refreshing and don’t require plates and forks. Get the recipe here.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

These classic cupcakes are perfect for any celebration and the cream cheese frosting actually gets better after sitting. You can make them 2 days ahead and store them covered at room temperature. The frosting stays put and doesn’t get runny like buttercream sometimes does. The red color makes them perfect for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or Fourth of July depending on your decorations. Get the recipe here.

Peach Cobbler Bars

These give you all the flavors of peach cobbler but are way easier to serve at parties. The oat topping gets nice and crispy and the peach filling bubbles up around the edges. You can use fresh or frozen peaches depending on the season. These taste good warm or at room temperature so you don’t have to worry about keeping them hot. Perfect for summer barbecues and outdoor gatherings. Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

These don’t require any baking which means your oven stays free and your kitchen doesn’t heat up. They only take about 10 minutes to make and set up in about 30 minutes. The combo of chocolate and peanut butter is always a hit with kids and adults. They keep for over a week in an airtight container. Perfect for last-minute parties or when it’s too hot to turn on the oven. Get the recipe here.

Banana Pudding Parfait

This Southern classic gets better the longer it sits as the vanilla wafers soften and absorb the pudding flavors. You can make it 3 days ahead and it’ll still taste fresh. Layer it in individual mason jars for easy serving at outdoor parties. The bananas don’t turn brown if you toss them in a little lemon juice first. This is comfort food that travels well. Get the recipe here.

Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars

These combine two favorite desserts into one amazing bar. The graham cracker crust, creamy cheesecake layer, and cinnamon apple topping work so good together. They need to chill overnight to set properly so making them ahead is actually necessary. These are perfect for fall parties and Thanksgiving when you want something different than regular pie. They cut into neat squares which makes serving easy. Get the recipe here.

Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake

This looks impressive but is actually pretty simple if you use boxed cake mix and doctor it up. The lemon and raspberry flavors get better after the cake sits overnight and the layers settle together. You can make this 2 days ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. The bright colors make it perfect for spring parties and baby showers. This is my go-to when I need to bring something that looks fancy. Get the recipe here.

Oreo Dirt Cake

Kids absolutely love this dessert that looks like a flower pot full of dirt and gummy worms. Its just crushed Oreos, chocolate pudding, and whipped topping but presented in a fun way. You can make it 3 days ahead and it gets better as everything melds together. Perfect for kids birthday parties or any time you want something playful. Adults think it’s hilarious and kids think it’s the coolest thing ever. Get the recipe here.

Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling

This looks way more complicated than it actually is. The key is rolling the cake while it’s still warm so it doesn’t crack. The cream cheese filling is basically just sweetened cream cheese with a little vanilla. You wrap it in plastic wrap and let it chill overnight which makes it easier to slice. Perfect for Thanksgiving or any fall gathering. These freeze really well too if you want to make them weeks ahead. Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

These taste like cookie dough but are safe to eat since there’s no raw eggs. Just mix up eggless cookie dough, roll into balls, and dip in melted chocolate. They need to chill for a couple hours to firm up. Everyone always asks for the recipe because they think they’re way more complicated than they are. Perfect for any party where you want something bite-sized and indulgent. Get the recipe here.

Berry Mascarpone Galette

This rustic tart looks fancy but is actually more forgiving than regular pie. The free-form shape means it doesn’t have to be perfect, and any cracks just add to the rustic charm. You can use whatever berries are in season or on sale. The mascarpone filling is richer than regular custard and doesn’t curdle. This tastes good at room temperature so it’s perfect for outdoor gatherings. Get the recipe here.

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

This is probably the easiest dessert on the list – just dump everything in a pan and bake. The cake mix forms a crust on top while the apples and caramel bubble underneath. You can serve it warm or at room temperature and it tastes good either way. Perfect for casual gatherings when you want something homemade but don’t have much time. Everyone always wants the recipe because it tastes way more complicated than it is. Get the recipe here.

S’mores Bars

These give you all the s’mores flavors without having to build a campfire. The graham cracker crust, chocolate layer, and marshmallow topping all meld together as they sit. They’re easier to eat than actual s’mores and way less messy. You can make them 2 days ahead and they stay soft. Perfect for summer parties or any time you want that nostalgic camping flavor indoors. Get the recipe here.

Coconut Lime Panna Cotta

These creamy individual desserts look super elegant in small glasses or ramekins. The coconut and lime flavors are refreshing and not too heavy after a big meal. They need at least 4 hours to set but can be made 3 days ahead. The tropical flavors make them perfect for summer parties. You can garnish them with toasted coconut or lime zest right before serving to make them look extra fancy. Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Eclairs

These look really impressive but are actually not that hard if you break it down into steps. You can make the pastry shells and filling separately ahead of time, then assemble them the day of your party. The chocolate glaze on top makes them look professional. Store-bought pastry cream works fine if you don’t want to make it from scratch. Perfect for fancy dinner parties when you want to show off a little. Get the recipe here.

Pecan Pie Bars

These have all the gooey goodness of pecan pie but are way easier to make and serve. No rolling out pie crust or worrying about soggy bottoms. The shortbread base holds up perfectly and the pecan topping sets just right. They actually taste better the next day after all the flavors meld together. Perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you want something traditional but easier than pie. Get the recipe here.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Don’t let the name fool you – this is definitely dessert! The salty pretzel crust, cream cheese layer, and strawberry jello top create amazing flavor combinations. It has to sit overnight for the jello to set, so making it ahead isn’t optional. This Midwest classic always surprises people with how good it tastes. The textures and flavors work together better than they have any right to. Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Mousse Cups

These individual servings look elegant and are perfect for portion control. Real chocolate mousse needs time to set properly so you have to make it at least 4 hours ahead. The texture gets silky smooth and the chocolate flavor intensifies as it chills. You can make them 2 days ahead and they’ll still be perfect. Top them with whipped cream and a berry right before serving for a restaurant-quality presentation. Get the recipe here.

Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake

This combines the best parts of cinnamon rolls and coffee cake into one amazing dessert. The cinnamon swirl runs through the whole cake and there’s a crumb topping that gets all golden. It tastes even better the next day when the flavors have time to develop. Perfect for brunch parties or morning gatherings. You can serve it at room temperature so there’s no last-minute warming needed. Get the recipe here.

Mini Fruit Tarts with Pastry Cream

These look like something from a fancy French bakery but you can make them with store-bought tart shells to save time. The pastry cream can be made 2 days ahead and the fruit arranged the morning of your party. Use whatever fruit looks good at the store – strawberries, kiwi, berries, or mandarin oranges all work great. The individual size makes them perfect for elegant parties where people are standing around with drinks. Get the recipe here.