Wanna be the host or hostess with the mostest, but don't have a lot of time? Try these easy make-ahead desserts that you can whip up in under 45 minutes. From fruity dessert dips to decadent chocolate goodness, you're sure to find something to suit your occasion.
No matter if you are hosting a large party and celebration or just a casual get together, getting things ready in the kitchen can be time consuming. So, having a few dishes and desserts that you can prepare ahead of time can help to take some of the pressure off.
We have selected these easy make-ahead desserts based on the following: speed to make, ability to store, overall flavor. So, scroll on down to find the perfect treat for you.
Homestyle Rice Krispie Treats
What's better than original rice krispie treats? Double the thickness and extra mini marshmallows of Homestyle rice krispie treats of course.
Why it's good: ready in 30 minutes or less with only 3 ingredients. These are so easy to make, no baking necessary.
Strawberry Jello Salad
This strawberry jello salad is sweet, fruity and fluffy. It is a light dessert that is great for hot days.
Why it's good: this recipe only uses 4 ingredients (one of which is just water). It can be made as a large batch a few days before serving.
Oreo Fluff
This Oreo fluff is creamy, sweet and delicious. Not only is it fast and easy to make, but you can use a variety of dippers from fruit to cookies and more.
Why it's good: this only takes about 10 minutes to make. Plus you can easily scale up the amount you make just by using two, three or more times the ingredients.
No Bake Banana Pudding
Need something fast and easy, but want a classic cookout flavor? Whip up a batch of this no bake banana pudding. This one uses cool whip, banana pudding, layers of sliced banana and Nilla wafers.
Why it's good: you don't have to bake this and it can be made in advance. Plus, you can easily make this in large batches by doubling or tripling the ingredients then just adding it to two pans.
Mini Apple Tarts
Why spend hours making a whole apple pie when you can quickly whip up a batch of these simple mini apple tarts? Filled with delicious apple pie filling and nestled into pre-made pie crusts.
Why it's good: These bite-sized treats are incredibly easy to serve, making them perfect for any occasion. Plus, you can effortlessly bake large batches of them in a jiffy.
Mini Cupcakes
Mini cupcakes are a super cute smaller version of regular sized cupcake. These adorable cupcakes are super easy to make and they are fluffy and moist.
Why they're good: you can bake these up pretty quickly and they are a nice bite-sized treat. Plus you can customize them to be any flavor you like.
Lemon Cake Mix Cookies
Lemon cake mix cookies are tart, tangy and sweet. The refreshing citrus flavor mixed with sugar is a delightful and refreshing flavor combination.
Why it's good: as the name says, these are made with cake mix so they use limited ingredients. Plus they are super fast and easy to mix up.
Nutella Covered Strawberries
Nutella covered strawberries are a delicious combo of fresh strawberry, hazelnut and chocolate. They are sweet, but light refreshing and fruity.
Why it's good: you can easily customize these by switching up the kind of sprinkles you add to them. Plus, they make great grab and go treats - super easy to serve as you can just lay them out on a plate or platter on your dessert table.
PB Fluff
You can't beat the classic flavor of peanut butter and chocolate. And that flavor is wrapped into a creamy and sweet dessert for this Peanut Butter Fluff. Dip cookies, fruit and more to eat this treat.
Why it's good: fast and easy to make - it only takes about 10 minutes. Plus you can easily double or triple the ingredients to make it as a large batch for as many people as you need.
Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes
If you love strawberry crunch flavor, but want individual serving treats, try these strawberry crunch cupcakes. They are sweet vanilla and strawberry flavors.
Why they're good: make them fancy by adding a slice of strawberry into the whipped cream. They look elaborate, but are rather quick to bake up a large batch.
