Don’t Be the One Who Forgets Dessert—Bring One of These 31 Potluck Favorites

Everyone remembers the main dishes at a potluck, but it’s the dessert table that people crowd around once plates are cleared. You don’t be the one who forgets dessert—that’s basically a party foul at this point. These sweet treats are easy to share, always a hit, and guaranteed to disappear fast. Whether you’re baking or grabbing something last-minute, this list has you covered.

Five Minute Mini Raspberry Tarts

A tray of raspberry tarts in phyllo cups. — Five Minute Mini Raspberry Tarts. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Thanks to premade tart shells, these mini raspberry tarts come together in just five minutes and taste like raspberry cheesecake.
Get the Recipe: Five Minute Mini Raspberry Tarts

Easy Peanut Butter Bars (No Bake Sheet Pan Desserts)

A stack of chocolate peanut butter bars. — Easy Peanut Butter Bars (No Bake Sheet Pan Desserts). Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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Five ingredients come together for creamy peanut butter covered in chocolate. Quick, easy, and perfect for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Easy Peanut Butter Bars (No Bake Sheet Pan Desserts)

Ambrosia Fruit Salad With Marshmallows

A glass bowl filled with creamy fruit salad, inspired by vintage recipes, is topped with a red maraschino cherry; the salad contains marshmallows, fruit pieces, and whipped cream. Silver spoons rest beside the bowl on a gray surface. — Ambrosia Fruit Salad With Marshmallows. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

A nostalgic Ambrosia salad with mandarin oranges, pineapple, marshmallows, and coconut, topped with creamy whipped cream and a touch of sour cream.
Get the Recipe: Ambrosia Fruit Salad With Marshmallows

Southern Recipe For A Buttermilk Pie

A buttermilk pie that has been cut into slices. — Southern Recipe For A Buttermilk Pie. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Treat yourself to the creamy delight of Southern Buttermilk Pie. It’s a classic with a touch of cinnamon – pure yumminess!
Get the Recipe: Southern Recipe For A Buttermilk Pie

Banana Pudding Recipe With Cream Cheese (With Mascarpone Option!)

A baking dish of banana pudding with a serving spoon. — Banana Pudding Recipe With Cream Cheese (With Mascarpone Option!). Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This banana pudding recipe with cream cheese (or Marscapone!) is even better than the classic. The yummiest, easiest homemade pudding recipe!
Get the Recipe: Banana Pudding Recipe With Cream Cheese (With Mascarpone Option!)

Peach Cobbler Cake Recipe

A blue baking pan with peach cobbler cake covered with ice cream. — Peach Cobbler Cake Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

No mixer is needed for this simple peach cake. Melted butter in the baking dish creates a fabulous crust.
Get the Recipe: Peach Cobbler Cake Recipe

Blueberry Cream Cheese Squares

A tray of cheesecake bars. — Blueberry Cream Cheese Squares. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

A cookie crust, creamy cheesecake filling, and blueberry jam swirl make these bars unforgettable. A perfect balance of tangy and sweet.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Cream Cheese Squares

Spicy Fruit Salad With Star Anise

A bowl of spicy fruit salad with wooden spoon. — Spicy Fruit Salad With Star Anise. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

You can never go wrong with a bowl of fresh fruit. Spicy Fruit Salad adds just a hint of spice and seasoning to improve even the best fruit at the market.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Fruit Salad With Star Anise

Buttermilk Cake With Praline Topping

A square of cake with a bite taken out. — Buttermilk Cake With Praline Topping. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Try this buttermilk cake that is moist and topped with a delicious brown sugar praline topping for a simple and easy recipe.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Cake With Praline Topping

Cream Cheese-Frosted Hummingbird Cake

A slice of hummingbird cake on a serving spoon. — Cream Cheese-Frosted Hummingbird Cake. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Cream cheese-frosted hummingbird cake is a simple and incredibly moist cake that uses pineapple and bananas for a tropical twist.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese-Frosted Hummingbird Cake

From Scratch Chocolate Mud Cake With Marshmallow Frosting

A piece of cake with a bite taken out. — From Scratch Chocolate Mud Cake With Marshmallow Frosting. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This rich, decadent cake recipe has a moist chocolate cake base topped with gooey marshmallows and a homemade butter frosting.
Get the Recipe: From Scratch Chocolate Mud Cake With Marshmallow Frosting

German Chocolate Brownies With Coconut

A coconut brownie with a glass of milk. — German Chocolate Brownies With Coconut. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Layers of coconut-pecan filling sandwiched between rich, fudgy brownies. A three-layer masterpiece for chocolate lovers.
Get the Recipe: German Chocolate Brownies With Coconut

Apricot Bars With A Shortbread Crust

A batch of apricot bars on parchment paper. — Apricot Bars With A Shortbread Crust. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Buttery shortbread crust meets sweet apricot filling, coconut, and pecans. A melt-in-your-mouth treat with a tropical twist.
Get the Recipe: Apricot Bars With A Shortbread Crust

Mini Pecan Pie Tarts With A Cream Cheese Crust

Pecan tarts on a display rack. — Mini Pecan Pie Tarts With A Cream Cheese Crust. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This SIMPLE recipe for mini pecan pie tarts uses cream cheese in the crust for an extra flaky pastry paired with the gooey-ist, richest, filling.
Get the Recipe: Mini Pecan Pie Tarts With A Cream Cheese Crust

Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe

A serving of strawberry pretzel salad with topped with whipped cream — Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Start with a pretzel crust, add a cream cheese layer and top it with a concentrated strawberry jello, a throw back to the 70’s. Great for holiday gatherings or potlucks.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe

Fresh Cherry Coffee Cake With Raspberries

A light, fruity cherry coffee cake with fresh fruit and no streusel topping. Perfect for brunches and breakfast gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Cherry Coffee Cake With Raspberries

Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies

A platter of brownies with pretzels around them — Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

These brownies pair creamy peanut butter frosting with salty pretzels for a sweet-salty delight. Perfect for parties or a decadent snack.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies

Moist Texas Sheet Cake With Pecans

A tray of chocolate brownies, perfect for holiday cakes and cupcakes spreads, topped with chopped nuts and drizzled with chocolate, with one brownie being lifted out with a metal spatula. — Moist Texas Sheet Cake With Pecans. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Texas Sheet Cake with cocoa, bittersweet chocolate, and pecans. A simple recipe that’s big on flavor and texture.
Get the Recipe: Moist Texas Sheet Cake With Pecans

Moist Butter Pecan Pound Cake With Glaze

This buttery Butter Pecan Pound Cake with brown butter frosting and pecans is a rich, comforting dessert perfect for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Moist Butter Pecan Pound Cake With Glaze

Pecan Praline Cheesecake With Caramel Sauce

A cheesecake sliced into twelve pieces, decorated with whole pecans on several slices, displayed on a white plate—a delicious example for anyone seeking unique cheesecake ideas. — Pecan Praline Cheesecake With Caramel Sauce. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This Praline Cheesecake with caramel sauce has everything you crave—a crunchy pecan crust, creamy cheesecake, and rich, homemade caramel.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Praline Cheesecake With Caramel Sauce

Old Fashioned Kentucky Butter Cake

A close-up of a sliced bundt cake with a light glaze. The southern dessert is golden brown with a moist, dense interior. One piece is cut and raised on a cake server, revealing the soft cake texture inside. The background includes a white surface and blurred utensils. — Old Fashioned Kentucky Butter Cake. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Kentucky Butter Cake is a Southern staple thanks to its tender crumb that’s soaked in a sweet butter sauce while still warm.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Kentucky Butter Cake

A Foolproof Sweet Potato Pie Recipe Made With Condensed Milk

A sweet potato pie next to a bowl of whipped cream. — A Foolproof Sweet Potato Pie Recipe Made With Condensed Milk. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Sweet Potato Pie with condensed milk, orange zest, and cinnamon makes for a creamy, flavorful dessert. Perfect for holidays or any time of year.
Get the Recipe: A Foolproof Sweet Potato Pie Recipe Made With Condensed Milk

Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallows

A glass baking dish filled with chocolate sheet cake topped with rich chocolate frosting and chopped pecans, with a cake server nearby on a gray surface. — Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallows. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This chocolate Coca-Cola cake is made with the iconic soda, mini marshmallows, and unsweetened cocoa powder for extra rich chocolate flavor.
Get the Recipe: Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallows

Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding With Meringue

A classic southern desserts favorite, creamy banana pudding topped with fluffy meringue is partially served with a spoon, resting beside several vintage metal spoons on a gray surface. — Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding With Meringue. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This warm banana pudding is a deliciously creamy dessert made with fresh bananas and a rich custard.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding With Meringue

Apple Snickers Salad Recipe

Apple Snickers Salad is a sweet and creamy salad dessert that combines crisp apples, crunchy Snickers bars, and a dreamy whipped topping.
Get the Recipe: Apple Snickers Salad Recipe

Carrot Cake Cobbler

A bowl of warm apple crisp, a classic among old fashioned southern desserts, topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. Pieces of walnuts and crumbled topping are visible, with a spoon resting inside the bowl. — Carrot Cake Cobbler. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

Carrot Cake Cobbler is the ultimate Southern dessert with cake on the top and hot caramel sauce on the bottom! Serve warm with ice cream!
Get the Recipe: Carrot Cake Cobbler

Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls W/ Cream Cheese Frosting

Close-up of soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls topped with creamy white icing, highlighting their swirled texture and gooey layers—an irresistible treat for lovers of cinnamon desserts. — Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls W/ Cream Cheese Frosting. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Overnight strawberry rolls filled with jam and topped with cream cheese frosting. A buttery, sweet start to any holiday or weekend.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls W/ Cream Cheese Frosting

Bakery-Style Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

This super moist and tender lemon poppy seed cake has a buttery, pound cake-like texture with a sweet lemon glaze popping with citrus flavor.
Get the Recipe: Bakery-Style Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

Cranberry Pretzel Salad

Cranberry Pretzel Salad is a holiday favorite with a salty pretzel crust, creamy filling, and cranberry jello. A perfect make-ahead desserts.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Pretzel Salad

Buttermilk Congealed Salad Recipe

A very popular treat in the South, buttermilk congealed salad combines Jello with fruit or vegetables to make a refreshing side dish/dessert.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Congealed Salad Recipe

Coconut Custard Pie: A Southern Classic

Creamy coconut custard pie made with coconut milk, egg yolks, and a golden crust. Baked and topped with toasted coconut for a perfect finish.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Custard Pie: A Southern Classic

Cranberry Fluff Salad

Light and creamy cranberry fluff salad made with canned cranberries, pineapple, and Cool Whip. No-bake holiday favorite that’s easy to make!
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Fluff Salad

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