17 easy potluck desserts that look like you spent all day baking

Photo of author

| Published:

Get ready to bask in the glory of being the dessert hero at your next potluck. These 17 easy dessert recipes will have everyone convinced you’re a baking expert who spent the entire day covered in flour!

Chocolate dump cake topped with colorful M&Ms.
Chocolate Dump Cake. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Sugar Cookie Bars

Sugar Cookie Bars with colorful sprinkles.
Sugar Cookie Bars. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Sugar Cookie Bars have soft, chewy base jazzed up with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting and a confetti of sprinkles. You’ll get all the oohs and aahs with minimal kitchen time—win-win!
Get the Recipe: Sugar Cookie Bars

Blueberry Upside Down Cake

Blueberry upside down cake on a white plate before slicing.
Blueberry Upside Down Cake. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Flip dessert expectations upside down with a cake that’s bursting with blueberries and looks like a masterpiece. Let them think you’re a baking wizard; this cake’s simplicity will be our little secret.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Upside Down Cake

Red Velvet Brownies

Red Velvet Brownie on a white plate.
Red Velvet Brownies. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Imagine the oohs when you unveil a tray of red velvet brownies, each square a little piece of heaven with cream cheese frosting. Valentine’s Day or not, these treats are a love letter to your time management skills.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Brownies

Cool Whip Cookies

Cool whip cookies on parchment with powdered sugar.
Cool Whip Cookies. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Cool Whip Cookies to the rescue when you need a dessert that says homemade with the effort of a store-bought mix. A box of lemon cake mix, some Cool Whip, and an egg are the trusty sidekicks in this soft, chewy cookie.
Get the Recipe: Cool Whip Cookies

Blueberry Cobbler

Closeup of blueberry cobbler with a few pieces gone and a spoon with berry filling.
Old Fashioned Blueberry Cobbler. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Blueberry Cobbler, with its flaky biscuit topping and bursts of fruit, is the dish that’ll have folks thinking you’re a pastry chef in disguise. Every bite oozes with berry juices.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Cobbler

Reeses Pieces Bars

A square of chocolate chip cookie bars on a cutting board.
Reeses Pieces Bars. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Whip up some Reese’s Pieces Bars and watch as everyone thinks you’re the peanut butter to their chocolate. This easy-peasy recipe delivers a symphony of sweet and nutty flavors that’ll have friends reaching for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Reeses Pieces Bars

Carrot Cake Cookies

Adorable spring treats featuring carrot cookies adorned with icing and carrots on a plate.
Carrot Cake Cookies. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Carrot Cake Cookies are the sweet little lies of the dessert table; they taste like effort but are as easy as pie. Each bite is a soft, chewy hug of spices and carrots, with cream cheese frosting drizzled on top.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Cake Cookies

Chocolate Dump Cake

Chocolate dump cake topped with colorful M&Ms.
Chocolate Dump Cake. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

When you roll up with a Chocolate Dump Cake, the ooey-gooey chocolatey goodness will have everyone thinking it’s a family heirloom recipe. Chocolate chips and M&M’s join forces in a dessert that’s sinfully easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Dump Cake

Coconut Bars with Chocolate Chips

Gooey coconut bars on a wooden cutting board with coconut.
Coconut Bars with Chocolate Chips. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These Coconut Bars with Chocolate Chips are like a tropical vacation in a pan, and guess what? You’re the tour guide with a recipe so easy, it’s like taking a shortcut through paradise. They’re buttery, they’re chewy, and they’ve got just enough chocolate to make them irresistible.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Bars with Chocolate Chips

Swedish Almond Cake

Slices of Swedish almond cake dusted with powdered sugar and topped with almonds.
Swedish Almond Cake. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Swedish Almond Cake impresses with minimal stress. This easy, elegant dessert whispers of far-off lands and sophisticated flavors, yet it’s as simple as mixing and baking. Dust it with powdered sugar or drizzle with glaze.
Get the Recipe: Swedish Almond Cake

Heath Bar Cookies

Heath bar cookies stacked up one is broken in half.
Heath Bar Cookies. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Heath Bar Cookies are the crunch, the chew, the chocolatey chew—all rolled into one—and they’ll think it took all day. Toffee bits, pecans, and chocolate come together in a cookie that’s easy and delicious.
Get the Recipe: Heath Bar Cookies

Cake Mix Donuts

Chocolate cake mix donuts with colorful sprinkles on a baking rack.
Cake Mix Donuts. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Cake Mix Donuts are the secret weapon of the savvy baker; who knew four ingredients could lead to such glory? Pick your favorite cake mix, jazz it up, and decorate to your heart’s content.
Get the Recipe: Cake Mix Donuts

Italian Ricotta Cookies

Ricotta cookies with icing and colored sprinkles on a cooling rack and on the counter.
Italian Ricotta Cookies. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Italian Ricotta Cookies are like little clouds of joy without much fuss. Soft, tender, and with a cake-like texture, they’re a nod to tradition without spending all day in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Italian Ricotta Cookies

Pistachio Fluff

Pistachio salad topped with nuts and cherries.
Pistachio Fluff. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Pistachio Fluff is the dessert that’s as fun to say as it is to make—and eat! Five simple ingredients, a little stir, and voilà, you’ve got a make-ahead wonder that’s as green as your neighbor with envy.
Get the Recipe: Pistachio Fluff

Amish Cinnamon Bread

Loaf of cinnamon bread sliced to show the ribbon of cinnamon inside.
Amish Cinnamon Bread. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Amish Cinnamon Bread fills your home with the scent of success. This sweet, cinnamony loaf comes together so quickly, you’ll have time to ponder the simpler things in life.
Get the Recipe: Amish Cinnamon Bread

Classic Cheesecake Bars

Cheesecake bar squares topped with sliced strawberries.
Classic Cheesecake Bars. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Classic Cheesecake Bars are your go-to when you want to dish out elegance without the effort. A graham cracker crust lays the foundation for a creamy cheesecake filling, topped off with fresh berries. It’s as simple as it gets.
Get the Recipe: Classic Cheesecake Bars

Chocolate Cherry Cake

Slice of chocolate cherry cake topped with cherry pie filling.
Chocolate Cherry Cake. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This Chocolate Cherry Cake is a cheater’s dream, mixing a cake mix with cherry pie filling for a combo that’s sure to win hearts. Drizzle it with a chocolate glaze and watch as it becomes the potluck’s main attraction.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Cake

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.