48 Make-Ahead Desserts That Make Hosting Easier Than Ever

Our best cakes, pies, cookies, and more!

By

Mary Shannon Wells

Updated on September 6, 2024

Two slices of Lemon Lush dessert on plates with forks with a glass of lemonade and a napkin. — Photo:
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

There's nothing we love more than a make-ahead recipe. Whether it's a trusty casserole waiting patiently in your freezer, a slow-cooker recipe that's ready when you get home from work, or a batch of fudge you can hold onto until the weekend's party, make-ahead recipes are valuable to every busy Southern cook.

Every Southern cook knows that no meal is complete without dessert on the table. That's why we gathered all of our best make-ahead desserts in one convenient location for you. Christmas cookie swap? Make it ahead. Potluck dessert for a crowd? Make it ahead. Kid's birthday cake? Make it ahead. We gathered dozens of make-ahead dessert options so you can be prepared regardless of the occasion.

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Éclair Cake

Eclair Cake — Molly Bolton

Éclairs are one sweet treat we might suggest buying rather than trying to prepare yourself, but this cake takes all the same flavors of that French pastry and distills them into an easy to make cake. The best part? It can be made ahead of time for extra easy entertaining.

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No-Bake Scotcheroos

Southern Living Scotcheroos on a platter to serve — Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Not only is this treat great to make ahead, but it's also a no-bake dessert. Once made, they can be stored in an airtight container for up to five days and in the freezer for up to three months.

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Pecan Spinwheels Bread Pudding

Southern Living Pecan Spinwheels Bread Pudding finished recipe in a dish ready to serve. — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This comforting bread pudding has all of your favorite fall flavors, and it can be made in individual ramekins or your trusty 13x9 dish.

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Brown Sugar Pound Cake

Southern Living Brown Sugar Pound Cake sliced and ready to serve topped with whipped cream — Hannah Zimmerman

This dessert has been named the "perfect pound cake" by the pros in our Test Kitchen. It'll remain moist and tender for days, so it's a great make-ahead option if you can resist cutting yourself a slice before bringing it to a potluck.

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Luscious Lemon Bars

Luscious lemon bars on parchment paper — Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

Classic lemon squares are a luncheon staple, and this recipe can be stored in the freezer for up to one month for every last-minute drop-by.

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Strawberry Cheesecake

Southern Living Strawberry Cheesecake on a platter ready to serve — Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

Both the topping and cheesecake layer of this dessert can be made up to four days in advance and stored separately. Just add the topping to the top of the cheesecake just before serving.

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Wacky Cake

Wacky Cake slices on blue plates — Will Dickey; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Keep this cake at room temperature for up to three days, if it lasts that long. It can also be stored in the freezer for up to three months.

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Atlantic Beach Pie Bars

Atlantic Beach Pie Bars - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This recipe is traditionally made as a pie, but in bar form, they're much more portable and potluck-friendly. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days, but just reserve the topping to add just before serving.

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Caramel-Frosted Pound Cake

Southern Living Caramel Frosted Pound Cake sliced on a cake plate to serve — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

When made ahead, you have several storage options for this cake. When made three days in advance, it can be stored at room temperature. Wrapped and refrigerated, it lasts for a week. And frozen whole or sliced, it can last up to three months.

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Tiramisu

Southern Living Tiramisu two servings on plates with a small cup of coffee — Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

Since this recipe requires at least 4 and up to 12 hours before serving, it's the ideal make-ahead dessert to prepare the day before it's served.

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Chocolate Delight

Chocolate Delight — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

You can prepare this rich chocolate dessert up to 8 hours in advance, so that come dinner time, you have one thing already crossed off your prep list.

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Knock-You-Naked Brownies

Southern Living Knock-Ya-Naked Brownies on a platter to serve — Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

As the name suggests, these brownies are quite impressive. Once made, they can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

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Mississippi Mud Pie

Mississippi Mud Pie — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Calling all chocolate lovers. This Mississippi Mud Pie consists of layers of chocolatey goodness that can be refrigerated and kept days in advance. Just add the whipped cream layer the day you want to serve.

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Cappuccino Swirl Bars

Cappuccino Swirl Bars — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

These layered bars look and taste fancier than they are to make, and they can be refrigerated for up to three days before you have the girls over to enjoy them.

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Dirt Pudding

Dirt Pudding — Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

In this garden-inspired single-serve treat, chocolate pudding and cookie crumbs become "dirt" and candy-dipped strawberries become planted "carrots." Keep your tasty mini gardens in the fridge for up to three days.

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Lemon Lush

Two slices of Lemon Lush dessert on plates with forks with a glass of lemonade and a napkin. — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

This old-school no-bake treat was designed with ease in mind, which includes being make-ahead friendly. In fact, you can store this lemon dessert covered, in refrigerator for up to 4 days.

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Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake

Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake — Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Hadas Smirnoff

The summery flavors of this cake are a welcome escape from the heat. Besides the whipped cream and berry topping, everything can be prepared up to a day in advance.

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Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge

Southern Living Mamie Eisenhower Chocolate Fudge cut and ready to serve — Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley

This vintage fudge recipe has been a go-to of Southern cooks for decades, and it keeps for up to two weeks, so it's the gift that keeps on giving.

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Cream Cheese Ice Cream

cream cheese ice cream with red velvet cake crumbles and berries — Jennifer Davick

Described by one reader as cream cheese frosting in ice cream form, this recipe is delicious on its own or paired with a plethora of other desserts. In addition to acting as a binder, the cream cheese adds a rich, dense texture to the cream base.

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Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread — Emily Laurae / Southern Living

This year, all Santa wants by the tree is old-fashioned gingerbread—he told us himself. This recipe can be stored for up to three days in advance. Don't forget a wintry sprinkle of powdered sugar and dollop of Brown Sugar-and-Ginger Whipped Cream.

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No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

When you've got a family to feed and cookie tins to fill, look no further than these No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Red-Velvet Cake Mix Cookies — Micah A. Leal

Cake mix cookies? Count us in! The higher oil content in these cookies helps them save better than other recipes.

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Triple Chocolate Brownie-Mousse Stacks Recipe

Triple Chocolate Brownie-Mousse Stacks — Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller

Brownie and mousse combine powers in these wonderful serving-sized stacks. Chill the assembled stacks up to 24 hours ahead of time, or chill the individual layers for even longer.

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Key Lime Icebox Cake

Key Lime Icebox Cake — Photo: Hector M Sanchez; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Vanessa Rocchio

Southerners have been turning to icebox cakes and pies for decades when they're in need of a no-cook, make-ahead dessert that will feed a crowd, and this is one of our best.

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Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls Recipe — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley

Bourbon balls are an amazing cocktail party dessert that guests can grab and go as they please without stopping to cut a slice of cake or requiring you to clean dessert spoons once the party is over. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week or frozen for as long as you need.

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Crème Brûlée Cheesecake

Crème Brûlée Cheesecake — Micah A. Leal

This elegant cheesecake will wow dinner guests with its presentation, and you can get it done the night before and let it chill overnight before finishing off the gorgeous caramelized top.

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Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines

Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

This New Orleans favorite treat is a go-to food gift during the holidays, and it can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week.

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Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake

Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake — Micah A. Leal

If you've been assigned to bring dessert to this year's Friendsgiving, don't show up with a store-bought pumpkin pie. Wow everyone with this multi-layer, Instagram-worthy cheesecake.

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Fresh Peach Ice Cream

Fresh Peach Ice Cream — Southern Living

There's nothing better than a bowl of homemade ice cream on a steaming summer day, and with this easy recipe, you can have it at the ready all season long.

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Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake

Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

When topped with fresh blueberries, this chilled dessert is ready for your Fourth of July celebration. Your family will be incredibly impressed when you show up with this layered stunner.

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Salted Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Butter-Pecan Shortbread Cookies — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Make this yummy fall cookie dough up to two days in advance and bake it the day of your get-together so your house smells amazing.

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Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Banana Pudding Cheesecake — Jennifer Davick

Packed with all the traditional flavors of banana pudding, this dreamy cheesecake will both impress and delight your crowd.

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Homemade Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream

Cookies and Cream Ice Cream — Caitlin Bensel

A scoop of homemade ice cream adds the most delicious personal touch to any dessert.

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Apple Stack Cake

Apple Stack Cake — Photo: Victor Protasi; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Because this gorgeous cake needs to "ripen" for two to three days before serving, you have no choice but to make it ahead. This stunner is a labor of love, but the payoff is unreal.

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Rebecca's Black Bottom Icebox Pie

Rebecca's Black Bottom Icebox Pie — Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Chill this decadent chocolate pie for at least eight and up to 24 hours before adding the whipped topping and serving to hungry guests.

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Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel

Peach Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel — Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

You might think of bread pudding as a cold-weather treat, but fresh summer peaches bring it right into the season.

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Chocolate Peppermint Cake

Chocolate Peppermint Cake — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

This three-layer cake is sure to impress any audience with its minty Italian meringue frosting and ultra-rich chocolate peppermint cake. No one will know you prepared it up to three days in advance.

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Rum Balls

Rum Balls Recipe — Hector Manuel Sanchez

This boozy confection first appeared in our December 1993 issue, and it's been popping up on dessert tables and in gift boxes ever since. They keep in the refrigerator for up to one month, so have a stash handy throughout the holidays for drop-by guests.

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No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars

No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars — Iain Bagwell

We can assume that just from reading "No-Bake, "Fudgy," and "Toffee," you already want to make these insanely delicious bars, but you'll love them even more when you find out you can put them together the night before.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars

Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Who doesn't love peanut butter and chocolate together? Cover and store these for up to three days after baking for school functions or neighbors in need of a treat.

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Strawberry-Pretzel Icebox Pie

Strawberry-Pretzel Icebox Pie — Jennifer Davick

Remember that Strawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad Grandma brought to every potluck when you were a kid? This reimagined pie version of it will give your generation a whole new reason to love the flavor combo.

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Watermelon Granita

Southern Living Watermelon Granita, Blackberry Granita, Peach Granita in glasses to serve garnished with fresh fruit — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This make-ahead treat requires only 15 minutes of hands on work. Once frozen and flaked to perfection, the granita can hang out in the freezer until you're ready to serve.

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Spiced Pecan Pie Bars

Spiced Pecan Pie Bars — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Pecan pie in bar form is easy to pack for potlucks, parties, and lunches. They can be a handheld dessert that’s perfect for mingling, or serve the bars with caramel sauce and ice cream for a sit-down dinner.

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Cherry Pie Bars

Cherry Pie Bars — Greg DuPree

Bars are the ideal handheld dessert for bringing to potlucks and picnics. This version tastes like cherry pie without the fuss of a pie crust. Make the bars and store them up to three days ahead of your gathering.

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Raspberry-White Chocolate Meringue Sandwich Cookies

Raspberry-White Chocolate Meringue Sandwich Cookies — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

These delicate cookies are sure to impress guests. They look complicated to make, but we have tips to help. Make the meringue cookies up to a week in advance. Store filled cookies at room temperature for up to three days before serving.

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Chocolate Trifle

Chocolate Trifle Recipe — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Easy enough for any novice baker, this chocolate-lover's trifle needs at least eight hours to chill before serving, so you can finish it up well in advance of your party.

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Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites — Jennifer Davick

This adorable mini dessert is easy for cocktail parties or gift-giving during the holidays.

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Chocolate Parfait

Chocolate Parfaits — Southern Living

This simple layered dessert is perfect for when the kids have company, as everyone gets the same portion and it's easy to make ahead.

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