33 Easy Party Desserts – Finger Foods Ideas to Make for a Crowd (2024)

When planning for a party, it is nice to have some easy party dessert recipes that are quick to make and will feed a crowd.

Guests always appreciate a sweet treat, whether baking for a dinner party, bridal shower, baby shower, a wedding, or a birthday party.

As people mingle about, it’s important to offer them an easy grab and go dessert. Think of it as dessert finger foods.

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That’s why I concentrated this list on easy party desserts to make that don’t need a plate or a fork to be enjoyed.

Although decorated sugar cookies (or an excellent chocolate chip cookie) would seem to be an important part of a party dessert table, I wanted to explore more diverse desserts and bring a medley of options to you.

And yes, cake pops are also small and portable, but I don’t find them easy to make, so they’re not on this list.

In this post, we’ll explore an array of bite-size desserts, dessert bars, mini desserts such as tarts and pies, and other handheld party desserts.

Bite Sized Easy Party Desserts

These bite-sized desserts are a great option for people who only want a small portion but great flavor.

A homemade chocolate truffle will satisfy any chocolate lovers at your party, while a stuffed strawberry will cater to the more health-conscious guests while still giving them a bite of a delicious dessert.

Most of these easy dessert recipes only require a few ingredients and no baking.

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Grab and Go bars

Dessert bars are the perfect potluck dessert recipe. They’re a quick and easy party dessert. Most are baked in one pan then cut, and only require a small napkin to eat, making them truly grab-and-go.

I bring the mochi coconut bars (#13) to a lot of potlucks, they won’t melt in the hot weather and they’re always quite a hit! (And they’re gluten free so more of my friends can enjoy a sweet treat). They’re great for luaus, pool parties or your next diner party.

Try out some of these delicious looking recipes:

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Mini Tarts And Pies

Little Tarts and pies are excellent mini desserts and will bring any dinner party to new heights.

Although some are a little more time-intensive, they’re not difficult to make. From no-bake cheesecakes to mini apple pies, you’ll find an easy recipe to embellish your dessert table. And these little masterpieces will make you the talk of the town!

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More Individual Easy Party Desserts

If you need easy desserts for a birthday party, cupcakes are the perfect treat. Take your favorite cake recipe and turn it into two dozen cupcakes with an easy frosting in less than an hour.

Chocolate-covered strawberries are also a great stand-by, and I love those ice cream cones covered with melted chocolate and filled with fresh berries. Fruit cups are one of my favorite things to serve at a party, next time, I’ll make sure to serve them in these.

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I hope you enjoyed my list of easy party desserts for a crowd. The best part is that these dessert recipes will work for any time of the year.

If you’re looking for more holiday-specific mini desserts, check out my cute Thanksgiving desserts post or these adorable Easter treats. I also have lots of party on a budget food ideas that don’t look cheap.

Don’t forget to pin these quick and easy party desserts:

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33 Easy Party Desserts – Finger Foods Ideas to Make for a Crowd (2024)

FAQs

What are the most popular finger foods for parties? ›

Easy Finger Food Recipes to Make Ahead
  1. Fried Pickles. Treat your guests to fried pickles for fun finger food ideas. ...
  2. Fried Mac and Cheese Rolls. ...
  3. Deviled Eggs. ...
  4. Honey Garlic Meatballs. ...
  5. Garlic Breadsticks. ...
  6. Salted Soft Pretzels. ...
  7. Whipped Ricotta Crostini. ...
  8. Vietnamese Spring Rolls.
Apr 22, 2024

How much dessert do I need for 30 guests? ›

It's a safe bet to count one serving per person. You're planning an event for 30 people? Order three dozen. That extra six is a good buffer.

How many desserts do you need for 20 people? ›

​So how many desserts do you really need? If you are offering a full size dessert like a cupcake or a full size brownie, count on 1-2 per guest. With smaller desserts like cookies, macarons, bite size brownies, or mini tarts you can count on each guest taking 3 items from the various options.

What is a typical finger buffet? ›

A finger buffet meal consists of food which may be picked up with the fingers (finger food), such as small (finger) sandwiches, canapés and vol-au-vents.

What is the cheapest food to make for a party? ›

20 Great inexpensive party food ideas
  • Ham and cheese pinwheels. ...
  • Mini spinach pies. ...
  • Spaghetti bolognese. ...
  • Baguettes with toppings (bruschetta) ...
  • Egg, cheese, and ham skewers. ...
  • Chicken pot pie. ...
  • Cheese straws. ...
  • Macaroni and cheese. You can make a few dishes of macaroni and cheese and serve it from warming trays.
Oct 13, 2022

How much finger food for 35 guests? ›

If you're hosing 25 -35 guests, plan 3-4 bites per person if a full dinner is to be served afterwards, or 5-7 bites per person if a lighter meal will be served. If you're hosting a party of 50, then you can offer 6 to 9 different items.

How many mini desserts for 50 guests? ›

We recommend 2-4 items per guest, but don't worry, we'll help make sure you have enough servings to go around!

How many desserts do I need for 25 guests? ›

So, on to the real question: how much should you plan on per guest? This depends on whether other food will be served as well. If hot appetizers or a meal will be served beforehand, I plan on 1 slice of cake or 2 small servings of other types of desserts for each guest.

How many cupcakes for 30 people? ›

How many cupcakes should I order? Depending on the number of flavors you have selected, we recommend one to one and a half standard-size cupcakes per guest. If you are serving minis, we recommend two to three minis per guest, depending on what other dessert-type food will be at the reception.

How many cupcakes for 40 people? ›

The general rule of thumb for most gatherings is to have approximately 1.5 standard size cupcakes per guest. It will vary depending on whether there will be other desserts of more than one flavor of cupcake.

How many cookies for 30 guests? ›

How to Estimate the Number of Cookies Per Person? The general rule of thumb suggests calculating 2-3 cookies per person if other desserts are available. If cookies are the primary sweet treat, consider increasing the count to 4-6 per person.

What are some good finger foods for a birthday party? ›

Finger Foods for Birthday Party Guests
  • Bagels and muffins.
  • Cheese and crackers.
  • Chips with guacamole and salsa.
  • Fruit on skewers.
  • Quesadillas.
  • Sliders.
  • Taquitos.
  • Sandwiches cut into quarters.
Oct 13, 2023

What is on a finger food platter? ›

With carbonara mini quiches, cheesy bites, air fryer nibbles and more, there's definitely something for everyone.
  • 1Mini carbonara quiches. ...
  • 2Crispy mozzarella sticks. ...
  • 3Air fryer wontons. ...
  • 4Buffalo wings with crispy onion rings and kale slaw. ...
  • 5Super-crisp potato bites. ...
  • 6Crustless mini ham and vegie quiches.

What are the most common party foods? ›

38 Ideas For Party Food That Will Please Any Crowd
  • Ham & Cheese Pull-Apart Bread. ...
  • Garlic Parmesan Potato Stackers. ...
  • BBQ Pulled Pork Fries. ...
  • Peanut Butter Blueberry Frozen Yogurt Bites. ...
  • Chocolate Caramel Oat Bars (Carmelitas) ...
  • Curly Fries. tasty.co. ...
  • Strawberry Cheesecake Crackers. tasty.co. ...
  • Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas. tasty.co.
Dec 21, 2023

What are good appetizers to buy for a party? ›

11 Store-Bought Appetizers Our Editors Turn To For Easy...
  • Taylor Farms Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit.
  • Publix Deli Chicken Breast Dip, Buffalo Style.
  • Trader Joe's Pastry Bites Feta Cheese & Caramelized Onions.
  • The Fresh Market Take & Bake Brie.
  • Publix Deli Artichoke & Spinach Dip.
Feb 19, 2023

How much finger food for 25 guests? ›

How many bites per person? If you're hosing 25 -35 guests, plan 3-4 bites per person if a full dinner is to be served afterwards, or 5-7 bites per person if a lighter meal will be served. If you're hosting a party of 50, then you can offer 6 to 9 different items.

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