25 Fancy Dessert Recipes That Will Impress Your Guests
If you need a fancy dessert recipe for a special occasion, we’ve got you covered. Even though these dessert recipes are sure to impress your guests, we've snuck in a few shortcuts to help make serving them up a little easier. There's cakes on this list that start with boxed cake mix, ganaches that come together in the microwave, and even recipes that only require 30 minutes (or less) of hands-on time in the kitchen. With recipes this easy, you can whip up these fancy desserts for your family any day of the week.
Read on for our best fancy dessert recipes that are sure to wow any crowd.
Mini Carrot Cakes
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Cut out from a sheet cake with cookies cutters, this baby layer cakes are filled with a dreamy coconut buttercream frosting.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cheesecake
This decadent recipe transforms the flavors of chocolate covered strawberries into a pretty cheesecake. Plus, the layer of chocolate ganache actually comes together in the microwave.
Pink Champagne Cake
Although this cake is pretty enough to serve at a special occasion, it actually starts with a boxed cake mix so it requires just 30 minutes of hands-on time to pull together.
Peach Shortcake Trifle
Layers of peaches, whipped cream, and vanilla cake come together in a trifle dish to create a beautiful centerpiece that's also delicious.
Mini Lemon Cakes With Lavender Glaze
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Although edible flowers are not required, they sure make a pretty garnish for these dainty lemon and lavender cakelets.
Chocolate Lava Cakes
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
These lava cakes come together from start to finish in just 35 minutes.
Baby Chocolate Bourbon Bombes
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Enrobed in rich, bourbon-spiked ganache, these tiny chocolate cakes make stunningly delicious dessert.
Hummingbird Cake
The Hummingbird Cake is a classic layer cake that features three moist cake layers that are packed with pineapples and bananas. The layers are then covered with a cream cheese frosting and finished off with toasted pecans.
Raspberry-White Chocolate Meringue Sandwich Cookies
Freeze-dried raspberries give homemade meringue a pretty pink hue.
Mini Caramel Cakes
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Everybody's favorite Southern cake just got a cuteness upgrade! A little sprinkle of fancy flaky sea salt makes these delightful treats party perfect.
Buttermilk-Lime Mini Cakes with Vanilla-Mascarpone Buttercream
This recipe transforms a sheet cake into miniature cakes so every guest has their own dessert.
Cranberry-Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream
Citrus and sugared berries not only give this cake a beautiful finish but add plenty of flavor in the cake layers and in the icing as well.
Fresh Strawberry Meringue Cake
For the best meringue, make sure your egg whites are at room temperature before you add them to the mixture.
Bourbon Ball Tart
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell
Serving bourbon balls on top of a chocolate tart gives them an impressive presentation.
Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova Cake
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos
Not only does this pavlova cake come together with just 9 ingredients, but it's also dairy- and gluten-free.
Apple Rose Tart
This apple tart is almost too pretty to eat.
Devil's Food Cake with Salted Peanut Butter Frosting and Ganache
You may be surprised to learn that this decadent cake comes together using just 9 ingredients, boxed cake mix being one of them.
Florida Orange Grove Pie
Baked meringue serves at the crust for this cheerful pie that was originally published in The Junior League of Tampa's cookbook in 1961.
Mini Confetti Cake
Edible flowers such as violas, tuberous begonias, English daisies, or pansies instantly transform mini cakes into party-worthy desserts.
Transparent Pie with Whipped Crème Fraîche and Sugared Cranberries
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Sugared Cranberries and Whipped Crème Fraîche are just the embellishments transparent pie needs to give it an elegant finish.
Ice Cream Cake
Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
No baking is required to pull together this ice cream cake, just make sure to allow plenty of time for freezing.
Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Trust us, this homemade cheesecake is worth the extra effort.
Caramel Apple Cake
This cake will fool your family into thinking you spent all afternoon preparing it, when in reality you'll need just 20 minutes of hands-on time.
Triple Chocolate Brownie-Mousse Stacks
Both the chocolate mousse and white chocolate mousse for these brownie stacks come together in the microwave. Plus, they can be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve.
Pineapple Mini Bundt Cakes
Drizzled with glaze and adorned with pretty pineapple flowers, these tiny cakes will make a big statement at your next party!
For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Southern Living.
