Dinner party dessert recipes
Finish your evening in style with a delicious chocolate or fruit, rich or light dessert. Our make-ahead recipes will help keep things simple.
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Chocolate coconut banoffee pie
- Ready in 1 hr 30 mins
A dazzling dessert with bourbon biscuit base, caramel layer, creamy coconut topping and banana toffee
4
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Chocolate, pistachio & nougat semi-freddo
By
- Ready in 30 mins
This traditional Italian ice cream bar is the perfect solution for an effortless frozen, creamy dessert
6
ratings
Easy
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St Clement’s pie
By
- Ready in 1 hr 35 mins
A very British version of Key lime pie - an indulgent, creamy tart with tangy oranges and lemons
10
ratings
Easy
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Mini banoffee pies
- Ready in 15 mins
Go retro with this easy and ever-popular dessert that's been given a smart dinner party makeover
6
ratings
Easy
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Lemon custard tart
By
- Ready in 1 hr 45 mins
Traditional egg custard tart is given a makeover with the deliciously light and fresh citrus flavours of lemon
0
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Cardamom meringue nests
By
- Ready in 2 hrs 5 mins
Let your guests fill these sweetly spiced meringues at the table with our suggested flavoured creams
2
ratings
Easy
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Sticky toffee tarts
- Ready in 1 hr 45 mins
This twist on classic sticky toffee pudding is ideal for a different dinner party dessert
5
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Chocolate, hazelnut & salted caramel tart
By
- Ready in 1 hr 30 mins
A buttery pastry case with a layer of caramel and just a hint of salt, studded with nuts and finished with a fudge filling
17
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Orange & apricot bread & butter pudding
By
- Ready in 2 hrs
A traditional baked pudding with orange zest and dried apricots. Add a cheeky splash of orange liqueur for a grown-up get-together
4
ratings
Easy
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Salted caramel choc pots
- Ready in 35 mins
Combining sweet and salty flavours really works when chocolate and toffee is involved - best served in individual portions
12
ratings
Easy
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Rhubarb, pear & hazelnut crumbles
- Ready in 1 hr
Individual fruity puddings with a twist - try mixing chopped nuts with your crumble topping for extra crunch
4
ratings
Easy
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Chocolate tiramisu cake
By
- Ready in 1 hr 35 mins
This creamy chocolate and coffee layer cake has real wow factor and is ideal for a celebration
4
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Chocolate mousse with orange shortbreads
By
- Ready in 2 hrs
Prepare these indulgent chocolate pots and homemade biscuits ahead, ready to reveal a restaurant-style dessert
10
ratings
Easy
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Ultimate lemon meringue pie
- Ready in 3 hrs 15 mins
You can't go wrong with one of Angela Nilsen's ultimates and this is no exception
141
ratings
Easy
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Tia Maria cheesecake
- Ready in 1 hr 5 mins
Perfect for a special occasion, this American style dessert really has the wow-factor
65
ratings
Easy
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Sticky toffee pudding
By
- Ready in 50 mins
A sticky treat that the kids and adults alike will love - it has a lovely natural toffee flavour
178
ratings
Easy
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Lemon panna cotta with blackberries & honey madeleines
- Ready in 6 hrs
Creamy panna cotta, plump British blackberries and warm honey madeleines make a special dessert with very little effort
9
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Chocolate soufflés
By
- Ready in 30 mins
These melting chocolate puddings are much sturdier than ordinary soufflés and will behave even if made ahead (but not cooked)
75
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Raspberry & milk chocolate cheesecake
By
- Ready in 30 mins
Use good quality chocolate for this sumptuous cheesecake. Raspberries not in season? Just leave them out
203
ratings
Easy
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Limoncello syllabub with crushed amaretti
By
- Ready in 20 mins
A lovely light pudding to round off an evening meal - the amaretti biscuits give a crunchy, almondy edge
22
ratings
Easy
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Chocolate marquise
- Ready in 45 mins
For the decadent dinner party - this rich chocolate dessert is for serious chocoholics only
48
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Banoffee pie
By
- Ready in 2 hrs
A classic creamy pudding of banana and toffee- a drizzle of chocolate takes the decadence up a notch
88
ratings
Easy
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Flat apple & vanilla tart
- Ready in 30 mins
A gorgeous looking tart that is fantastic for any occasion - from morning tea to decadent dessert
52
ratings
Easy
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Ultimate crème brûlée
- Ready in 1 hr 30 mins
Our professional tips will help you to create this crunchy-and-custardy delight
47
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Malt chocolate cheesecake
- Ready in 5 hrs 55 mins
This crowd-pleasing dessert is made ahead, so all you have to do on the night is take it out of the fridge and bask in the glory
83
ratings
Easy
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Baileys cheesecake
- Ready in 1 hr
An intense layer of coffee jelly perfects this creamy cheesecake. Serve with one of our coffee cocktails for unadulterated indulgence
33
ratings
For The Keen Cook
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Decadent chocolate truffle torte
- Ready in 1 hr
Create a mouthwatering chocolate truffle torte - and there's no cooking necessary!
39
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Berry shortbread cheesecake slice
- Ready in 2 hrs 30 mins
A stunning centrepiece dessert that's bursting with summer flavours, perfect for a special occasion
20
ratings
Easy
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Sticky cinnamon figs
- Ready in 10 mins
A simple and stylish nutty fig pudding ready in just 10 minutes
21
ratings
Easy
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Caramelised passion fruit & lime tart
- Ready in 1 hr 10 mins
This zingy tart has a wonderful flavour and is a great way to cook with passion friut
19
ratings
Easy
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Toffee pear galettes
By
- Ready in 40 mins
A deceptively easy dessert that is fabulous for dinner parties
17
ratings
Easy
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Lemon polenta cake with limoncello syrup
By
- Ready in 1 hr 15 mins
Bring a touch of Italian glamour to the table with this simple but stylish, lemon cake
21
ratings
Easy
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Honey roasted fig & almond tart
- Ready in 1 hr 45 mins
Delicious, sweet and fruity pud, great served with cream or ice cream - make the case with bought pastry
11
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Chestnut & amaretto roulade
- Ready in 2 hrs
Gregg Wallace's stunning, make-ahead roulade is much easier to master than it looks
4
ratings
Easy
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Almond & honey pastries with orange cream
- Ready in 1 hr
Serve these prepare-ahead puds with coffee, dessert wine or fresh mint tea for a real after-dinner treat
2
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Chocolate & ginger torte
By
- Ready in 1 hr 35 mins
This decadent dessert with a triple-ginger hit is a chocoholic's dream
7
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Black & white cheesecake
By
- Ready in 1 hr 15 mins
Replacing the usual digestive base with Oreo cookies gives this cheesecake a New York bakery-style finish
11
ratings
Easy
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Caramel soufflés with caramel sauce
- Ready in 1 hr
Soufflés are always an after-dinner winner, and these saucy caramel treats are no exception
2
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Coconut, raspberry & lime meringue slice
- Ready in 1 hr 45 mins
Making one large meringue is much less fiddly than doing individual ones, and you can prepare all the elements ahead
17
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Baked apples with Calvados sauce
- Ready in 1 hr
This favourite dessert of Maman Blanc is an ideal way to use up an autumn apple glut
1
rating
Moderately Easy
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Lychee & ginger sorbet
- Ready in 25 mins
This refreshing make-ahead dessert is a cooling way to finish off a Chinese-themed dinner party
4
ratings
Easy
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Saffron poached pears with parmesan & oat biscuits
- Ready in 1 hr
Can't decide between dessert and cheese? Combine the two with these easy oatcakes and poached pears
0
ratings
Easy
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Apple tart 'Maman Blanc'
- Ready in 2 hrs 20 mins
An elegant autumn dessert that's easy to prepare as the pastry case does not need to be pre-baked
4
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Lemon thyme panna cotta with raspberry granité
- Ready in 4 hrs 15 mins
Change this recipe according to the season and you'll always have a make-ahead dinner party dessert with wow-factor
1
rating
Moderately Easy
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Prune & Armagnac tart
- Ready in 4 hrs
John Torode makes one of his favourite dinner party desserts in this step-by-step recipe
2
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Peanut butter & salted caramel ice cream
By
- Ready in 4 hrs 25 mins
This luxurious pud combines two of the trendiest new flavours on dessert menus
2
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Cheese with pickled pear salad
By
- Ready in 10 mins
A contemporary alternative to the traditional cheeseboard, the hardest part will be selecting your favourite cheeses
1
rating
Easy
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