Good dessert to bring as a guest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I buy an apple, pear or apricot tart at the nice french bakery.

Or blueberry, or peach.

A real pastry tart, delicate, calls for modest portions, this is the perfect choice. Maybe with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. For those looking for a “classy” dessert, here is the winning play.

[Anonymous]

Event has passed. OP no longer needs advice.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This thread is why I’d never ask a guest to bring dessert!

What about it offends you?

Nothing about it offends me. Just realizing that my idea of a good dessert is much different than most people’s here, so I’d be happier making or procuring it myself. And then I’d know that it would make sense with the rest of the meal and probably exceed expectations.

NP. Most people here are suggesting things that will appeal to children, because that’s what the OP was asking for. I’ll save the gourmet desserts for a dinner party with other adults; brownies are just fine for a potluck with kids.

Actually the ask was for things that would appeal to *both* children and adults (and the event wasn’t described as a potluck). FWIW, my initial response was seasonal fruit crisp or citrus cake with berries. Not gourmet but different/more festive than brownies or cookies which, you’re right, are default choices for school potlucks.

DP and one of the brownies/blondies posters: I'll sometimes do a cake with fresh fruit in summer, especially if I've just gone berry picking. I love seasonal fruit crisps/crumbles, but they can be *so* messy when kids are involved. That's part of the consideration for me, too. A nice dense cake with fresh fruit may be a good compromise where kids are concerned.

Never had that problem wrt crisps (and have found brownie crumbs ground into the rug, lol)! But a lot of this comes down to how many kids, what’s the age range, are people sitting at a table while eating, mixed-age table vs age-segregated, indoors vs outdoors, etc.

Sure. But I hear kids and think at least elementary age or younger, and I don't trust them to sit at the table and neatly eat a blackberry crisp or something without at least some of it staining something. If the OP had said teens, it would be different. I think most people would consider a goopy (if delicious) berry dessert messier than a sturdy brownie or cookie.

But really, anyone who would turn their nose up at a homemade brownie or blondie or cookie or whatever isn't worth the time it takes to make those things. We invite friends over for meals to enjoy their company, not huff at their food choices ("exceed expectations"? really?). This event wasn't a meal for select foodies, FFS. You can pass on a given dessert and not act snooty about it.

OP here. I went the brownies because I happen to know this family that invited us loves them. It was just my family and theirs. The kids outnumbered adults. I added ganache as a nod to make it slightly more special but still appealing to the kids. When I go to a larger gathering with more adults than kids I will usually bring two desserts: one more sophisticated and one plain brownie or cookies for kids or anyone else

PP you're quoting and yes, this! My favorite variation on this theme was sugar cookie-sprinkle bars (i.e., my favorite sugar cookie recipe, baked in bars, and with a generous addition of rainbow sprinkles) and then a citrus bundt cake with fresh blackberries. Maybe bundt cake isn't particularly sophisticated, but it wasn't overly sweet and made use of good fresh fruit. Yum.

I often bring brownies because multiple adults in our social circle demand them (it's the KAF Fudge Brownie recipe).