Need an easy dessert idea to make for a potluck

[Anonymous]

Rice Krispie treats, but brown the butter first before adding marshmallows

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brownies. And vanilla ice cream if you're feeling fancy. Everyone loves brownies.

This. Add some chocolate and caramel syrup, whipped cream, and nuts.

I always take the same thing for potluck dessert - chocolate and vanilla ice cream and different toppings. Mini cookies, mini brownies, sprinkles, crushed pineapple, nuts, whipped cream.

I'm not against ice cream sundaes as a dessert but this is not the most potluck friendly item. The host has to find a spot to store the ice cream until dessert and then take out a bunch of bowls and utensils to just serve the toppings. Then pack up everything at the end of the night. I don't have a lot of excess space in my freezer, especially when I'm hosting a party.

Brownies, bars, cookies, etc. are great for potlucks because they only require a napkin and leftovers can stay on the plate they were served on.

[Anonymous]

Chocolate dipped strawberries, always a winner!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you trying to be elegant with fresh fruit and a fancy pastry, or are you okay with using premade processed foods like pudding, or condensed milk, or the like?

Someone else is bringing fruit salad. I just want something yummy and easy. Brownies might be a good idea. Any way I could elevate them, maybe with frosting?

I know this isn’t helpful but I would
seriously side-eye someone bringing fruit salad if tasked with a dessert

I wouldn't. I'm grateful every time I see fruit as a desert option. And I don't think I'm alone there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brownies. And vanilla ice cream if you're feeling fancy. Everyone loves brownies.

This. Add some chocolate and caramel syrup, whipped cream, and nuts.

I always take the same thing for potluck dessert - chocolate and vanilla ice cream and different toppings. Mini cookies, mini brownies, sprinkles, crushed pineapple, nuts, whipped cream.

I'm not against ice cream sundaes as a dessert but this is not the most potluck friendly item. The host has to find a spot to store the ice cream until dessert and then take out a bunch of bowls and utensils to just serve the toppings. Then pack up everything at the end of the night. I don't have a lot of excess space in my freezer, especially when I'm hosting a party.

Brownies, bars, cookies, etc. are great for potlucks because they only require a napkin and leftovers can stay on the plate they were served on.

I always take utensils and bowls. There is usually not much leftover after everyone runs through. And…it’s a potluck. Everyone packs up the leftovers (if they’re are any) of what they brought. Also, I’ve never had an issue with bringing one or two gallons of ice cream. I’m not talking about ice cream for 50 people.

[Anonymous]

Please warn me if you're bringing gallons of ice cream to my house.

Agree with Brownies or toll House chocolate chip cookies are popular and fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you trying to be elegant with fresh fruit and a fancy pastry, or are you okay with using premade processed foods like pudding, or condensed milk, or the like?

Someone else is bringing fruit salad. I just want something yummy and easy. Brownies might be a good idea. Any way I could elevate them, maybe with frosting?

I know this isn’t helpful but I would
seriously side-eye someone bringing fruit salad if tasked with a dessert

I wouldn't. I'm grateful every time I see fruit as a desert option. And I don't think I'm alone there.

Nope. You’re not alone. I’m always happy to see fruit salad or a fruit tray.m

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rice Krispie treats, but brown the butter first before adding marshmallows

And use more butter—Smitten Kitchen’s version is excellent—my kids’ teachers always asked me to bring these

[Anonymous]

Someone brought this to the last potluck. It was the most popular dessert and multiple people asked for the recipe. The person who brought it told everyone it was so easy!

https://bellyfull.net/chocolate-eclair-cake/

[Anonymous]

Brownies. But not from a box. They are so easy to make from scratch and can be done in one pot.

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2/3 cocoa powder
4 eggs
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Melt the butter in a large saucepan, add the cocoa powder, stir well, add sugar, stir well, add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each, add vanilla

Stir in flour and mix until just combined. Bake 350 25 min

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone brought this to the last potluck. It was the most popular dessert and multiple people asked for the recipe. The person who brought it told everyone it was so easy!

https://bellyfull.net/chocolate-eclair-cake/

That could be really good with homemade ganache like they suggest, but I would double the cocoa and halve the sugar to get a dark chocolate taste. Vanilla pudding is so sweet, so a dark chocolate would help balance it. I think it would be pretty gross with store bought tub frosting. Would it work with real whipped cream or get weepy?

It reminds me of the vanilla wafer with vanilla pudding and banana slices that one of my friends always brings to potlucks.

[Anonymous]

Mississippi mud cake. Use brownie mix for the base if you prefer. https://www.southernliving.com/syndication/mississippi-mud-cake-0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone brought this to the last potluck. It was the most popular dessert and multiple people asked for the recipe. The person who brought it told everyone it was so easy!

https://bellyfull.net/chocolate-eclair-cake/

This is reminiscent for school cafeteria dessert or something we had at sleepaway camp. Perhaps it would work at a family reunion picnic. I would not serve this to nighttime function for mainly adults. Boxed pudding, cool whip, gram crackers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make brownies. The Ghirardelli box mix is good. They will disappear!

I started subsituting (inspired by that DCUM thread) -- butter instead of oil, milk instead of water, and I very slightly undercook. Oh my god. incredible. Took them to a school event recently and they disappeared within minutes.

I sub coffee for water! Doesn’t make them taste like coffee, just extra chocolate-y.

do you warn people about the caffeine?

PP here. I don't, but it's only 1/4 cup in the whole pan of brownies. But maybe I will use decaf in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone brought this to the last potluck. It was the most popular dessert and multiple people asked for the recipe. The person who brought it told everyone it was so easy!

https://bellyfull.net/chocolate-eclair-cake/

This is reminiscent for school cafeteria dessert or something we had at sleepaway camp. Perhaps it would work at a family reunion picnic. I would not serve this to nighttime function for mainly adults. Boxed pudding, cool whip, gram crackers?

It went to an after-church picnic and the adults were not only eating is up, but were recommending their spouses try it. I think the adults enjoyed it more than the kids did (although they enjoyed it too).

Why are boxed brownies any more adult?