Make-ahead dessert recipes

You can make these dessert recipes in advance, then add the finishing touches to serve them on the day – perfect to take some stress out of throwing a dinner party.

75 recipes

Filter This Page

Effort

Serves

APPLY FILTERS
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Crème caramels with caramel oranges

Dinner party dessert recipes

Crème caramels with caramel oranges

These vegan crème caramels with caramelised orange slices make a spectacular (and easy) dinner party...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Clementine, pomegranate and cranberry jelly

Make-ahead Christmas dessert recipes

Clementine, pomegranate and cranberry jelly

We’ve combined festive flavours of clementine, pomegranate and cranberry to create this fruity Christmas jelly....

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Rum and pineapple Christmas pudding

Christmas pudding recipes

Rum and pineapple Christmas pudding

An irresistible and boozy Christmas pudding. You can make this pudding up to three months...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Summer pudding arctic roll

Make-ahead summer dessert recipes

Summer pudding arctic roll

A gorgeous blueberry sponge is filled with mixed berries and ice cream before rolling and...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Yuzu daiquiri cheesecakes

Cheesecake recipes

Yuzu daiquiri cheesecakes

A perfect finish to any meal, these zingy yuzu daiquiri cheesecake pots with salted lime...

  • Effort icon Medium
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Gâteau breton

Make-ahead dessert recipes

Gâteau breton

Edd Kimber‘s gâteau breton is synonymous with the area it hails from, Brittany. It’s a...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Torta caprese

Italian dessert recipes

Torta caprese

Chef Francesco Mazzei shares his traditional Italian dessert, torta caprese, that’s perfect for a celebration...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Pineapple fritters with salted caramel sauce

Make-ahead dessert recipes

Pineapple fritters with salted caramel sauce

These crisp, creamy pineapple fritters are a surefire dessert winner. Sweet pineapple and thick clotted...

  • Effort icon Medium
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Chocolate, orange and frangipane tart

Sweet tart recipes

Chocolate, orange and frangipane tart

For cake-maker and owner of Pudding Fairy Laure Moyle, it was her father’s sweet tooth...

  • Effort icon Medium
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Rhubarb jelly and Bird’s custard ice cream

Ice cream recipes

Rhubarb jelly and Bird’s custard ice cream

Georgina Hayden has combined the nostalgic flavours of rhubarb and custard in a clever dessert...

  • Effort icon Challenge
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Crème brûlée bakewell tart

Make-ahead dessert recipes

Crème brûlée bakewell tart

A hybrid dessert combining the best of a decadent French crème brûlée and a traditional...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Pistachio and rose ice cream cake

Make-ahead dessert recipes

Pistachio and rose ice cream cake

A magnificent serve-from-the-freezer dessert that you can make ahead of your dinner party. All you...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Mini cosmopolitan cheesecakes

Mini dessert recipes

Mini cosmopolitan cheesecakes

Everyone knows, and loves, a classic Cosmopolitan cocktail made with cranberry juice, vodka and orange...

  • Effort icon Medium
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Dark and stormy crème brûlée

Make-ahead dessert recipes

Dark and stormy crème brûlée

Rum, ginger and lime have been borrowed from a classic dark and stormy cocktail and...

  • Effort icon Medium
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Gin and lime 
custard tart

Sweet tart recipes

Gin and lime 
custard tart

We’ve taken the flavours of a gimlet cocktail – gin and lime – and magicked...

  • Effort icon Medium
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Caipirinha sorbet

Frozen dessert recipes

Caipirinha sorbet

Bring on the wow factor and add a touch of glamour to your dinner party...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Rice pudding with honey soaked fruit and pistachios

Rice pudding recipes

Rice pudding with honey soaked fruit and pistachios

Rice pudding is a traditional Middle Eastern dessert. This recipe is made with coffee making...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Key lime pie

Make-ahead dessert recipes

Key lime pie

This American classic is the perfect combination of zesty and refreshing yet fabulously creamy. We’ve...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Saffron and orange blossom crème caramels with cardamom and orange rhubarb

Make-ahead dessert recipes

Saffron and orange blossom crème caramels with cardamom...

”That edge of dark, bitter caramel against the sweet, creamy custard makes for the most...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
No-churn blackcurrant ripple ice cream sandwiches

Make-ahead summer dessert recipes

No-churn blackcurrant ripple ice cream sandwiches

A great make-ahead dinner party dessert for the summer but without the faff of an...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Mint chocolate ice cream parfait bombes

Frozen dessert recipes

Mint chocolate ice cream parfait bombes

Create a showstopper dessert for your next dinner party with these impressive ice cream bombes;...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Chilled lemon soufflé

Make-ahead dessert recipes

Chilled lemon soufflé

This make-ahead lemon soufflé recipe is easier than it looks but you don’t have to...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Toffee ice-cream cake

Make-ahead dessert recipes

Toffee ice-cream cake

Looking for a quick, easy and attractive pudding recipe? Take a tub of ice cream...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Easy flourless chocolate cake

Make-ahead dessert recipes

Easy flourless chocolate cake

A crisp outside and gloriously fudgy centre make this easy flourless (gluten-free) cake the best...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Load more
Load more
Save icon Save this collection

Subscribe to our magazine

Subscribe to delicious. magazine this month for a half price subscription

Subscribe

Download our digital version

Subscribe to the digital edition of delicious. magazine

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
Subscribe now