Prepare these easy make-ahead desserts in 30 minutes or less, then pop them in the freezer or refrigerator the day before a party. We'll show you how to make ice cream desserts, berry-topped cheesecakes, cream pies, chocolate tortes and much more.
42 Easy Overnight Desserts
1/42
Creamy Coffee Pie
Total Time
25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It’s easy to stir mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips and crushed sandwich cookies into coffee ice cream to create this irresistible frozen dessert. —Cherron Nagel, Columbus, Ohio
Looking for the best desserts? These recipes got the highest ratings and the most visitors this year. Add them to your to-bake list for the year ahead.
2/42
German Chocolate Tres Leches Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I first tried tres leches cake while I was in Ecuador several years ago. Since then, I’ve changed it up by adding some of my favorite ingredients, namely chocolate and coconut. This version also has a splash of rum for an adults-only treat. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
3/42
Hot Chocolate Tiramisu
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Instead of using coffee and rum, I let cinnamon shine in this tiramisu. It's best if eaten within two days—if it even lasts that long! —Cathy Geniti, Saratoga Springs, New York
Also, don’t forget to try this easy-to-make Giada De Laurentiis’ Tiramisu recipe.
4/42
Banana Split
Total Time
5 min
Servings
1 serving
From the Recipe Creator:
In 1904, the first banana split recipe was made here in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, by David Strickler, an apprentice pharmacist at a local drugstore. We still use his original formula when we make banana splits in our restaurants. —Melissa Blystone, Latrobe, Pennsylvania
5/42
Double Nut Baklava
Total Time
55 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
It may take some time to make this rich, buttery treat, but it's well worth the effort! The blend of coconut, pecans and macadamia nuts is irresistible. —Kari Kelley, Plains, Montana
6/42
Pumpkin Charlotte
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother-in-law gave me this recipe a while back and I just love it! I make it for my husband and his friends during hunting season and it's a big hit.
—Lorelle Edgcomb, Granville, Illinois
7/42
Nutella Pie
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I've always been a big fan of peanut butter. Then I found chocolaty Nutella hazelnut spread and I was hooked! I even changed one of my all-time favorite pie recipes by substituting that ingredient. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
8/42
No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Because this no-bake blueberry cheesecake doesn't contain eggs, it's lighter but also very creamy and refreshing.—Ken Gallagher, Hastings, Nebraska
9/42
Raspberry Ice Cream Delight
Total Time
30 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This gorgeous make-ahead dessert is a light, refreshing ending to a summer meal. I first made it for my aunt's 85th birthday dinner and everyone loved it! —Nancy Whitford, Edwards, New York
10/42
Lemon Bars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This delightful lemon bar recipe is from my mother's file. I've been serving it for many years. They has a wonderful tangy flavor, and they're always a hit. The color and shape make them a nice addition to a platter of cookies. —Etta Soucy, Mesa, Arizona
11/42
Banana Pudding
Total Time
35 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I didn’t see my son, Lance Corporal Eric Harris, for more than two years after he enlisted in the Marines after high school. And when I saw him arrive at the airport, I just grabbed hold of him and burst out crying. When we got home, the first thing he ate was two bowls of my easy banana pudding recipe. He’s a true southern boy! It’s a dessert, but you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. —Stephanie Harris, Montpelier, Virginia
12/42
Cherry Pretzel Dessert
Total Time
20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Save both time and money with a big batch of this sweet and salty, creamy and crunchy treat. Any dessert that is left over is super the next day, too. —Rita Winterberger, Huson, Montana
13/42
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was young we produced several ingredients for this longtime favorite on the farm. We raised pumpkins in our large vegetable garden, and made our own butter and lots of sour cream using milk from our dairy herd. —Evonne Wurmnest, Normal, Illinois
14/42
Grasshopper Pie
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I only need six ingredients to whip up this fluffy and refreshing grasshopper pie. I usually make two of the minty treats for our family, since we're never satisfied with just one slice. —LouCinda Zacharias, Spooner, Wisconsin
15/42
Layered Mocha Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
In my search for the perfect mocha cheesecake, I ended up combining a few of my favorite recipes to create this delicious version. It’s as much a feast for the eyes as for the palate! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
16/42
Easy Tres Leches Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mom's favorite cake is tres leches, a butter cake soaked in three kinds of milk. I developed a no-fuss version that’s rich and tender. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
17/42
Nutty Caramel Ice Cream Cake
Total Time
30 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Tuck this dessert in the freezer for one of those anytime celebrations. This caramel, butter pecan and almond version is our favorite, but try it with other ice cream, cookie and syrup flavors. —David Stelzl, Waxhaw, North Carolina
18/42
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Our daughter first astounded us with her cooking talents when she made this cheesecake at 13 years of age. With a unique cookie crumb crust and extra-creamy filling, people think this dessert was made by a gourmet baker!
—Kathleen Gualano, Cary, Illinois
19/42
Orange Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A delightful orange frosting is the secret to this cake from Kathleen Gingras of Thorold, Ontario. "It is great with a scoop of ice cream," she suggests.
20/42
Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding Torte
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is a busy mom's twist on a favorite dessert—tiramisu. The dish is simple to assemble and perfect to make the day before you want to serve it. The hardest thing about this recipe is waiting for it to chill so you can eat it! —Cheryl Snavely, Hagerstown, Maryland
21/42
Pumpkin Shortbread Bars
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My family prefers this to traditional pumpkin pie, which is just fine with me. It feeds a crowd, so I need to make only one dessert instead of several pies. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
22/42
Root Beer Float Pie
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the kind of recipe your kids will look back on and always remember. And you don't even need to use an oven! —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
23/42
Caramel Fudge Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It's hard to resist this chocolaty cheesecake with its fudgy crust, crunchy pecans and gooey layer of caramel. I combined several recipes to create this version that satisfies both the chocolate lovers and the cheesecake lovers in my family. —Brenda Ruse, Truro, Nova Scotia
24/42
Frozen Peanut Parfait Pies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
2 pies (8 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
People will think you went to a lot of trouble to make these luscious pies, but with just six ingredients, they're quite simple to make. The crowd-pleasing dessert will be the hit of any potluck or party. —Anne Powers, Munford, Alabama
25/42
S’more Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This luscious dessert is just as wonderfully tasty as the campfire snack that inspired it. It's a great way to savor a summer classic anytime of year. Our 4-year-old daughter likes it so much that she's requested it for her next birthday! —Robin Andrews, Cary, North Carolina
26/42
Layered Lemon Dessert Squares
Total Time
30 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this recipe in an old cookbook and changed it to be extra citrusy. If you’re a fan of Key lime pie, try lime flavors instead of lemon. —Dawn E. Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
27/42
Double-Chocolate Toffee Icebox Cake
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother-in-law taught me that anything tastes good if you use enough chocolate or cream. This no-bake dessert proves she was right. Sometimes I use chocolate graham crackers and stack up the layers in a 9-inch square pan. —Bee Engelhart, Bloomfield Township, Michigan
28/42
Easy Lemon Pie
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I’ve had this one-bowl lemon pie recipe for years. It’s my twist on chocolate French silk pie, and it's uber easy to do with refrigerated pie pastry. —Glenna Tooman, Boise, Idaho
29/42
Banana Split Cake
Total Time
30 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
One day a friend showed me how to make a traditional icebox cake with just cream and graham crackers. I make it extra special with the fruit. Now everyone at your potluck can have a banana split with no fuss! —Shelly Flye, Albion, Maine
30/42
Chocolate Chip Cookie Delight
Total Time
35 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a simple chocolate dessert recipe for any type of potluck occasion, and the pan always comes home empty. —Diane Windley, Grace, Idaho
31/42
Tiramisu Cheesecake Dessert
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Tiramisu didn't do it for me until I tried this recipe with its luscious layers of cheesecake. It's one of my favorite desserts to make this time of year. —Christie Nelson, Taylorville, Illinois
32/42
Banana Cream Pie
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Homemade banana cream pie is my mom’s specialty, and this dreamy dessert has a wonderful banana flavor. It looks so pretty, and it cuts easily too. —Jodi Grable, Springfield, Missouri
33/42
Chocolate Bavarian Torte
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Whenever I take this eye-catching torte to a potluck, I get so many requests for the recipe. —Edith Holmstrom, Madison, Wisconsin
34/42
Banana Sundae Dessert
Total Time
25 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This banana sundae dessert is sure to be a family favorite! You get a taste of chocolate, banana and strawberries in every bite of the frosty treat. It does take a while to assemble, but it's worth it in my book. —Caroline Wamelink, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
35/42
Creamy Blueberry Gelatin Salad
Total Time
30 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Plump blueberries and a fluffy topping star in this pretty, refreshing salad that was my mother's recipe. It was served at every holiday and celebration, and now my grandchildren look forward to sampling it at holidays. —Sharon Hoefert, Greendale, Wisconsin
36/42
Frozen Mocha Marbled Loaf
Total Time
15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This showstopping marbled dessert seems fancy, but it's really simple to prepare ahead of time and pop in the freezer. Frosty slices have a creamy blend of chocolate and coffee that's delightful anytime of year. —Cheryl Martinetto, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
37/42
Peanut Butter Cream Pie
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
During the warm months, it's nice to have this fluffy, no-bake peanut butter pie that's a snap to make. Packed with flavor, this pie gets gobbled up even after a big meal! —Jesse & Anne Foust, Bluefield, West Virginia
38/42
Make-Ahead Tiramisu
Total Time
25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This variation of the popular Italian dessert is so easy to assemble. It's convenient, too, since you can make it the day before your dinner party or potluck. —Linda Finn, Louisville, Mississippi
39/42
Light Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Our family adores cheesecake, but I wanted to serve something healthier. I came up with this lighter version that I make for both holidays and everyday. —Diane Roth, Adams, Wisconsin
40/42
Chocolate Eclair Delight
Total Time
30 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It's amazing how the layers of this eclair torte soften overnight into a cakelike texture. Just before serving this dessert, I like to dust the top with cocoa. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
41/42
Not-Fried Ice Cream Cake
Total Time
20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We created this ice cream cake to mimic the popular dessert in many Mexican restaurants without the deep frying. It’s a no-fuss treat that feeds a crowd, and it’s conveniently made ahead. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
42/42
Creamy Mocha Frozen Dessert
Total Time
20 min
Servings
24 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Light as a feather, this cool, satisfying dessert is delicious and impressive to serve. It's an excellent dessert to take to a potluck because it can be made ahead and stored in the freezer. —Launa Shoemaker, Landrum, South Carolina