40+ Potluck Desserts to Bring and Share

Need a dessert for your next potluck? You’ll find more than 40 delicious ideas here, from brownies and bars to sheet cakes, cookies, fruity favorites, cheesecakes, and easy no-bake treats.

collage of four desserts, including revel bars, Louisiana crunch cake, Texas sheet cake, and peach cobbler; text overlay

Being asked to bring dessert to a potluck sounds simple — until you have to decide what to make. Should you choose a classic chocolate sheet cake, a pan of easy bars, something fruity, or a dessert that stands out a bit more?

Below you’ll find favorite recipes for gatherings of every kind: backyard cookouts, family reunions, office parties, church suppers, and holiday celebrations. Expect familiar crowd-pleasers along with a few options for when you want to bring something different.

To make it easier to find the right recipe, the desserts are grouped into categories: easy bars and squares, sheet cakes, fruity desserts, no-bake favorites, cookies, cheesecakes, and bundt or pound cakes.

Looking for Something Specific? Jump to Your Favorite Category.

If I Were Bringing Dessert…
Cookie Bars and Easy Squares
Crowd-Pleasing Sheet Cakes
Fresh & Fruity Favorites
Brownies and Blondies for Sharing
Cheesecakes That Travel Well
No-Bake Potluck Favorites
Cookies Worth Sharing
Bundt and Pound Cakes Everyone Will Love
Ready to Share Something Sweet?

What Makes a Great Potluck Dessert?

The best potluck desserts are not only delicious but practical. Consider how far you’ll need to transport the dish, whether refrigeration will be available, and how easy it is to serve. Make-ahead options are especially helpful. Bars, cookies, and sheet cakes simplify portioning for larger groups.

For outdoor events, think about heat and humidity. Some desserts—sturdy cookies or bars—hold up better than items that must stay cold.

If I Were Bringing Dessert…

These are the desserts I’d be most likely to bring: easy to transport, simple to serve, and dependable crowd-pleasers.

Texas Sheet Cake
Revel Bars
Ginger Peach Cobbler
Turtle Cake
Five Flavor Pound Cake

Keep scrolling for more potluck-worthy desserts organized by category to help you find exactly what you need.

Cookie Bars and Easy Squares

Bars are ideal for potlucks: easy to bake in a pan, simple to transport, and effortless to portion. Whether you want chocolate, fruit, or buttery nostalgic flavors, these recipes are designed for sharing.

Revel Bars

Chewy oatmeal bars layered with a rich chocolate filling make a classic, portable treat. Potluck tip: Easy to slice and transport.

Get the Recipe

Loaded Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

All the best parts of chocolate chip cookies in an easy-to-share bar. Potluck tip: Feeds a crowd with minimal effort.

Get the Recipe

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

Soft, buttery bars topped with creamy frosting and sprinkles—perfect for celebrations. Potluck tip: A fun party choice.

Get the Recipe

Lemon Bars

Bright lemon filling on a buttery shortbread crust offers a refreshing contrast to richer desserts. Potluck tip: A light, citrusy option.

Get the Recipe

Crowd-Pleasing Sheet Cakes

Need to feed a crowd? Sheet cakes travel well, slice neatly, and work for events from backyard barbecues to holiday dinners.

Carrot Sheet Cake with Browned Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Moist carrot cake topped with tangy brown butter cream cheese frosting—an elevated classic. Potluck tip: Make a day ahead.

Get the Recipe

Texas Sheet Cake

Rich chocolate cake with warm chocolate frosting creates a classic Southern favorite that’s ideal for feeding a crowd. Potluck tip: Feeds many with ease.

Get the Recipe

Fresh & Fruity Favorites

If you want something lighter or fruit-forward, these desserts bring color and brightness to the table while remaining easy to transport and serve.

Strawberry Cheesecake Cobbler

Sweet strawberries with creamy cheesecake filling and a tender cobbler topping—two desserts in one. Potluck tip: A delightful twist on classics.

Get the Recipe

Ginger Peach Cobbler

Juicy peaches and warm ginger make a cozy cobbler that’s great warm or at room temperature. Potluck tip: Delicious served warm or room temp.

Get the Recipe

Brownies and Blondies for Sharing

Brownies and blondies are rich, chewy, and consistently popular. They’re easy to portion and transport, and they always disappear quickly.

Chocolate Chunk Blondies

Buttery blondies studded with big chocolate chunks are irresistible and easy to make ahead. Potluck tip: Make ahead for convenience.

Get the Recipe

Brown Butter Blondies

Nutty brown butter gives these chewy blondies a caramel-like depth of flavor. Potluck tip: A great choice when you want something different.

Get the Recipe

Cheesecakes That Travel Well

Cheesecake is an excellent make-ahead option for potlucks. Chilled and properly contained, cheesecake bars and slices bring a special touch to any dessert table.

New York Cheesecake

Rich and creamy, this classic cheesecake is delicious on its own or with fruit. Potluck tip: Make ahead and keep chilled until serving.

Get the Recipe

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Creamy cheesecake on a buttery crust topped with strawberries—easy to pre-cut and serve. Potluck tip: Pre-cut for easy serving.

Get the Recipe

No-Bake Potluck Favorites

No-bake desserts are perfect when you want to skip the oven. They’re easy to prepare, travel well, and are ideal for warm-weather gatherings or busy days.

No-Bake Cannoli Cheesecake

Creamy no-bake cannoli cheesecake captures cannoli flavors without the fuss. Potluck tip: Make ahead for stress-free entertaining.

Get the Recipe

Strawberry Tiramisu

A light, creamy tiramisu with fresh strawberries—best made a day ahead. Potluck tip: Makes ahead for ideal texture.

Get the Recipe

Cookies Worth Sharing

A big batch of cookies is always a hit. These recipes are easy to pack, simple to share, and perfect for filling a cookie tray.

Brown Sugar Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Soft, chewy cookies with hearty oats and plenty of chocolate chips—stays soft for days. Potluck tip: Great for cookie trays and transport.

Get the Recipe

Triple Chocolate Pecan Cookies

Loaded with three kinds of chocolate and crunchy pecans—perfect for chocolate lovers. Potluck tip: Ideal for holiday cookie trays too.

Get the Recipe

Bundt and Pound Cakes Everyone Will Love

Bundt and pound cakes travel well, slice easily, and stay moist for days—making them reliable potluck favorites.

Five Flavor Pound Cake

A buttery pound cake infused with five complementary flavors—delicious and memorable. Potluck tip: Even better the next day.

Get the Recipe

Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake

Sour cream keeps this Bundt cake moist and tender—easy to transport and slice. Potluck tip: Travels well without fuss.

Get the Recipe

Ready to Share Something Sweet?

Now comes the fun—and the hard part—choosing which dessert to make. I hope you found a new favorite or rediscovered an old one to bring to your next gathering.

If you try one of these recipes, let others know how it went. Happy baking and enjoy the potluck!

More Recipes to Share

Elegant Desserts That Are Surprisingly Easy to Make

Fall Potluck Desserts

Best Quick and Easy Desserts

Best Desserts for Outdoor Parties