Features
18 make-ahead dessert recipes
by Lottie Huckle
published on 13 March 2017, last updated on 12 May 2023
If you’re looking for a surefire way to take the stress out of hosting, a make-ahead dessert should be your first port of call. A sweet centrepiece, whipped from the fridge at just the right moment, is the perfect way to crown a dinner party, barbecue, or back garden gathering. From a velvety chocolate tart to a show-stopping pavlova, these eighteen desserts are prepared well in advance, leaving you plenty of time to relax with your guests.
Velvet Chocolate Torte
A rich torte with a truly celestial texture, this one also happens to be gluten free.
Amalfi Lemon Tart
Let the sweet taste and intense aroma of Italian lemons shine with this zingy bake.
No Churn Pomegranate Ice Cream
No special machinery required for this ice cream – just a little whisking and you’ve got yourself delectably sherbity dessert. A batch of this in your freezer will ensure that you’re never without an impressive, post-dinner treat.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Fondant
A creamy, slightly salty peanut butter centre pairs perfectly with the rich flavour of dark chocolate in this fondant recipe.
Peach Frangipane Tart
Fruit and frangipane are baked in a sweet pastry case to create this elegant, summery tart. It keeps well, and can be made a day in advance of when you plan to eat it.
Prodigious Pavlova
Billowing meringue, clouds of whipped cream and plenty of sharp, tangy fruit; this pavlova from Nigella Lawson ticks all the boxes. Make the meringue a couple of days in advance, and pile on the fruit and cream at the last minute.
Salted Caramel, Poached Pear and Chocolate Drizzle Tray Bake
This meringue-based tray bake looks impressive, but is a cinch to make. The combination of pear, dulce de leche, chocolate, mascarpone, and walnut is a real winner, too.
Fresh Strawberry Tartlets
Let summer strawberries shine with these delicate tartlets from dessert maestro Mary Berry.
Celeste Praline Cheesecake
If you’re looking for something truly indulgent, this praline cheesecake, topped with silky, dark chocolate cream cheese, is the dessert for you.
Salted Caramel and Chocolate Cream Profiteroles
A game-changing twist on the classic profiterole, these are filled with chocolate cream and drizzled generously with salted caramel sauce.
Cooked Cream with Limoncello (Pannacotta al Limoncello)
Combine two Italian classics with this smooth, Limoncello-spiked pannacotta. It lasts in the fridge for four days, so it’s perfect for those who like to get well ahead.
Ginger Chocolate Pot
Add a touch of spicy heat to your chocolate dessert with this make-ahead recipe from Simon Hopkinson.
Twice-baked Raspberry Ricotta Cheesecake with a Thyme Crust
Fragrant lemon thyme, tangy raspberries, and creamy ricotta are the hero ingredients in this impressive-looking, double-baked cheesecake.
Pecan Brownies
Few can deny the allure of a good brownie. These particular brownies (best baked the day before you want to eat them) are made even more irresistible by the addition of sweet pecan nuts and a hint of sea salt.
Coffee Ice Cream (Glace moka)
In this classic recipe from Elizabeth David, lemon zest and brown sugar are used to enhance the mouthwatering flavour of freshly roasted coffee.
Vanilla Crème Brûlée
A slightly lighter-than-usual créme brûlée, this recipe uses milk instead of the traditional double cream, but loses none of its heavenly texture.
Rick Stein’s Almond Tart
Inspired by a Portuguese recipe, this simple tart is light, crisp, and crunchy – just the thing to nibble on with your after-dinner coffee.
Brownie Pudding with Sea-salted Caramel, Tea, and Figs
A decadent fusion of brownie and sticky toffee pudding, this dessert can be made up to five days in advance and is guaranteed to please a crowd.
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