Desserts for a Crowd – Living in Yellow
If you’re looking for some easy desserts to take to feed a crowd, you’ve come to the right place! Steph here, sharing some of my tried and true favorites that are a hit every time! My favorite thing about these desserts? They’re mostly made from things I have laying around already, or only need to run out and get a few simple things. No more worrying about what to bring to your next get together, mix up one of these quick and delicious desserts and enjoy your extra free time!
Ice Cream Cake
As shockingly simple as it is delicious – this ice cream cake can be customized to any flavor preference and is sure to be a crowd favorite!
-
1
Brownie Mix + Ingredients to prepare -
1.5
Quart
Ice Cream
Standard Size, Any Flavor -
8
Oz
Cool Whip
Standard Size -
18
Oreos
Half a Pack -
6
Oz
Hot Fudge
-
Bake brownies according to package directions. Cool 10 minutes.
-
Mix softened (not liquid) ice cream with Cool Whip using an electric mixer on high speed until blended. Spread over top of slightly cooled brownies.
-
Crush Oreos until no large chunks remain. [Food Processor is easiest!]
-
Microwave Hot Fudge for approximately 30 seconds to make it pourable. Mix with Oreos. Sprinkle/Drop the mixture on top of ice cream layer.
-
Freeze for 4-6 hours. An ice cream spade or spatula works well for serving.
You can use any combination of ice cream and toppings you would like! I have made this using Mint Chip Ice Cream + Oreo/Fudge topping and Salted Caramel Ice Cream + Oreo/Fudge topping. Other ideas include:
- Vanilla Ice Cream + Crushed Graham Cracker Topping
- Peanut Butter Ice Cream + Mini Reese’s for Topping
- Strawberry Ice Cream + Oreo/Fudge Topping
- Heath Ice Cream + Heath Bits Topping
- Any flavor you enjoy!
Heavenly Strawberry Whip
An impressive looking and tasting dessert, ready in 10 minutes!
-
1
Angel Food Cake -
8
Oz
Cream Cheese
Softened -
1/3
Cup
Powdered Sugar -
1/2
tsp
Vanilla Extract -
1
tsp
Lemon Juice -
16
Oz
Cool Whip
2 Standard Size Containers or 1 Large -
16
Oz
Strawberries
Standard Container
-
Cut prepared Angel Food Cake into cubes
-
Mix softened Cream Cheese, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Lemon Juice and 8 Oz of Cool Whip.
-
Chop Strawberries into bite size pieces.
-
Add to pan in layers: Angel Food Cake, Cream Cheese Mixture, Remaining Cool Whip, Strawberries. Chill and serve!
Add blueberries for a Patriotic looking treat!
Death by Chocolate
A simple dessert made with ingredients you likely have on hand!
-
1
Box
Brownie Mix + Ingredients to Prepare -
1
Box
Pudding + Milk to Prepare -
8
Oz
Cool Whip
Standard Size -
1
Cup
Heath Bits -
Chocolate Garnish
Sprinkles, Shavings, Mini Chips; Optional
-
Prepare brownies as directed, bake and cool. Prepare chocolate pudding as directed, refrigerate until set.
-
Once cooled, cube brownies into bite size pieces.
-
After pudding is chilled, mix half of the prepared pudding in a separate bowl with half of the Cool Whip.
-
Layer in Dish: Brownies, Pudding, Pudding + Cool Whip, Cool Whip, Heath Bits
-
On top of final Cool Whip layer, also include chocolate garnish.
I prefer to make this dessert a day ahead and let it rest in the refrigerator overnight but you can also make and serve it right away!
TIP: Use a normal kitchen peeler on your favorite chocolate bar to create pretty chocolate curls!
Better Than Sex Cake
The first time I had this cake [back in high school, which seems like decades ago… oh wait…] I instantly fell in love. It comes together so easily, and truly continues to get better after each day! The longer it sits, the more the caramel and sweetened condensed milk combo soaks in! I’d recommend making it at least the night before, if not even sooner!
-
1
box
devil’s food cake mix -
14
oz. [1 can]
sweetened condensed milk -
12
oz. [1 jar]
caramel ice cream topping -
8
oz.
Cool Whip -
1/2 – 1
cup
Heath toffee bits
-
Bake the cake according to the directions on the box.
-
Remove the cake from the oven and immediately poke holes all over the top using either the bottom of a thin wooden spoon, a skewer or a fork.
-
In a medium bowl, stir together the sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce, then slowly drizzle the mixture all over the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
-
Spread the Cool Whip over the top of the cake, top with the Heath toffee bits and refrigerate again for at least 1 hour. Serve cold and refrigerate any leftovers. Enjoy!
Some of my favorite baking accessories….
As our Director of Operations, Steph is single-handedly responsible for any structure that exists here at LIY. Between communicating with our amazing brand partners, organizing blog content, managing the team, Steph loves organization *almost* as much as she does the latest cookie recipe she came up with from scratch. Give her a puzzle to be put together, a candle to burn and new sprigs of green growing out of her garden, and you’ve just explained the perfect day in Steph’s world.
