10 Amazing Dinner Party Dessert Recipes to Impress

If there's anything that makes a perfect dinner even more magical it's a scrumptious dessert that hits all the right notes.  But there's more to a dessert than just something to satisfy your sweet tooth. A dessert is a great opportunity to impress both your guests' palates and their eyes.  On top of being the best fresh food restaurant in Miami, we also have some of the finest desserts this side of the Mississippi. To help you out, here are some of our favorite dinner party desserts to impress your guests.

1. Key Lime Pie

Nothing screams Southern Florida more than an authentic key lime pie. The secret ingredient is, of course, authentic key limes.  Key lime pie is a simple enough proposition. A graham cracker crust with a creamy and velvety pie filling, topped with just enough whipped cream to coat the inside of your mouth. If you really want to "wow" your guests, opt for a homemade graham cracker crust instead of a store-bought one.  In fact, the more homemade ingredients you use in your pie, the better it's likely to be. To make whipped cream at home, use heavy cream and confectioner's sugar. It tastes oh-so-much better than store-bought. 

2. Tropical Pineapple Tart

This is one of the beautiful dessert recipes you can find on our menu at Stubborn Seed. The sweet and tart pineapple combined with salted caramel and lime ice cream is the perfect combination to end a hot summer day in style.  If you want to make your own, fresh pineapple is always recommended. Canned pineapple will do in a pinch, but don't buy chunks in heavy syrup. You can also make your crust extra special by adding macadamia nuts and coconut flakes for a bonus tropical punch. 

3. Marshmallow Oreo Brownies

This dessert serves as a stark reminder that you don't need to go with anything fancy to make an impression. Brownies loaded with marshmallow fluff and oreo cookie pieces, what could be better? But these aren't for the faint of heart.  The one thing to remember about this dessert is that it's super sweet. Unless your guests have a serious taste for sweet treats, they might be a little overwhelmed. Pair it with plain vanilla ice cream or unsweetened whipped cream to balance it out a little if needed. 

4. Snickerdoodle Cookies

This is another one of the stars of our dessert menu and a specialty of our executive pastry chef, Dallas Wynne. They're so popular that we sell them by the dozen, so if you ever need a fix, don't hesitate to stop by.  Snickerdoodle cookies have a reputation for being a little plain. But with a little confectioner's magic, you can turn them into the most scrumptious dessert your guests have ever tried. The secret is to use cream of tartar as a leavening agent and just the right sugar/cinnamon mixture. It's worth doing a few trial runs to make sure you've got it right and you're ready to amaze your guests on the big night. 

5. Frozen S'mores

We can see you tilting your head as soon as you read the words "frozen" and "s'mores" in the same sentence. Everyone knows s'mores are supposed to be a warm, gooey mess of melted chocolate and marshmallow, right? Not so fast, once you try them this way, you'll never go back.  Making them is about as easy as it gets. Create a layer of graham crackers in a baking pan. Then, create a layer of chocolate pudding about half an inch thick. Follow that up with a layer of marshmallow creme and top it with graham crackers. Freeze and cut into squares for an ideal summer dessert.

6. Chocolate Eclair

OK, so eclairs aren't the most beginner-friendly dessert, but they're more than worth making just to see the look of surprise on your guests' faces. Eclairs are supposed to be light and airy with a fine balance of sweet creamy filling and a luscious chocolate topping. However, getting them to turn out that way will take a little bit of practice.  Start with the simplest recipe you can find and master it before you start experimenting. Alternatively, you could stop by for dinner anytime, the eclairs on our menu are to die for. 

7. Chocolate Lava Cake

The chocolate eclair is for when you want to look like a professional pastry chef, but the chocolate caramel volcano is the nuclear option. Executing this dessert correctly is a challenge, to say the least, and you'll make more than your fair share of chocolate lava puddings before you make a real cake.  However, once you master it and you get the thin crispy crust to break, revealing the gooey, delectable chocolate sauce within, it will all have been worth it. Make sure you don't skimp on the chocolate quality, you won't forgive yourself if it's the one thing holding back an otherwise perfect dessert. 

8. Banana Pudding With a Twist

What's the twist, you ask? Excellent question, it's sweetened condensed milk that you'll add to the pudding before it sets. The condensed milk will add a velvety texture and smoothness that will take your banana pudding to the next level. Just be ready to gloat when your guests look disappointed when you announce dessert is a little old banana pudding and they get one of these amazing desserts to impress. To serve, layer crushed wafers on the bottom of a bowl, followed by banana slices and a generous helping of delicious pudding. 

9. Tropical Cheesecake 

This is one of those simple and elegant desserts that also isn't boring. Everyone loves a good cheesecake and the tropical twist is just enough to make you look like an accomplished pastry chef. All you really need to do is make a cheesecake as you would normally (no-bake cheesecake recipes preferred). But, instead of making a plain cheesecake, you're going to add crushed and drained pineapple to the cheese mix. It's that easy.  Feeling a little adventurous? Add some grated coconut as well for a genuine tropical feel. 

10. Chocolate Parfait

Need a showy dessert, but short on time? We've got you covered. A chocolate parfait is super easy to make and satisfies even the most discerning dessert connoisseur. As if that weren't enough, it's a cinch to make.  All you need is instant chocolate pudding mix, graham cracker crumbs, and whipped cream. Create layers of chocolate pudding followed by layers of crumbs in a wide-brimmed glass or mason jar. A toothsome dessert in minutes. 

End The Evening With a Bang

There you have 10 awesome dinner desserts to make your guests wonder if you haven't been sneaking off to culinary night school. You've got your pick from the straightforward snickerdoodle to the show-stopping chocolate lava cake.  Which one of these will be featured at your next dinner party? Which one do you think will be the most impressive for your guests? If you're not feeling overly confident with desserts, don't sweat it. Book a table today at Stubborn Seed and enjoy one of our creative confections. We recommend the snickerdoodle cookies.