The cutest individual desserts for easy entertaining and pre-portioned indulging. From mini cakes and cupcakes to elegant pot de crème, pudding, and more. These personal sized desserts are a party planner’s dream.
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Whether it’s dinner for 2 or 20, there’s something so fun about individual desserts. No slicing, no plating, no “who got the big piece?” moment ~ just set them out and let everyone grab their own. These mini desserts are perfect for parties, holidays, showers, cookouts, or anytime you want a personal little treat, all to yourself.
My best individual desserts
Mini cakes and cupcakes
From classic cupcakes (the original individual dessert!) to adorable mini layer cakes, having your own personal cake is a childhood fantasy we never outgrow.
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Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake is the iconic American summer dessert with ripe strawberries, whipped cream, and a delicate, crumbly shortcake.
Ina Garten’s Coconut Cupcakes
Ina Garten’s Coconut Cupcakes ~ these easy-peasy tender cupcakes are topped with the most insanely delicious coconut cream cheese frosting!
Mini Chocolate Layer Cakes
Adorable mini layer cakes are made from chocolate cupcakes ~ easy dessert for afternoon tea or kids' birthday parties!
Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
The perfect chocolate cupcakes with the perfect silky smooth cream cheese frosting!
Fresh Peach Shortcake
Fresh Peach Shortcake ~ fluffy buttermilk biscuits topped with ripe juicy peaches and homemade whipped cream ~ one of the best things I've ever eaten!
Lemon Dot Cakes!
Easy homemade dot cakes are layered cake cups made with lemon cake, lemon buttercream, and a crunchy sprinkle top. A fun TikTok-inspired dessert that’s simple to make at home.
Yellow Cupcakes With Strawberry Frosting
My birthday cupcakes with strawberry frosting are perfect for any spring or summer celebration ~ the fluffy yellow cupcakes are topped with the ultimate fresh strawberry cream cheese buttercream
Mini Apple Spice Cakes
Mini apple cakes with a soft almond crumb, warm spice, and a swoop of rye-cinnamon whipped cream.
Pot de crème, panna cotta and creme brûlée
Elegant restaurant-worthy individual desserts that can be made ahead for entertaining.
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strawberry pot de crème (no bake)
Strawberry pot de crème garnished with edible flowers ~ this perfect spring dessert is made quick and easy on the stove top!
Classic Crème Brûlée
How to make classic Crème Brûlée with simple step by step instructions for a silky vanilla custard topped with a crackly caramelized sugar topping, with a kitchen torch, or under the broiler. Everyone should know how to make this epic dessert!
Salted Caramel Pot de Crème
Silky salted caramel pot de crème with a whisper of vanilla and a sprinkle of flaky salt ~ satiny, spoonable, and make-ahead friendly.
Strawberry Panna Cotta
Learn to make strawberry panna cotta, a classic Italian dessert with fresh strawberries, cream, sugar, and vanilla. Perfect for spring!
Maple Bourbon Pumpkin Creme Brulee
Maple bourbon pumpkin creme brulee is a rich and creamy dessert with a dramatic flair!
Chocolate Pot de Crème
For serious chocolate lovers there's nothing quite like a pot de creme ~ make it for someone you love!
Pumpkin Pot de Crème (with maple whipped cream!)
Pumpkin pot de crème is a velvety custard with warm spices and a dollop of maple cream, it’s the perfect make-ahead dessert for fall and Thanksgiving.
No-bake individual desserts
Warm weather desserts can be a challenge, but not with these chill no-bake individual desserts.
Serving container resources
- Coupe glasses
- Vintage cocktail glasses
- Weck jars
- Straight sided glasses
Creme Anglaise (easy custard sauce)
Creme Anglaise is a velvety French vanilla custard sauce that's surprisingly simple to make!
Easy Tiramisu
My Easy Summer Tiramisu is a classic dessert made in pretty portable glasses because it's still light out, for Pete's sake, and nobody wants to be stuck at the dinner table…stroll around the garden, and take your creamy tiramisu dessert with you!
Rhubarb Fool
A vintage spring dessert made with tart rhubarb compote and sweetened whipped cream!
Chocolate Custard for Two
No Bake Chocolate Custard for Two is an easy yet elevated recipe for just enough rich chocolate custard to share with someone you love on Valentine’s Day, date night, or just because.
Sicilian Lemon Cream
Authentic Sicilian Lemon Cream ~ file it under delicious, elegant, refreshing, and ridiculously easy!
No Bake Key Lime Parfaits
No bake key lime parfaits are a refreshingly tart and super easy summer dessert that can be made ahead and served straight from the fridge.
Junket Recipe
Junket is a comforting vintage recipe with a funny name and a luxuriously silky texture. Learn how to make this easy milk based dessert today!
2-Ingredient Japanese “Cheesecake” (No-Bake Yogurt Dessert)
What’s 2-Ingredient Japanese Cheesecake? Think cheesecake meets icebox cake meets a cup of yogurt (with benefits). It’s one viral recipe that actually works!
Easy Lemon Trifle
Lemon trifle, here in handy individual glasses, is an easygoing recipe that combines cubes of fluffy cake, tangy lemon curd, and sweetened whipped cream ~ I'm pretty sure you've just found your new favorite summer dessert!
Frozen individual desserts
Homemade popsicles and ice cream treats are so much fun to pull out of the freezer whether you’re entertaining friends and family, or just putting your feet up on the back porch at the end of a hot summer day.
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Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe
A pan of brownies + a pint of ice cream = your new summer signature. Brownie ice cream sandwiches aren’t fancy, they’re just really, really good.
Ripe Peach Popsicles
Ripe Peach Popsicles are the next best thing to sinking your teeth into a fresh picked peach…let the juice dribble down your chin!
Ice Cream Bon Bons
Ice Cream Bon Bons are homemade chocolate covered ice cream bites, like the ones in the freezer aisle, but better! Use your favorite flavors!
Watermelon Kiwi Popsicles
Watermelon Kiwi Popsicles ~ there isn’t a healthier or more refreshing snack you could give yourself, or your family. Break out these fresh fruit pops on a hot day and you’ll be an instant hero.
Cardamom Affogato
Cardamom affogato is a shot of espresso poured over a scoop of homemade cardamom ice cream for a simple elegant Italian dessert.
How to Make Homemade Magic Shell
Homemade Magic Shell is a 2 ingredient chocolate sauce that 'magically' hardens when it touches a scoop of ice cream. It's fun and delicious!
How to Make Rainbow Fruit Popsicles
These healthy fresh fruit popsicles are made with exotic fruits like mango, dragon fruit, papaya, golden kiwi and black raspberry to tempt the most sophisticated palates. They're all natural with no added sugar.
Lavender Moon Milk Popsicles
Lavender and Vanilla Bean Moon Milk Popsicles ~ a relaxing bedtime ritual reinvented for the summer months…these coconut milk popsicles are lightly sweetened with honey and speckled with vanilla bean. Sweet dreams!
Pudding
It’s hard to beat homemade pudding for comfort and nostalgia. I love to pour it into little jars, teacups, or ramekins for a cute presentation and easy grab-and-go functionality.
Serving container resources
- Mugs and teacups
- Small canning jars
- Duralex tumblers
- Thin straight sided glasses
- Whiskey glasses
Creamy Coconut Rice Pudding (vegan)
Creamy Coconut Rice Pudding is pure comfort in a bowl ~ softly cooked rice, rich coconut milk, and just the right balance of sweetness.
Heavenly Peanut Butter Pudding
Peanut Butter Pudding is scrape-the-pan delicious. And this homemade pudding is just as easy as a box mix, but so much more scrumptious!
Perfect Chocolate Pudding
This homemade chocolate pudding is simple to make, with a rich chocolate flavor and a silky smooth texture.
Meyer Lemon Pudding (super easy recipe!)
Meyer lemon pudding is tart, creamy, and pure lemon bliss, served warm or chilled.
Mint Chocolate Pudding Pots
Fun Mint chocolate pudding pots look like little potted plants!
Kentucky Bourbon Vanilla Bean Pudding
Kentucky Bourbon Vanilla Bean Pudding ~ this thick, classic, creamy vanilla pudding spiked with bourbon is an irresistible and comforting adult dessert!
Instant Pot Rice Pudding
The Instant Pot makes a supremely rich and creamy rice pudding with a practically hands off method. This is the easiest rice pudding I've ever made, and the result is sheer perfection.
Homemade Coffee Pudding
Homemade coffee pudding is the warm and cozy equivalent of your favorite coffee ice cream.
Chocolate and Vanilla Pudding Cups
Vanilla bean paste and high quality chocolate make for a sophisticated twist on a childhood favorite in my chocolate and vanilla pudding cups!
Mousse
Mousse might be the most luxe of all the single serve desserts. The texture is famously silky, and a little goes a long way. Serve in small 4-6 ounce jars, cups, or ramekins.
Serving container resources
- Vintage cocktail glasses ~ thrifted or fine reproductions, here.
- Weck jars
- Short drinking glasses
- Round drinking glasses
Milk Chocolate Mousse Recipe
My Milk Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a lighter, silkier version of everybody's favorite chocolate dessert. This easy recipe makes the chocolate mousse of your dreams!
White Chocolate Mousse
White Chocolate Mousse takes turns three main ingredients, no eggs, no gelatin — into a cloud of white chocolate cream that comes together in minutes and chills beautifully overnight.
Baileys Irish Cream Mousse
This happened when I whipped Baileys Irish Cream!
Fresh Lemon Mousse
This easy recipe makes a fluffy lemon mousse without gelatin or raw eggs. It's creamy, tart, and refreshing!
3 Minute Miracle Chocolate Mousse!
The lightest fluffiest chocolate mousse ever, in 3 minutes ~ it's a miracle!
One Ingredient Chocolate Mousse
A decadent and silky chocolate mousse made with just chocolate…and water!!
Mini baked desserts
From the simplest cookie-for-one to elegant personal souffles these mini desserts run the gamut from easy snacks to party-worthy treats.
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Mini Mocha Cheesecakes
The Mini Mocha Cheesecakes that fit in the palm of your hand.
Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies
Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies are adorable sandwich cookies that look just like your favorite frozen treat! This is the perfect summer dessert.
Individual Raspberry Pavlovas
Individual Raspberry Pavlovas are naturally gluten free, and divine. Shatter the paper thin crust of one of these mini pavlovas with your fork and you'll hit a marshmallowy center flecked with vanilla bean ~ be sure to get some of that silky whipped cream and tangy raspberry sauce in your bite!
Make Ahead Crumble Topping Recipe for the Freezer!
My make ahead crumble topping is an easy bulk recipe for crisps, crumbles, and pies that keeps in the freezer for a year ~ it's summer dessert on demand!
Red White & Blue Brownie Bites
Individual brownie muffins topped with whipped cream and berries is a winning combination. (This is one 4th of July dessert that we'll keep making all year long.)
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
Deliciously munch-able mini chocolate chip cookies with just 2 chips each. Snack on them like popcorn!
Single Cookie For One!
The perfect recipe for the perfect single serve chocolate chip cookie ~ you're welcome!
Easy Chocolate Soufflé
An Easy Chocolate Soufflé recipe anyone can master with just five pantry ingredients. This special chocolate dessert rises beautifully and won't fall ~ it's guaranteed to impress!
Microwave single serving desserts
These microwavable treats might be the ultimate dessert for one. They’re the perfect way to satisfy your craving without leftovers to tempt you!
Serving container resources
Microwave Cookie in a Mug
My microwave cookie in a mug is an instant single serve dessert perfect for students in dorms and hungry people everywhere!
Chocolate Mug Cake (Microwave, 1 Minute)
Cake for one! My rich chocolate mug cake is made in one minute, right in the microwave.
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