Recipes Desserts Specialty Dessert Recipes 50 Fancy Desserts That You Can Make at Home By Corey Williams Corey Williams Corey Williams is a food writer for MyRecipes and Allrecipes. She has a decade of journalism experience. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on May 3, 2021 Close Photo by ilovecheese. You don't need to be a trained pastry chef to make beautiful, delicious, and fancy desserts in the comfort of your own kitchen. With the right ingredients and reliable recipes, it's much easier than you think to create restaurant-worthy treats that'll make you feel proud of your baking abilities. Find impressive cakes, tarts, trifles, cookies, souffles, and so much more in this stunning collection of our best fancy dessert recipes. 01 of 51 Champagne Cake With Buttercream Icing View Recipe Photo by teena alihassan. Champagne (in the batter and in the, rich buttercream icing) makes this elegant layer cake truly worthy of celebration. 02 of 51 Italian Cheesecake Cookies View Recipe Photo by Pam Ziegler Lutz. Recipe creator Rita calls these decadent cookies "a little bit of heaven." Top with jarred blueberry, strawberry, or cherry pie filling. 03 of 51 Chocolate Ganache Layer Cake View Recipe Yoly Recipe creator MARSHA2647 says "this rich, fudgy, gooey, chocolate ganache layer cake is easy enough for the most novice baker to make." 04 of 51 Mixed Berry Compote View Recipe Kim's Cooking Now Pour this 5-ingredient fruit compote — made with cornstarch, brandy, fresh mixed berries, sugar, and honey — over vanilla ice cream or yogurt. 05 of 51 Grilled Blackberry Brioche Bread Pudding View Recipe Photo by Mackenzie Schieck. Uncooked blackberry bread pudding is sealed in an aluminum foil packet, then grilled to fruity and decadent perfection. Top this summertime dessert with homemade whipped cream. 06 of 51 Crème Brûlée View Recipe Crème Brûlée | Photo by Meredith. It's surprisingly simple to make this famously fancy dessert with just egg yolks, sugar, vanilla extract, heavy cream, brown sugar. Caramelize the top with a butane torch or under your oven's broiler. 07 of 51 French Apple Tart (Tarte de Pommes a la Normande) View Recipe Photo by ilovecheese. Nutty frangipane is spiked with just a hint of apple brandy, spooned into a basic pastry crust, then topped with thinly sliced apples to make this delicate French tart. 08 of 51 Chocolate Eclair Cake View Recipe footballgrl16 This gorgeous cake is quick and easy to make, thanks to shortcut ingredients like graham crackers, instant vanilla pudding mix, and frozen whipped topping. 09 of 51 Classic Tiramisu View Recipe manson.yan Classic Italian tiramisu, made with mascarpone cheese and ladyfingers is always welcome on any dessert table. Prepare in a trifle bowl or a springform pan. 10 of 51 Grand Marnier Souffle View Recipe Sarah Stewart You'll need a brandy-based orange liqueur (like Grand Marnier) to make Chef John's show-stopping souffle. Serve with a smooth and rich Creme Anglaise Sauce. 11 of 51 Macarons View Recipe Pictured: Macarons | Photo by sweetserenade. You can make bakery-style French macarons at home with just a little bit of patience and four ingredients: ground almonds, egg whites, confectioners' sugar, and white sugar. 12 of 51 Poached Pears Belle Helene View Recipe Poached Pears Belle Helene | Photo by The Gruntled Gourmet. Don't toss your bruised pears! Use them to make this simply elegant dessert. Fun fact: Legendary chef Auguste Escoffier named this recipe after La Belle Helene, a famous opera. 13 of 51 Fresh Fruit Frangipane Tart View Recipe Chef John Here's another frangipane tart to make with fresh fruit. "Bring this to a picnic and your friends will ask what bakery you went to," according to Chef John. 14 of 51 Dessert Crepes View Recipe Try this recipe: Dessert Crepes | Photo by Buckwheat Queen. Here's a basic crepe recipe you won't want to forget. Fill them with your favorite combination of chocolate, fruits, or custards, then sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving. 15 of 51 Tart Meyer Lemon Sorbet View Recipe Kim's Cooking Now Make this paleo-friendly fruit sorbet with just Meyer lemon juice and zest, water, and honey. Top with mint leaves for a burst of color and freshness. 16 of 51 White Chocolate Panna Cotta with Stewed Strawberries View Recipe Photo by Kim's Cooking Now. Strawberries stewed with orange juice and sugar beautifully complement this rich white chocolate panna cotta. 17 of 51 Panettone View Recipe Photo by Chef John. Chef John Use your sourdough starter discard to make Chef John's subtly sweet panettone. Add your favorite mix-ins like dried fruit, chocolate chips, or nuts. 18 of 51 Chocolate Fig Biscotti View Recipe Kim "I'm a big fan of the chocolate fig and cinnamon flavors — they go together wonderfully," says reviewer and Allrecipes Allstar Kim, who recommends serving with coffee. 19 of 51 Island Affogato View Recipe Island Affogato | Photo by Matt Alan. A banana-, pineapple-, and coconut-flavored sorbet is topped with coffee liqueur and dark rum, then garnished with a lemon peel. 20 of 51 Maple-Pear Tarte Tatin View Recipe WestCoastMom "Pears poached in a maple caramel sauce then baked with a traditional puff pastry crust, a simple yet elegant dessert," says recipe creator WestCoastMom. 21 of 51 Spanish Flan View Recipe Photo by Getty Images. It's easier than you think to make this decadent Spanish flan with just white sugar, eggs, a can of sweetened condensed milk, a can of evaporated milk, and vanilla extract. 22 of 51 Chef John's Dark Chocolate Mousse View Recipe Photo by Allrecipes Magazine. A pinch of dried chipotle pepper brings out the intense chocolate flavor in this light and airy mousse, while adding subtle heat. Top with homemade whipped cream and shaved chocolate. 23 of 51 Cinnamon Palmiers View Recipe Photo by emendy613. This crisp, sweet, and easy dessert starts with a sheet of frozen puff pastry. A pinch of cardamom adds extra warmth to these cinnamon-sugar palmiers. 24 of 51 Baklava View Recipe Diana Moutsopoulos Thin sheets of phyllo dough are layered with butter and pecans, then drenched in a sweet mixture of cinnamon-spiked honey and sugar. 25 of 51 Chef John's Bananas Foster View Recipe Chef John's Bananas Foster. Chef John "This delicious New Orleans classic only has a few ingredients, and takes just minutes to make," Chef John says of this rum- and banana liqueur-spiked dessert. 26 of 51 Chocolate Coconut Trifle View Recipe Allrecipes Chocolate custard, coconut custard, ladyfingers, and whipped cream are layered in a trifle bowl, then topped with shredded coconut and shaved dark chocolate. 27 of 51 Cream Puffs View Recipe MONIQUE1181 Using two packages of instant vanilla pudding mix is an easy and impressive way to make a classic dessert, says recipe creator Shellie Wendel. 28 of 51 Blackberry Mascarpone Tart with Thyme Shortbread Crust View Recipe Photo by Kim's Cooking Now. Kim's Cooking Now This is a "buttery shortbread with a hint of thyme, topped with a sweet mascarpone cream and a beautiful blackberry swirl," according to recipe creator Kim's Cooking Now. 29 of 51 Portuguese Custard Tarts (Pasteis de Nata) View Recipe Chef John's Portuguese Custard Tarts. Chef John Making these miniature tarts is a labor of love, but it's so worth it. The moist dough and hot oven work together to create a wonderfully flaky and crisp crust. 30 of 51 Apple Marzipan Puff Pastry Tart View Recipe LauraF Everyone at your table will love this twist on classic apple pie. Recipe creator ChristinaT suggests making this tart during the fall with sweet and crisp McIntosh apples. 31 of 51 Italian Cream Cheese and Ricotta Cheesecake View Recipe Photo by Kimbery. This old family recipe has been passed down through generations. "I can't believe I'm sharing it, but everyone needs to know how to make an authentic Italian cheesecake," says recipe creator April Caudle, 32 of 51 Caramel Shortbread Squares View Recipe Caramel Shortbread Squares | Photo by Allrecipes Magazine. These decadent bar cookies have a shortbread crust, sugary caramel center, and a rich milk chocolate topping. They bake in just 20 minutes. 33 of 51 Raspberry and Almond Shortbread Thumbprints View Recipe footballgrl6 Nearly 3,000 happy Allrecipes users have given these raspberry-filled thumbprint cookies, topped with a simply sweet almond glaze, 5-star reviews. 34 of 51 Cannoli View Recipe Photo by Kims Cooking Now. Skip the store-bought shells and make these Italian restaurant-worthy cannolis completely from scratch. "I have been making cannolis for 30+ years in our Italian family," says reviewer Judi. "This shell recipe is just as good as mine." 35 of 51 Cheesecake with Cranberry Glaze and Sugared Cranberries View Recipe LauraF How stunning is this magazine-worthy cheesecake? "The cranberry glaze is a really beautiful color, and the sugared cranberries are the perfect topping," says recipe creator LauraF. 36 of 51 No-Egg Blueberry and Lavender Ice Cream View Recipe Allrecipes Photo Make this vibrant and aromatic ice cream (which happens to be paleo-friendly, dairy-, and egg-free) with fresh lavender from your garden. 37 of 51 Strawberry Crepe Cake View Recipe Photo by Smart Cookie. This intricate cake, made of 20 delicate crepes layered with strawberry jam and cream cheese icing, is a showstopping centerpiece. Top with fresh fruit and edible flowers. 38 of 51 Croquembouche Cone View Recipe Smart Cookie This conicle tower of caramel-dipped profiteroles is enclosed in a gorgeous caramel cage. "It's a delectable dance of crunchy-meets-soft," according to recipe creator Smart Cookie. 39 of 51 Blood Orange Tart View Recipe kim A simple shortbread crust holds a delicious custard filling made with blood orange juice and zest, then garnished with even more blood orange slices. 40 of 51 Beignets View Recipe Photo by Meredith Publishing. Pair these French Quarter-style beignets with a satisfying cafe au lait. "Easy recipe and taste so delicious......almost like the real thing in New Orleans," raves reviewer Chris Shaff. 41 of 51 Grilled Peaches and Cream View Recipe Photo by Mackenzie Schieck. "Fancy" doesn't mean "complex." In fact, sometimes the most elegant desserts are the simplest. Case in point: These honey-drizzled peaches topped with soft cream cheese. 42 of 51 Vanilla Chai Cheesecake View Recipe Cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom are the perfect trio in this chai-spiked cheesecake. Top with jarred caramel sauce or make your own with our easy homemade caramel recipe. 43 of 51 Dobos Torte View Recipe LynnInHK This Hungarian dessert, which consists of fluffy sponge cake layered with chocolate buttercream, is topped with hardened caramel for an impressive presentation. 44 of 51 Easy Decadent Truffles View Recipe Easy Decadent Truffles | Photo by LaurenM. With just four ingredients (a package of cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, semisweet chocolate chips, and vanilla), you can make these rich truffles in your own kitchen. 45 of 51 White Chocolate Fondue View Recipe Photo by Allrecipes. This rich and creamy white chocolate fondue, perfect for a romantic date night, comes together in just 15 minutes. 46 of 51 Simple Chocolate-Covered Strawberries View Recipe Christina It doesn't get much fancier than chocolate-dipped strawberries. "What's not to love?!" asks reviewer and Allrecipes Allstar Christina. "This is one of our favorite desserts." 47 of 51 Chef John's Chocolate Lava Cake View Recipe Photo by Wendy T. This indulgent dessert has a famously rich and gooey center. "It was fantastic, just like you would get a restaurant," says reviewer KHALANNAH. 48 of 51 Chocolate-Covered Raspberry Brownies View Recipe Darcy Lenz "Each brownie bears a fruity layer of raspberry jam and fresh raspberries that's covered with a truffle-like blanket of chocolate ganache over top," says recipe creator Darcy Lenz. "In other words, they're decadence incarnate." 49 of 51 Orange-Cranberry Bundt Cake View Recipe Photo by Allrecipes Magazine. This fruity Bundt cake, packed with fresh cranberries and full of citrus favor, is perfect for all your fall entertainment needs. 50 of 51 Vanilla Raspberry Trifle View Recipe Photo by Cynthia Ross. "This is a really pretty dessert that is soooo easy to make," according to reviewer Cynthia Ross, who says you can use canned whipped cream to save time. 51 of 51 More Inspiration Allrecipes Magazine Find more elegant ideas and inspiration in our collections of Fancy Breakfast Recipes to Make For Your Next Special Occasion and Fancy Casseroles for the Whole Family. Honeymoon Eggs Benedict Halloumi and Zucchini Frittata Croque Madame Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit