Looking to ring in the New Year in style? You’ll need drinks, of course, and appetizers, but don’t forget to include something sweet too. After all, they say what you drink and eat on New Year’s reveals what the rest of the year will hold for you. We don’t know about you, but we’re not taking any chances. Join us in a toast to more sweet things to come in 2023!
And we’re not just talking about stuffy after-dinner options. New Year’s Eve is a party after all, so while there’s a time and place for showstoppers (see below), we also know sweet bites, dessert dips, and creative cookies might be even better than a cake. Looking for poppable, cocktail party options? Try our bourbon balls, our Prosecco grapes, our pecan pralines, or our golden Oreo truffles. Want something as easy as chips and dip but with a sugary spin? Try our cannoli chips and dip, our confetti cookie dough ball, or our funfetti dip. Craving cookies? Check out our banoffee cookies, our vegan sugar cookies, our potato chip cookies, or our cookies 'n' cream millionaire shortbread. They’re all familiar yet special, perfect for sending off last year as we welcome in 2023.
Don’t worry, we’ve also got a couple of standout centerpiece-worthy desserts on this list too. Want something you can bring out at midnight, adorned with sparkler candles to elicit oohs and ahhs? Try our firecracker cake, our triple-chocolate trifle, our cinnamon roll cheesecake, or our spumoni ice cream cake. They might just be more impressive than the Times Square ball drop.
We’ve also included a number of coffee desserts on this list, because we know as well as the next person how much harder it gets to stay up late as we get older. Try our affogato (espresso over gelato, mm), our tiramisu cake, our Kahlúa cupcakes, or our coffee cookies 'n' cream ice cream. They’ll help keep you partying 'til dawn (or, y'know, 12:30. 😂).
Cookies 'N' Cream Millionaire Shortbread
Just when we thought a millionaire shortbread couldn’t get richer, we switched up the classic recipe to feature layers of chocolate shortbread, chocolate caramel, and an added bonus of a cookie 'n' cream filling.
Funfetti Dip
This Funfetti cake-inspired dip tastes just like the Dunkaroos you grew up with. 😍 It's perfect served with everything from pretzels to Nilla wafers... you could even try it with fruit this NYE.
Get the Funfetti Dip recipe.
Bourbon Balls
If you’re looking for a boozy treat to get the party started, these little bites are calling your name. Made with finely chopped pecans, crushed vanilla wafer cookies, and of course, bourbon, these no-bake cookie truffles highlight the flavor of the bourbon while taming its typical burn.
Get the Bourbon Balls recipe.
Spumoni Ice Cream Cake
Inspired by the trio of flavors common in Italian spumoni, or molded gelato, this ice cream cake demands attention. With 6 (!!) whole pints of ice cream, it's the perfect showstopper for your NYE crowd.
Get the Spumoni Ice Cream Cake recipe.
Affogato
Affogato is a simple Italian dessert—just espresso poured over a scoop of gelato—but sometimes the easiest things require the most attention to detail. Affogato means “drowned” in Italian, but in reality the ideal bite will have some cold gelato and a pool of warm espresso on the spoon.
Get the Affogato recipe.
Confetti Cookie Dough Ball
Cheese balls are one of our favorite simple party appetizers, so we thought, why limit ourselves to just savory ones? This is a chocolate chip cookie lovers' sparkly rainbow-covered dream. Serve with pretzels, graham crackers, or sweet pita chips for the perfect NYE dessert.
Get the Confetti Cookie Dough Ball recipe.
Triple-Chocolate Trifle
Layers of complementary flavors make this trifle really pop. The tahini brings a subtle nutty flavor, while the dark rum adds warmth. Unlike a typical chocolate mousse, olive oil is used here in place of cream, further exaggerating the chocolate flavor. Yum!
Get the Triple-Chocolate Trifle recipe.
Sour Patch Grapes
Eating 12 grapes as midnight is supposed to bring good luck, so why not make it extra-fun! This magical recipe transforms green grapes into a sweet-and-sour snack that tastes suspiciously like Sour Patch Kids.
Get the Sour Patch Grapes recipe.
Honey & Peanut Butter Blondies
These blondies prove once and for all that honey and peanut butter are a match made in heaven. They're thick and chewy, with the perfect amount of crunch from the peanuts (though you can skip the whole ones if you're a purist).
Tiramisu Cake
It’s hard not to love a creamy, light slice of tiramisu, but we especially love it in cake form. Whether you’re looking for a slightly more approachable take on the Italian classic, or are just a tiramisu fanatic looking for a clever twist, this recipe will make for the perfect addition to your NYE party.
Get the Tiramisu Cake recipe.
Mochi Donuts
Mochi donuts, also called pon de ring donuts, are a crispy, springy, sweet treat that combines the chewy texture of Japanese mochi with the crispy fried goodness of the American donut. Bonus: They're round, which is said to bring your good luck full circle for New Year's.
Get the Mochi Donuts recipe.
Eggnog Crème Brûlée
We love any opportunity to combine two desserts into one, and this eggnog crème brûlée is no exception. The creamy, crackling sugar-topped custard you already love gets an eggnog base (great for using up Christmas leftovers!), a splash of whiskey, and plenty of fresh nutmeg to help you celebrate NYE in style.
Get the Eggnog Crème Brûlée recipe.
Coffee Cookies 'N' Cream Ice Cream
You don't need a machine to make a homemade batch of ice cream—just a strong arm and some imagination. Here, we folded in Oreos, caramel sauce, and a touch of instant coffee for a caffeinated kick (to help keep you up past midnight!), but this recipe is infinitely adaptable, so get creative.
Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
If you’re looking for a showstopping, mouthwatering dessert to impress dinner guests, look no further than this lemon meringue cheesecake recipe. The layers of graham cracker crust, creamy cheesecake, bright yellow lemon curd, and a big swoop of toasted meringue will get everyone in a frenzy even before their first bite.
Get the Lemon Meringue Cheesecake recipe.
Lemon-Berry Firecracker Cake
Let the sparks really fly this NYE with this eye-popping lemon-berry firecracker cake. For a blast of flavor, our spin on the classic firecracker cake upgrades itself from white cake to a tangy lemon batter with blueberry- and strawberry-flavored swirls.
Get the Lemon-Berry Firecracker Cake recipe.
Zeppole
In Italy, larger zeppole are often filled with pastry cream. For a take on that version, use a paring knife to poke a small hole in the side of the donut, then fill with pastry cream using a piping bag. (Use the filling recipe from these eclairs.)
Get the Zeppole recipe.
Chocolate Cheesecake
Have you ever wondered what a gooey chocolate brownie paired with cheesecake would taste like? Look no further! This is rich, silky smooth, moist, and almost fudge-like—everything you want in a chocolate dessert.
Get the Chocolate Cheesecake recipe.
Pecan Pralines
Creamy and crunchy, pecan pralines are kind of like the perfect cross between a cookie and a candy. They might seem intimidating, but they're actually quite easy, especially if you follow our tips!
Get the Pecan Pralines recipe.
Vegan Sugar Cookies
Got a vegan resolution for the New Year? Start it off right with these delicious sugar cookies. We swear, you'll never know they're plant-based.
Get the Vegan Sugar Cookies recipe.
Struffoli
To make Italian struffoli, little balls of dough are flavored with citrus zest and a splash of wine, deep-fried until crispy and light, and tossed in honey to sweeten the deal. As if this isn’t already enough of a delight, the balls then get shaped into a wreath and covered in rainbow nonpareil sprinkles. It’s the best of holiday excess and deserves to be the centerpiece of your NYE dessert table.
Get the Struffoli recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
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