65+ Best Fancy Desserts That Will Impress Everyone

If you are looking for the best fancy desserts to impress your friends, you have come to the right place! A delicious, sweet dessert is a delightful way to complete a delicious meal. However, while there are hundreds of desserts to choose from, sometimes you want to give them an extra fancy touch for a special occasion.

Jump to:

• The Best Fancy Desserts
• 1. Bee Sting Cake
• 2. Coconut Cupcakes
• 3. Lemon Ricotta Cake
• 4. Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes          
• 5. Raspberry Mousse
• 6. Mango Cupcakes
• 7. Pear Puff Pastry Tarts
• 8. Oreo Cupcakes
• 9. Apple Roses
• 10. Funfetti Cupcakes
• 11. Mango Mousse
• 12. Coffee Cupcakes
• 13. Beignets
• 14. Lemon Cupcakes
• 15. White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes
• 16. No Bake Chocolate Pie
• 17. Strawberry Mousse
• 18. Raspberry Cupcakes
• 19. Sacher Torte
• 20. Chocolate Mousse
• 21. Triple Chocolate Cake
• 22. White Chocolate Cupcakes
• 23. Mini Strawberry Pies
• 24. Cinnamon Cupcakes
• 25. White Chocolate Mousse
• 26. Hokkaido Tarts
• 27. Nutella Cupcakes
• 28. Rum Baba
• 29. Strawberry Cupcakes
• 30. Strawberry Tiramisu
• 31. Crème Brulee Cake
• 32. Chouquettes
• 33. Mocha Cupcakes
• 34. Coconut Panna Cotta
• 35. White Chocolate Covered Strawberries
• 36. Chocolate Ganache Cake
• 37. Paris-Brest
• 38. Biscoff Cupcakes with Biscoff Buttercream
• 39. Classic French Madeleines
• 40. Choux Au Craquelin
• 41. Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart
• 42. Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies
• 43. Sicilian Ricotta Pie
• 44. Bavarian Cream Donuts
• 45. Greek Yogurt Cookies
• 46. Tiramisu Cookies
• 47. Raspberry Ruby Ice Cream Bar
• 48. Millie Feuille
• 49. Mango Mousse Cake
• 50. Ferrero Rocher Cake
• 51. Croquembouche
• 52. Baklava Cheesecake
• 53. Wine Mousse Parfait
• 54. Clafoutis
• 55. Strawberry Pavlova Cake
• 56. Crème Brûlée Macarons
• 57. Palmiers
• 58. Fraisier Cake
• 59. Pecan Upside Down Cake
• 60. Floating Island Dessert
• 61. Napoleon Cake
• 62. French Cinnamon Apple Tart
• 63. Black Forest Cake
• 64. Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
• 65. Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cake
• 66. Strawberry Panna Cotta
• 67. Chocolate Covered Strawberries Tuxedo Style
• 68. Creamy Strawberry Semifreddo with Macadamia Nut
• Fancy Desserts FAQs
• 65+ Best Fancy Desserts That Will Impress Everyone

This list of over 65 easy fancy desserts is perfect for a dinner party or formal event and will have your guests raving on Instagram for days to come!

The Best Fancy Desserts

1. Bee Sting Cake

Now, this is undoubtedly a fancy showstopper of a dessert. French brioche bread is filled with a super creamy vanilla pastry cream and finished with a honey-glazed, crunchy almond topping. I always make this for special occasions, and it never disappoints!

2. Coconut Cupcakes

Moist vanilla and coconut cupcakes topped with the most amazing coconut frosting and a fresh shredded coconut sprinkle? Sign me up! Make them even more decadent and fancy with a thin shard of white chocolate.

3. Lemon Ricotta Cake

Try baking this deliciously moist lemon ricotta cake and you'll never bake anything else. It's fancy and elegant yet it lets the simple flavors shine through, and no one can ever stop after one slice.

4. Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes          

Decadent chocolate cupcakes are elevated to new, fancier heights with a smooth and silky raspberry buttercream frosting. Top with some fresh raspberry compote for an even more incredible flavor to finish.

5. Raspberry Mousse

An elegant, light, and airy mousse is always on my list of fancy desserts to make. Moreover, this easy raspberry mousse recipe is much easier to make than you might think, yet it always impresses.

6. Mango Cupcakes

Get that tropical summer taste and vibe, but make it fancy. My mango cupcakes are filled with homemade mango curd and topped with the most delicious frosting. You won't be able to resist!

7. Pear Puff Pastry Tarts

You could be forgiven for thinking that because this dessert looks so fancy, it must be complicated. But in fact, it uses just six basic ingredients and involves 15 minutes of prep time! Certainly, it's one of the easiest fancy desserts on this list.

8. Oreo Cupcakes

If you love Oreos, why not give them a fancy makeover and bake delicious cupcakes with decadent piped Oreo frosting? Simply put, the crumbled cookies in the Oreo frosting make them totally irresistible.

9. Apple Roses

Dainty and beautiful, apple roses are surely the perfect bite-size mini desserts to make when you want something easy, yet fancy and delicious. They work wonderfully in the Fall and during harvest season when apples are ripe and ready to use.

10. Funfetti Cupcakes

Make funfetti fancy with this cute cupcake recipe. The moist sponge is speckled with funfetti, and the funfetti buttercream frosting is silky and rich yet perfectly balanced in sweetness.

11. Mango Mousse

Mango mousse certainly makes a delicious lighter, fancy dessert to serve at dinner parties and in the summer. I love piping fresh chantilly cream on top and garnishing with pieces of mango for a little bit of added texture and even more mango flavor.

12. Coffee Cupcakes

Get that caffeine hit in your dessert with beautifully made and presented coffee cupcakes. The frosting is perfectly balanced and has just the right texture for piping, just to be extra fancy.

13. Beignets

Anything French certainly has to be fancy. Beignets are little soft pillows of fried brioche dough, dusted in powdered sugar to give a delicately sweet after taste. The texture is out of this world, and they are definitely worth that bit of extra effort to make.

14. Lemon Cupcakes

A zesty hit of lemon coupled with the silkiest buttercream frosting will always be a match made in heaven. In fact, this is one of my favorite cupcake recipes! The cupcake sponge is infused with lemon zest and it gives every mouthful the most incredible flavor .

15. White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes

Everyone loves finding the hidden pocket of raspberry filling in these super fancy cupcakes. Certainly, no one will believe you didn't buy them! The soft and creamy white chocolate raspberry frosting is also someone you would definitely only expect could be made by professionals. But it's actually very simple!

16. No Bake Chocolate Pie

This recipe proves that you can definitely make a fancy dessert without turning on the oven. A buttery chocolate cookie crust, decadent chocolate filling, and smooth cream topping surely make this one of the most appealing desserts ever.

17. Strawberry Mousse

Fresh berry flavor and smooth, silky texture collide in this recipe. But it is so simple! It's a creamy and delicious mousse that undoubtedly looks so elegant and fancy served in a glass. Try it and see!

18. Raspberry Cupcakes

The taste of fresh, ripe summer berries will certainly elevate any recipe. The raspberry buttercream frosting is super decadent and looks even fancier when piped. I share all my top tips and pro advice with you too, so you can make them look as good as possible.

19. Sacher Torte

If you have ever been to Austria, you will have seen Sacher Torte in elegant cafe windows looking all fancy with their glossy chocolate glaze frosting. But did you know you can make it yourself? Try my recipe to get a fancy trip to Europe just from a bite of dessert.

20. Chocolate Mousse

Satisfy your post-dinner sweet tooth with a decade chocolate mousse cup. This fancy dessert is a chocolate lover's dream come true! Made with rich dark chocolate and topped with whipped chantilly cream and sweet chocolate shavings. What's more, they are no-bake and only have five simple ingredients.

21. Triple Chocolate Cake

I am not sure I need to tell you why this fantastic cake recipe is on my list of fancy desserts. Triple chocolate, decadent frosting, and a chocolate drip-to-finish. No one will ever believe you made it yourself.

22. White Chocolate Cupcakes

Good quality white chocolate has a very elevated taste, and I certainly never compromise on taste. Everyone always loves the irresistible piped white chocolate frosting, and the vanilla cupcake underneath is the perfect base with a fluffy, light, and airy sponge.

23. Mini Strawberry Pies

The best things come in small, fancy packages. Dainty and elegant pie crust cups filled with diplomat cream and topped with fresh strawberries for the best taste and texture there is.

24. Cinnamon Cupcakes

The sweet, aromatic, and warm spice that cinnamon gives to cupcakes and other baked goods is simply irresistible. Add these fancy cupcakes to your holiday dessert spread and watch everyone come back for more.

25. White Chocolate Mousse

Surely the most decadent, most creamy mousse around. Rich and delicious white chocolate mousse that is sweet but not too sweet makes the best fancy dessert recipe for a dinner party where you want to impress. But it is actually very easy to make!

26. Hokkaido Tarts

Get that sweet yet savory vibe from these elegant little Japanese desserts. The filling of these baked cheese tarts has the most amazing custard-like, creamy texture all encased in a sweet shortcrust pastry shell. Simply put, it's divine!

27. Nutella Cupcakes

If you love Nutella desserts, you will surely love this one. Moist and fluffy cupcakes filled with homemade Nutella and topped with Nutella frosting. It's certainly a chocolate lover's dream!

28. Rum Baba

Rum baba are cute and dainty yeast cakes soaked in rum syrup and topped with a vanilla bean mascarpone frosting, making them even more luxurious and creamy. The method for making baba cakes is the same as any other brioche or sweet bread, like babka. And I promise it is worth the extra effort!

29. Strawberry Cupcakes

Fresh and elegant strawberry cupcakes are the perfect simple yet fancy dessert for summer. And there are no synthetic flavors in the strawberry cream cheese frosting; only real strawberry taste is allowed!

30. Strawberry Tiramisu

Imagine a classic tiramisu, but then take it to fancy new heights. Ladyfingers are soaked in strawberry sauce and layered with mascarpone and strawberry jam, before being topped with chantilly cream and crushed freeze-dried strawberries. Delicious.

31. Crème Brulee Cake

A classic creme brulee is definitely on this list, but you should seriously consider trying this combination of moist sponge cake with pastry cream and caramelized sugar topping.

32. Chouquettes

French patisserie chefs often serve chouquettes by the dozen in dainty paper bags in their bakeries. The choux buns are baked with a pearl sugar topping that gives them a delightfully crunchy bite. And that certainly sounds fancy to me.

33. Mocha Cupcakes

If you love coffee and love chocolate but can't decide between the two, here is a fancy dessert recipe you should try. The chocolate cupcake base has a creamy coffee frosting on top for the best of both worlds!

34. Coconut Panna Cotta

This creamy Coconut Panna Cotta fits the bill for a light and refreshing dessert that won’t weigh your guests down after enjoying the food from your fancy dinner party. Italian for “cooked cream,” this dairy-free, coconut-flavored dessert is made with sweetened cream and then filled with a delicious passion fruit compote. The best part is it is super easy to make and only uses a few simple ingredients!

35. White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Strawberries and chocolate are an excellent combination for making the perfect sweet treat. It is also one of the more nutritious options, using fresh, juicy strawberries to dip into a high-quality molten chocolate. This recipe uses mild white chocolate versus dark chocolate, allowing the sweet flavor of the strawberries to shine through. Decorate it with sprinkles or edible gold dust to add the perfect fancy touch to your dessert platter.

36. Chocolate Ganache Cake

One of the best things about chocolate cake is that you can enjoy it on any occasion, whether a casual birthday party or a large celebration. This chocolate ganache cake is just one example of how you can convert this all-time crowd favorite into one of the best fancy desserts your guests will ever try. Made with a single layer of moist chocolate sponge cake and silky chocolate ganache frosting, it will surely satisfy your sweet tooth and have you dreaming about it for days to come!

37. Paris-Brest

As if the name of this classic French dessert doesn’t sound fancy enough, the appearance and flavor of Paris-Brest will undoubtedly impress your guests! Paris-Brest is the Queen of French pastries, with a delicate ring shape made from crispy Pâte à Choux bonded with a silky, nutty Creme Mousseline filling. The praline paste and delicious roasted hazelnuts give the filling additional texture and crunch, making your mouth water more with each bite.

38. Biscoff Cupcakes with Biscoff Buttercream

If you like speculoos biscuits, you will love these Lotus Biscoff cupcakes with Biscoff buttercream. With a creamy Biscoff butter filling and decadent Biscoff frosting, these moist and flavorful cupcakes infuse spicy and caramel flavors in every bite. It is one of the best fancy desserts and crowd-pleasers you can make for any special occasion, and it only takes an hour to make.

39. Classic French Madeleines

If you’re searching for gourmet dessert recipes that are easy to make and super versatile, these Classic French Madeleines must be at the top of your fancy desserts list! These soft mini-cakes are simple to assemble and will impress your guests. You can enjoy them as they are, flavor them with spices, or top them with your favorite glaze. No matter how you make them, your guests will return for more!

40. Choux Au Craquelin

Choux Au Craquelin is another classic French dessert that makes an excellent addition to a fancy dessert table. These ball-shaped crispy cream puffs are mildly sweet and delicious, with a crunchy craquelin layer on top. The large air pocket in the center allows you to fill the puffs with the finishing touch of your choice, whether it’s a creamy vanilla bean pastry cream, whipped chocolate ganache frosting, diplomat cream, or fresh apple filling!

41. Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart

Salted caramel and chocolate are like a match made in heaven, and these mini salted caramel chocolate tarts are definitely heavenly! These easy-to-make treats join buttery caramel with silky chocolate caramel in a sweet shortcrust pastry. They are one of the best fancy desserts to dress up your post-dinner table for the holidays or your favorite special occasion!

42. Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies

Made with fresh strawberries and stuffed with cream cheese filling sprinkled with a cheesecake crust, these easy raspberry cheesecake cookies will make your taste buds dance the moment you sink your teeth into them. They are quite similar to the Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies once sold by Subway, with one significant difference: These are even better!

43. Sicilian Ricotta Pie

Although typically associated with the Easter Holiday, this classic Sicilian Ricotta pie is one of the best fancy desserts you can enjoy year-round. With a delicious “Pasta Frolla” (shortcrust pie dough) as a base, this tasty pie is filled with creamy ricotta flavored with citrusy lemon zest. The result is a silky, not-too-sweet custard-like pie that will quickly become a crowd favorite!

44. Bavarian Cream Donuts

These sweet, cream-filled donuts take buttery French brioche donuts and fill them with a traditional Bavarian cream. They are super light and have just the right sweetness for dessert or breakfast. Bavarian cream donuts are incredibly versatile, and you can fill them with an alternate filling of your choice before dusting them with regular or powdered sugar.

45. Greek Yogurt Cookies

For super moist and fluffy cookies that are just as pleasing to your eyes as they are to your palette, these Greek Yogurt Cookies will not disappoint! Made with tangy Greek yogurt and a fluffy cream cheese frosting infused with pure vanilla extract, Greek Yogurt Cookies are simple, delicious, and one of the best fancy desserts you and your guests will ever try!

46. Tiramisu Cookies

Whether you want an after-dinner dessert or a tasty complement to your morning cup of coffee, these delicious tiramisu cookies are a perfect option. A fun twist to the classic Italian dessert, this easy recipe combines espresso powder, brown sugar, and mascarpone frosting sprinkled with cocoa powder. They aren’t just a crowd-pleaser but also super easy to make!

47. Raspberry Ruby Ice Cream Bar

If you didn’t think you could consider something as simple as an ice cream bar “fancy,” think again! These beautiful homemade raspberry ruby ice cream bars take creamy, no-churn raspberry yogurt frozen into an ice cream mold and then coated with ruby chocolate. The result is a beautiful, naturally pink ice cream bar with a fruity flavor that is not too sweet or hard. It is the perfect fancy dessert for a hot summer day.

48. Millie Feuille

This classic French pastry traditionally has three flaky layers of puff pastry alternating with two layers of a smooth, creamy filling. For the finishing touch, it is then topped with whipped cream, icing sugar, or glaze. It is a beautiful dessert you can easily serve at a fancy occasion or birthday party. The recipe is also relatively easy to follow and customize!

49. Mango Mousse Cake

Mango Mousse Cake is another super light and refreshing dessert that is great to serve after a fancy dinner party. Made with a buttery sponge layer cake and topped with an airy, yogurt-based mango-loaded mousse, this cake is fragrant, delicious, and incredibly easy to make. It is also beautiful and eye-catching– you won’t want to cut through it!

50. Ferrero Rocher Cake

Ferrero Rocher candies are often associated with fancy celebration desserts, and this rich chocolate cake is no exception! This decadent dessert takes moist layers of chocolate hazelnut sponge cake, covers it with a silky Nutella mousseline cream, and then decorates it with loads of crunchy hazelnuts and crushed Ferrero Rocher chocolates. It is super chocolatey (for you chocolate lovers out there), but thanks to my signature frosting recipe, it is not overly sweet.

51. Croquembouche

Croquembouche is hands-down one of the best luxury fancy desserts you can make to impress your friends. Translating to mean “crunch in your mouth” in French, this classic French pastry dessert uses creamy caramel to bind together diplomat cream-filled choux pastry puffs into an impressive cone-shaped tower. It isn’t just stunning to view, but it is absolutely delicious!

52. Baklava Cheesecake

Crispy, creamy, and light, this baklava cheesecake may be one of the best cheesecakes you will ever try! This easy, delicious cheesecake recipe takes the traditional baklava to the next level with light cream cheese filling placed on top of walnut-filled filo pastry layers soaked in aromatic honey rosewater syrup. Once you try it, you will want to make it over and over again!

53. Wine Mousse Parfait

If you are looking for a boozy infusion for your next dessert, look no further than this easy wine mousse parfait! This summer-inspired parfait brings together white wine and peach compote to create a sweet and refreshing mousse wine lovers will fall in love with. Serve it in a fancy wine glass and sprinkle on a decoration of your choice for one of the best fancy desserts you will ever lay your eyes on.

54. Clafoutis

Clafoutis is another classic French recipe with a custardy, flan-like consistency and plenty of versatility to make it one of the best fancy desserts to appear on your table. Although often made with cherries, you can make it using a variety of fresh fruit. It is then topped with powdered sugar or cream and served warm. Not only is it a beautiful dessert, but it is also one of the most easy fancy dessert recipes you will ever make!

55. Strawberry Pavlova Cake

Perfect for Spring or Summer, this fancy Strawberry Pavlova Cake is one of the most delicious desserts you will ever sink your teeth into. Crunchy on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside, this cake is made with fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream and decorated with fresh mint leaves. It is also naturally gluten-free!

56. Crème Brûlée Macarons

If you like crème brûlée and macarons, this combination will be a dream come true! This recipe takes the traditional creamy custard crème brûlée filling and sandwiches it between two bite-sized macaron shells. It is then topped with crunchy caramelized sugar for decoration. The result is a crunchy, chewy, smooth, and silky treat that will have you craving more.

57. Palmiers

Also known as “elephant ears,” this incredibly easy two-ingredient recipe just may be one of the simplest fancy desserts you will ever make. Using store-bought puff pastry and a bit of sugar, these delicious bakery-style cookies are sweet, buttery, light, and crunchy. Its unique shape is quite elegant, making it one of the best fancy desserts easy to make when you don’t have much time to prepare or don’t want to spend a fortune on ingredients.

58. Fraisier Cake

Fraisier Cake most definitely takes the win when it comes to fancy strawberry cakes. Also known as French strawberry cake, Fraisier Cake consists of moist, buttery sponge layers filled with vanilla bean Crème Mousseline, layered with strawberry compote, and beautifully decorated with fresh strawberries. As impressive as this cake looks, it is pretty easy to make!

59. Pecan Upside Down Cake

Perfect for Fall or Thanksgiving, this super moist cake is festive, fancy, and the perfect combination of tender and crunchy. Pecan Upside Down Cake has moist, vanilla-flavored yogurt cake as a base and crunchy, caramelized pecans as a topping. Bake it in a bundt pan for a fun, upside-down appearance, or use a regular cake pan for a more traditional cake.

60. Floating Island Dessert

Also known as île flottante in France, this classic, creamy dessert is one of the best fancy desserts to consider if you want to avoid using the oven. Made with simple kitchen staples such as milk, sugar, egg, and vanilla, Floating Islands are no-bake and incredibly easy to make. Top it with nuts, chocolate bits, fruit, or a caramel glaze to make it even more fancy. Did I mention that it is also gluten-free?

61. Napoleon Cake

Made with thin layers of crunchy puff pastry and silky pastry cream, Napoleon Cake is a light, moist, and creamy dessert that isn’t just elegant but delicious. Each of its thin layers is filled with rich vanilla pastry cream. The outside of the cake has a smooth, light layer of cream coated in finely crushed puff pastry pieces. Serve it as it is, or garnish it with fresh berries for a bright, more eye-catching appearance.

62. French Cinnamon Apple Tart

There’s nothing quite like the warm flavors of a cinnamon-apple dessert, especially on a crisp Fall evening. This fancy tart recipe has buttery pastry, cinnamon, sugar, and crisp, sweet apples arranged in a beautiful pattern and glazed to give that elegant finish.

63. Black Forest Cake

Chocolate lovers, pay attention because this black forest cake is one of the best fancy desserts you will ever see. This easy recipe takes moist chocolate sponge cake infused with cherry liqueur (optional) and then layers it with a whipped cream frosting. It is then decorated with fresh cherries and chocolate bark for a stunning, photo-worthy appearance and rich, chocolatey flavor.

64. Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

There is strawberry cheesecake, and then there are these decadent, bite-sized cheesecake-stuffed strawberries! This simple, easy-to-make recipe puts a twist on the traditional cheesecake topped with strawberries by stuffing fresh strawberries with sweet, creamy cheesecake instead. They are then topped with crushed graham crackers for a sweet treat simple enough to enjoy at home but beautiful enough to be considered one of the best fancy desserts for a crowd!

65. Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cake

If you love peanut butter, you will want to add this homemade chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream cake to your dessert menu! Layered with homemade chocolate cake and no-churn peanut butter icing, then topped with creamy chocolate ganache and chopped peanut butter cups, this decadent dessert will be the highlight of your day!

66. Strawberry Panna Cotta

This Strawberry Panna Cotta recipe is a refreshing, no-bake dessert lighter than a traditional Panna Cotta but just as delicious! Made with a combination of Greek yogurt and heavy cream, it has a richer flavor but packs fewer calories than Panna Cotta made only from heavy cream. The aromatic strawberry sauce provides just the right amount of sweetness, so no need for a ton of sugar!

67. Chocolate Covered Strawberries Tuxedo Style

This recipe puts a fun twist on regular chocolate-covered strawberries. Using fresh strawberries, white chocolate melts, and dark chocolate melts, these strawberries are “dressed” in tuxedos. If you are looking for one of the best fancy desserts to have on the table for a bridal shower, wedding reception, New Year’s party, or another fancy event, make sure to add these to your list!

68. Creamy Strawberry Semifreddo with Macadamia Nut

This Creamy Strawberry Semifreddo is another fancy dessert that will have your guests raving. With the texture of a frozen mousse similar to ice cream and a light, fruity strawberry compote topping, this refreshing dessert is an excellent answer to a hot summer day. And guess what? No fancy equipment is required!

Fancy Desserts FAQs