If you’re the biggest fan of desserts, then better take a look at these fancy desserts that might catch your eye for your next dessert table!
Gourmet desserts come in a wide array of options!
Hot, cold, vanilla, chocolate, fruit, bar, pie, cake, plain, fancy, simple, and elegant describe different desserts!
Perhaps the most impressive dessert recipes are the ones that are not only delightful to the taste buds but also have a stunning presentation for the eyes.
You know it is not a quick weeknight throw-together treat for the kids when you see a fancy dessert.
Elegant desserts take planning and time and often have a specific purpose, especially if you want to make some Lemon Cheesecake Mousse or Salted Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Tart.
Maybe a special brunch or wedding shower or evening of entertaining company.
Maybe you love baking and have lots of experience with it.
Maybe you just want to do something special for a holiday or a celebration.
I pulled together this list of 25 fancy desserts for everyone, no matter their background or experience level.
Watch out for #24 and other desserts on this list because these gourmet recipes have excellent instructions, and many have equally helpful step-by-step pictures.
So be bold and bake something new and exquisite!
A tart kicks off our list of fancy dessert recipes.
This blackberry mousse tart has fresh blackberries, creamy cashew mousse, and a purple sweet potato tourbillon.
The best part is no artificial color needed!
Stunning presentation!
2. Creme Brulee
I count this creme brulee among my easy fancy dessert recipes because you do not need a torch since a secret oven technique is revealed!
Who doesn’t love dipping into the beautiful fruit on top of its crispy sugar topping, knowing the creamy custard-like layer is just waiting underneath?
Impressive desserts are so satisfying to serve.
Guests do a double-take, and you are so proud!
The beautiful part of this tart is it only has five ingredients!
FIVE!
Good quality chocolate and full-fat heavy cream are mandatory for this stunning dessert!
Mini anything fits the fancy dessert category, and it’s because they are so adorable!
This red velvet cake is delicious, but the genius layering and topping with a square of chocolate is downright divine!
I find it so fun when traditional desserts get an upgrade to become gourmet desserts!
The flavor is expected with an unexpected twist!
Here caramel apples are, of course, dipped in caramel, but it is what happens next that count.
The toppings and chocolate drizzle are unique!
Mini but elegant dessert recipes will undoubtedly catch your guest’s eye!
Beautiful pink mini Strawberry Mini Bundt Cakes With White Chocolate Ganache are creative and ready to serve!
Fresh strawberries finish the look with a carnation or two!
Many fancy dessert recipes use some sort of fruit, and that proves true here as these cookies have not only fresh blueberries but also a blueberry cheesecake center along
with white chocolate chunks!
Some assembly is required, but worth it!
These easy fancy dessert recipes, like others, have several parts.
This tart has two with a shortbread crust and a lemon curd filling.
It will perfectly satisfy that sweet and tart craving that can arrive after dinner.
Served with a few fresh blueberries, it is a match made in heaven!
This peach tart is at the top of my list of impressive desserts!
The cut slices of five peaches layered in a circular pattern all around the center are mesmerizing, sitting atop the butter biscuit crust and whipped mascarpone layers.
Have a sharp knife on hand to cut and serve it with.
I love this fancy dessert because it is made in individual mousse cups, so serving is a breeze!
This presentation allows all the layers to be seen in all their beauty!
Serve cold with lemon slices, whipped cream, mint leaves, and a few fresh berries!
These truffles are gourmet desserts with splendid coloring!
It is hard to believe how easy they are to make.
Not quick, since time is involved, but manageable.
It starts with a box mix and ends with lots of dipping in melted chocolate.
Winning recipe all the way around!
The elegant dessert recipes have beloved desserts like this cheesecake which has all the creamy filling of a classic cannoli on a graham cracker crust.
It can be made ahead and does need time for chilling!
You can customize it with sprinkles on toppings.
Brownies can most definitely have fancy dessert recipes all their own!
Dense fudge brownies topped in fluffy marshmallow bliss with chocolate syrup or caramel drizzled on the top look and sound heavenly!
These easy fancy dessert recipes are so sophisticated-looking but doable.
Mini rose tarts include a buttery pastry, jam, and peach or plum slices, though if apples, pears, or strawberries are fresh, you can use them as well.
It’s all about knowing how to use the pastry puff to create this beautiful dessert!
These bars are like picking up a piece of fruit cobbler as finger food.
You can find impressive desserts in all kinds of styles, and these bars are fabulous.
You could use it simply to make any number of fruit jams.
They look like you spent hours in the kitchen, and be prepared for future requests!
If your fancy dessert choice needs a little shaking up, consider these Strawberry Banana Nutella Crepes.
These luscious creations seem complicated, but the crepe is easy, and the three filling
ingredients complement each other so well!
After a couple of strategic folds for the plate, sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.
Italian classic gourmet desserts are fabulous, and this tiramisu has all the flavors you love of berries, coffee, chocolate, and cream.
Individual servings are lovely too.
Make ahead, and they can chill while you enjoy the main course.
Some elegant dessert recipes are almost too beautiful to slice into, like this decadent tart with chocolate crust, dark chocolate filling with deep espresso-flavored whipped cream!
The epitome of elegance.
Ahh, the fancy dessert recipes of cake rolls.
This outstanding option has chocolate cake and strawberry whipped cream rolled together with extra chocolate curls and berries on top!
Only got time for easy fancy dessert recipes?
I hear you.
These individual servings of the chocolate cherry trifle are irresistible!
Chocolate cake, creamy pudding, whipped cream, and cherries spooned into layers make a lovely presentation that looks amazing without hours in the kitchen.
Impressive desserts are even more delicious when the smell they create makes you smile before a single bite is taken!
That’s what happens here with these Apple Crisp Stuffed Apples.
The hollowed-out apple is filled with homemade apple filling, topped with a buttery crumble, and served with caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream, or both!
A decadent and fancy dessert with a phenomenal table presence like this white chocolate cranberry tart deserves the blue ribbon!
This might be my favorite because the colors are so luscious.
Solid crust with oats, almonds, maple syrup, cranberry jam, and a filling of white chocolate, coconut milk, and cashews.
The decorations on top of frosted cranberries (directions given) and extra white chocolate chips are spectacular!
We all love charcuterie boards as appetizers, but what about taking that idea and turning it into a dessert?
Some gourmet desserts can be combinations of other smaller sweet items.
This beautifully arranged collection of dark chocolate, fresh fruit, nuts, and mint leaves is beyond impressive!
This apple streusel is not your average cobbler or typical pie.
It lies somewhere in the middle of elegant dessert recipes!
Its texture and sheer height let you know your taste buds are in for a serious threat!
It does take time, as most great things do.
So give yourself plenty of it for this fantastic experience.
This tart has a crust made of Oreos, a rich chocolate ganache with fresh pomegranate seeds on top to close out our fancy dessert recipes.
Chocolate lovers rejoice!
Add more sugar if you think the recipe needs it, and the additional flaky sea salt on top is also optional depending on your preference.
You will love these delicious Cheesecake Brownies filled with a rich, fudgy chocolate base and a light, sweet topping swirled with chocolate.
It has a bit of tang, thanks to the addition of cream cheese that compliments all the flavors.
Crepes are famous desserts often seen in the streets of Japan and France, but have now found their way into shops all over the world.
Although it has lots of varieties, this crepe features juicy berries and thick cheesecake filling.
28. Palmier Cookies
Palmiers, also called French Hearts, Elephant Ears, or Palm Leaves, are airy, buttery, and sugar-coated cookies.
If you wish it to be sweeter, dip the tip in melted milk chocolate.
This pastry deserves all of the hype around it.
The fried doughnuts are soft, and they have a pillow-like quality, and each bite is a heavenly treat.
30. Eton Mess
This English favorite is infused with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
However, if you want the dessert to be more indulgent, you can use yogurt and cream instead.
This Austrian shortbread, also called Ischler Törtchen, is a European dessert that melts in your mouth.
With its filling of raspberries and blueberries, the shortbread has a mixture of tangy and fruity flavors, and the texture is soft and chewy.
32. Vanillekipferl
Vanillekipferl, or vanilla crescent cookies, are buttery, vanilla-infused cookies.
This Austrian classic is delicately crumbly and mouthwatering.
Whether you’re into vanilla-flavored desserts or not, these cookies will certainly win you over.
This unique dessert features freshly cut strawberries stuffed with rich, creamy cream cheese filling.
They are sprinkled with sugar and crushed graham crackers.
They are easy to eat and can even be made as party appetizers.
This fun recipe lets you dress up your dessert, literally.
Fresh strawberries are covered in chocolate and designed with tiny tuxedo jackets.
It only requires a couple of ingredients and your imagination.
These French madeleines are shell-like tiny sponge cakes with a decadent taste that can’t be matched.
You can eat it as is, or you can dip it in melted chocolate or drizzle maple syrup on top.
Parfait is an artistically layered treat with thick, rich cream and fresh sliced fruits.
In this version, strawberries and blueberries are mixed with sugar, vanilla, cream cheese, and whipped cream to create this cake-like parfait.
Panna Cotta is a no-bake sophisticated dessert that is creamy and full of flavor.
The strawberry version features fresh strawberries, milk, vanilla, and gelatin.
The result is a beautiful red-colored treat that is undeniably tasty.
Semifreddo is an excellent alternative to ice cream.
This Italian no-bake dish has cream, yogurt, and fresh strawberries.
It has an interesting, unique texture because even though it is slightly frozen, it remains soft.
39. Marjolaine
Marjolaine, also called Dacquoise, is a French pastry made with layers of nut meringue.
Each layer is filled with crushed almonds and hazelnuts mixed with dark chocolate, buttercream, and whipped cream.
This spectacular pastry is nutty, chocolaty, creamy, crunchy, and has all kinds of goodness.
Kabobs are not just skewered meat; there can be skewered desserts, too.
These Chocolate Strawberry Dessert Kabobs are filled with marshmallows, strawberries, and brownies drizzled with fudge sauce.
This cake is every chocolate lover’s dream.
It has layers upon layers of soft chocolate sponges covered in peanut butter and chocolate ganache frosting.
You can add peanut butter cups on top for decoration.
This beautiful recipe tastes as amazing as it looks.
The apple slices are dosed with apricot sauce, cinnamon, and sugar.
This baked dessert can be an alternative to the traditional apple pie.
These cookie cups are an adorable twist on the classic sugar cookie.
They are chewy, moist, sweet, and filled with fresh fruits creating a wonderful mix of flavor and texture.
44. Mini Eclair
Eclairs are choux dough filled with sweet cream and topped with either chocolate or vanilla icing.
These mini eclairs are smaller and bite-sized, and each puff shell is filled with cream filling and topped with chocolate ganache or milk chocolate.
45. Coffee Macaron
Macarons are soft cookies with crispy edges and cream filling in between.
Since macarons are versatile flavor-wise, you can choose whatever flavor you want.
For this take on macarons, you can combine the aromatic flavor of coffee with white chocolate ganache.
They make incredible snacks to go with tea or coffee or as part of a dessert platter.
Cream puffs are excellent round-shaped choux buns with crispy, sugary coating, and delectable pastry cream.
To garnish the puffs, you can drizzle caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, or powdered sugar on top.
47. Caramel Custard
This chilled dish is silky, creamy, and a certified crowd-pleaser.
Although it has a simple presentation compared to the other recipes on the list, it does not fall behind when it comes to taste.
The custard is placed atop a pool of caramel and baked in an Instant Pot to syrupy perfection.
If you’re too busy to make something upfront and you like to meal prep, this pudding is for you as you can prepare it days ahead.
The pudding features chia seeds, almond milk, raspberries, and maple syrup, and it can be kept in the fridge until the time when you’re ready to eat it.
Ice Cream Bon Bons allow you to enjoy an after-meal delight without the guilt of overindulging.
These bite-sized balls of ice cream are covered in frozen chocolate and topped with sprinkles or crushed nuts.
A cozy and decadent dish, these baked pears are topped with chopped walnuts, crispy oats, cinnamon butter, and brown sugar.
This is similar to brownie a la mode but uses pears instead of brownies.
The pears are fork tender, so they are easy to eat, and they are warm, which makes them a fabulous base for a dollop of ice cream and butterscotch sauce.
51. Grape Sorbet
Are you craving ice cream but want something more fruity and refreshing?
Try this vibrant and appetizing Grape Sorbet instead.
This sorbet features sugar-sweetened water, grape puree, and crushed grapes.
52. Vanilla Scones
Vanilla Scones are fluffy, moist tea treats with crisp and slightly crunchy golden edges.
The scones are vanilla flavored, but you can top them with coconut flakes or lime zest.
You can bake a big batch to share with your friends at brunch or any time of the day when you want something to pair your coffee with.
53. Pavlova
Pavlova is a meringue-based cake with a crisp crust and soft insides.
Unlike the other desserts on the list, Pavlova takes time and patience to bake and decorate.
Baking this cake is a labor of love, but all the effort in making it is worth it.
This pastry is heavenly and delightful, with a subtle rose flavor that adds so much to the treat.
This version of cream puffs is elegant, clean, and luscious.
Decorate the puffs with sugared rose petals for a candy-like topping.
The bottom line
I realized after I was done how many tarts I included.
In my defense, they are exquisite and lend themselves to elegant dessert recipes!
Enjoy! And may all your family and guests be impressed!
More Dessert Recipes
- Easy Dessert Assortment
- Cream Cheese Desserts
- Game Day Dessert Ideas
- No-Bake Dessert Recipes
- Best Camping Desserts
- Instant Pot Sweet Treats
- Best Chocolate Desserts
54 FINEST Fancy Desserts
Feast your eyes on our finest list of fancy desserts, from Baked Alaska to Pavlova and more!
Ingredients
- Sinfully Sweet Blackberry Mousse Tart
- Easy Creme Brulee
- No-Bake Chocolate Strawberry Ganache Tart
- Red Velvet Cake Minis
- Gourmet Caramel Apples
- Strawberry Mini Bundt Cakes With White Chocolate Ganache
- Blueberry Cheesecake Cookies
- Lemon Tart With A Shortbread Crust
- Whipped Mascarpone Peach Tart
- Lemon Cheesecake Mousse
- Red Velvet Cake Truffles
- No Bake Cannoli Cheesecake
- Sky High Gluten-Free Marshmallow Brownies
- Peach Plum Rose Tarts
- Raspberry Almond Linzer Shortbread Bars
- Strawberry Banana Nutella Crepes
- Raspberry Tiramisu
- Dark Chocolate Tart With Espresso Whipped Cream
- Berries & Cream Chocolate Cake Roll
- Easy Chocolate Cherry Trifle
- Apple Crisp Stuffed Apples
- White Chocolate Cranberry Tart
- Gourmet Chocolate Dessert Board
- Caramel Apple Streusel Pie
- Salted Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Tart
- Cheesecake Brownies
- Berries And Cream Crepes
- Palmier Cookies
- New Orleans Beignets
- Eton Mess
- Austrian Raspberry Blueberry Shortbread
- Vanillekipferl
- Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries Tuxedo-Style
- Classic French Madeleines
- Berry Cheesecake Parfaits
- Strawberry Panna Cotta
- Creamy Strawberry Semifreddo
- Marjolaine
- Chocolate Strawberry Dessert Kabobs
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
- Apple Rose Puff Pastry
- Fruit Cheesecake Sugar Cookie Cups
- Mini Eclair
- Coffee Macaron
- Classic Cream Puffs
- Caramel Custard
- Raspberry Chia Pudding
- Ice Cream Bon Bons
- Baked Pears With Brown Sugar Walnut Crumble
- Grape Sorbet
- Vanilla Scones
- Pavlova
- Persian Rosewater Cream Puffs
Instructions
- Find your favorite recipe from our Fancy Desserts list.
- Gather all the ingredients needed.
- Start creating and make us proud!