35 Small & Light Dessert Ideas for a Dinner Party

This easy Ambrosia fruit salad recipe with cool whip and cream cheese is super creamy! This old-fashioned Southern dessert salad is a perfect sweet and light treat!

Fruit is a great option for a light dessert after a heavy meal. And with this simple chocolate fruit dip from Everyday Family Cooking, you can take your fruit plate to the next level. We love to serve it with fresh bananas and strawberries!

If you're looking for a festive dessert, you'll love our Cake Mix Truffle Hearts! This heart-shaped dessert is perfect for celebrating, and they're easy to make, delicious, and look super impressive!

Chocolate Chip Cookies are always one of people's favorite desserts! These Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies with browned butter elevate a simple dessert to a whole new level, too!

They strike the ideal balance of chewy and crispy, with a rich depth of flavor from the browned butter and a delightful hint of sea salt to tantalize your taste buds.

If you're looking for one of the easiest desserts to make, you can't go wrong with a fun take on a Rice Krispie Treat! There are absolutely delicious, salty, and sweet!

Oreo truffles are a great dessert because they can be enjoyed while chatting with friends! They're also ready in just a few simple steps!

Everyone at your dinner party will love finishing their meal with this light and fluffy strawberry mousse recipe Homan at Home.

Topping each mousse with fresh strawberries is an easy way to turn this into an elegant dessert, too!

Instead of serving a full pie after a heavy meal, why not try these key lime pie bars with a homemade graham cracker crust from Baked Abundance?

You could also give your guests a scoop of vanilla ice cream and then have them ttop it with their favorite ice cream toppings!

These cream horns are so light and fluffy! They're one of the best desserts after a big meal!

The light and fluffy pavlovas topped with fresh berries in this recipe from Kitchen on the Avenue are a simple way to round out a full meal.

Skip the heavy cheesecake at your next dinner party and serve these simple cheesecake shooters from Spend With Pennies instead!

We like to top each of them with fresh raspberries to make this a show-stopping dessert!

This simple brown sugar sponge cake from A Pinch of Zest is topped with fresh fruit and cream, making it a light dessert perfect for a dinner party.

The light crumb in this lemon chiffon cake from Little Sweet Baker is a great alternative to a heavier traditional cake recipe.

Cheesecake is always a sophisticated dessert, but there’s no need to bake a full cheesecake when you’re trying to keep things light!

Try these mini New York cheesecakes from State of Dinner instead.

The refreshing flavor of lemon combined with the texture of panna cotta make this dessert recipe from XOXO Bella a great way to keep things light after a heavy meal.

When it comes to light desserts, you can’t go wrong with fresh berries and cream using this recipe from Lemon Blossoms.

It's the perfect treat for a Summer party and uses just simple ingredients!

Not only is this pineapple angel food cake from Amanda’s Cookin' flavorful, but it’s also super easy to make!

Finding the best light dessert is simple if it includes lemon! That’s why this lemon lush recipe from Food Folks and Fun is perfect for your dinner party.

Chocolate lovers will love these chewy cookies topped with delicious cream frosting!

The classic tropical flavors in this pineapple whip recipe from Grandbaby Cakes makes a delicious dessert idea for your next dinner party.

Add the light and refreshing flavor of lime to classic shortbread using this recipe My Happy Bakes to prepare a simple snack for your dinner party guests to enjoy.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy dessert to serve at your dinner party, you can’t go wrong with these cheesecake stuffed strawberries from I Heart Vegetables!

When you serve these strawberry lemonade bars from Mae’s Menu after dinner, your guests will be begging for the recipe.

Cupcakes are the perfect party dessert! Lighten up classic cupcakes with the help of this lemon recipe from Modern Honey.

You only need two ingredients and a few minutes of your time to whip up this light and flavorful recipe for chocolate covered pineapple from Aleka’s Get Together.

A no bake strawberry trifle, like this easy recipe from Simple Living Recipes, is a delicious way to end dinner on a lighter note.

Combine classic shortcake with fresh blueberries to make this easy blueberry shortcake recipe Live to Sweet for your next dinner party.

Made with angel food cake, cherry pie filling, and whipped topping, this Heaven on Earth Cake from Little Sunny Kitchen is a no bake dessert your party guests will love.

When you top creamy cheesecake with blackberries using this recipe from Emily Leary, you have an amazing dessert to serve after a heavy meal.

Since these bite-sized trifles from On My Kids Plate taste just like orange creamsicles, your party guests can enjoy a light and refreshing treat after their meal.

Instead of making a full apple pie, you could serve a batch of fried apples using this recipe from Yellow Bliss Road! We like to paired with whipped cream!

Are you serving a grilled dinner at your next party? Try ending your meal with these grilled peaches from Debra Klein.

A light and fluffy lemon chiffon pie from Ann’s Entitled Life is a refreshing way to end a big meal at your dinner party.

There’s no reason to bake a full cake for your dinner party! These individual angel food cupcakes from Sugar Spun Run are a delicious sweet treat your guests will love.