40 Absolutely Adorable Mini Desserts You’ll Love
Bigger isn’t always better. From brownies to cupcakes to cookies, these are the mini desserts that prove bite-sized is just as delicious.
1. Jam-Topped Mini Cheesecakes
We turned cheesecake into irresistible bite-sized snacks. Feel free to swap in any favorite flavor of jam.
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Next, check out our collection of desserts for two people. From the Recipe Creator: My family requests these adorable little tarts each holiday season. I always enjoy making them since the almond paste in the filling reflects our Dutch heritage, plus they’re popular at special gatherings.
2. Miniature Almond Tarts
My family requests these adorable little tarts each holiday season. I always enjoy making them since the almond paste in the filling reflects our Dutch heritage, plus they’re popular at special gatherings.
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3. Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
These treats are a perfect mouthful of strawberry, sweet cream cheese filling and just a drizzle of chocolate. Easy to fill and fix ahead, they add tempting variety to brunch or party offerings—and make a delicious homemade gift.
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4. Red Velvet Cake Bites
Everyone loves red velvet, but any cake mix can work here. I’ve even rolled chopped macadamia nuts into pineapple cake and dipped them into white chocolate. Whatever you do, have fun!
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5. Black Bottom Brandy Bites
The idea for these bite-sized tarts started with little chocolate bottles of brandy. For an extra dash of fabulous, I place chocolate in the bottom of each pastry cup.
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6. Mini Chocolate Chip Sandwich Cookies
I love baking cookies to give as gifts to my family and friends. I created this recipe for my annual holiday cookie platter and it received rave reviews from both children and adults.
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7. Orange-Nutella Cookie Cups
These cups are easy to put on a platter for impressive presentation—they’re a true one-bite pleasure! Top them with the fresh fruit of your choice: Half a strawberry or a piece of mandarin orange complements the hazelnut chocolate flavor of the Nutella.
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8. Mini Cream Puffs
This recipe is quick and easy to whip up, and the kids will love it! They are perfect to pack for a picnic or to have as a snack for family game night.
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9. Miniature Peanut Butter Treats
This recipe is one of my family’s favorites, and I make the treats a lot, especially at Christmas. I have three children and eight grandchildren, and every one of them loves those “peanut butter thingies,” as the grandchildren call them!
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10. Coffee Cheesecake
Coffee lovers will line up for this rich coffee cheesecake. It’s creamy and just mildly sweet, which allows the coffee flavor to shine through.
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11. Miniature Pumpkin Cake Towers
I make these pumpkin treats every autumn and they are gone in minutes. The spice combination is perfect for fall, and it is all wrapped up in a pretty little cake.—Deb Lyon, Bangor, Pennsylvania
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12. Holiday Meringue Miniatures
My kids love these light melt-in-your-mouth cookies, and we have fun making them. These were always on our Christmas cookie plate when I was a kid, and now the tradition continues.
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13. Citrus Mini Cakes
These moist, bite-size muffins from Linda Terrell of Palatka, Florida are melt-in-your-mouth good. “With their appealing look, they really dress up a party table,” she notes.
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14. Strawberry Cookie Cups
I learned to bake beside my mom and grandmother. When I was on break from college, I knew just how to entertain myself: I made cookies. Sharing this recipe with my mom and grandmother was a proud moment.—Andrea Zulauf, Livonia, New York
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15. Miniature Christmas Fruitcakes
I’ve found that people who normally won’t eat fruitcake make an exception when they sample these. Using mini muffin pans for baking creates fun, single-serving cakes.
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16. Mini Cherry Cheesecakes
These little cheesecakes make a fun dessert that’s just right for cooks who don’t have a lot of time for fussy recipes. Plus, you get to eat a whole mini cheesecake yourself!
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17. Mini Pumpkin Spice Trifles
These miniature trifles are so fun for fall holiday parties! The assembly takes a little longer than making one big trifle, but it’s worth it to see everyone’s reaction to getting their own!
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18. Mini Sweet Potato Pies
My son Levi was only 2 years old when he helped me create this delicious recipe, and it was the first time he told me I love you! I’ll always remember making these with him.
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19. Baklava
Baklava is a traditional Middle Eastern pastry made with flaky phyllo dough, chopped nuts and sweet honey. This dessert is very rich, so one pan goes a long way.
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20. Chocolate-Mint Cookie Cups
When chocolate and mint get together with a hint of peppermint, mmm…magic happens. If you don’t have mini muffin pans to make these cookies, use disposable foil baking cups.
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21. Pecan Pie Muffins
While these are delicious year-round, you could easily turn them into an edible Christmas gift. They look festive on a decorative tray wrapped in red or green cellophane or tucked into a giveaway cookie plate.
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22. Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls
Maple syrup sweetens these lovely little cinnamon buns. I make the dough in my bread machine before popping the rolls in the oven.
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23. Caramel Apple Bites
Kids can help make these perfect fall bites by dipping the baked cookies in caramel and nuts. It’s a fun food craft for all of us.
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24. Trail Mix Cookie Cups
My granddaughter helped create these cookie cups for the first time by using ingredients from my pantry and fridge. We used trail mix to jazz them up.
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25. Orange Dream Mini Cupcakes
The bright taste of these cute cupcakes reminds me and my friends of orange-and-vanilla frozen treats.
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26. Mini Rum Cakes
My mother and I tried many different types of rum cake to find the best one, and finally hit on this cake that doesn’t dry out and imparts the most flavor.
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27. Caramel Apple Cheesecake
This apple cheesecake won the grand prize in an apple recipe contest. With caramel both on the bottom and over the top, every bite is sinfully delicious.
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28. Glazed Doughnut Holes
Here’s a simple recipe to create a colorful and fun breakfast—or snack! For the glaze, use any type of juice you like.
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29. Truffle-Filled Cookie Tarts
I made chocolate truffles as a Christmas tradition for many years. I created this recipe to incorporate my truffles into the center of fudgy cookies.
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30. Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie
While growing up on a farm, I often ate rhubarb, so it’s natural for me to use it in a pie. I prefer to use lard for the flaky pie crust and thin red rhubarb stalks for the filling.
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31. Dipped Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
You’ll love to give tins of these chocolate-coated cookies to your lucky friends. The shortcut holiday recipe is almost too simple to believe!
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32. Peanut Caramel Brownie Bites
These three-layered brownies are simply irresistible and my family’s absolute favorite.
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33. Apple Pie Bites
These apple pie bites are fun for kids to make. Simply wrap strips of pastry around apple wedges and shake on some cinnamon-sugar.
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34. Mini S’mores
Want to sink your teeth into s’mores all year long? Here’s the answer! Just combine marshmallow creme, chocolate and graham crackers for an awesome bite.
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35. Salted Caramel Cookie Cups
When I brought these salty-sweet treats to a potluck, I overheard people talking about how wonderful they were.
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36. Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwich Minis
My husband absolutely loves ice cream sandwiches and snickerdoodles, so I combined them into one fun treat.
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37. Rice Krispie Cookies
My mom and I used to prepare these Rice Krispie cookies for Christmas every year. Making them with just the microwave means they’re super easy and fun to mix with the kids.
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38. Carrot Cookies
These cookies are both flavorful and colorful. The shredded carrots add nice bright flecks of orange color.
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39. Lemon Cheesecake Tarts
To make these cute tarts more quickly, add the filling to store-bought phyllo tart shells.
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Author Amanda Tarlton
As both a freelance food and lifestyle writer and executive editor of commerce for a national fishing, hunting and outdoors magazine, Amanda spends most of her time creating a range of content.
In those (rare) moments when she’s not at her desk typing furiously, she’s
What are the benefits of making mini desserts? Mini desserts are perfect for sharing, make great party snacks, and can easily be portion-controlled.
Can all these desserts be made in a home kitchen? Yes, all the recipes are designed to be made in a standard home kitchen with common baking tools.
Which dessert is best for a holiday gathering? The Miniature Almond Tarts or the Miniature Pumpkin Cake Towers are great options for holiday gatherings due to their festive appeal.
How can you involve children in making these desserts? Children can help with tasks such as dipping cookies in caramel, mixing dough, or decorating tarts, making the experience fun for them.
Are there any vegan or allergy-friendly options in the list? While not explicitly mentioned, some recipes like the Rice Krispie Cookies or the Carrot Cookies can be adjusted to be vegan or gluten-free with minor ingredient substitutions.
Do you need special equipment like mini muffin pans? Most recipes can be made with regular muffin pans, but some specific recipes may require mini muffin pans for the perfect bite-sized treats.
