24 Crowd-Pleasing Desserts to Serve at Brunch

They're Sure to Impress

Bomboloni

 Kristina Vanni

Brunch is a wonderful way to bring family and friends together with food, and a fun alternative to dinner parties. Whether you're gathering with family on the weekend, serving up a homey menu for Mother's Day, or hosting a swanky brunch event for your girlfriends or other invited guests, dessert will always be a key (and delicious) part of any brunch menu. We help you get dessert right and delight your guests at your next brunch, with these gorgeous, crowd-pleasing brunch dessert recipes that are sure to impress and keep people coming back for more.

  • 01 of 24

    Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake

    Strawberry Rhubarb Cake

    Kristen Johansen / Getty Images

    This brunch-time coffee cake is baked with a strawberry rhubarb layer in the center and a crunchy crumble topping. Cut this strawberry rhubarb coffee cake into squares and serve with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

  • 02 of 24

    Quick and Easy Cinnamon Rolls

    Cinnamon rolls

    J Shepherd / Getty Images

    Your brunch guests will compete for these mouth-watering quick and easy cinnamon rolls, with its sweet, biscuit-like dough. You'll like that these rolls don't require any rising time, making them easy for you to prepare in less than an hour.

  • 03 of 24

    Glazed Fruit Tarts

    Fruit tarts

    Leren Lu /  Getty Images

    Pretty, glazed fruit tarts are a classic brunch dessert found in many French bakeries. Sweet, buttery shortcrust tarts are filled with pastry cream, topped with fruit and finished with an apricot glaze.

  • 04 of 24

    Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes

    Chocolate Lava Cake
    Photostock Israel / Getty Images

    Fudgy, individual molten chocolate lava cakes are popular restaurant treats. Make them at home for brunch guests with this rich and chocolaty recipe, that can be made ahead and reheated when it's time to serve.

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  • 05 of 24

    Fresh Strawberry Buttercream

    Strawberry Buttercream

    The Spruce Eats / Elaine Lemm

    This beautiful pink frosting is a simple way to decorate cupcakes, cakes, and brownies. Fresh strawberries are responsible for the strawberry buttercream's flavor and color, while a hint of rosewater adds a bright accent that will delight and surprise everyone.

  • 06 of 24

    Deep Fried Banana Fritters

    Banana Fritters

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    These warm and flavorful deep fried banana fritters are a sweet finish to any brunch. Make them ahead and keep warm in the oven, then serve with maple syrup or dust with powdered sugar.

  • 07 of 24

    Chocolate Banana Bread

    Chocolate Banana Bread

    The Spruce Eats /  Kristina Vanni

    This recipe makes banana bread just a little indulgent, but without a ton of guilt. Unsweetened cocoa powder is the key ingredient to chocolate banana bread, and it doesn't have all the calories of other chocolate options. The quick bread is easy to bake, perfectly rich, and utterly delicious.

  • 08 of 24

    Strawberry Cheesecake

    Strawberry Cheesecake

    The Spruce Eats / Anita Schecter

    Traditional strawberry cheesecake is a perfect addition to your entertaining recipe collection. It begins with a graham cracker crust and classic filling of cream cheese and ricotta. You'll then make a fresh strawberry compote for an impressive and delicious finish.

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  • 09 of 24

    Apple Coffee Cake

    Apple Coffee Cake

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni 

    Hosting an autumn brunch? Add apple coffee cake to the menu and make it a memorable experience. This recipe is easy, baking apples and cinnamon on top of a sour cream batter, then finishing it up with apple jelly and almonds.

  • 10 of 24

    Bomboloni

    Bomboloni

     Kristina Vanni

    These Italian-style doughnuts may take a little time to prepare, but they are definitely worth the effort. Unlike typical filled doughnuts, the bomboloni's filling peaks out of the top, letting brunch guests choose their favorite flavor. The dough is left to rise twice and then fried and rolled in sugar. Use a piping bag to fill each with jelly, cream, and/or chocolate-hazelnut spread.

  • 11 of 24

    Cinnamon Roll Cake

    Cinnamon Roll Cake

    Kristina Vanni

    An ideal brunch dessert, this cinnamon roll cake turns the crowd favorite breakfast treat into a beautiful cake. A homemade yeast batter is left to rise and then rolled out and covered in brown sugar and cinnamon. The dough is cut into strips and spiraled around each other in a round cake pan. Once baked, the cake is topped with a cream cheese frosting resembling the signature icing.

  • 12 of 24

    Easy Strawberry Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

    Strawberry Cake
    Diana Rattray

    This easy strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting starts with a white cake mix, for an easy-to-make brunch dessert that is sure to delight guests. Fresh strawberries and creamy pink frosting make this a pretty dessert to serve for bridal showers or ladies' brunches.

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  • 13 of 24

    Puff Pastry Hearts

    Puff pastry hearts on plate

     SasaJo/Getty Images

    Are you making brunch for someone close to your heart? Serve these beautiful little puff pastry hearts. Cinnamon sugar gives these cute brunch cookies a homey aroma. 

  • 14 of 24

    Lemon Chiffon Cake

    Lemon Chiffon Cake

    Kristina Vanni

    This light and refreshing cake is the perfect end to a brunch. Make the lemon chiffon cake ahead of time and add the drizzle just before serving. It'll feed a crowd and will keep for a few days.

  • 15 of 24

    Apple Streusel Coffee Cake

    Bundt Cake

    Jason Poole / Getty Images

    This fragrant apple streusel coffee cake is made in a bundt pan and flavored with a spiced pecan and brown sugar streusel. Serve it with coffee for an elegant brunch dessert.

  • 16 of 24

    Churro Waffles

    churro waffles

     Leah Maroney

    Tender waffles brushed with butter and tossed in cinnamon-sugar are a delicious brunch treat. Churro waffles are especially good with a drizzle of melted chocolate on top.

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  • 17 of 24

    Praline Muffins With Pecans

    Praline Muffins
    dhmig Photography / Getty Images

    These southern-inspired praline muffins with pecans take the best flavors of brown sugar and pecans and turn them into a delicious and decadent baked good. This recipe includes tips for an easy sugar glaze that will impress your guests.

  • 18 of 24

    Orange Rolls

    Orange Rolls

     Kristina Vanni

    Orange rolls are a delightful end to any brunch. The soft, pillowy pastries are similar to cinnamon rolls, but with the spice swapped for fruity orange marmalade and topped with cream cheese frosting.

  • 19 of 24

    Strawberry Bread

    strawberry bread

     Leah Maroney

    A sweet ending that is a nice change from typical quick breads, this strawberry bread is fresh and flavorful and pretty to look at. Chopped strawberries are mixed into a batter that is livened up with orange juice. Once baked, the bread is drizzled with a cream cheese frosting.

  • 20 of 24

    Honestly the Best Banana Bread

    Banana Bread
    Katie Workman / themom100.com

    Homemade banana bread is always welcome at any brunch. This crowd-pleasing version dubbed honesty the best banana bread includes chocolate chips, making it into a cake-like dessert. 

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  • 21 of 24

    Raspberry Bars With Coconut and Crumb Topping

    Raspberry Bars

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    These scrumptious, layered raspberry bars with coconut and crumb topping are made with a layer of coconut and an oat and crumb crust and topping. You can also prepare this easy (yet impressive) brunch dessert recipe with strawberry jam.

  • 22 of 24

    Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Chocolate Chip Cookies

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Butter and a generous amount of vanilla take these chocolate chip cookies to the next level. Make these buttery chocolate chip cookies that are loaded with flavor in less than 30 minutes, for your next Sunday brunch.

  • 23 of 24

    Nutella Pastry Puffs

    Nutella Pastry Puffs
    Lauri Patterson / Vetta / Getty Images

    Nutella pastry puffs will impress adults and kids alike at your next family brunch. You can use store-bought puff pastry to make these freshly-baked treats, oozing with yummy, hazelnut-chocolate spread.

  • 24 of 24

    The Ultimate Chocolate Brownies

    Chocolate Brownies

    Jeremy Samuelson / Getty Images

    Challenge your brunch guests to eat just one of these rich, dense, chocolatey, cake-like brownies. The ultimate chocolate brownies recipe is sure to become a crowd favorite once you've served it at brunch.