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Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
Copyright © 2025 Foodies Only
5 min
26/12/2025
The moment December crosses the mid-month mark, everyone is in a relaxed state of mind, waiting for the new year. And in this phase, parties, from Christmas Eve soirees to NYE bashes, dominate the social calendars. Now, if you’re part of the hosting party but prefer desserts that stay in their lanes, read ahead. Because this article delves into single-serving sweets that feel festive, not frumpy.
Whether you’re a homebody enjoying NYE with an intimate group of people (or by yourself) or throwing a party that helps you float into the new year with friends and family, dessert is almost always part of the celebration. Because everyone deserves a little something sweet to bring in the new year. Now, irrespective of what group you belong to, mini desserts are the answer. These are individually portioned sweet dishes that make planning portions a breeze – because you have an exact count to prepare for. Even better, they are more hygienic than shared desserts that may have guests double-dipping. And they avoid the hassle of managing leftovers or worrying about under-serving. Sold on the idea? Then bookmark this list of mini desserts that are good for prep and great to serve!
Trifle is essentially a layered dessert where different flavours and textures seamlessly come together. And if you remember your FRIENDS episodes right, you’d know meat isn’t part of the ingredients. But berries (or seasonal fruits), cream, and shortcakes can be. This version features layers of cranberries, spiced ginger cake or shortbread, rich custard (often white chocolate or vanilla), and spiced berry compote, topped with whipped cream and caramel. All of it is layered in individual jars/glasses, making it perfect for portion control and easy serving.
Got a surprise guest party at home, or just want to whip up something low-effort? Then go for these no-bake, mini mousse cups. They’re no-bake, only require 4 ingredients (with chocolate dominating the flavour board), and a serving of 12 cups can come together in under 15 minutes (excluding chilling time). That’s the kind of math anyone will love. All you need is heavy cream, powdered sugar, instant pudding mix (like chocolate fudge) and chocolate cups. To make these cups, just mix and beat the ingredients in a stand mixer until light and fluffy. Pipe the mix into chocolate cups and serve. For a festive flair, top fruit like strawberries.
This is one of those desserts that you can prep ahead because it requires long hours of chilling. To make these handheld treats, first prepare a graham cracker or pretzel crust (process pretzels/crackers in a food processor until small crumbs form. Add sugar, butter, and salt; pulse until evenly combined). Top the crust with a creamy peanut butter cheesecake filling and finish with a swirl of berry jam. The bars require several hours of chilling time in the refrigerator or freezer to set firmly.
Rum balls or bourbon balls are a classic party treat. Simply put, these are truffle balls, but with a boozy filling. The choice of liquor depends on your preference, but the process remains largely the same. They are typically made from crushed cookies or cake, cocoa, nuts, a binder (like condensed milk or corn syrup), and, of course, rum (bourbon). All the ingredients are mixed and shaped into balls. They may be topped with pecans, nuts, or sprinkles, or chilled as is to firm up. Since the rum isn’t cooked, it takes less time and has a more potent taste. The best part is that a single batch, which serves 20, only takes 20 minutes or so to prepare. They also store well in a refrigerator. In fact, their flavour improves after a few days in the refrigerator, making them an ideal make-ahead dessert or edible gift.
A Scottish favourite, shortbread cookies are a type of biscuit usually made from one part white sugar, two parts butter and three to four parts plain wheat flour. Since they don’t require any leavening agent, they come together a lot faster than many other pastries. For a themed party, or simply to make them more appetising for kids (and even adults), decorate the warm cookies with a sugar glaze (coloured with edible food colour), gems, or sprinkles.
Cake pops aren’t just birthday treats for the kids. These are fit for any party, and one of the easiest dishes to assemble and customise. It’s essential cake mixed with frosting, rolled into little balls and coated with your favourite flavour (chocolate, strawberry, or even matcha!). If you use store-bought cake mix, the prep time goes down significantly. It brings a sense of childhood whimsy to the party, is easy to carry around, and looks perfect for the gram!
These are nothing but brownies cooked in a mini muffin or brownie bite pan to achieve a uniform, individual portion size. Most recipes use standard brownie ingredients like butter, sugar, eggs, cocoa powder, and flour. You can also opt for a few optional mix-ins like mini chocolate chips or espresso powder to deepen the flavour. The key to fudgy, moist homemade brownie bites is to avoid overbaking; a toothpick inserted should come out with moist crumbs, not wet batter.
This famous French pastry is designed for individual portions. A meringue-based confection made with egg whites and sugar, it’s often filled with a ganache, buttercream or jam. For New Year's Eve, you can opt for champagne-flavoured or glittery black & gold versions. While it’s not an easy dish to master at home, it’s definitely fancy enough for any party. However, if the steps feel too complex, you can always use store-bought, plain macarons and decorate them to suit your party theme.
Much like macarons, cupcakes are designed for individual servings. Everything, from the flavour to the decoration, depends on your choice and theme. For a NYE party, you could use classic vanilla or chocolate bases, elevated with bubbly champagne (in the mix) or cocktails (like pina colada), decadent buttercream (on top), and garnished with edible glitter.
Say goodbye to yeast and long prep and hello to mini portions of cinnamon rolls in a whole new shape. These gooey, sweet treats are perfect at brunches, evening get-togethers, and of course, party nights. To make these little treats, follow the same process as a normal muffin (mixing dry and wet ingredients into a smooth batter, folding in the fillings, spooning the batter into greased muffin tins, and baking till done).
When you’re making mini desserts to feed a crowd, there are a few things you keep in mind:
Always prepare a few extra portions: Irrespective of the number of confirmed guests, have anywhere between 3-5 (if not more) extra portions to account for unexpected guests (or their plus ones), extra helpings, etc. If you’re too worried about leftovers, you can always share the extras as a parting gift or consume them later.
Keep it contained: For individual portions, the best desserts are those that can be served in their own containers (like cupcakes, muffins, etc.)– be it ramekins, lollipop sticks, or small bowls – or don’t need a container (like cake pops, bars, etc.). Anything that requires extra assembly or utensils can be difficult to serve individually.
Make it a mix: To elevate mini desserts, make a mix of them. Have a dessert table with different varieties (make-ahead and quick mix), which are all similar in portion volumes. This makes the feast feel more indulgent, prevents guests from overloading early, and prevents desserts from running out unevenly.
Stagger make-ahead timelines: Choose a mix of desserts that peak at different times—some that taste better after resting (rum balls, cheesecakes) and others that shine fresh (mousse cups, cupcakes). This spreads prep effort and avoids last-minute overload.
When the air is buzzing with the idea of stepping into a new year, a good dessert is like the cherry on the cake. But sweets don’t always need lavish portions. An artfully curated spread of multiple treats can be just as enticing, if not more so. So this party season, get ready for service — one portion at a time!
