We all love something sweet after that hearty family dinner. Preparing or making a dessert for a large group may be too much work, but I’ve got two words for you: dessert casserole. If you want to cook a meal in a deep dish or pan, why not make a dessert in it? Here are four dessert casserole recipes you can make for your next family dinner.

Mint Chocolate Lasagna Dessert
We bet you never thought you’d hear those words next to one another before, did you? This dessert lasagna recipe is a great first dessert casserole with many flavors.
Like its namesake, the recipe involves layering different ice cream flavors together for a no-bake treat with a great presentation. Here’s how you get started.
Ingredients:
- 1 package of Mint Oreos
- 1/4 cup of butter
- 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons of heavy cream
- 1 8-ounce container of Cool Whip
- 1 package of instant chocolate pudding
- 2 cups of cold milk
- 1 teaspoon of mint extract
- 2-3 drops of green food coloring
Steps:
- Begin by making your chocolate pudding according to the directions, using your cold milk. When it’s done, set it in the fridge.
- Next, process your Oreos into fine crumbs before combining them in a medium bowl with melted butter.
- Mix everything well and grease up the bottom of a baking dish.
- Press the Oreo crumbs into the bottom of it and let it chill in the fridge for five minutes.
- In another medium bowl, mix together your cream cheese, sugar, and cream until it all turns light and fluffy.
- Add a cup of Cool Whip, 1/2 a teaspoon of mint extract, and your food coloring. Spread that over the crust before spreading your pudding on top of that.
- Next, mix the rest of your Cool Whip, mint extract, and food coloring together, spreading that over the pudding layer.
- Top it off with chocolate chips and pop it in the fridge for half an hour before serving! This Oreo lasagna is a sure winner for any family dinner.
No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake Dessert Casserole
If you’re anything like me, chocolate eclairs are one of your all-time favorite desserts. That’s why this casserole dish recipe inspired by them is sure to be a new favorite dish of yours once you’ve tried it.
Like all these dishes, this one uses simple ingredients, requires little preparation, and ends up tasting absolutely delicious. So let’s get started.
Ingredients:
Filling:
- 1 3/4 cups of whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 boxes of instant vanilla pudding
- 3 cups of milk
- 1 box of graham crackers
Topping:
- 1/3 cup of cocoa powder
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1/4 cup of milk
- 1/2 cup of butter
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Steps:
- Begin by covering the bottom of a 9×13-inch dish with a layer of graham crackers.
- Next, get out a medium bowl and beat together your whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla extract for about four minutes until it forms whipped cream.
- In another bowl, beat your milk and vanilla pudding on medium for about two minutes.
- Finally, stir the two together until they’re smooth. Spread half of the mixture on top of the graham cracker layer, using a spatula to spread it around. Add another layer of graham crackers and repeat this process, finishing with a graham cracker layer on top.
- Next, boil your cocoa, milk, and sugar in a small pot.
- Boil it for a minute, stirring throughout, before taking it off the heat for a minute, still stirring.
- Next, add your butter and vanilla and stir until it forms a smooth glaze.
- Pour that over the graham crackers and refrigerate the dish overnight. When it’s done, you’re ready to eat!
Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
Desserts that you can bake and chop into bars are great because you can eat them in small portions, save them for later, and even eat them throughout the day instead of just after dinner.
For a great example of that, try making these tasty little strawberry oatmeal bars.
Though they’re a perfect dessert, you could also eat one for breakfast or a sweet snack. The recipe is adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie and is absolutely delicious. Here’s how you do it:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of rolled oats
- 1/2 cup of flour
- 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/3 cup of sugar
- 1/3 cup of oil
- 2 cups of diced strawberries
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon of sweetener
Steps:
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and lining your baking dish with parchment paper.
- Next, stir together your oats, flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and sugar in a side bowl.
- Add your oil and mix until it becomes a dough before pressing two-thirds of it into the bottom of your baking dish.
- In another bowl, mix your strawberries, starch, and sweetener, pressing that on top of the dough in the pan.
- Once that’s done, sprinkle the leftover dough on top of everything and press everything down.
- Bake the dish for 35 minutes in the middle of the oven before letting it cool.
- Let it chill for an hour before cutting into it, and enjoy!
Peanut Butter Cereal Squares
We have this delicious recipe for peanut butter cereal squares—a twist on the old family favorite of Rice Krispie treats.
Although these ones aren’t too different in texture, they add a little bit of peanut buttery flavor to take everything up to the next level. This recipe is adapted from Grace and Good Eats and is easy to throw together.
Here’s how you do it:
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of Cheerios
- 1/2 cup of peanut butter
- 1/2 cup of honey
Steps:
- Begin by lining a baking dish with some parchment paper.
- Next, mix your peanut butter and honey in a saucepan and heat it on medium.
- Keep cooking it for two to three minutes, stirring throughout.
- When it’s at a simmer, take it off the heat and stir until the mix turns smooth.
- Stir in your cereal so it all gets coated before pouring everything into the pan and pressing it down as necessary.
- Chill the whole thing in the fridge for an hour so that it sets.
- When it’s ready, cut it into bars and serve!
Takeaway
Dessert casserole is the best idea to serve as a sweet treat for many people. It takes less preparation without having to worry about not having enough for everyone!
Sources: Taste of Home, Forkly, Southern Living