Make-ahead desserts are pretty much the only dinner party desserts we consider when we’re planning a gathering; when friends are together, we don’t want to miss out on the conversation because we’re hidden in the kitchen fussing with last-minute prep. The recipes below, which include a few no-bake desserts, also give you a way to avoid cranking your oven in the heat of the afternoon. You’ll find crowd-pleasing frozen desserts, cakes that actually taste better as they sit, and creamy prep-ahead cheesecakes that seem to appear miraculously just as the dinner dishes are cleared. Scroll down so you can prep these sweets in advance, focus on the rest of your menu, and settle in for a good time.
