18 Dessert Cups That Will Wow Your Friends

Hey, fellow dessert lover! 😋 Let’s get real for a sec—sometimes, you just want something sweet, fancy-looking, but not a full-on cake. Enter dessert cups: little bites of happiness that feel indulgent but are perfect for portion control (or hiding from your roommate/family… I won’t judge).

I’ve tried my fair share of these over the years, from chocolate bombs to fruity parfaits, and I can honestly say—there’s a dessert cup for every mood, craving, or Pinterest moment. So buckle up, grab your favorite spoon, and let’s dive into 18 dessert cups that are fun, easy, and downright irresistible.

1. Classic Chocolate Mousse Cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• Whipped cream and chocolate shavings for topping

Instructions:

1. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or microwave (watch it, don’t burn it!).
2. Whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form.
3. Fold the chocolate gently into the cream.
4. Spoon into cups and chill for at least 2 hours.
5. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Why it rocks: Smooth, creamy, and decadent without needing a bakery. FYI, it disappears faster than you can say “double chocolate heaven.”

2. Strawberry Cheesecake Cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 4 tbsp melted butter
• 1 cup cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup strawberries, chopped
• Whipped cream

Instructions:

1. Mix graham cracker crumbs with butter and press into the bottom of each cup.
2. Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Layer the cream cheese mixture over the crumbs.
4. Top with chopped strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream.

Pro tip: Add a drizzle of strawberry sauce for that extra wow factor.

3. Salted Caramel Pudding Cups

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 2 cups milk
• 3 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp sugar

Instructions:

1. Melt sugar in a pan until it turns golden brown. Add butter and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, mix milk, cornstarch, and sugar.
3. Combine with caramel and cook until thickened.
4. Pour into cups and chill.

Why it’s a crowd-pleaser: Sweet, salty, and smooth—the perfect trifecta.

4. Lemon Posset Cups

Ingredients:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2/3 cup sugar
• Juice of 2 lemons

Instructions:

1. Heat cream and sugar until sugar dissolves.
2. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.
3. Pour into cups and refrigerate until set (about 3 hours).

Fun fact: This British dessert is insanely creamy and tangy. Perfect if you want something light but decadent.

5. Tiramisu Cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mascarpone cheese
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup coffee (cooled)
• Ladyfinger biscuits
• Cocoa powder for dusting

Instructions:

1. Beat mascarpone, cream, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
2. Dip ladyfingers in coffee and layer in cups.
3. Add mascarpone mixture and repeat.
4. Chill 2–4 hours. Dust with cocoa before serving.

Insider tip: Use strong espresso for that authentic Italian punch.

6. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup melted chocolate

Instructions:

1. Mix peanut butter and powdered sugar.
2. Spoon into cups and chill for 30 min.
3. Top with melted chocolate and refrigerate until firm.

Why it’s addictive: Peanut butter + chocolate = a combo you can never go wrong with. Seriously.

7. Mango Coconut Cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 ripe mango, diced

Instructions:

1. Heat coconut milk and sugar. Add cornstarch to thicken.
2. Pour into cups and chill.
3. Top with fresh mango.

Pro tip: Sprinkle a little toasted coconut on top for extra crunch.

8. Oreo Cookie Cups

Ingredients:

• 12 Oreo cookies
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 cup cream cheese
• 1 cup whipped cream

Instructions:

1. Crush Oreos and mix with butter. Press into cup bottoms.
2. Mix cream cheese and whipped cream until smooth.
3. Layer over crust. Top with crushed Oreos.

FYI: These are perfect if you want something instant gratification.

9. Raspberry White Chocolate Cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white chocolate
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup raspberries

Instructions:

1. Melt white chocolate and stir in warm cream.
2. Pour into cups and chill.
3. Top with fresh raspberries.

Fun fact: The tart raspberries balance out the sweet white chocolate beautifully.

10. Banana Pudding Cups

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 bananas, sliced
• Vanilla wafers

Instructions:

1. Cook milk, sugar, and cornstarch until thickened.
2. Add vanilla.
3. Layer pudding, banana slices, and wafers in cups.

Personal tip: Chill overnight. It tastes even better the next day.

11. Mocha Mousse Cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp instant coffee
• 1 cup heavy cream
• Whipped cream

Instructions:

1. Melt chocolate and stir in coffee.
2. Fold into whipped cream.
3. Spoon into cups and chill.

Perfect for: Coffee lovers who want dessert and a caffeine kick. 😉

12. Pumpkin Spice Cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup whipped cream

Instructions:

1. Mix pumpkin, sugar, and spices.
2. Layer in cups.
3. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Autumn vibes: These scream cozy fall evenings. IMO, a must-try.

13. Nutella Hazelnut Cups

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Nutella
• 1/4 cup cream
• Chopped hazelnuts

Instructions:

1. Heat Nutella and cream until smooth.
2. Pour into cups and chill.
3. Top with chopped hazelnuts.

Why you’ll love it: Nutella makes everything better. That’s science.

14. Blueberry Yogurt Cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 cup blueberries

Instructions:

1. Mix yogurt and honey.
2. Layer with blueberries in cups.
3. Chill for 30 minutes.

Healthy twist: Sweet, creamy, and packed with antioxidants.

15. Caramel Apple Cups

Ingredients:

• 2 apples, diced
• 1/4 cup caramel sauce
• 1/2 cup whipped cream
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Toss apples with cinnamon.
2. Layer apples in cups, drizzle with caramel, and top with whipped cream.

Snack hack: Perfect for a fall gathering or last-minute dessert.

16. Chocolate Mint Cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1 cup whipped cream

Instructions:

1. Melt chocolate and stir in peppermint extract.
2. Layer with whipped cream in cups.

FYI: Mint + chocolate is basically a mood booster.

17. Pina Colada Cups

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
• 1/2 cup coconut cream
• 1 tbsp sugar
• Whipped cream

Instructions:

1. Mix pineapple, coconut cream, and sugar.
2. Spoon into cups.
3. Top with whipped cream.

Vacation vibes: A mini tropical getaway in every bite. 🌴

18. Black Forest Cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chocolate cake crumbs
• 1/2 cup cherry pie filling
• 1/2 cup whipped cream
• Chocolate shavings

Instructions:

1. Layer chocolate cake crumbs, cherry filling, and whipped cream in cups.
2. Repeat layers.
3. Top with chocolate shavings.

Classic combo: Cherries + chocolate = instant happiness.

Final Thoughts

There you have it—18 dessert cups that cover everything from rich chocolate to fruity refreshers. Honestly, each one has its own personality, and you’ll probably end up making a few favorites on repeat (I know I do 😅).

Why dessert cups? They’re quick, portion-controlled, and photogenic. Plus, they make you look fancy without spending hours in the kitchen. So next time someone asks, “Who made this?” just smile and say, “It’s magic in a cup.”

So, which one are you trying first?