Dessert Ideas to Bring to a Funeral

Funerals are time to grieve the loss of a loved one. They are also an opportunity to celebrate a life well-lived, and to reconnect with old friends and family members. Guests at funerals typically bring a potluck-style dish with them to share with others. The desserts you bring to a funeral should be simple and comfort-oriented. Bereaved individuals do not want dessert items that require a lot of prep-work or include complicated storage and serving instructions.

This traditional bundt cake is fast and easy. Simply combine 4 eggs, 1 box of devil's food cake mix, 1 box of instant pudding, 8 oz. sour cream, half a cup of vegetable oil, half a cup of water, and 12 oz. of chocolate chips in a bowl. Beat ingredients together for two minutes, pour them into the bundt pan and then bake for 50 minutes at 325 degrees. Dust the finished cake with powdered sugar for both garnish and flavor.

A single batch of brownies can serve up to 16 funeral attendees, which makes them a staple dessert offering at funerals. In addition, brownies can be stored at room temperature, which means that they will keep during extended funeral gatherings that last for more than one day. Simply purchase a brownie mix at any grocery store and follow the recipe on the box. Eggs, vegetable oil and water are generally the only additional ingredients you will need to purchase.

Pre-made cookie dough allows grieving individuals to create a dessert offering in as little as 15 minutes, with zero ingredient assembly required. Simply slice the pre-made dough into discs and bake in the oven. Cookies will remain fresh for several days, and they are easy for funeral attendees to nibble on while talking to friends and family members.

Dessert bars are better than cake when it comes to funerals. They require no frosting, keep at room temperature and are easy to serve. Marshmallow bars require no baking whatsoever. Simply melt 1/3 cup of butter and 30 marshmallows in a double boiled. Next, add 1/2 tsp. of vanilla and mix thoroughly. Last, stir in 1 package of Rice Krispies and mix well; pour the mixture into a buttered pan and cut into bars before serving. Lemon bars are another popular funeral dessert that can be created in a little over one hour (see Resources).