Dessert idea(s) for 12 people, please!

[BIWI]

We're going to a music evening at friends, soon. I tell you this only to make it clear that the focus of the evening isn't going to be the food!

One of the guests is bringing the main course, which will be moussaka. I've volunteered to do the dessert.

So it needs to be something that I can easily transport - it's about an hour's drive from us. I can't easily do individual desserts, as I don't have 12 of anything. (Although I do have a muffin tray that has 12 deep holes)

I'm a confident cook, but don't often do desserts. I have one dessert option in mind, which is Delia's chocolate truffle torte, but I have made that a lot so fancy making something else.

I don't think there are any specific dietary requirements to worry about.

Given that moussaka is usually pretty rich, I'm thinking that we need something light (which also rules out the chocolate truffle torte, which is very, very rich!)

Any ideas?

I made this blueberry cheesecake for an Easter weekend get together. I took the compote up separately and poured it on just before serving... it was fresh and summery and went down very well.

www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/cheesecakes/baked-blueberry-cheesecake-with-blueberry-compote

You could buy posh lemon curd and blueberries plus ginger snaps and assemble when you get there with optional whipped cream/yoghurt
Or a moist ginger cupcakes with crystallised ginger on top and a fruity compote like fig? I like the combo of fig, cream cheese and ginger with fresh mint leaves

Lemon jelly which is basically homemade lemonade plus gelatine to set, topped with fruit

I wouldnt do pavlova after a nightmare incident when it slid in the back of the car and I had to pretend I was bringing Eton Mess - but in a big pile - not neat individual portions !

I would do a build your own adventure
some kind of cakey thing in portions - chocolate always goes down well
assorted berries like raspberries and strawberrys
can of squirty cream
chocolate chips
caramel sauce
flaked almonds
any other topping you fancy

then people who dont want much can just have some berries and those that want to go the whole hog can too.

the on site prep is just lay out the dishes and add serving spoons

its reasonably allergy friendly as people can avoid the bits they dont want

Tropical fresh fruit salad with homemade shortbread or ginger snaps
chocolate fondues dark milk and white bowls melted choc, cocktail sticks and lots of rainbow fruit cubes
rhubarb crumble with oats and creme fraiche

Nigella does a great chocolate pavlova which is a little bit different but always goes down well. The other one that comes to mind is Hummingbirds Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies or their lemon bars - both readily available online if you fancy giving them a go

A brownie traybake (in a roasting tin; Mary Berry’s is good for this, scaled up by 1/4, though I increased the choc to 200g), strawberries and single cream? You could wrap the tin in foil and cling film, and cut up after you’ve arrived? Admittedly brownies aren’t particularly light, but smaller portions and those who’d like more can 😊

https://www.cookingwithmykids.co.uk/chocolate-brownies/

Tiramisu
Trifle
Cheesecake
Individual brownies
Crumble

Thank you - some lovely ideas here!

My go to for large gatherings is black forest trifle.

• Line bowl with chocolate muffins cut in half
• Spread on a tin of Princes Black cherry pie filling - might need 2 for 12 people
• melt some plain choccie in ready made custard and spread that on top
• Top with whipped cream and decorate with cherries grated chocolate

Similar recipe here but brownies would make it too rich I think

I'd probably do a fresh fruit platter (mango, pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, passion fruit, coconut, melon, blueberries, grapes etc, all prepped into bite sized pieces and nicely arranged on a large platter) and a cheeseboard.

But I'm not big on desserts, and I do rather love fruit and cheese.