35 No-Bake Memorial Day Desserts You'll Crave All Summer Long

No bake? No problem!

By

Updated on September 4, 2024

Southern Living Key Lime-Coconut Icebox Cake on a platter to serve with a slice taken out — Photo:
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Celebrate Memorial Day with friends and family, and treat them to a few of our most delicious no-bake desserts. These recipes are summery and sweet, perfectly refreshing for long weekends and hot weather, and they're ideal complements to summer cocktails, smoky barbecue, and juicy burgers.

They'll make planning your Memorial Day get-together a breeze, leaving you more time to spend with friends and family, remembering those who have kept our country safe and who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in America's armed forces. Enjoy the holiday, and make a few of these easy no-bake dessert recipes to treat your loved ones.

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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Icebox Cake

Southern Living Chocolate-Peanut Butter Icebox Cake on a platter to serve — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Nothing goes together quite like peanut butter and chocolate, especially in this icebox cake. For extra credit, use our homemade chocolate wafer recipe instead of store-bought.

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Jell-O Pie

Jell-O Pie — FRED HARDY, FOOD STYLIST: MARGARET MONROE DICKEY, PROP STYLIST: CALEB CLARKE

A handful of store-bought shortcuts make this pretty pie a piece of cake to make.

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Any-Berry No-Bake Cheesecake

Southern Living Any-Berry No-Bake Cheesecake sliced on a platter to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This recipe provides three different ways to flavor an easy no-bake cheesecake. And all three showcase the best of summer produce.

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No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Southern Living Peanut Butter Bars cut to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

While most bars and cookies are off the table until the weather cools off in the fall, these No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars won't heat up the house.

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Berry Tiramisu Icebox Cake

Southern Living Berry Tiramisu Icebox Cake on a platter to serve — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This icebox cake borrows from a classic tiramisu but puts a summery spin on the recipe with lots of fresh berries.

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Watermelon Granita

Southern Living Watermelon Granita, Blackberry Granita, Peach Granita in glasses to serve garnished with fresh fruit — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Cool off with a refreshing Watermelon Granita or one of the two flavor variations on the recipe.

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Lemon Tiramisu

Southern Living Lemon Tiramisu in the dish to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

This sunny version of classic tiramisu will be a welcome surprise on the dessert table, and the best part may just be that it only requires 15 minutes of hands-on time.

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No-Bake Honey Cheesecake

Southern Living No-Bake Honey Cheesecake on a cake plate with a slice out to serve — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Tangy cream cheese and sour cream are a perfect match for sweet honey. Our Test Kitchen recommends using a small offset spatula or butter knife to swirl the top of the cheesecake for a pretty presentation.

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Cherries-And-Cream Icebox Cake

Cherries-and-Cream Icebox Cake — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

This layered stunner was made for summertime celebrations. “This cake is absolutely delicious. It’s also visually beautiful,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “When the first piece is cut, the inside is as pretty as the outside, due to the multiple layers.”

10 of 35

Éclair Cake

Eclair Cake — Molly Bolton/Southern Living

Senior Digital Food Editor Kimberly Holland makes this cake for her family at almost every gathering. “It disappears quickly, too,” she writes. “One serving doesn't seem like a lot because it's so light and creamy, so we all find ourselves going back for a second (and maybe third) helping.”

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Mascarpone Cheesecake

Mascarpone Cheesecake — Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Mascarpone cheesecake is the secret to your dreamiest cheesecake ever. A gorgeous topping of raspberry jam, raspberries, and blueberries is delicious and festive for the summer holiday.

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Red, White, And Blue Popsicles

Red, White, and Blue Popsicles — Jennifer Causey

Bring the nostalgic feeling of waiting for the ice cream truck to your cookout with these homemade Red, White, and Blue Popsicles. The kids will have no clue that our version is much healthier than the original.

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Watermelon Pie

Watermelon Pie — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

You’ve heard of peach pie and pies made with every kind of berry at the farmers’ market, but one summer fruit you haven’t tried in a pie yet is watermelon. A Biscoff cookie crust is a fun diversion from the usual graham cracker one.

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Ice Cream Cake

Southern Living Ice Cream Cake decorated cake is ready to serve on a platter with a slice out on a plate — Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

No one will believe this stunning layer cake didn’t come straight from the ice cream shop. Be sure to check out the “Tips From the Test Kitchen” section of the recipe to ensure your layers look their best.

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No-Bake Cheesecake

Southern Living No Bake Cheesecake sliced on a plate to serve — Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

This no-bake cheesecake recipe is as classic as it gets, so it’s the ideal blank canvas for whatever fresh summer fruit you picked up at the farmers’ market before the Memorial Day cookout.

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No-Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

No-Bake Lemon Icebox Pie — Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hilegas

A gingersnap crust and cool, creamy lemon filling make for a new icebox pie experience. "This is super simple and was loved by everyone who tried it," said one Test Kitchen Professional.

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Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

Strawberry cheesecake bites on a pink tray — Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

If you don’t have time to whip up an actual cheesecake, these precious bites have all the flavor with a fraction of the work.

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Banana Split Cake

Banana Split Cake — Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

There’s nothing better than an easy 13x9 dessert to feed a crowd. It takes just 20 minutes to assemble but needs ample time to chill, so it’s a great make-ahead option.

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Lemon Lush

Two slices of Lemon Lush dessert on plates with forks with a glass of lemonade and a napkin. — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

There’s nothing quite like a layered dessert to bring us back to Grandma’s table. A tip from the Test Kitchen: Make this well in advance and don’t rush the freezing process of the layers to ensure they’re nice and even.

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S'mores Pie

S'mores Pie — Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Melissa Gray

Instead of making s’mores by a hot fire this Memorial Day, pack all that flavor you love into a creamy, no-bake pie. “This has become a fan-favorite recipe in my house. I have made this several times without fail,” wrote one five-star reviewer.

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No-Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

No-Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Don't worry if you don't own an ice cream machine, this recipe doesn't require any fancy equipment. And thanks to plenty of fresh lime juice and zest, it tastes just like a Key Lime Pie.

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Key Lime Icebox Cake

Key Lime Icebox Cake — Hector Manuel Sanchez

This icebox cake fulfills the trifecta of a perfect Memorial Day dessert—sweet, summery, and easy to prep.

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Chocolate Parfaits

Chocolate Parfaits — Southern Living

Appease the chocoholics at your party with these creamy and cool layered parfaits.

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No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie

No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Fudge, ice cream, and peanut butter...need we say more?

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No-Bake Strawberry Pie

Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie adding the fresh strawberries to the top of the pie — Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This recipe is actually the Most Searched No-Bake Dessert In The South, so you know it's going to be good.

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Rebecca's Black Bottom Icebox Pie

Rebecca's Black Bottom Icebox Pie — Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Bittersweet chocolate baking bars give this no-bake pie its intense chocolate flavor.

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Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies

Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

It might be too hot to bake cookies, but lucky for you, these crunchy peanut butter cornflake cookies don't require an oven.

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Strawberry Icebox Cake

Strawberry Icebox Cake — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Strawberry jam gives this effortless cake its signature pink hue.

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Chocolate Icebox Cake

Chocolate Icebox Cake — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

As one reviewer notes, you can use Nilla Wafers instead of ladyfinger cookies in this easy and flexible icebox cake.

30 of 35

Orange Cream Granita

Orange Cream Granita — Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Fresh and fragrant, this granita pairs orange and cream for a tasty slush. For a kid-friendly slushie, simply leave out the orange liqueur.

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Fresh Peach Ice Cream

Fresh Peach Ice Cream — Emily Laurae/Southern Living

This is the best homemade peach ice cream recipe around, hands down. (Plus, no cooking is needed!)

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Cookies-And-Cream Ice Cream

Southern Living Cookies and Cream Ice Cream in a bowl to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Oreo lovers are going to adore this warm-weather treat. With just five ingredients and 10 minutes of hands-on time, you can make this simple, yet delicious cookies-and-cream ice cream.

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New-Fashioned Banana Pudding

New-Fashioned Banana Pudding — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

From-scratch banana pudding without the hassle—yes, please! Because this recipe only requires 35 minutes of active time, we have a feeling you’ll be making it weekly all summer long.

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Peach Milkshake

Southern Living Peach Milkshake in glasses to serve — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

In the South, we love a peach milkshake (hello, Chick-fil-A!) That's why we've made a quick yet delicious version of the classic that only needs five ingredients. You're just 10 minutes away from sipping on this sweet summer treat.

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Key Lime-Coconut Icebox Cake

Southern Living Key Lime-Coconut Icebox Cake on a platter to serve with a slice taken out — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This no-bake cake will transport you to a tropical vacation in just one bite.

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