40 Last-Minute Desserts To Make For Your Memorial Day Cookout

From icebox pies to fruit cobblers to chocolate bars, these quick and easy Memorial Day desserts are sure to be crowd-pleasers.

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Updated on April 8, 2024

atlantic beach pie in a blue pie plate — Photo:
CREDIT: GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: CHELSEA ZIMMER; PROP STYLING: AUDREY DAVIS

Memorial Day celebrations with your family and friends this year should be all fun and no stress. Lucky for you, there’s no need to sweat it—even if you've waited until the last minute to decide what dessert to make for a backyard barbecue, pool party, or lakeside gathering that you'll be attending this Memorial Day.

These quick and easy last-minute Memorial Day recipes can come together in a breeze on the day of your patriotic celebration. There are even several options that don't even require you to turn on the oven for baking and a few of these easy recipes only require a handful of ingredients to pull together. From fruity pies like our No-Bake Strawberry Pie to chocolaty treats like Cream Cheese Brownies and many more, these summery desserts are sure to be crowd-pleasers. Looking for more inspiration? Check out this collection of no-bake desserts you'll want to make all season long.

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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

It's strawberry season, so this low-effort dessert is a no-brainer. Just make it the night before you plan to serve it so the filling has time to chill and set completely.

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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

Perfect for a hot summer day, this cool and creamy layered dessert will be a hit at your Memorial Day gathering. It only requires 30 minutes of hands-on time, but will need to be chilled at least four hours to set.

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Red Velvet Brownies

Red Velvet Brownies — Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

These tender, fudgy brownies are topped with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting. Plus the recipe makes two dozen brownies, so you'll have plenty for the cookout.

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S'mores Chocolate Sheet Cake

Southern Living Smores Sheet Cake sliced on a plate to serve — Molly Bolton

Bring back nostalgic memories of summer campouts with this impressive yet easy chocolate sheet cake. The cake is topped with a layer of chocolate ganache and covered in a marshmallow buttercream frosting and graham cracker crumbs.

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Blueberry Galette

Blueberry Galette — Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

This jammy, fruit-filled dessert is even easier than pie. You don't even have to make dough—it's always a good idea to keep frozen puff pastry in the freezer for occasions like this. Our jammy blueberry filling includes culinary lavender, which can be omitted if you don't have it on hand.

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Cakey Strawberry Cobbler

Cakey Strawberry Cobbler — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Desserts made in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish are ideal for cookout crowds. Though the dessert takes about 45 minutes to bake, there are just 10 minutes of prep time before you pop it in the oven. Cut into squares and serve with a generous dollop of sweetened whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake — Caitlin Bensel

Pull together a refreshing ice cream cake in just 20 minutes and with six ingredients. This recipe layers store-bought ice cream sandwiches with whipped cream. Drizzle chocolate syrup and crushed cookies on top.

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Key Lime Pound Cake

Key Lime Pound Cake — Jen Causey

This tropical take on pound cake requires just 15 minutes of hands-on time. You can focus on preparing the rest of the meal while it's in the oven. Then whisk together a Key Lime glaze and brush the top and sides for citrusy flavor.

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Cherry Cheesecake Brownies

Southern Living Cherry-Cheesecake Brownies sliced on a plate to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

These bar cookies have three layers of deliciousness: a brownie bottom, a creamy cheesecake center, and a layer of tangy cherries on top. You'll be tempted to eat them straight from the oven, but give them time to cool so they can set up.

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Lemon-Lime Poke Cake

Lemon-Lime Poke Cake — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

A poke cake is exactly what it sounds like—poking holes all over the top of a baked cake, creating channels through which filling can seep down into the cake. In this recipe for Lemon-Lime Poke Cake, we use mixture of citrus-spiked sweetened condensed milk and buttermilk to add a double-dose of moisture to standard white cake. Cool for an hour and add whipped topping right before serving.

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Banana Pudding Brownies

Southern Living Banana Pudding Brownies sliced and ready to serve — Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Enjoy the creamy banana pudding flavor you love but in a portable, party-friendly dessert. These bar cookies sandwich a layer of pudding between two layers of banana-flavored brownies.

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Strawberries-And-Cream Sheet Cake

Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake — Photo: Hector Sanchez

This easy-to-make sheet cake delivers not only a pretty presentation but also enough servings to feed a larger crowd. Strawberry gelatin and buttermilk are whipped into the batter for mouthwatering flavor. Ice with our fresh Strawberry Frosting and decorate with whole berries.

13 of 40

Chewy Peanut Bars

Chewy Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars — Hector Manuel Sanchez

All you need is a microwave to whip up these quick-fix chocolate-peanut butter bars. This is really a blondie at heart, but topped with semi-sweet chocolate and salted peanuts. And it only requires 15 minutes of cooling time before serving.

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Easy Blackberry Cobbler

Easy Blackberry Cobbler — John O'Hagan

This delicious summer dessert comes together in less than hour—no chopping or stovetop cooking required. Use fresh fruit from the farmers' market, your local fruit stand, or even the grocery store. We like eating it warm with a healthy scoop of ice cream.

15 of 40

Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars

Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars — Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Two of our favorite summer flavors come together in a grab-and-go version of a classic dessert. The toffee-glazed pecan pieces add a streusel-like crunch. Bakes for one hour; cool before cutting.

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Egg Custard Pie

Egg Custard Pie — Antonis Achilleos

This homey, old-fashioned pie deserves a comeback not only because it's delicious, but also because it's so easy to pull off. Use refrigerated pie crusts for quick results in this otherwise traditional recipe. Chill until cold, about 1 hour.

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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

Though it requires a couple of hours to set, this no-bake pie is a simple-to-make treat. Whip together cream cheese, condensed milk, and lemon juice and pour into the gingersnap crust. If desired, top with whipped cream, gingersnap crumbs, and lemon peel twists.

18 of 40

Chocolate Delight

Ouida’s Chocolate Delight — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

This dessert using chocolate and vanilla pudding mixes is easy to pull together the morning of your Memorial Day gathering. The simple pecan crust is baked before putting the layers together. Just allow two hours for chilling.

19 of 40

Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake

Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake — Micah A. Leal

Dump cakes derive their name from the method in which they are made—dumping ingredients into a pan to make a delicious (and oh-so-easy) cake. This dump cake combines a can of cherry pie filling and a drained can of pineapple tidbits with a box of yellow cake. Add a melted stick of butter, and you've done all the necessary preparation for a dessert that's sure to please the crowd.

20 of 40

S'mores Pie

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

No oven is required for this cooling version of everyone's favorite campfire treat. This rich and creamy recipe brings together the key components—graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chunks, marshmallow crème—but in a no-bake pie. Give your dessert about three hours to chill before serving.

21 of 40

Strawberry-Lemonade Cupcakes

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes — Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Turn the box of white cake mix in your pantry into 24 summer-ready cupcakes. Then frost with a homemade strawberry-jam buttercream. Garnish with fresh berries, lemon slices, or pink and yellow sprinkles and serve at your cookout alongside a tall glass of lemonade.

22 of 40

Cream Cheese Brownies

Cream Cheese Brownies — Micah A. Leal

Upgrade homemade brownies with a cream cheese mixture. These ultra-gooey brownies are dense, chocolatey, and swirled with cream cheese for an extra rich and tangy layer. Bake for 35 minutes and allow to cool before cutting.

23 of 40

Millionaire Pie

Millionaire Pie — Micah A. Leal

In this old-school Southern dessert, pineapple, cherries, coconut flakes, and pecans are suspended in sweet whipped topping. A gelatin mixture holds this dessert together. Pour into a graham cracker crust and refrigerate for one hour.

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Heavenly Key Lime Pie

Heavenly Key Lime Pie

The classic Floridian pie comes together quickly with a store-bought graham cracker crust. Mix four ingredients, pour into crust, bake for 15 minutes, and allow to chill. Nothing could be simpler or sweeter.

25 of 40

Atlantic Beach Pie

atlantic beach pie in a blue pie plate — CREDIT: GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: CHELSEA ZIMMER; PROP STYLING: AUDREY DAVIS

This pie truly is one of the easiest desserts you'll ever make, and it still brings something a little unexpected to the party thanks to its Saltine crust and mix of lemons and limes in the filling.

26 of 40

Homemade Cookies-And-Cream Ice Cream

Cookies and Cream Ice Cream — Caitlin Bensel

Wow your guests by pulling this homemade ice cream out of the freezer when dessert time comes around. This is also an egg-free, no-cook dessert, and all you need is your electric ice cream maker and a little freezing time.

27 of 40

No-Bake Chocolate-Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

No-Bake Chocolate-Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Prissy Lee Montiel

A no-bake treat is just what you need to save the day when facing a Memorial Day sweets craving. After some mixing, boiling, and forming your cookies, let your cookie-dough-like concoctions cool for 15 minutes.

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Strawberry Cheesecake Salad

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

Oh, how we love Southern "salads" that don't actually involve any lettuce whatsoever. This one comes together in a flash with all the delicious flavors of strawberry cheesecake, but without the hassle and time-suck of putting together a full, layered cake.

29 of 40

Two-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake

pineapple angel food cake wedge with whipped topping — Jessica Furniss

Two ingredients means that this dessert is as low-maintenance as it gets. And yet, it might also be one of our most delicious. We're very pleased to tell you that this scrumptious last-minute dessert only asks 5 minutes of active work as long as you've got angel food cake mix and and a can of crushed pineapple on hand.

30 of 40

Lemon Tiramisu

Lemon Tiramisu — Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

Similar to a lemon cheesecake or citrus layer cake, our take on tiramisu is super refreshing. Rather than rich coffee and chocolate flavors, this tiramisu is light, bright, and an instant crowd-pleaser in hot, summer climates.

31 of 40

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies — Jennifer Causey

You can never go wrong whipping together a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Plus, you probably already have most of the ingredients on hand in your kitchen. The browned butter is adds a nutty flavor and is what really sets these cookies apart from your standard chocolate chip cookies.

32 of 40

Cookie Dough Fudge

Cookie Dough Fudge — Photography and Food Styling: Karen Rankin

Whip up this delightful fudge in a flash, then give it a bit of time to cool. Use a microwave to speed up the softening process then beat your ingredients for perfect, fudgy texture. Sprinkle chocolate chips on before refrigerating.

33 of 40

Triple Chocolate Milkshake

Triple-Chocolate Milkshake — Antonis Achilleos

This recipe is sure to beat your favorite drive-thru milkshake in the summer time. Make sure to blend in patches if your appliance is on the smaller side and double the recipe to suit your crowd.

34 of 40

Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

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

In May, strawberry season has reached its peak so it's time to take advantage of fresh, seasonal berries. These ones are given the royal treatment thanks to a a rich filling that tastes like cheesecake but doesn't take as long.

35 of 40

Chocolate Cobbler

Chocolate Cobbler — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Chocolate Cobbler, chocolate puddling cake, chocolate cobbler... whatever you want to call it, it's going to be delicious. It's to desserts layered into one in scrumptious, gooey, chocolatey fashion. This is definitely one for the procrastinators: It goes in the oven once the party has already started.

36 of 40

Sweet Tea-And-Lemonade Cake

Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake — Hector Manuel Sanchez

An Arnold Palmer-flavored cake is just the thing to welcome summer. Serve this easy-going cake to finish off a meal and many glasses of refreshing sweet tea. For an adults-only affair, make this cake boozy with a couple tablespoons of liquor.

37 of 40

Mixed Berry Slab Pie

Mixed Berry Slab Pie — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

This pie is not only patriotic in color, but making it on a sheet pan instead of in a regular pie plate make sure there is plenty to go around. We provide a recipe for homemade Slab Pie Crust, though you could buy refrigerated crust—we won't tell.

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Strawberry Pie

Southern Living Strawberry Pie after baking ready to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

How beautiful is this strawberry pie? If you prefer yours with a pastry crust, this recipe has that plus a sweet, jam-like filling.

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Fresh Peach Cobbler

Fresh Peach Cobbler — PHOTOGRAPHER: FRED HARDY II, FOOD STYLIST: EMILY NABORS HALL, PROPS STYLIST: CHRISTINA BROCKMAN

Grab some fresh peaches and combine them with some pantry staples for a classic summer dessert that will please any crowd. Our easiest peach cobbler ever is quick to throw together and can be served warm or cold. Don't forget the vanilla ice cream.

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Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding

a square pan of banana pudding on a yellow linen — Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Homemade banana pudding is a dessert that's welcome at any summer gathering. Much of the preparation involves assembly. The homemade pudding cooks quickly, and dessert can be served shortly after its brief time in the oven.

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