Skip to Content

75 Summer Desserts To Make For The Sweetest Memorial Day Ever

Celebrate the red, white, and blue with strawberries, blueberries, and s'more...

By
snickerdoodle mixture baked in a dish and topped with vanilla ice cream
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Though technically summer starts in June,we think of Memorial Day as its kickoff: it's the first great opportunity of the year to bust out the grill and fill it with hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled seafood, the works… We hope you're also adding some leafy green summer salads and side dishes too, but one thing you absolutely can’t skip is the desserts! With all that food, you might not think you need anything more, but trust us, everyone will be so glad you thought of sweet treats to help round out your meal. Whether you’re celebrating patriotism or are just in it for the food, check out our list of 75 Memorial Day Desserts sure to make your holiday weekend extra sweet.

We LOVE a themed meal here at Delish, and one of the best parts is getting to go all out with the colors and flavors associated with a particular holiday. Like 4th of July later in the summer, for Memorial Day that means red, white, & blue; pies; and s’mores. Try our freedom bark, our American pie, or our lemon-berry firecracker cake for some in-your-face colorful patriotism, or go for a little more subtle Americana in the form of a classic pie or cake, like our blueberry pie, our strawberry pretzel tart, or our Chantilly cake. If you’re more of a chocolate fan, we get it—try our s’mores cupcakes, our s’mores skillet cookie, or our bacon weave s'mores (yep, we went there).

If you’re not feeling the extra patriotism, don’t let that stop you from making a dessert perfect for your Memorial Day. The month of May marks the return of a TON of summer produce, so take advantage! Fruits like strawberries, blueberries, pineapples, and cherries make an appearance on this list, but a ton of these recipes are super-adaptable and can be made with whatever fruits are your faves. Try our blueberry crumble cheesecake bars, our strawberries & cream tiramisu, our lemon icebox pie, our cherry pie slab bars, and more! If all else fails, just throw together a fruit tart (it can take whatever fruit you've got).

For more Memorial Day inspiration, check out our Memorial Day appetizers, Memorial Day salads, and Memorial Day cocktails too.

1

Blueberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars

blueberry crumble cheesecake bars
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Taking inspiration from our all-star strawberry cheesecake bars and our cranberry crumble cheesecake bars, we developed this extra-springy version that showcases jammy blueberries and a lemony crumble topping. If you’re craving an easy creamy, tangy dessert you can serve to a crowd, look no further.

Get the Blueberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars recipe.

2

Angel Food Cake

angel food cake topped with strawberries and blueberries
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Angel food cake is basically just whipped egg whites and sugar, but it tastes like heaven in every bite (pun intended). It's perfection, whether you top it with strawberries for a strawberry shortcake variation or enjoy it all on its own. Ready to hear the angels sing?

Get the Angel Food Cake recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Cheesecake Pops

frozen cheesecake pops in dixie cups
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

These creamy cheesecake pops are the perfect easy dessert to cool off with when you just can't be bothered to make a homemade cheesecake from scratch. With strawberry pieces and a crushed graham cracker topping, these pops give you the same delicious flavors you're craving, with way less effort.

Get the Cheesecake Pops recipe.

4

Margarita Bars

margarita bars topped with powdered sugar and candied lime
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

We love lemon bars just as much as the next person, but these margarita bars? They're on a completely different level. If you love zingy citrus desserts, always go for a margarita at happy hour, or are simply looking for an easy treat to bring to your next potluck, these margarita bars won't disappoint.

Get the Margarita Bars recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Flag Cake

cake topped with raspberries, icing, and blueberries to create an american flag design
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Hot dogs, fireworks, and flag cake—if your Memorial Day party doesn’t end with a red, white, and blue dessert, then you’re doing it wrong! This cake is about as patriotic as it gets, but is easy enough to allow you maximum time outside the kitchen soaking up the first weekend of summer.

Get the Flag Cake recipe.

6

Snickerdoodle Cobbler

snickerdoodle mixture baked in a dish and topped with vanilla ice cream
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

This isn’t your average cobbler recipe, but it is probably one of the easiest ones you can find. Instead of a layer of fruit, you’ll find a buttery sauce that makes itself (!!) while the cobbler is baking. The topping is similar to warm, fluffy snickerdoodles, making it the best parts of a cookie and a cobbler combined.

Get the Snickerdoodle Cobbler recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Brookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

ice cream sandwiches with brownies and chocolate chip cookies
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Introducing our irresistible dessert combination: the brookie ice cream sandwich, a trio of comforting American treats. Each sandwich promises a delightful balance of rich, fudgy brownie, crisp chocolate chip cookie, and creamy vanilla ice cream.

Get the Brookie Ice Cream Sandwiches recipe.

8

Strawberries & Cream Tiramisu

strawberries cream tiramisu
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Step aside, strawberry shortcake—this strawberries & cream tiramisu is taking over. In family-sized 13" x 9" tiramisu fashion, this easy dessert is perfect to make for all your summer potlucks.

Get the Strawberries & Cream Tiramisu recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

Raspberry Cheesecake Lasagna

a slice of raspberry cheesecake lasagna lifting out a glass baking dish
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING BARRETT WASHBURNE

Summer is all about big pans of fruity no-bake cheesecake, and this cheesecake lasagna is giving all that and more. Fresh raspberry filling sits atop layers of crunchy graham cracker crust and silky whipped cream cheese for a cool, creamy dessert that’s equally simple to make and impressive to serve.

Get the Raspberry Cheesecake Lasagna recipe.

10

Blueberry Skillet Crumb Cake

blueberry cake in a skillet topped with a crumble
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Have you ever eaten a blueberry muffin and thought, If only this was 4 times the size? This breakfast cake is full of fresh blueberries, topped with an almond-flecked crumb, and served straight from a buttery skillet it's baked in.

Get the Blueberry Skillet Crumb Cake recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

S'mores Cupcakes

chocolate cupcakes coated in melted chocolate, graham cracker crumbs, toasted meringue frosting, and a graham cracker square
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

S'mores are the best, there's no denying it. Now you can have everything you love about them—buttery graham crackers, melty chocolate, and toasted marshmallow—in a convenient cupcake package.

Get the S'mores Cupcakes recipe.

12

Lemon-Berry Firecracker Cake

lemon berry firecracker cake
RACHEL VANNI

Nothing says Memorial Day quite like a patriotic red, white, & blue dessert, especially this eye-popping lemon-berry firecracker cake. For a blast of flavor, our spin on the classic firecracker cake upgrades itself from white cake to a tangy lemon batter with blueberry- and strawberry-flavored swirls.

Get the Lemon-Berry Firecracker Cake recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Strawberry Shortcakes

shortcake layered with strawberries and whipped cream
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Strawberry shortcakes are such a simple yet perfect summer dessert. When fresh strawberries are at their peak, they release their sweet juices that were made to be soaked into a homemade biscuit. The fresh whipped cream brings it all together for a treat that isn’t overly sweet, and light enough for a hot summer’s day.

Get the Strawberry Shortcakes recipe.

14

Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

strawberry rhubarb filling in a pie with a lattice crust
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Made with a double batch of our favorite pie dough, this pie showcases the pretty pink hues of rhubarb and strawberry as they peek out from under the golden lattice. This is the perfect sweet-tart spring dessert to welcome the warm weather ahead.

Get the Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

Cherry Slab Pie Bars

cherry pie bars in a casserole dish
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

With flaky crust and juicy-tart filling that sets just right, the classic cherry pie is the ultimate dessert for any summertime soiree, potluck, or BBQ. Best yet, the large slab format is big enough to feed a crowd of hungry party-goers; slice into bars and let folks have at it straight from the 13" x 9" pan.

Get the Cherry Slab Pie Bars recipe.

16

Key Lime Bars

key lime bars topped with whipped cream, a lime zest, and a lime wedge
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Don’t get me wrong, we love Key lime pie, but when we're looking for a mini, shareable dessert, we reach for these adorable Key lime bars. These have all the same elements as the beloved no-bake pie: a tangy, citrus filling, buttery graham cracker crust, and a fluffy Cool Whip topping.

Get the Key Lime Bars recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17

Million Dollar Pie

layered pie topped with crushed nuts, whipped cream, and cherries
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Southerners know a thing or two about decadent desserts, and this retro pie is everything you want in the millionaire experience—crunchy, sweet, mile-high, and make-ahead. 😍

Get the Million Dollar Pie recipe.

18

Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake

chocolate coca cola sheet pan cake with chocolate icing
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

One bite of this Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola cake, and you'll be instantly transported to a rocking chair on a covered front porch playing with that triangle peg board game (IYKYK). Even if you're not familiar with the Southern comfort food stylings of Cracker Barrel, you can trust us that this chocolate cake is real good.

Get the Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

Campfire Strawberries

strawberries with toasted marshmallow and graham crackers
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Who says s’mores are the only campfire dessert? Not me, especially after trying these campfire strawberries. This tasty campfire dessert requires few ingredients and is totally kid-friendly.

Get the Campfire Strawberries recipe.

20

S'mores Skillet Cookie

smores skillet cookie
Parker feierbach

A massive chocolate chip cookie (with EXTRA chocolate) topped with toasty marshmallows? We're in love with this take on a s'mores that can easily serve a crowd.

Get the S'mores Skillet Cookie recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below