Make your Memorial Day festivies a little sweeter with this roundup of 30+ small batch Memorial Day dessert recipes! You’ll find a delicious assortment of cakes, cookies, frozen treats, and even cool beverages to celebrate the long weekend.
Memorial Day Desserts
Memorial Day is a special day for many reasons. We honor the brave soldiers who have fought and fallen for our country. We celebrate the observed long weekend with family and friends. And, it is a time in which we start to welcome the summer season.
Which is why many of the outdoor parties, bbq’s, and picnics feature a lot of the flavors we love about summer! Strawberries, watermelon, peaches, and cherries start to show up in our Memorial Day desserts. Plus iconic summer treats like apple pie, strawberry shortcake, and ice cream.
This list of desserts represents everything we love about summer! Plus, as a small batch recipes, you can take 2, 3, or even 4 different desserts to your celebration. Imagine the delight of your family and friends!
Summer Cakes and Cupcakes
With each of these Memorial Day cakes and cupcakes recipes, they are designed for 2 to 6 servings – depending on how many slices of cake you want! The cupcakes can be prepard in your standard cupcake pan. But for the small cakes, you will want to use a smaller cake pans, like a 9×5 loaf pan, 6-inch springform pan, and a cute 6-inch cast iron skillet.
1
Small Batch Strawberry Cupcakes
A super easy recipe for small batch strawberry cupcakes! You only need one bowl to make these moist and tender cupcakes. Fresh strawberry puree gives the cupcakes their delicious strawberry flavor and perfect texture! Frost with strawberry whipped buttercream frosting for a complete strawberry treat!
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2
Gluten Free Peanut Butter S’mores Icebox Cake
Enjoy campfire s'mores in this gluten free peanut butter s'mores icebox cake! The no-bake cake features a flavor surprise of peanut butter cream, along with layers of gluten free graham crackers, marshmallow cream, and rich chocolate ganache. Finish the summer icon with a toasty marshmallow topping for a tasty and pretty summer dessert!
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3
Homemade Strawberry Shortcake
These Homemade Strawberry Shortcake treats are a fun twist on the classic. Strawberries are added to the biscuits for even more strawberry goodness! The homemade strawberry biscuits are light and tender, and the strawberries are delicately sweetened to preserve the fresh strawberry taste.
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4
Neapolitan No-Bake Mini Cheesecake
This Neapolitan No-Bake Mini Cheesecake is set on a waffle cone crust to give you all of the flavors of an ice cream cone treat! The mini cheesecake is made in a 6-inch springform pan with layers of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry no-bake cheesecake filling. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings for your own version of an ice cream sundae!
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5
Mini Cherry Skillet Cake
This Cherry Skillet Cake recipe is an easy summer dessert. A mini cake made in a 6.5-inch cast iron skillet and all of the cake ingredients are mixed in one bowl! Top with fresh cherries and whipped coconut cream, and you will have a perfect barbecue dessert!
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6
Small Batch Lemon Cupcakes Recipe
Bright as the sunshine small batch lemon cupcakes! This is an easy recipe for cupcakes that are pillowy soft, incredibly moist, bursting with lemon flavor, and speckled with lemon zest. Finish with zingy lemon buttercream frosting for a small batch of cupcakes ideal for any holiday or celebration!
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Pies, Cobblers, And Crisps
I think there is phrase, as American as apple pie, so I had to make sure we have a small apple pie included in this Memorial Day desserts roundup! And the great thing about my pie and galette recipes is, you can swap either with a gluten free pie crust, or use my traditional pie crust from the cherry galette recipe.
7
Cherry Almond Galette For Two
Indulge in the delicious flavors of this cherry almond galette for two, showcasing plump fresh cherries, velvety almond cream, and a delightfully flaky all-butter 6-inch pie crust. This delectable summer dessert is ideal for your backyard BBQ, picnic, or any festive summer celebration!
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8
Caramel Corn Apple Galette
This small batch recipe for Caramel Corn Apple Galette is combines two delicious Fall desserts into one! Made with a creamy caramel and freeze dried sweet corn custard, and simple cinnamon sugar Honeycrisp apple filling. Then baked in a light and flaky pie crust for a pretty, yet rustic, pie for two!
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9
Gluten Free Strawberry Cobbler
This small batch gluten free strawberry cobbler is your answer to the best strawberry dessert! The easy recipe features fresh strawberries that bake into a luscious filling, and a buttery gluten free cobbler topping that is delicately sweet. Served in cute mini baking dishes, this sweet summer dessert is perfect for two!
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10
Gluten Free Mini Apple Pie
Simply the best mini gluten free apple pie recipe with double crust! We take my super flaky all-butter gluten free 6-inch crust, double it, and pile in slices of firm, seasoned apples. The pie bakes to golden brown perfection with a sweetened flaky crust holding a juicy and syrupy apple pie filling. A delicious pie you'd never know was gluten free and suitable for any occasion!
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11
Small Batch Cherry Crisp
Savor summer with this small batch cherry crisp that is gluten-friendly! Golden Rainier cherries, bubbling maple caramel sauce, and a crisp almond-oat topping create this delightful dessert. This versatile and easy small batch dessert can be doubled for a larger batch.
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small batch Cookies and Bars
Cookies and brownies may be the easiest Memorial Day desserts! They travel well, store well, and can sit out until the last guest leaves. One recipe that I may have to supplement to this list is my gluten free brownies. For the reason that they are incredibly fudgy!
12
Soft Sugar Cookie Sandwiches
These Soft Sugar Cookie Sandwiches are soft, chewy, and filled with a light vanilla butter free frosting. This is an easy small batch dessert that is perfect to celebrate any special occasion or holiday. Add fun sprinkles for a delicious, and festive, dessert!
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13
Gluten Free Lemon Crinkle Cookies
The beauty of these gluten free lemon crinkle cookies is that they span the seasons. Christmas, winter, summer, 4th of July – you name it, they are good year-round! This small batch recipe makes an incredibly chewy and lemony cookie with the perfect crackly powdered sugar exterior.
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14
Strawberry Shortcake Biscuit Cookies
These strawberry shortcake biscuit cookies are like a cookie, scone, and biscuit combined into one delicious spring bite! The small batch of cookies are soft and tender, with each bite bursting with jammy strawberries. Give the cookies a finishing touch with either fresh strawberry glaze or creamy strawberry whipped coconut cream.
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15
Gluten Free Lemon Drop Shortbread Cookies
These small batch gluten free lemon cookies are a cross between shortbread and a butter cookie. Almond flour and powdered sugar make the cookies exceptionally tender. While fresh lemon juice and zest provide a zingy flavor in the cookies and icing.
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16
Gluten Free Blueberry Crumb Bars
Small batch gluten free blueberry crumb bars combine a bright blueberry filling with an incredibly soft sugar cookie base. Made with a flavorful almond flour blend, the dough is use for the base and crumb topping and is delicately sweetened to allow the gooey blueberries to be the star. This is an easy dessert bar recipe that fits right into spring and summer baking!
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17
Strawberry and Cream Rice Krispie Treats
These strawberry and cream rice krispie treats are buttery, gooey, and shining with strawberry flavor! The small batch treats showcase everything you love about strawberries and cream – tasty strawberry marshmallows, the perfect ratio of melty marshmallow to cereal, and a dip in white chocolate. A little sprinkle of freeze-dried strawberries at the end add decoration and flavor.
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18
No-Bake Key Lime Bars
This easy small batch of No-Bake Key Lime Bars are light, creamy, and full of bright lime flavor. Coconut cream is whipped with sweetened condensed milk and fresh lime juice. The velvety filling sits on a toasted coconut and Biscoff® cookie crust.
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19
Fudgy Brownies with Vanilla Whipped Topping
Easy small batch double chocolate brownies with vanilla whipped topping are a classic dessert! Extra fudgy brownies are studded with chocolate chips then topped with stabilized whipped cream and fresh fruit for a decadent treat great for any celebration!
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Refreshing Summer Drinks
Not only do we need to stay hydrated on warm days, but we all need a little cool-down when the barbecue is blazing! These cool beverages are great for the kids, but you can also make an adult version by adding your favorite spirit.
20
Strawberry Lemonade
This refreshing Strawberry Lemonade recipe is made with fresh strawberry sauce that is lightly sweetened with honey. The bright strawberry sauce is combined with tart lemonade, then garnished with a strawberry sugar glass rim and a fresh strawberry slice for a stunning summer beverage!
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21
Blueberry Lemonade Recipe
Summertime and lemonade are the classic duo and this blueberry lemonade recipe will make you wish it was summer all the time! We start with homemade blueberry syrup, then the perfect ratio of lemon juice and water is added for a truly refreshing drink. Make this adult-friendly by adding the spirit of your choice!
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22
Dairy Free Black Cherry Cream Soda
Elevate your summer sipping on a dairy-free black cherry cream soda that is homemade! Fresh cherry syrup meets coconut cream, then the soda-shop inspired drink is topped with black cherry sparkling water. Light, creamy, fruity, and totally refreshing, this fizzy beverage guarantees a delightful treat!
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23
Frozen Peach and Citrus Refresher
Sipping on a frozen peach and citrus refresher is a great way to beat the summer heat! Frozen peaches blend with lemonade and coconut cream for a vibrant and smooth drink. Make the beverage even more irresistible with a zesty Tajin Sugar rim!
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24
Watermelon Honey Lime Slushies
Simple watermelon honey lime slushies are a refreshing way to cool down on a hot day! Frozen watermelon combines with floral honey, zesty lime, and a dollop of whipped coconut cream – for a beverage reminiscent of an ice cream float! The frozen summer drinks are a great way to celebrate Memorial Day, the 4th of July, or any summer bbq.
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Frozen Treats
Real talk – I’m still going to grab one of these frozen Memorial Day desserts even after I’ve had my slice of cake! There is something about enjoying a chilled popsicle as the days festivities wind down. 🙂
25
Creamy Watermelon Popsicles with Magic Shell
Enjoy the flavors of summer with these creamy watermelon popsicles with magic shell! This is an easy recipe for a small batch of watermelon popsicles lightened with coconut cream, slightly sweetened with honey, and topped with your very own chocolate Magic Shell!
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26
Dairy-Free Pina Colada Ice Cream
The tropics are calling with this no-churn and dairy free creamy pina colada ice cream! Experience the flavors of coconut, pineapple, and fresh lime in this homemade ice cream – that does not require an ice cream maker! The creamy coconut cream base combines with all the fresh flavors for a incredibly velvety and bright ice cream.
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27
Peanut Butter Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Celebrate the festivities of summer with these Peanut Butter Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches. This is a small batch frozen dessert that combines no-churn chocolate chip ice cream sandwiched between two flourless peanut butter cookies, and finished with a chocolate shell and festive sprinkles.
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28
Dairy-Free Strawberry Ice Cream
This is an easy no-churn recipe for Dairy-Free Strawberry Ice Cream. The creamy ice cream is made with only 5 ingredients including canned coconut milk, fresh (or frozen strawberries), and honey. Plus, a secret ingredient that makes this ice cream extra velvety and smooth!
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29
Sparking Berries and Cream Popsicles
These Sparking Berries and Cream Popsicles are a refreshingly easy frozen treat, and perfect for your 4th of July celebration. The fresh berry puree is spiked with sparkling water for a fun, effervescent bite!
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No-Bake Memorial Day Desserts
I get it. It’s a long weekend, it’s probably going to be warm, and the last thing you want to do is turn on the oven! Well, I have you covered with these no-bake desserts. And I’m not going to lie, these easy desserts are STUNNING!
30
Mango Mousse
Velvety and creamy mango mousse celebrates the pure flavor of the beautiful tropical fruit. Fresh mango puree is combined with dairy-free whipped coconut cream to yield a sinfully delicious dessert for two. The beautiful mousse is easy to make with only 7 ingredients – including the water! – and a little bit of patience to let the mousse reach optimal creaminess!
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31
Strawberry S’mores Parfait
This recipe for Gluten Free Strawberry S'mores Parfaits combines silky vegan chocolate pudding, gluten free graham cracker crumbs, and toasty marshmallows for a decadent no-bake summer dessert! The parfaits are easily portable and the small batch recipe can be adjusted to accommodate any serving size.
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32
Blackberry Mousse
Creamy, dairy free blackberry mousse is your answer to a beautiful summer dessert without all the effort! With only 6 ingredients needed – and that includes water! – the fruit mousse is incredibly easy to make, with no baking required. The mousse is bright, velvety, and a certain showstopper at your next summer event!
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33
Sweet Corn Panna Cotta with Fresh Berry Sauce
This Sweet Corn Panna Cotta with Fresh Berry Sauce is a luxuriously creamy small batch dessert made with freeze-dried sweet corn and topped with a summer berry sauce and fresh fruit. The panna cotta is very easy to make and a light and refreshing treat perfect for summer!
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34
Raspberry Peach Gluten Free Cheesecake Cups
Raspberry Peach Gluten Free Cheesecake Cups are a gluten free and refined sugar free summer dessert. Featuring gluten free graham crackers, velvety no-bake cheesecake filling, and honey sweetened raspberry and peach topping. An easy small batch recipe with everything you love about cheesecake, but served deconstructed in cute serving glasses!
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I want to wish you all a fantastic Memorial Day! Enjoy your long weekend, family & friends, and all the good food! 🙂
about the author ...
I'm Erin and I'm all about desserts - and a little bit of butter!
I've tested, written, and photographed hundreds of recipes on my website. Here you'll find the tastiest small batch desserts - all homemade, all simple, and all for you! Click here to learn more about me!