Your Memorial Day party or barbecue isn’t complete without an easy and festive dessert! This Memorial Day Dessert Recipe Roundup includes easy recipes for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, frozen treats, and cool beverages to celebrate the long weekend.
Memorial Day Desserts – Recipe Roundup
Every Memorial Day party or barbecue needs a tasty dessert. To make it easy, I’ve compiled a list of some of our warm-weather-worthy treats in this Memorial Day Desserts – Recipe Roundup. This collection has a dessert for everyone:
- Cakes
- Cupcakes
- Pies
- Cookies
- Bars
- Frozen Treats
- Refreshing Beverages
Plus, these are all small batch recipes, so you can take two, three, or even four desserts to your party. You are certain to delight your friends and family with these desserts!
Cakes and Cupcakes
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
Mini Vanilla and Berry Layer Cake
The Mini Vanilla and Berry Layer Cake is a light and easy dessert for your 4th of July celebration. Flavored sparkling water gives the cake volume and flavor. And between the moist cake layers is light whipped cream and fresh berries.
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3
Vanilla and Berry Cupcakes
This small batch of Vanilla and Berry Cupcakes is perfect to celebrate Memorial Day or the 4th of July. This is a one-bowl recipe that is easy to make and is packed with vanilla and cherry flavor. Cherry sparkling water helps to keep the cupcakes moist, and add flavor.
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4
Mini Orange Creamsicle No-Bake Cheesecake
No-baking is required for this perfect summer dessert – Mini Orange Creamsicle No-Bake Cheesecake! Silky cheesecake is brightened with fresh orange juice and zest, then topped with orange whipped cream, and all on top of a buttery vanilla wafer crust.
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Pies and Bars
5
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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6
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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Cookies and Bars
7
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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8
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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9
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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10
Lemon Shortbread Cookies
This small batch of soft and buttery Lemon Shortbread Cookies are highlighted with fresh lemon juice, plus zest! The cookies are light, bright, and easy to make – and they are perfect with a hot cup of tea!
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Refreshing Drinks
11
Ginger Lemonade
Summer calls for an easy and cool beverage, and there is nothing quite as refreshing as Ginger Lemonade! Spicy ginger elevates the classic lemonade, and when served over ice, it is a great cool down drink. To make an adult version, you can add a little vodka or prosecco for an equally delicious summer cocktail!
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12
Refreshing Blueberry Lemonade
Summertime and lemonade are the classic duo – and this Refreshing Blueberry Lemonade will make you wish it was summer all the time! This easy recipe starts with homemade blueberry simple 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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13
Homemade Black Cherry Cream Soda (Dairy Free)
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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14
Watermelon Honey Lime Slushies
Simple and refreshing Watermelon Honey Lime Slushies are a delicious way to cool down on a hot day! Fresh frozen watermelon is combined with lime juice and honey for a tart and sweet frozen beverage. Top with whipped cream, and you have a frozen drink that is reminiscent of an ice cream float!
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Frozen Treats
15
Extra Creamy Strawberry Floats (Dairy-Free)
What could be better than Extra Creamy Strawberry Floats? How about ice cream floats that are also on the healthy side! This recipe uses our dairy-free strawberry ice cream, plus an extra creamy strawberry and coconut milk puree. Top with your favorite sparkling water and you have a delicious, lightly-sweetened frozen treat!
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16
Strawberry Dole Whip
This Strawberry Dole Whip recipe is one of the easiest summer desserts you can make! We've made the iconic Pineapple Dole Whip, and now we are rounding out the theme park lineup with the strawberry version.
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17
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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18
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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19
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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Helpful Ingredients and Baking Equipment For These Memorial Day Desserts
To help prepare your grocery list, below is just a few of the items you will to add to your list.
Ingredients
- Fresh Fruit – Strawberries, Cherries, Lemons, Limes, Watermelon, Oranges, and other berries.
- Unsweetened Canned Coconut Milk – In many of the recipes. This is the brand I use most often.
- Shredded Coconut
- Flour
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
Baking Equipment
These are affiliate links to the baking equipment I use.
- 6-Inch Cake Round Pan
- 6-Inch Square Cake Pan
- 4-Inch Springform Pan
- Mini Cast Iron Skillet
- Cherry Pitter
Here’s to a long weekend full of delicious treats!
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 gluten free and traditional desserts - all homemade, all simple, and all for you!
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