Every year when Memorial Day rolls around, I try to bring something sweet and easy to our cookout.
One year, I pulled together a last-minute red, white, and blue trifle with cake I had on hand, fresh berries, and a layer of whipped cream—and it was a hit. Since then, it’s become one of my go-to party desserts.
But that first success sent me down a rabbit hole of experimenting with different treats.
From cookie cup sundaes to lemon bars and ice cream sandwich cake, I’ve tested a lot of simple crowd-pleasers that don’t require a ton of time or ingredients.
If you’re looking for dessert ideas that feel festive but aren’t fussy, keep reading.
1. Red, White & Blue Trifle That Looks Like You Tried Hard (But You Didn’t)
This one’s a hit every single time. I cube up a homemade vanilla sponge (although a store-bought pound cake will work just fine), layer it with whipped cream or vanilla pudding, and throw in lots of berries — strawberries and raspberries for red, blueberries for blue. That’s it.
If you have a trifle bowl, it looks extra fancy, but even a big glass bowl will do. Sometimes I add chopped pecans between the layers for a little crunch. It’s sweet, light, and super Instagrammable.
2. Chocolate + Peanut Butter Dream Trifle
I’ve also done a “dessert-on-steroids” version of the trifle: layers of chocolate cake, peanut butter cream (I mix cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and a bit of heavy cream to make it dreamy), chocolate chips, and crushed peanuts. People went crazy over it.
You could also do this with crushed cookies instead of cake if you’re in a pinch.
3. Ice Cream Sandwich Cake (No One Believes How Easy It Is)
I saw this on Pinterest years ago and I’ve made it more times than I can count. Layer store-bought ice cream sandwiches in a pan, spread Cool Whip on top, then crush up your favorite chocolate candy and sprinkle it over everything.
Pop it in the freezer for a few hours and boom. Done.
4. Lemon Bars That Actually Taste Like Lemon
Lemon bars are such a vibe for spring and summer cookouts. I swear by a simple recipe that mixes room temp butter into the dry ingredients to make the crust (no rolling, just press it into the pan).
The lemon layer is tart, sweet, and pairs so well with fresh berries.
5. Old School Strawberry Shortcake
This is my go-to when I want something easy but nostalgic. I bake a basic pound cake, slice up some strawberries with a sprinkle of sugar, and make a quick whipped cream. Sometimes I get fancy and add a splash of vanilla or almond extract to the cream. So good.
6. Campfire Orange Cakes (Yes, Seriously)
Okay, hear me out. If you’re grilling or doing a backyard bonfire, grab some oranges, cut them in half, scoop out the insides, and fill the peel with cake batter (boxed mix works!).
Wrap in foil and place over the fire or on the grill. It bakes inside the orange peel and picks up that citrusy flavor. Everyone will ask how you came up with it.
7. Layered Jello Cups with Whipped Cream
This one’s for the color lovers. I use red and blue jello layers in clear plastic cups and top with whipped cream and sprinkles.
You can also add fruit chunks inside the jello for a fun surprise. They’re festive, fun, and kids love them.
8. Cookie Cups with Ice Cream
Bake chocolate chip cookie dough in a muffin pan (I mold the dough over the back of the muffin tin so they bake into little cups).
Once cooled, fill with ice cream or pudding. They’re crunchy, chewy, creamy… basically everything you want in a dessert.
9. Frozen Berry Crisp
Yes, crisp can be summer-friendly too! I toss frozen mixed berries with lemon juice and sugar, then top with a mix of oats, butter, and brown sugar.
Into the oven it goes until bubbly and golden. It’s amazing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
10. Jello-Poke Angel Food Cake (My Nana’s Favorite)
This one’s a nostalgic favorite. Bake an angel food cake, poke holes in it with a toothpick, and pour in a liquid jello mixture.
Let it set in the fridge, then top with whipped cream. It’s cool, light, and ridiculously satisfying.
These are the tried-and-true favorites I either make myself or have seen completely devoured at family gatherings. Whether you’re baking from scratch or just assembling a few store-bought ingredients, there’s something here for every kind of cook.
Whether you’re the host or just showing up with dessert in hand, any of these treats will get you those “OMG who made this?!” compliments. And the best part? Most of them are super customizable based on what you’ve got in your pantry or fridge.
Got a favorite Memorial Day dessert I didn’t mention? Drop it in the comments — I’m always looking to add something new to my cookout lineup!
Let me know if you want image ideas or Pinterest pin titles for this post too — happy to help!