Looking for the best Memorial Day desserts to make this year? Try these tasty treats in bright shades of red, white and blue.
Memorial Day weekend is the time to welcome the warm days ahead with picnics and gatherings, all with a healthy dose of patriotic tribute. That means lots of barbecue recipes, bright summer side dishes and Memorial Day desserts—even if it’s a few weeks before summer actually begins.
Among this holiday spread should be equally festive sweets like red, white and blue desserts and treats that celebrate the summer bounty (hi, strawberries!). From pies and cakes designed to look like the American flag to loads and loads of berry pies, no-bake desserts and frozen treats of all kinds, there’s no shortage of Memorial Day desserts to tie up the holiday feast. We even included star-shaped cookies and classic all-American sweets!
Whether it’s a day at the park or a potluck in your backyard, we have summer barbecue ideas for the Memorial Day barbecue, like Memorial Day side dishes and plenty of gorgeous desserts for your spread. Read through the recipes that interest you, and make them the day ahead or the morning of so there’s no last-minute baking or decorating just before the party.
All-American Pie
This dessert takes a bit of time, but all the effort is worth the tasty reward and inevitable high praise. Plus, everyone can get a slice of their favorite berry pie: blueberry, apple or cherry!
Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes
These light and tender cupcakes completely mimic a slice of cheesecake. With the hidden graham cracker crust base, strawberry-studded vanilla cupcakes, cream cheese frosting, and extra strawberries and graham cracker crumbs on top, it really is like eating the cupcake version of a cheesecake!
Red, White & Blue Cheesecake Bars
A rich and creamy cheesecake filling on top of a graham crust is the perfect vehicle for lots of fresh summer berries. Use a mix of blue and red berries to keep a patriotic theme.
Strawberry Ice Cream Cake
Inspired by the strawberry crunch bars the ice cream truck offered every summer, this cake is crunchy and sweet in all the best ways. It’s sure to be a hit for Memorial Day and all summer celebrations.
Red, White and Blue Pie
This creamy pie topped with fresh fruit is a crowd-pleaser. Prepare the filled pie ahead of time, then top it with whipped cream and berries when it’s time to serve.
Grandma’s Star Cookies
Serve a platter of these orange-scented butter cutout cookies at your Memorial Day picnic or potluck. The recipe is so versatile—save it to use with other shapes for holidays year-round.
Red Velvet Cake
Is there anything more American than a red velvet cake? The intensely bright red hue makes it perfect for the holiday.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Sweet, savory and creamy, this pretty little make-ahead dessert is perfect for potlucks and picnics. I love a dessert with texture, and this treat has many layers!
Blueberry Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
There’s no better way to showcase gorgeous fresh blueberries than a simple pie. You’ll want real whipped cream for this one.
Patriotic Pizzas
Make your stars and stripes with smooth sweetened cream cheese and fresh fruit atop a simple butter crust. It’s a salute to summer!
Berry Dream Cake
For a berry fun twist on a Memorial Day cake, poke holes into a baked cake and pour warm liquid gelatin over it. When you refrigerate it, you’ll get a fruity marbled effect.
Patriotic Ice Cream Cupcakes
To make a sweet treat for a summer celebration, layer red velvet cake, blue moon ice cream and a creamy marshmallow topping. Don’t forget the red, white and blue sprinkles!
Elegant Fresh Berry Tart
It takes little effort to make this pretty tart. The flavors of the buttery crust, creamy filling and fresh fruit tossed in preserves come together beautifully.
Favorite Coconut Cake
This cake is light, delicious and full of coconut flavor. Surround it with bowls of fresh red strawberries and blueberries on the Memorial Day dessert table.
No-Bake Cheesecake
When it’s too hot to turn on the oven, this no-bake cheesecake is exactly what you need. It has everything you want, including lots of fresh berries for the topping, but no hassle.
Watermelon Cupcakes
What a sweet idea! Watermelon gelatin and a bit of red food coloring help turn ordinary cupcakes into something special. They’ll be the hit of the Memorial Day picnic.
Strawberry Pretzel Pie
This no-bake strawberry pie has everything: fresh berry flavor, a creamy filling and a sweet-salty crunch from a crushed pretzel crust. It’s a summertime treat that makes everyone happy.
Cast-Iron Cherry-Berry Peach Pie
The best thing about this pie is that you can use fresh or frozen fruit, or a mix of both. The all-butter crust cooks up beautifully in the cast-iron pan, which goes from oven to table.
Strawberry Gelato
Summer means getting that ice cream maker back on the kitchen counter. Start with this refreshing strawberry gelato, which has a hint of sea salt and honey.
Two-Berry Fluff Salad
To get good fluffiness, make sure to beat the cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar well before adding the cream. It’s like a sweet dreamy cloud with a burst of berry freshness.
Mixed Berry Tiramisu
There’s no doubt that traditional tiramisu is delicious, but this berry version feels like a perfect dessert for summer. You can layer the sweet mascarpone, ladyfinger cookies and fresh fruit in a clear pan, a trifle bowl or individual cups.
Blueberry Upside-Down Skillet Cake
This cake is a stunner without needing a lot of effort or time to make it. Use fresh or frozen blueberries, and don’t forget the hit of orange juice in the caramel. It’s a nice touch!
Mixed Berry Pie
Use any ratio of fruit in this pie: If you have more blueberries than raspberries or you don’t have blackberries yet, just make up the difference with what’s available. Make sure to have some vanilla ice cream ready when serving.
Strawberry Cheesecake
We turn to timeless recipes again and again for a reason! Simple yet sophisticated and tart yet creamy, this strawberry cheesecake is beloved by everyone.
Berry Tarts
Fresh berries and lemon are a perfect combo any time of year, but these light tartlets are a particularly good Memorial Day dessert. Raspberries and blueberries work best, but you can use any fresh seasonal fruit.
Flag Cake
This patriotic-themed cake makes a stunningly delicious Memorial Day dessert. The stars are made with fresh blueberries and blueberry gelatin, and the red stripes are chopped berries and raspberry-flavored gelatin. Want to keep it even simpler? Skip the gelatin and just use fresh fruit for the flag.
Raspberry Pie Squares
Slab pie is perfect for a crowd. The simple raspberry filling here is easy to make and has an incredible sweet-tart flavor.
Blackberry Cheesecake Bars
Make these gorgeous bars with sugar cookie dough, ricotta and mascarpone cheeses, and a fresh blackberry topping. Cut the bars into whatever size works for your group.
Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler
Strawberry and rhubarb ripen around the same time, inspiring many delicious strawberry-rhubarb recipes like this easy cobbler. I love the buttery, flaky, pie-like top crust that doesn’t need any finicky rolling and shaping!
Strawberry Pie
Everything about this pie is as easy as … well, you know. Make sure you use the most beautiful strawberries for this, as they’re really the star of the show.
Berry, Lemon and Doughnut Hole Trifle
Keep this recipe in your back pocket for those times when you need a really fast and pretty dessert. The lemon-flavored cream is the perfect pairing for fresh strawberries and blueberries.
S’mores on a Stick
For this ultra summery sweet, the usual s’more fillings are melted together to create a sticky mixture that holds the popsicle stick and is sandwiched by two graham crackers for a grab-and-go treat. Drizzle extra melted chocolate on top and decorate with red, white and blue sprinkles for the holiday!
Memorial Day Desserts FAQ
What’s the most popular dessert on Memorial Day?
The most popular dessert on Memorial Day is anything red, white and blue, especially if it is in the shape of an American flag. Our all-American pie or flag cake will wow guests, and plenty of other on-theme desserts are here to celebrate the holiday. You can easily make most desserts red, white and blue by decorating the top with homemade whipped cream and clean strawberries and blueberries. Other quick ways to add patriotic colors include sprinkles, frosting, M&M’s or toothpick American flags.
What desserts are easy to bring to a Memorial Day gathering?
Desserts like cookies, brownies, cupcakes and pies are easy to transport and set out at Memorial Day gatherings. Plus, they don’t usually need to take up space in the host’s fridge. Make-ahead desserts are even easier to pull off as you can bake them a day or two ahead of time, so there’s one less thing to do on party day. Plus, it’s nice to know that your dessert is ready to go and meets standards. There’s nothing more stressful than a dessert not working out on party day and having to pivot at the last minute.
No-bake desserts are another really easy dessert option for Memorial Day. Tote along no-bake dessert bars, pies like banana cream pie with pudding, a really pretty icebox cake or a loaded ice cream cake (like a copycat Dairy Queen ice cream cake!). Just make sure the host knows ahead of time that you’ll need fridge or freezer space for your no-bake dessert.
What are the best gluten-free summer desserts for Memorial Day?
The best gluten-free summer desserts for Memorial Day are our cooling frozen treats, like the berry white ice pops, strawberry-citrus freezer pops or creamy strawberry gelato. Layered desserts like star-spangled parfaits, cheesecake berry parfaits, patriotic frozen delight, or red, white and blue dessert are also naturally gluten-free. Our crispy star pops are a Memorial Day-themed take on Rice Krispies treats. Just ensure all packaged ingredients are free of gluten and have not been processed in a facility that handles wheat or gluten.
How do I store desserts for outdoor celebrations like Memorial Day?
The best way to store desserts for outdoor celebrations like Memorial Day is to keep chilled foods cool and safe, while keeping bugs at bay. If the desserts need to be chilled, do not set them out until everyone has had their fill of appetizers and barbecue. Serve them straight from the fridge, and don’t leave them out for too long or they’ll enter the temperature danger zone where bacteria grow—a huge food safety mistake. To keep bugs away from your barbecue, place trash and recycling bins away from food tables, and invest in mesh food coverings. I always like to light citronella candles or citronella outdoor incense sticks.
