21 Crowd-Pleasing BBQ Desserts

Try one of these recipes for your next cookout.

By
Cathy Jacobs
Cathy Jacobs
Cathy Jacobs
A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 03/14/24
Bisquick Strawberry Shortcake on a plate

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

These BBQ-friendly dessert recipes are the perfect sweet ending to summer meals (or tailgating parties) enjoyed with friends and family. From delicious pies and cobblers that make the most of seasonal fruits to ultra-fudgy brownies, s'mores cereal treats, and over-the-top cake bars, these desserts are guaranteed to be a hit.

  • 01 of 21

    S'mores Rice Krispie Treats

    S'more Rice Krispie Treats on a concrete surface

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    Enjoy all the indulgent flavors of traditional campfire s'mores—sans the sticky mess— with these easy, hand-held treats. Make them in only 10 minutes by combining melted marshmallows and butter with Rice Krispies cereal, graham crackers, and chocolate chunks. The recipe doubles or triples very easily.

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  • 02 of 21

    Strawberry Cupcakes

    Multiple Strawberry Cupcakes on a white surface

    The Spruce Eats

    Moist, tender strawberry cupcakes bursting with sweet summer berry flavor, topped with luscious strawberry buttercream frosting and chopped fresh berries, are an inspired way to enjoy this popular summer fruit and create an pretty dessert for backyard buffet tables.

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  • 03 of 21

    Ultimate Brownies

    A pile of Ultimate Brownies on a plate

    Jeremy Samuelson / Getty Images

    Fudgey, dense, and chocolatey as all get-out, these are the ultimate brownies to serve at summer parties. Use good-quality, unsweetened baker's chocolate for rich-tasting, cake-like brownies that are rich enough to stand on their own without frosting.

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  • 04 of 21

    Amazing Pineapple Meringue Pie

    A slice of Pineapple Meringue Pie on a plate

    Keller & Keller Photography / Getty Images

    Pineapple meringue pie is a summery, tropical take on the traditional lemon pie. Use a store-bought frozen crust to make this easy pie, filling it with divinely sweet and tangy pineapple curd, and topping it with fluffy clouds of fresh meringue, which you bake until peaks are beautifully browned.

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    Continue to 5 of 21 below.
  • 05 of 21

    Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars

    Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars with one with a bite taken it out of it

    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

    Strawberry shortcake ice cream bars are the perfect sweet treat for hot days. Coat strawberry ice cream with crunchy sugar cookies and strawberry pieces for a from-scratch version of the popular ice cream truck bar that is even better than the original.

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  • 06 of 21

    Slab Pie

    Slab Pie on a baking dish with a large slice taken out of it

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

    Slab pie is perfect for large gatherings. Rather than make multiple pies to ensure everyone gets a piece, this one is made in a sheet pan. The recipe includes a traditional homemade crust and is filled with mixed berries. Use fresh or frozen berries, or switch out the fruit if you like.

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  • 07 of 21

    Strawberry Cheesecake

    Strawberry cheesecake sliced on a plate

    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

    Bring a classic strawberry cheesecake to the cookout and it will be gone before you know it. The recipe begins with a homemade graham cracker crust., which is filled with a combination of cream cheese and ricotta. Finish it off with a fresh strawberry compote, and dessert is ready!

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  • 08 of 21

    Instant Pot Brownies

    Instant Pot brownies sliced on a plate.

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Brownies are always a crowd-pleaser, no matter what the occasion. Making these rich, gooey, nut-studded brownies in the Instant Pot means you don't have to turn the oven on at all--perfect for a summertime barbecue. The brownies are finished off with a shiny ganache and a sprinkle of chopped pecans.

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    Continue to 9 of 21 below.
  • 09 of 21

    Blueberry Grunt

    Blueberry Grunt in a white bowl with blue berries strewn around it

    The Spruce Eats / Anita Schecter 

    Grunts are stovetop cobblers, and they're great for showing off summer fruit. This blueberry grunt is easy to make and feed a small crowd. Served warm and topped with cold vanilla ice cream, it's a summertime treat. It's the perfect way to end a meal of grilled meat and veggies.

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  • 10 of 21

    Bisquick Strawberry Shortcake

    A Bisquick Strawberry Shortcake topped with strawberries on a plate

    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

    This shortcake recipe is perfect for when you are craving this quintessential summer berry dessert but don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Bisquick mix makes preparing the biscuits a cinch, and you still get that traditional flaky base to top with juicy strawberries and homemade whipped cream that your guests will love.

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  • 11 of 21

    Classic Magic Cookie Bars

    Classic Magic Cookie Bars resting on a light blue platter

    The Spruce Eats / Claire Cohen

    These "magically" delicious cookie bars are a popular bake sale treat that are always welcome at cookout parties. Make them with layers of graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips, chopped pecans, flaked coconut, and sweetened condensed milk.

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  • 12 of 21

    No-Churn Ice Cream

    No churn ice cream with cookie crumbs having a scoop taking out

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    You can't go wrong with a cold scoop of ice cream. This no-churn recipe only takes a few ingredients and doesn't require a fancy ice cream maker. Fold in toppings like chocolate chips or chunks, cookie crumbles, or sprinkles, or top with chocolate, fruit, or caramel sauce.

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    Continue to 13 of 21 below.
  • 13 of 21

    Funfetti Cake Bars With Chocolate Glaze

    Overhead of Funfetti Cake Bars With Chocolate Glaze

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    Scrumptious cake bars exploding with rainbow sprinkles and drizzled with melted chocolate on top are sure to be a hit with kids at backyard gatherings. Adding candy sprinkles to the batter, as well as on top, makes these tasty, portable treats colorful through and through.

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  • 14 of 21

    One-Bowl Brownies

    A pile of brownies resting on a blue plate

    The Spruce Eats / Laurel Randolph

    Please fans of both boxed brownies as well as rich homemade versions with this chewy yet sophisticated recipe. The batter includes espresso powder which intensifies the chocolate flavor. A sprinkling of sea salt at the end is a special finishing touch.

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  • 15 of 21

    Key Lime Bars

    Piles of Key Lime Bars topped with lime slices

    The Spruce Eats / Anita Schecter

    Key limes are a true summer delight. They are also the star ingredient in these chilled tangy bars with a crunchy graham cracker crust and a fluffy, lime-infused custard filling. They're even more summer-friendly than key lime pie.

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  • 16 of 21

    Texas Sheet Cake With Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting

    A slice of Texas Sheet Cake With Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Hailing from the Lone Star State, Texas sheet cake is big, rich, and assertively chocolatey. Including buttermilk in the batter, along with cocoa powder and a few other baking ingredients, makes for a wonderfully moist cake. Top with chocolate buttermilk frosting and watch it disappear!

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    Continue to 17 of 21 below.
  • 17 of 21

    Vegan Cherry Cobbler

    Vegan Cherry Cobbler topped with whipped cream and resting on a plate

    ideabug / Getty Images

    Treat vegan guests to a delicious dairy-free cherry crisp with all of the comforting flavor you crave in a cobbler. Make the filling a day ahead using frozen cherries. Then on party day, use your food processor to assemble the vegan cobbler topping, which includes soy milk and soy margarine. Serve warm, topped with dairy-free vanilla ice cream.

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  • 18 of 21

    Sour Cream Blueberry Pie

    Sour Cream Blueberry Pie resting in a pie dish

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Oodles of fresh blueberries go into this stunning fruit pie that you can make with a prepared frozen crust for a fabulous buffet centerpiece. Sour cream adds a tangy flavor to juicy, fresh berries, and the no-fuss pecan streusel topping is easier to make than a classic rolled pastry.

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  • 19 of 21

    Winning Lemon Bars

    Lemon bars stacked on a dessert plate

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Lovely lemon bars are refreshing, tart, sweet, and tangy all at once. Bake up a crowd-pleasing batch with this recipe that needs fewer than 10 ingredients, and takes only an hour, making it a great party contribution when you get a last-minute invite.

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  • 20 of 21

    Mini Cheesecakes With Vanilla Wafer Crust

    Mini Cheesecakes resting on a white serving platter

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

    Miniature cheesecakes infused with tart-sweet grapefruit juice, topped with grapefruit sections, and finished with a delectable strawberry glaze make a stunning, gourmet-style dessert for summer parties. Allow at least two hours for chilling these desserts in the fridge before serving.

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    Continue to 21 of 21 below.
  • 21 of 21

    Fresh Peach Cobbler

    Fresh Peach Cobbler in a square bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Celebrate the juicy goodness of summer peaches by baking up a fresh peach cobbler for BBQ parties. This classic version is nicely spiced with cinnamon and baked under a delicious, buttery biscuit topping. Sprinkle the top with a little cinnamon-sugar before baking if you like, for added crunch, and serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

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