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Home / Blog / Reviews & Roundups

25 Desserts For A BBQ

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Jessica Pinney Avatar

Author

Jessica Pinney

Published

May. 30, 2021

Updated

May. 31, 2021

Twenty-five desserts that are the perfect ending to any summer barbecue. Whether you love fruit or chocolate, jello or pudding, cupcakes or pie…there’s guaranteed to be something in here that you’re going to love!

A collage of dessert photos. Text reads: "Desserts for BBQs"

Wondering what’s a good dessert to take to a BBQ?  We’ve got twenty-five delicious ideas for you!

Everything from no-bake pies, cobbler, and fun twists on banana pudding, all the way to chocolate desserts. There’s something here to satisfy literally everyone’s sweet tooth at your backyard bbq this summer!

#1 Watermelon Pizza

Eight watermelon slices are in the shape of a pizza. Each slice is topped with Greek yogurt then fresh fruit.

This watermelon pizza is undoubtedly the simplest show-stopping recipe you can bring to a BBQ. You can easily adapt the recipe to utilize whatever fruit you have available. 

#2 S’mores Brownies

A brownie with a clear graham cracker layer, chocolate layer, and toasted marshmallow meringue layer sits on a white background.

These bars are better than s’mores! They have a chewy blondie layer that tastes like a buttery, honey kissed graham cracker, a thick layer of creamy dark chocolate, and toasted marshmallow meringue.

#3 Walking Banana Pudding

A small bag of mini nilla wafers is filled with banana pudding and topped with a maraschino cherry and small plastic spoon.

What’s better than banana pudding? Individual servings of it in mini Nilla wafers bags! Both kids and adults love this easy-to-make version of the classic dessert.

#4 Strawberry Cake Roll

A yellow cake roll filled with cream & strawberries and also topped with strawberries and whipped cream.

This cake roll looks fancy, but is incredibly simple to make! It’s packed with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. It is a great way to feed a crowd at a BBQ dessert. 

#5 Cookies & Cream Dessert Pizza

A cookies and cream pizza that has a chocolate chip cookie crust, cream "sauce", and crushed Oreos as a topping.

If you bring this cookies & cream dessert pizza, I guarantee you’re going to be the talk of the BBQ! It has a chocolate chip cookie “crust”, cream cheese “sauce”, and crushed Oreos and drizzled white chocolate for toppings. 

#6 Blackberry Cobbler

A bowl filled blackberry cobbler and a scoop of vanilla ice cream that has already started to melt.

Cobbler is a summer dessert staple for a reason – it utilizes seasonal fruit flavor, is easy to make, and incredibly delicious! It’s hard to imagine having a summer BBQ without one, and this classic version really hits the spot.

#7 Grilled Dessert Nachos

Overhead view of a tray of dessert nachos covered in grilled strawberries, grilled bananas, and chocolate chips - then topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

These dessert nachos capture all the delicious flavors of a banana split. The sweet chips are addictive! Don’t forget to put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!

#8 Pistachio Pie

An uncut pistachio pie topped with whipped cream, chopped pistachios, and maraschino cherries.

This light and creamy pistachio pie is perfect for warm weather! It’s similar to a watergate salad and an ideal dessert to make in the summer because there is no baking required.

#9 Dark Chocolate Watermelon

Overhead few of watermelon slices that have been dipped in chocolate and are on popsicle sticks.

This has to be one of the easiest desserts you could make for a barbecue – fresh cut watermelon slices dipped in dark chocolate. Simple, yet so tasty! Sprinkle some sea salt, crushed nuts, and coconut flakes on the outside for extra flavor.

#10 Lemon Crumb Bars

A pan of lemon blueberry cheese cake bars have been cut into squares.

These bars are bursting with summer fruit flavor! They have a tender, buttery streusel crust with a creamy lemon cheesecake filling that’s studded with juicy blueberries. 

#11 S’mores Board

How To Make A S'mores Board

Let everyone choose how to make their own s’mores with this giant dessert board. It features different types of cookies, chocolates, marshmallows and sauces so the possibilities are endless!

#12 Bisquick Peach Cobbler

A pan of cooked peach cobbler made with Bisquick has a scoop taken out of it with a wooden spoon.

Peach cobbler is a staple summer dessert and this recipe uses Bisquick to make it quick and easy. We highly recommend serving it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

#13 Key Lime Pie Bars

Three key lime pie bars stacked on top of one another on a light background. The top bar is garnished with a lime slice.

These bars feature a creamy and tart Key lime pie filling that sits on top of a buttery graham cracker crust. They’re so much easier to make than a whole pie! 

#14 Texas Sheet Cake

Overhead view of a chocolate Texas Sheet Cake that's been cut into square slices.

Sheet cakes are always a good idea when serving dessert at a large gathering and this Texas version is the best around! It’s fluffy, moist, and the frosting is super chocolatey with a smooth and luscious texture. 

#15 Strawberry Cream Pie

A slice of pink strawberry cream pie garnished with whipped cream and a whole strawberry sits on a white plate.

Strawberry lovers will go nuts over this easy pie recipe. It’s light, creamy, and sweet – like pure heaven in your mouth! And it’s a no-bake recipe, so you don’t even have to turn the oven on.

#16 Red White and Blue Angel Food Cake Jars

A small mason jar filled with layers of pudding, strawberries, angel food cake, blueberries, and whipped cream on a red picnic style table cloth.

If you’re looking for a patriotic dessert, consider these berry-filled red, white, and blue angel food cake trifles. They’re served in mason jars for maximum Americana points.

#17 Drumstick Dessert

A glass casserole dish is filled with a drumstick dessert that has a layer of chocolate cake, then whipped topping that's drizzled with chocolate sauce and garnished with crushed peanuts.

This fun, no-bake dessert has all the flavors of the classic Drumstick ice cream cone. It’s great for whipping up last minute and taking along to a potluck, BBQ or any other summer gathering!

#18 Strawberry Pop-Tart Pie

A cast iron skillet is filled with a strawberry pie that is glazed like a pop-tart. One slices has been removed to show the strawberry filling inside.

#19 Pina Colada Lush

A cut square of Pina colada lush sits on a white serving plate.

“Lush” has been classic American fare since the heydays of ice box desserts. This pina colada variation is perfect for warm weather with its refreshing pineapple and cool whip layers. The crust made of Golden Oreos is a nice touch.

#20 Smoked Bacon Wrapped Oreos

A bowl of Oreo cookies that have been wrapped in bacon, then smoked in the smoker.

This recipe may sound crazy at first, but everyone who has tried these is a convert. The combination of flavor notes is a winner – sweet, savory, and smokey. 

#21 Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

Two orange creamsicle cupcakes topped with white frosting sit on a light background next to an orange that has been sliced in half.

These light & refreshing orange creamsicle cupcakes are very moist. They’re flavored with orange juice and orange extract, then topped with an orange creamsicle buttercream frosting. 

#22 Banana Pudding Pie

A single slice of banana pudding pie sits on a white serving plate in front of the rest of the pie.

This pie combines a crunchy cookie crust, soft and sweet vanilla pudding, thick slices of bananas, layers of Nilla Wafers, and a mountain of homemade whipped cream. You really can’t get a recipe that’s more perfect for summer barbecues than this!

#23 Strawberry Tiramisu

Close up of a cut piece of strawberry tiramisu showing the layers of lady fingers, strawberries, and whipped cream.

This summer twist on tiramisu has layers of fresh & juicy strawberries, rich delicious cream filling, and orange liqueur infused ladyfinger cookies. Perfect for the adults at the bbq to enjoy.

#24 Raspberry Pretzel Salad

A cut square of raspberry pretzel salad sits on a serving plate with the rest of the pretzel salad out of focus in the background.

Jello salad has always been a beloved barbecue dessert. It’s salty-sweet combo of crunchy pretzel crust, creamy cool whip cream cheese filling, and sweet-tart raspberry jello top really hits the spot!

#25  Lemon Blueberry Parfaits

A small glass jar filled with layers of nilla wafers, lemon curd, blueberry compote and whipped cream sits on a black background.

This easy lemon dessert layers Nilla wafers, Meyer lemon curd, blueberry compote, and Cool Whip to make a delicious parfait. The jars make serving it up at a bbq super easy. 

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One response

  1. Stacey K
    July 17, 2024

    Incredible ideas. Jello and hot dogs feels like a weird mix, but boy do they go together well.

    Reply

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