Memorial Day desserts need to be easy to cut, serve, carry outside, and still feel worth grabbing after a full cookout plate. These 23 recipes cover the kind of sweets people can eat by the slice, square, bar, or cookie without making the dessert table harder than it needs to be. You get chocolate, fruit, cheesecake, cake, and pie options that work for backyard plates, potlucks, and the last round before the fireworks start.
Cookie Cake
Built for slicing instead of scooping, Cookie Cake gives you the soft, chewy center of a chocolate chip cookie in a bigger party-style bake. It uses butter, brown sugar, flour, eggs, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and sprinkles for a frosted finish. Bake it, cool it, decorate the top, then cut it into pieces people can pick up without needing a full dessert setup. It is the kind of sweet that keeps moving once the first slice is gone.
Get the Recipe: Cookie Cake
Chocolate Pie
For a chilled dessert that can wait in the fridge, Chocolate Pie brings together a 9-inch pie crust, cocoa, sugar, egg yolks, whole milk, butter, vanilla, and whipped cream. The filling cooks until thick, then gets poured into the baked crust before chilling for several hours. Serve it cold in neat slices after the cookout food settles. The smooth chocolate filling makes it easy for people to say yes, even when they claimed they were already full.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Pie
Red Velvet Cake
With 12 servings and a one-hour total time, Red Velvet Cake gives the dessert table something bold without needing extra decorations. The cake uses cake flour, cocoa powder, butter, oil, eggs, buttermilk, red food coloring, cream cheese, and confectioner’s sugar. Bake the layers, stack them with frosting, and serve it by the slice once everyone is ready for something rich. It is a strong choice when you want dessert to feel like part of the holiday spread.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Cake
Pecan Pie Bark
When you want something people can break apart and eat by hand, Pecan Pie Bark does the job with graham crackers, butter, brown sugar, chopped pecans, vanilla, and salt. It bakes into crisp pieces with a caramel-like topping, then cools before being snapped into portions. Set it out on a platter and let people grab a piece between conversations. This one works well when forks and plates are already in short supply.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie Bark
Rhubarb Cake
A little tart and soft enough for neat slices, Rhubarb Cake uses butter, brown sugar, orange zest, eggs, flour, cinnamon, sour cream, rhubarb, raw sugar, and icing sugar. It bakes in a springform pan and can be served with ice cream once it cools. The fruit keeps it from feeling too heavy after grilled food. Put it on the table when people want something homemade but not overly fussy.
Get the Recipe: Rhubarb Cake
Pecan Pie Bars
Made for cutting into 24 pieces, Pecan Pie Bars turn the classic pie flavor into a square that is easier to pass around. The crust uses flour, sugar, salt, and cold butter, while the filling brings in eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla, and chopped pecans. Bake, cool fully, then slice once the filling has set. These are easy to serve when people keep walking back for “just one more.”
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie Bars
Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Cake Cookies
For chocolate lovers who would rather hold dessert than use a fork, Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Cake Cookies bake into thick cookies with a frosted top. They use brown sugar, butter, eggs, flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, chocolate chips, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and more cocoa in the frosting. Bake the cookies, let them cool, then pipe the chocolate frosting over each one. They are the kind of cookie people spot before they even reach the dessert table.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Cake Cookies
Rhubarb Pie
With a flaky crust and fruit filling, Rhubarb Pie brings rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla, butter, flour, and cold water into one classic bake. The filling cooks briefly before going into the crust, then the pie bakes until golden and bubbling. Let it cool well before slicing so each piece holds together. Serve it with ice cream or whipped cream when the fireworks crowd starts drifting back toward dessert.
Get the Recipe: Rhubarb Pie
Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Bright enough for warm-weather plates, Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars layer sugar cookie crust with cream cheese, sugar, lemon peel, lemon juice, eggs, and fresh raspberries. The bars bake, chill for 2 hours, then slice into 12 neat pieces. They are easy to serve from a tray and simple for guests to carry back outside. The lemon and raspberry keep each bite from feeling too rich after a full Memorial Day meal.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Amish Cinnamon Cake
Soft enough to slice straight from the pan, Amish Cinnamon Cake brings flour, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon into a simple 9×13 bake. The cinnamon layer gives each square a little extra sweetness without needing frosting or extra toppings. Bake it ahead, cut it before guests come back for dessert, and serve it with coffee or cold drinks. It is the kind of cake that quietly disappears from the corner of the table.
Get the Recipe: Amish Cinnamon Cake
Chocolate Truffles
For a no-bake dessert people can grab in one bite, Chocolate Truffles use chocolate, heavy cream, butter, vanilla, and coatings like cocoa powder, coconut, chopped nuts, or sprinkles. The mixture chills before being rolled into small pieces, which makes them easy to prep ahead and serve cold. Set them out near the end of the cookout when guests want something sweet but not a full slice. They are small, rich, and easy to keep reaching for.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Truffles
Apple Dump Cake
Almost too easy for how fast it goes, Apple Dump Cake uses apple pie filling, yellow cake mix, butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla ice cream for serving. The filling goes into a baking dish, the cake mix topping goes over it, and the whole thing bakes until golden. Spoon it warm into bowls after the cookout plates are cleared. It is a strong last-minute dessert when you need something people will still want to eat.
Get the Recipe: Apple Dump Cake
Pecan Pie Brownies
For a dessert that cuts like brownies but leans richer, Pecan Pie Brownies bring chocolate and pecans together in one pan. The brownie base pairs with a pecan topping, so each square has that mix of fudgy and nutty in every bite. Bake them ahead, let them cool, then slice before guests start looking for something sweet. They work especially well when the dessert table needs something small but not forgettable.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie Brownies
Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes
Instead of slicing a cake at the table, Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes make the same idea easier to serve one at a time. The cupcake base gets filled with a creamy center and finished with chocolate on top. Bake, fill, and chill or set them out when dessert starts, depending on your timing. These are easy for people to grab while walking around with a plate already in hand.
Get the Recipe: Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes
Apple Pie
A cookout dessert table always has room for a classic, and Apple Pie brings sliced apples, sugar, warm spices, and a pastry crust into a familiar bake. The filling softens as the crust turns golden, giving you slices that work with ice cream or whipped cream. Let it cool before cutting so it serves cleaner. When people want something they already know they like, this is usually an easy yes.
Get the Recipe: Apple Pie
Carrot Cake Cookies
Easy to hold and quick to disappear from a tray, Carrot Cake Cookies bring carrot cake flavor into cookie form. The cookies lean into the familiar mix of carrots, spice, and a sweet finish without requiring a full layer cake. Bake them ahead, let them cool, then set them out with the rest of the handheld desserts. They are a good choice for guests who want something sweet without committing to a big slice.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Cake Cookies
Apple Pie Cupcakes
Small enough to serve without a knife, Apple Pie Cupcakes take the flavor of apple pie and move it into a cupcake-style dessert. They bring apple filling, soft cake, and a sweet topping together in individual portions. Bake them ahead and arrange them on a tray so people can take one without waiting for slices. They are useful when you want the apple pie feel but need something easier to eat outside.
Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Cupcakes
Spiced Apple Cookies
For a dessert that does not need plates, Spiced Apple Cookies bring apple flavor and warm spice into a soft cookie people can eat by hand. The dough bakes into rounds that work well on a platter beside bars and slices. Serve them once they cool, or pack them for a cookout where dessert has to travel. These are the kind of cookies people take casually, then come back for another.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Apple Cookies
Patriotic American Flag Cake
Made for the holiday table, Patriotic American Flag Cake gives you a sheet-style dessert decorated with a flag look for Memorial Day. The cake is easy to slice into squares, which helps when people are moving through the dessert line quickly. Bake and decorate it ahead so it is ready when the main food is done. Set it out before the fireworks and it will not need much help getting noticed.
Get the Recipe: Patriotic American Flag Cake
Banana Cream Pie
Cold, creamy, and easy to serve in slices, Banana Cream Pie brings banana flavor into a dessert that works well after grilled food. The pie usually centers on a crust, banana filling, and a whipped topping-style finish. Chill it before serving so it cuts cleaner and stays refreshing on a warm day. This is the one to bring out when people want something sweet but not baked and heavy.
Get the Recipe: Banana Cream Pie
Apple Pie Stuffed Cheesecake
For a dessert that feels bigger than a regular slice, Apple Pie Stuffed Cheesecake combines cheesecake with apple pie flavor in one layered bake. Creamy filling and apple pie-style topping make it a strong closer for a holiday meal. Chill it well before serving so the slices hold together. Cut smaller pieces than usual, because this is the kind of dessert people want even after they say they only need a bite.
Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Stuffed Cheesecake
Lemon Bars
Bright and easy to cut, Lemon Bars bring a buttery base and lemon filling into neat squares that work well for warm-weather gatherings. Bake them, cool them fully, and dust the tops before serving if you want a cleaner finish. The citrus flavor helps balance out heavier desserts like chocolate cake and pecan bars. Place them near the front of the table and they will usually start moving fast.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Bars
Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
When you need a tray dessert without a long prep list, Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars keep things simple with cake mix, chocolate chips, and a bar-style bake. They slice cleanly once cooled, which makes them easy to serve at a Memorial Day cookout. Put them on a platter with cookies, pies, and chilled bars so people can grab what they want. They are especially handy when dessert needs to feed a crowd without extra fuss.
Get the Recipe: Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars