20 Crowd-Pleasing Memorial Day Recipes

Summer is nearly here — and it’s time to start planning the perfect Memorial Day menu. Below are our top picks for easy, crowd-pleasing desserts and treats that are ideal for a holiday weekend gathering.

stacked ice cream sandwiches on marble plate with blackberries, white chocolate chips, and purple flowers around.

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer — a perfect time to fire up the grill, gather friends and family, and enjoy seasonal food. Whether you’re hosting a backyard BBQ or a small get-together, these recipes offer a mix of refreshing, no-bake, and bake-worthy desserts to suit every taste.

Below you’ll find a curated collection of favorite Memorial Day recipes — from fruity, bright desserts to easy handheld treats. Each selection is chosen for flavor, simplicity, and crowd appeal, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the holiday.

Tell us in the comments which recipe you’ll be making this Memorial Day — we’d love to know!

– Memorial Day Recipes –

Grilled Peaches with Almond Nutmeg Crumble

Grilled peaches are a simple, elegant summer dessert that highlights ripe, in-season fruit. Topped with a buttery almond and nutmeg crumble, they pair beautifully with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a warm, satisfying finish to any Memorial Day meal.

overhead shot of grilled peaches on round platter with ice cream scoop and bowl of crumble, ice cream toppiong three peaches, with mint leaves, more peaches, and white flowers around

Fruit Pizza

This nostalgic fruit pizza is easy to assemble and always a hit. A soft cookie base topped with cream cheese frosting and seasonal fruit makes a colorful, crowd-pleasing dessert that’s perfect for sharing at a picnic or party.

Apple Slab Pie

Feeding a crowd is effortless with an apple slab pie. This large-format dessert delivers all the comforting flavors of classic apple pie with minimal fuss — and it can be made with homemade or store-bought crusts for added convenience.

Cherry Swirled Cheesecake Bars

When cherries are in season, cherry-swirled cheesecake bars are a must. Creamy cheesecake layered with bright cherry swirls makes for a beautiful, make-ahead treat that’s easy to slice and serve.

No Bake Summer Berry and Ladyfinger Trifle

A layered berry trifle celebrates red, white, and blue with fresh fruit and light cream. It’s an ideal make-ahead dessert that stays cool and impressive on a hot holiday afternoon.

berry trifle with lit sparkler in main trifle, with two more smaller trifles behind, with white flowers and berries around.

Lemon Tiramisu with Lemon Curd

A citrusy twist on classic tiramisu, this lemon version layers airy mascarpone with lemon curd and cookies for a bright, refreshing dessert that feels indulgent without being heavy.

front shot of lemon tiramisu on white plate with glass of limoncello behind, jar of lemons behind, as well as white casserole of tiramisu beside.

Homemade Banana Pudding Cups

Individual banana pudding cups are perfect for parties — easy to portion, simple to make, and universally loved. Layered with vanilla wafers and creamy pudding, they’re a nostalgic favorite that’s always appreciated.

glasses of banana pudding with two spoons beside, vanilla wafers and flowers around on marble surface.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

This strawberry rhubarb crisp balances sweet fruit with a brown sugar oat topping for deep, comforting flavor. Warm from the oven and served with ice cream, it’s a true crowd-pleaser.

overhead shot of strawberry crisp in pie pan with serving missing

Melon Skewers with Honey Lime Mint Drizzle

No-bake and effortlessly fresh, melon skewers dressed with a honey-lime-mint drizzle make a bright, healthy treat. Mix different melons and berries for color and variety on your serving platter.

melon skewers on white platter with mint sprigs and white flowers

Mixed Berry Ice Cream Vanilla Pound Cake

This ice cream-topped pound cake combines rich, buttery cake with swirled berry ice cream for a nostalgic, celebratory dessert. It’s an impressive centerpiece that’s easy to slice and serve to guests.

ice cream pound cake on white wood board with flowers and berries on top and surrounding cake, a stack of white plates, two empty glasses, and a jar of strawberry jam behind cake on marble surface.

S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Bring classic campfire flavors to the dessert table with gooey s’mores cookie bars. Melting chocolate, marshmallow, and graham-inspired cookie base combine into a portable, indulgent treat.

close up of stacked s'mores cookie bars with more bars around.

Blueberry Galette

A simple blueberry galette highlights fresh berries and flaky pastry. It’s rustic, quick to assemble, and perfect with a scoop of ice cream or a dusting of confectioners’ sugar.

Lavender Blackberry White Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches

These lavender-blackberry ice cream sandwiches are a fragrant, fruity way to cool off. They combine delicate floral notes with tart blackberries and sweet white chocolate for a memorable frozen treat.

four stacked blackberry white chocolate ice cream sandwiches with fifth ice cream sandwich leaning against stack, with more ice cream sandwiches around on marble surface with blackberries, purple and white flowers, and white chocolate chips around.

Patriotic Cupcakes

Filled vanilla cupcakes topped with festive sprinkles make for an easy, fun dessert. They’re ideal for family gatherings and can be customized with seasonal jams or frostings.

vanilla cupcake with frosting and red, white, and blue sprinkles on top with lit sparkler in cupcake with more cupcakes around, white flowers, and berries surrounding cupcake.

Easy No Bake Oreo Icebox Cake

This no-bake Oreo icebox cake layers cookies and whipped cream for a quick, decadent dessert that’s perfect for hot weather — no oven required.

oreo icebox cake on wire tray with slice of cake on small white plate beside, with oreos around, a glass of milk behind, a stack of white plates, and two empty glasses.

Extra Lemony Crinkle Cookies

These lemon crinkle cookies are bright, citrusy, and simple to make. No mixer and a single bowl mean they come together quickly while delivering big flavor.

three stacked lemon crinkle cookies with bite taken out of the one on top with more cookies, flowers, and lemon slices behind

No Bake S’mores Pie

If you love s’mores, this no-bake pie captures all the chocolatey, marshmallow goodness in a single, sliceable dessert — ideal when you want big flavor without turning on the oven.

overhead shot of five slices of s'mores pie on marble surface with fork beside, white flowers, graham cracker pieces, white flowers, and mini marshmallows.

Angel Food Cake

Light, airy, and naturally dairy-free, angel food cake is a delicate dessert that pairs beautifully with fresh berries and a dollop of whipped cream — elegant and effortless for summer entertaining.

Key Lime Pie Bars

Key lime pie bars deliver bright citrus flavor in a portable, sliceable form. They’re tart, sweet, and refreshing — an ideal finish to a summer meal.

Spiced Peach Hand Pies

Hand pies offer a portable dessert solution, and spiced peach filling strikes a delightful balance of sweet and warm spice. They’re perfect for serving outdoors and easy to enjoy on the go.