47 Memorial Day Desserts to Get You Summer-Ready
Okay, so the actual first day of summer is a few weeks away, but we all know Memorial Day is the real start to the season. And these Memorial Day desserts are waiting to make it official. So pull out your best sunglasses, bury some beer in an ice-filled cooler, fire up the barbecue, and get ready to cozy up to all the sweet treats you’ve ignored since last August.
We’ve got chilly ice pops and no-churn ice cream to help you beat the (forthcoming) heat, lazy day galettes that make you look like the casually chic host you want your guests to believe you to be, and a few fun cakes in case you’re planning to go big.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne1/47Lemon Curd
This looks like just a jar of lemon curd, but what we see is possibility. Layer it with whipped cream and berries for an easy Memorial Day dessert, spoon it over a simple pound cake, or slather it on graham crackers and top with a charred marshmallow for a citrusy take on s’mores.
Photograph by Scott Semler, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh5/47Ginger-Lime No-Bake Cheesecake Bars
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca6/47Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie7/47Blackberries and Vanilla Cream With Crispy Puff Pastry
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams8/47Triple-Chocolate Brownies
Photograph by Scott Semler, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh11/47Root Beer Float Granita
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman12/47Guava and Goat Cheese Phyllo Pie
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.13/47Lush Vanilla Berry Pudding
Attention banana pudding haters: Here’s your chance to prove that the dessert is actually better when the bananas are left out of the party.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Summer Moore15/47Raspberry Cake With Whipped Cream Filling
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie Strangio16/47Strawberry Doughnut Muffins
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni17/47Tiramisù-y Icebox Cake
Instead of the usual shallow dish, this riff on classic tiramisu is built in a loaf pan so that you can cut it into beautifully layered slices. It’s the perfect summer recipe to close our your weekend BBQ.
Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Simon Andrews, prop styling by Sophie Strangio18/47Fresh Mint and Chocolate Ice Cream
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca19/47Blueberry Muffin Cake
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Shilpa Uskokovic, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua20/47PB&J Dome Cake
Photographs by Jenny Huang, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Sophie Strangio21/47Ricotta Cornmeal Pound Cake
Ricotta adds a buttery richness and bit of tang to this cake, but you can substitute full-fat cottage cheese. Serve it with a dollop each of lemon curd and whipped cream.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Anna Billingskog22/47Strawberry–Graham Galette
The pastry dough for this dessert is flavored with graham crackers and the strawberries get a spritz of lime juice and a sprinkling of zest for a vibrant, floral zing.
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime23/47Rum-Soaked Fruit and Coconut Crisp Sundaes
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Drew Aichele, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka24/47Frozen Greek Yogurt Blackout Pie
This chocolate pie recipe (incidentally, a no-bake dessert) is incredibly easy and the finished product will keep for over a week in the freezer.
Photo by Heidi's Bridge25/47Frozen Margarita Pie
You spent the whole cookout downing your favorite drink (stellar Memorial Day recipe choice, btw), why should you stop at dessert?! Keep the tequila flowing with this limey pie.
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Victoria Granof, prop styling by Sophie Strangio26/47Raspberry-Hibiscus Poke Cake
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Morton29/47Coconut Ice Cream Sandwiches With Salty Chocolate Shell
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.30/47Milky Shaved Ice With Strawberries
Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Sean Dooley31/47BA’s Best Angel Food Cake
Angel food cake is so simple, but the specific ingredients and equipment matter. Watch how it’s made.
Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Simon Andrews, prop styling by Sophie Strangio32/47Cookies and Black Sesame Cream
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li33/47Cherry Biscuit Cobbler
Why choose between shortcakes and cobbler? The best Memorial Day dessert combines them both into one glorious stunner. If fresh sweet cherries aren’t available yet wherever you are, frozen will work just fine.
Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott37/47Neo-Neapolitan Bombe
Cover a swirl of store-bought ice cream with crushed freeze-dried strawberries and pistachios—or whatever crunchy things sound good to you, like pretzels or cereal—for this easy, impressive Memorial Day recipe.
Photo by Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski43/47Any Berry Galette
Fresh strawberries? Check. Currants? Check. Eggplant? While technically it is a berry, maybe not. Any other berries you see at the farmstand though are fair game.
Alex Lau44/47Malted Black and White Milkshake
With chilled hot fudge lining the parfait glass and malted milk powder blitzed into the (shhhh) ½ pint of ice cream per serving, there’s no denying this dessert is rich. It’s also very, very—and we do mean very—good.
Ted Cavanaugh46/47Banana Split Ice Cream Cake
Before you even start making this showstopper of a summer dessert, clear some space in your freezer. You’ll need a spot big enough to park a springform pan that’s filled to the brim.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Alison Attenborough, prop styling by Heather Greene47/47Coconut-Strawberry Ice Cream Pie