Summertime is in full swing and it seems like there are park cookouts and backyard shindigs every weekend. Here are a few of our favorite dessert recipe ideas for BBQs and outdoor gatherings that are perfect for sharing with family and friends. So ditch the store bought treats and give these freshly baked desserts a try!
Lemon Bars
These tart, vibrant lemon bars are a barbecue staple. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with a twist of lemon on top! Find the Instructions Here
Salted Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Please the chocolate lovers in your life with this elevated twist on a classic. Find the Instructions Here
Cherry Lattice Pie
Is there anything more summery or Instagrammable than a lattice pie? This cherry pie is gorgeous with jewel-colored fruit peeking behind golden strips of crust. Find the Instructions Here
Chocolate Ice Cream Roll Cake
A crowd pleaser for adults and kids alike, this refreshing summertime treat needs to chill overnight but it so simple to create. Find the Instructions Here
Horchata Cupcakes
Inspired by the decadent Mexican rice milk beverage, these creamy cupcakes are made of sugar and spice and everything nice. Find the Instructions Here
S’Mores Bites
All you need is a microwave to create these delicious s’mores inspired dark chocolate truffles — perfect when it’s too hot to heat up your oven! Find the Instructions Here
Strawberry Champagne Thumbprint Cookies
A strawberry jam cookie is perfect for any outdoor party, but the addition of the Champagne flavor makes this dessert celebration worthy. Find the Instructions Here
Salted Caramel Whoopie Pies
A sprinkle of salt brings out the toasted caramel notes in this grown-up-friendly whoopie pie. Find the Instructions Here
Classic White Cake Recipe
This cake is a palate-pleaser! It offers a light, delicious vanilla flavor and a delicate, fluffy texture, making it a great option for a gathering with diverse taste buds! Love the cake but need more color? Add your favorite Wilton food coloring for a hint of hue.
Bedazzling Stars
Delightful and tasty, these stars are a shining, jiggling example of perfect summertime BBQ desserts. Guests are in for a cool surprise with frozen whipped topping wedged between fruit-flavored gelatin. This is one time that kids can get away with playing with their food!
Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Guests will go bananas for this luscious, cream cheese-topped sheet cake. Fresh banana is mixed into the batter, and Clear Imitation Vanilla Extract enhances the overall flavor. This cake is one of the best summer BBQ desserts around!
Confetti Cake Batter Cookies
There’s a mini party in every bite! Colorful sprinkles or Jimmies make these treats the life of the party. Customize your cookies to match the occasion, whether it’s the Fourth of July, a weekend birthday celebration, or a “just because” get-together.
Classic Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Pie Recipe
Sure, this pie is a traditional holiday fixture. But don’t overlook it when making desserts for a BBQ! Kentucky bourbon gives this pie a boozy boost. A scoop of French vanilla ice cream will enhance that underlying flavor profile — and summer-fy this pie.
Coconut Cake
Tropical, nutty, and sweet: Coconut is the quintessential summer dessert for BBQ season! This cake features coconut mixed into the batter and covering the icing. Chill this delicacy before serving for a refreshing experience.
Easy Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
This delicious dessert combines three unique textures: cool gelatin, smooth cream cheese, and crispy pretzels. Sliced strawberries suspended in gelatin give this chilled concoction a fun look, making it a fitting dessert for BBQ festivities.
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie Squares
It’s hip to be square! The possibilities are endless with these small, square-shaped cookies. Slather your favorite ice cream between two squares, scoop ice cream on top of a square for a new take on a sundae, or simply enjoy them square by square!
Fudgy Brownies
Keep this classic confection on heavy rotation this summer for BBQ dessert ideas! A gooey, chocolate center will have partygoers reaching for more. For a cool touch, cap these brownies with ice cream or whipped topping.
Easy Brownie Ice Cream Cake
This brownie-based ice cream cake is a great way to cool down on a hot summer day. Whipped topping and ice cream add to layer after layer of deliciousness! Enjoy a slice — or two! — at your next backyard BBQ.
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
These cookies are anything but ordinary! Crunchy, buttery macadamia nuts meet creamy white chocolate chips in this classic recipe. Keep them in mind when making desserts for a BBQ or satisfying an insatiable weeknight sweet tooth.
Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes
These cupcakes are full of surprises with a graham cracker crust, cheesecake filling, and red velvet top. As if they couldn’t get any better, these cupcakes are crowned with cool, smooth cream cheese icing. Go ahead: Get heavy-handed with the icing!
Old-Fashioned Chocolate Chunk Cookies
These classic cookies are beloved — and begged for! — for a reason. Hints of brown sugar, Pure Vanilla Extract, and chocolate give these treats a delectable flavor, while powdered oats and chopped walnuts enhance the texture. Bake a batch for your BBQ desserts table.
The Best Chocolate Cupcakes
How can something so delicious be so simple? That’s what you’ll be asking after one bite of these double chocolate cupcakes! A rich chocolate buttercream frosting takes these sweets to the next level. Don’t keep these to yourself; share this delectable dessert for BBQ gatherings this summer!
Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies
Just when you think chewy, chocolatey brownies couldn’t get any better, we’ve added fresh raspberries and creamy raspberry cheesecake batter. Tangy, tart, and delicious — these treats will be the star of the dessert table at your next BBQ!
Pineapple Cupcakes with Pineapple Buttercream Frosting
These cupcakes are like a pineapple upside down cake in your hand! Enjoy the combination of sweet, tart pineapple with creamy, cool buttercream frosting. Summer desserts for a BBQ don’t get much better than this!
Easy Homemade Banana Cream Pie Recipe
BBQ guests will flock to this cool, creamy pie — especially on a hot summer day! You’ll get a mouthful of banana flavor in each bite, as slices of bananas coalesce with hints of vanilla in a smooth pudding filling. For an extra sweet touch, top this treat with homemade whipped cream.
Homemade Strawberry Shortcake
This delicious dessert is a summer essential with fresh strawberries, fluffy whipped cream, and light shortcake. Set up a self-serve shortcake bar. That way, guests can add as much whipped cream as their hearts desire!
Blueberry Pie
Serve up a slice of summer! Fresh blueberries and a hint of lemon on a buttery crust are the perfect cap to a lovely summer day spent outside with friends and family. A dollop of ice cream or fresh whipped cream make this treat even better!
What’s your signature summer dessert? Show us on Instagram and tag us @wiltoncakes!
