Over 80 Recipes for Picnic Desserts
Picnic Desserts are perfect for any spring and summer occasions. You can bring these easy party desserts to picnics, but also barbecues, pool parties, backyard blasts, and all kinds of other fun outdoor gatherings. Cakes, cookies, brownies, and more, these easy desserts for a crowd will be a sweet ending to your day.
Over 80 Easy Party Desserts for Spring and Summer
When the weather gets warmer, everyone wants to bring their parties outside! Sometimes it’s a picnic for two or just bringing along the kids, other times it’s a huge gathering or friends or family. And these occasions call for sweet treats! Typically in warm weather we might want cool treats, but ice cream and popsicles aren’t the most portable party desserts when outdoors. Even fudge will get a little melty and messy. So…
What are the best easy party desserts for spring and summer?
- Brownies and Bars – you can make a pan, cut them into squares, and everyone can just grab one in between innings of a baseball game or after a swim.
- Cakes – while they may be a little harder to serve while outdoors, if you are celebrating a special occasion, sometimes you just need a cake. Layer cakes and bundt cakes may incorporated summer flavors, and sheet cakes in a pan are easy to pack and transport.
- Cupcakes – everything you love about cake in an individual serving, and probably the kids’ favorite dessert.
- Cheesecake Desserts – cool and creamy on a hot day, cheesecake is a favorite during any season. And you can take that classic flavor and use it in a dip, fruit salad, bars, or other type of dessert that is easy to serve and eat at a picnic.
- Cookies – just like the brownies and bars, one batch of cookies makes a ton and there are no utensils needed.
- Fruit Desserts – in the spring and summer, fresh fruit is perfectly ripe and in season, so it’s definitely the time of year to serve pies, crisps, crumbles and other fruity sweets.
- Desserts in a Jar – take a dessert that might not be easy to serve outdoors and layer it up in a jar, twist on the cap, pack it in your cooler, and bring some spoons and everyone can enjoy puddings, parfaits, and other treats.
Bars and Brownies for Picnic Desserts:
- Flourless Peanut Butter Cup Swirl Brownies
- Gluten Free S’Mores Magic Bars
- Flourless Nutella Cheesecake Swirl Brownies
- Butter Pecan M&M’s Magic Bars
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars from The Lemon Bowl
- Apple Pie A La Mode Dessert Bars from Seasonal & Savory
- Funfetti Cookie Dough Truffle Bars from Beyond Frosting
- Praline Brownies from Call Me PMC
- Strawberry Lemonade Bars from Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
- Very Vanilla Cookie Bars from Wine and Glue
- Peach Pie Bars from Shugary Sweets
- Brown Butter Churro Crispy Treats from Well Plated
Cakes for Picnic Desserts:
- Reese’s Poke Cake
- Banana Chocolate Chip Nutella Cake
- Peanut Butter Cup Flourless Chocolate Cake Roll
- Strawberries and Cream Cake or Gluten Free Strawberries and Cream Cake
- Orange & Almond Coffee Cake from Diethood
- Cherry Lime Bundt Cake by OverTime Cook
- Peach Blueberry Upside Down Cake from Crumb Blog
- Sweet Creme Lemon Cake from Sugar Dish Me
- Lemon Yogurt Cake from Yummy Healthy Easy
- Classic Pound Cake from The Kitchen Is My Playground
- Chunky Apple Snack Cake from Noble Pig
- Skinny Texas Sheet Cake from The Recipe Critic
Cupcakes for Picnic Desserts:
- Funky Monkey Chocolate Cupcakes
- Coconut Cupcakes
- Lucky Charms Cupcakes
- Bomb Pop Cupcakes
- Margarita Cupcakes from Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
- Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes from 52 Kitchen Adventures
- Vanilla Cupcakes with Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting from Cupcake Project
- Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes from Cupcake Diaries
- Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting from Oh Sweet Basil
- Almond Joy Cupcakes from Beyond Frosting
- Cherry Limeade Cupcakes from The Creek Side Cook
- Black and White Cupcakes from The Bitter Side of Sweet
Cheesecake Desserts for Picnic Desserts:
- Strawberry Chocolate Chip Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Dip
- Lemon Creme Oreo Cheesecake Cupcakes
- No-Bake Peach Cheesecake Bars
- Blueberry Maple Mini Cheesecake Parfaits
- Strawberry Shortcake No Bake Mini Cheesecakes from Cravings of a Lunatic
- Grilled Raspberry Cheesecake Turnovers from Sarah’s Cucina Bella
- Meyer Lemon Cheesecake Bars from Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
- Dairy Free Mini Cheesecakes from Tasty Yummies
- Caramel Overload Cheesecake Bars from Crumbs and Chaos
- Hawaiian Cheesecake Salad from The Slow Roasted Italian
- Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries from Joyful Healthy Eats
- No-Bake Turtle Cheesecake Dip from Back for Seconds
Cookies for Picnic Desserts:
- (Flourless) Fluffernutter Thumbprint Cookies
- Worms and Dirt Cookie Cups
- Trail Mix Monster Cookies
- Flourless Chocolate Almond Cookies
- Glazed Lemon Cookies from Mom’s Test Kitchen
- Caramel Apple Toffee Cookies from Chocolate, Chocolate and More
- Meyer Lemon Vanilla Shortbread Cookies from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Chewy Key Lime Coconut Cookies from Will Cook For Smiles
- Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies from Well Plated
- Mega Chocolate Chip Cookies from Cooking On The Front Burner
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Cups with Jelly (GF) from Food Faith Fitness
- Soft Sugar Cookies from One Sweet Appetite
Fruit Desserts for Picnic Desserts:
- Waldorf Fruit Salad
- Red, White, and Blue Berry Pound Cake Bites
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake Apple Nachos
- Gluten-Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake For Two
- Strawberry Coconut Oatmeal Crunch Pie from Diethood
- Sweet Grape Salad from Nutmeg Nanny
- No Bake Banana Cream Pie from Fork and Beans
- Key Lime Crumble from Oh Sweet Basil
- Gluten-free Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp from Autumn Makes and Does
- Nectarine Galettes from One Sweet Appetite
- Blackberry + Mango Lemon Poppy Seed Fruit Salad with Earl Grey Whipped Coconut Cream from With Food & Love
- Banana Pudding from The Weary Chef
Desserts in a Jar for Picnic Desserts:
- Rainbow Fruit Gel Parfait Cups
- Banana Berry Cheesecake Quinoa Parfaits
- Carrot Cake Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Parfaits
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Yogurt Parfaits
- Vanilla Panna Cotta from The Adventure Bite
- Key Lime Pie in a Jar from Kitchen Treaty
- Strawberry Shortcake In A Jar from Foodologie
- Mason Jar Cherry Crumbles from The View From Great Island
- Rhubarb Crisp in a Jar from Kitchen Treaty
- Grape Jam Bars in a Jar from An Edible Mosaic
- No Bake Banana Cream Pies in a Jar from Inside BruCrew Life
- Pina Colada Pie in a Jar from Plaid and Paisley Kitchen
Tiffany says
I love that Paska bread was a favorite. It has been a tradition in my family for many generations. Always one of my favorites (along with the Perogi).
Shannon says
I’m so glad you shared these. I may have to go to more picnics or barbecues this summer just to try these desserts! 🙂
Kim Beaulieu says
Is it bad that I want one of each?
Thanks so much for including my Cheesecakes.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
I’m right with you, Kim!
Renee'sKitchenAdventures says
What a delicious list of treats! Thanks for including me!
Brianne Izzo says
There are some great ones! Thanks for contributing to the collection!
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says
Great round up of treats! You can never go wrong with cookies on a picnic.
Brianne Izzo says
I agree! Perfectly portable!
Christie - Food Done Light says
I love this round up. So may great options!
Brianne Izzo says
tHanks Christie!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
My husband has been begging to go on a picnic lately…so these are perfect! Thanks for the great ideas!!
Brianne Izzo says
I’m sure you’ll find something you love! Have fun!
Ricki says
Thanks for this great roundup! Might actually encourage me to have some more picnics this year. 😉 And thanks so much for including my Raw Fig & Cherry Bars, too! 😀
Brianne Izzo says
Of course, Ricki! I love when my roundups contain a variety of options for all different taste and dietary preferences!