Home Recipes Meal Types Desserts
ByLesley Balla
Taste of Home's Editorial Process
Updated: Apr. 30, 2024
Looking for the best Memorial Day desserts to make this year? Try these tasty treats in bright shades of red, white and blue.
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Memorial Day weekend is the time to welcome warm days ahead with picnics and gatherings, all with a healthy dose of patriotic tribute. That means lots of red, white and blue desserts, barbecue recipes and bright summer side dishes—even if it’s a few weeks before summer actually begins.
Whether it’s a day at a park or a potluck in your backyard, we have summer barbecue ideas, Memorial Day side dishes and plenty of gorgeous desserts for your spread.
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Strawberry Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting
These light and tender cupcakes use jam preserves for the batter and frosting, but you can use fresh strawberries for decoration. There’s a big boost of berry flavor in every bite.
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A rich and creamy cheesecake filling on top of a graham crust is the perfect vehicle for lots of fresh summer berries. Use a mix of blue and red berries to keep a patriotic theme.
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Lemon-Blueberry Pound Cake
To prevent the blueberries from sinking in cakes like this delicious pound cake, simply toss the blueberries in a little flour before adding into the batter. The glaze—or a scoop of vanilla ice cream—is optional.
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Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake
Inspired by strawberry crunch bars you’d get from an ice cream truck every summer, this cake is crunchy and sweet in all the best ways. It’s sure to be a hit for Memorial Day and all summer celebrations. Next, learn how to make strawberry cloud cake.
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Red, White and Blueberry Pie
As pretty as it is tasty, this creamy pie topped with fresh fruit is a crowd pleaser. Prepare the filled pie ahead of time and top with whipped cream and berries when it’s time to serve.
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Red, White ‘n’ Blue Salad
Everyone will salute this colorful and patriotic layered dessert. The recipe calls for raspberries in the red layer, but you could also switch to strawberries if preferred.
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Grandma’s Star Cookies
Serve a platter of these orange-scented butter cutout cookies at your Memorial Day picnic or potluck. The recipe is so versatile—save it for other shapes and holidays throughout the year.
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Berry White Ice Pops
Let these ice pops be the first sign of summer. The fruit-filled bars are easy to make and they’re a hit with adults and kids alike.
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Blue-Ribbon Red Velvet Cake
This red velvet cake recipe won a blue ribbon at the Alaska State Fair and it’s sure to be a crowd-pleasing Memorial Day dessert at your barbecue or picnic, too. It’s a particularly chocolate version, which is never a bad thing.
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10/55
Grilled Angel Food Cake with Strawberries
A surprise hit of white balsamic vinegar adds some savory notes to this angel food cake. For a patriotic look, add a drizzle of blueberry or strawberry syrup along with the fresh fruit.
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11/55
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Jars
Sweet, savory and creamy, these pretty little make-ahead desserts are also portable. They’re perfect for potlucks and picnics!
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Blueberry Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
There’s no better way to showcase gorgeous fresh blueberries than a simple pie. You’ll want real whipped cream for this one.
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13/55
Patriotic Pizzas
Make your stars and stripes (or Canadian maple leaf) with a simple butter crust topped with smooth sweetened cream cheese and fresh fruit. It’s a salute to summer!
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Red, White and Blue Dessert
Pay homage to Old Glory with this festive layered dessert that’s perfect for Memorial Day or the Fourth of July. Make sure to use fresh fruit for this so it really stands out.
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Berry Dream Cake
For a berry fun twist on a Memorial Day cake, poke holes into a baked cake and pour warm liquid gelatin over it. When you refrigerate it, you get a fruity marbled effect.
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Patriotic Frozen Delight
This scoopable frozen dessert can be made with fresh or frozen berries. The subtle lemon flavor is an excellent pairing with strawberries and blueberries.
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Blueberry Graham Dessert
Blended ricotta and cream cheese is a quick way to get cheesecake flavors without the fuss. Make individual desserts by layering with fresh fruit and graham crackers in different glassware.
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18/55
Patriotic Ice Cream Cupcakes
To make sweet fireworks for a summer celebration, layer red velvet cake, blue moon ice cream, and a creamy marshmallow topping. Don’t forget the red, white and blue sprinkles!
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Red Star Cookies
These cookies will be the star of the Memorial Day dessert table. They’re crisp and sweet and the icing is versatile enough to make red, white and blue stars.
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20/55
Creamy Lime Pie with Fresh Berries
Sweet and zesty lime and cilantro (yes, cilantro!) cream cheese filling sits atop a zingy ginger-cookie crust. Pile on any combo of seasonal fruit.
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Elegant Fresh Berry Tart
It takes little effort to make this pretty tart. The flavors of the buttery crust, creamy filling and fresh fruit tossed in preserves come together beautifully.
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Easy Berry Cheesecake Parfaits
Take everything that you love about cheesecake but make it way easier. These little parfaits have all the rich creaminess, graham cracker crunch and fresh berry flavors.
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This colorful torte has a lot of wow factor for the little effort it takes to put it together. Use cake pans to make the cookie layers exactly the same for a prettier presentation.
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Favorite Coconut Cake
This cake is light, delicious and full of coconut flavor. Surround it with bowls of fresh red strawberries and blueberries on the Memorial Day dessert table.
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Triple Berry No-Bake Cheesecake
When it’s too hot to turn on the oven, this no-bake cheesecake is exactly what you need. It has everything you want, including lots of fresh berries for topping, without the hassle.
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Crispy Star Pops
Let the kids help decorate these cute patriotic puffed rice treats. Keep cellophane bags and ties handy so everyone can take some home after the neighborhood potluck.
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Grandma’s Strawberry Shortcake
Make a statement with this party-size strawberry shortcake. It has all the same elements of your favorite summertime treat, including warm buttery biscuits, fresh whipped cream and lots of fresh strawberries.
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Star-Spangled Parfaits
A lighter option for your Memorial Day dessert lineup, these parfaits are made with Greek yogurt and fresh berries. Fresh mint and a sprinkle of shredded coconut adds lovely subtle flavor.
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Contest-Winning Raspberry Cream Pie
One of the best things about this pie is the crust made with vanilla wafer cookies and pecans. The sweet and nutty flavor goes great with the creamy filling and fresh raspberry topping.
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30/55
Watermelon Cupcakes
What a sweet idea! Watermelon gelatin and a bit of red food coloring help turn ordinary cupcakes into something special. They’ll be the hit of the Memorial Day picnic.
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Strawberry Pretzel Pie
This no-bake strawberry pie has everything: Fresh berry flavor, a creamy filling and a sweet-salty crunch from a crushed pretzel crust. It’s a summertime treat that makes everyone happy.
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Cast-Iron Cherry-Berry Peach Pie
The best thing about this pie is that you can use fresh or frozen fruit, or a mix of both. The all-butter crust cooks up beautifully in the cast iron pan, which goes from oven to table.
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Strawberry Gelato
Summer means getting that ice cream maker back on the kitchen counter. Start with this refreshing strawberry gelato, which has a hint of sea salt and honey, for your Memorial Day picnic.
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Patchwork Quilt Cake
This cake has a great homemade flavor and tender crumb. To get the sharp lines of the geometric pattern, build with sliced strawberries and blueberries on a plate or cutting board first. You don’t want soggy fruit for this one: Here’s how to wash berries so they look and taste great.
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Two-Berry Fluff Salad
To get good fluffiness, make sure to beat the cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar well before adding the cream. It’s like a sweet dreamy cloud with a burst of berry freshness.
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Mixed Berry Tiramisu
There’s no doubt that traditional tiramisu is delicious, but this berry version feels like a perfect dessert for summer. You can layer the sweet mascarpone, ladyfinger cookies and fresh fruit in a clear pan, trifle bowl or individual cups.
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Bomb Pop Cookies
These fun red, white and blue cookies will be the hit of every patriotic potluck, picnic and block party. Each layer is flavored as well as colored, which perfectly mimics the classic ice cream truck treat.
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Strawberry-Citrus Freezer Pops
These frozen pops are a big sunny welcome to the summer season. Use fresh strawberries and clementines for the best flavor.
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39/55
Blueberry Upside-Down Skillet Cake
Similar to a pineapple upside down cake, this cake is a stunner without needing a lot of effort or time to make. Use fresh or frozen blueberries and don’t forget the hit of orange juice in the caramel. It’s a nice touch!
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Mixed Berry Pie
Use any ratio of fruit in this pie: If you have more blueberries than raspberries, or you don’t have blackberries yet, just make up the difference with what’s available. Make sure to have some vanilla ice cream ready for topping.
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Citrus Berry Shortcake
The orange juice and orange zest add an extra layer of flavor to this strawberry shortcake. Sprinkle blueberries on top for a colorful (and patriotic) finish.
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Glazed Strawberry Cheesecake
Strawberries mixed with orange liqueur and raspberry preserves (seedless is prettiest!) makes a stunning topper to this decadent cheesecake. Vanilla wafer cookies and pecans add a crunchy flavor boost to the whole thing.
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Berry Tartlets
Fresh berries and lemon are a perfect combo any time of year, but these light tartlets are a particularly good Memorial Day dessert. Raspberries and blueberries work best, but you can use any fresh seasonal fruit.
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Picnic Berry Shortcakes
These fantastic layered desserts work on so many levels. Use store-bought shortcakes or sponge cake to make it even easier in the kitchen, and make the berry sauce ahead of time for quick assembly the day of the event.
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This peach and blueberry galette is even easier than pie. The rustic look is perfect for a laid-back Memorial Day party, or any day.
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Flag Cake
This patriotic-themed cake makes a stunningly delicious Memorial Day dessert. The stars are made with fresh blueberries and blueberry gelatin and the red stripes are chopped berries and raspberry-flavored gelatin. Want to keep it even simpler? Skip the gelatin and just use fresh fruit for the flag.
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Raspberry Pie Squares
Slab pie is a great way to make pie for a crowd. The simple raspberry filling is easy to make and has an incredible sweet-tart flavor.
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Blackberry Cheesecake Bars
Make these beautiful bars with sugar dough, ricotta and mascarpone cheeses, and fresh blackberry topping. Cut the bars into whatever size works for your group.
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Lemon-Berry Shortcake
No one said you can’t have strawberries in your shortcake as well as on top. This lemon-scented cake is tender and just sweet enough, making it a perfect vehicle for lots of whipped topping and more berries.
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50/55
Berry-Apple-Rhubarb Pie
With fresh berries, apples and rhubarb, this pie traverses many seasons and hits all the right notes. Follow these helpful tips to make the perfect lattice pie.
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Pecan Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler
Need a simple Memorial Day dessert for two? This cobbler is chock-full of rhubarb and berries and the crunchy pecan topping is just right.
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52/55
Blueberry Crumble Tarts
Everyone will love their own little blueberry crumble tart. The prepared tarts can be made ahead of time and baked right before serving.
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Easy Fresh Strawberry Pie
Everything about this pie is as easy as…well, you know. Make sure you use the most beautiful strawberries for this, as they’re really the star of the show.
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Patriotic Gelatin Salad
It’s hard to deny the effect of a striped gelatin mold. The red, white and blue layers are sharp and bright and the cool and fruity taste has everyone going back for more.
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Berry, Lemon and Doughnut Hole Trifle
Keep this recipe in your back pocket for those times when you need a really fast and pretty dessert. The lemon-flavored cream is the perfect pairing for fresh strawberries and blueberries.
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Originally Published: December 31, 1969
Author
Lesley Balla
An associate food editor for Taste of Home, Lesley has written about food, restaurants, wine, and spirits for the last 20 years. She’s regularly contributed to local, regional and national print and digital publications as an editor and writer, including Resy, Food Fanatics, 10Best, Los Angeles magazine, Zagat and Eater. When not at her desk, she...
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