Looking for easy dessert recipes for your summer party, potluck, or picnic? Find 43 best picnic desserts to feed a crowd this summer.
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When it comes to choosing the perfect picnic food there are so many delicious options to take on the go, such as simple sandwiches, wraps, salads, and finger foods. But, what about the desserts?
Finding the best desserts for your outdoor picnic may be a little challenging because although you may be craving some frozen treats or elaborate cakes and pies, they probably won’t hold up to the summer heat. Which is why it’s better to find simple desserts that can be made up ahead of time and easily transported.
What are the best desserts to bring to a picnic?
Easy grab-and-go desserts that travel well such as cupcakes, bars, quick breads, brownies, and cookies make the perfect picnic desserts. The goal is to find delicious crowd-pleasing desserts that are portable, need no refrigeration, and will hold up well in the heat.
With that in mind, I decided to gather some of the best picnic desserts to make this summer. They are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. The best part is that these easy dessert recipes are not only ideal for backyard picnics, and picnics at the beach or park but also perfect for any family gathering, summer pool party, or potluck this summer.
Looking for more summer dessert recipes?
- 38 No-Bake Summer Dessert Recipes
- 12 Air Fryer Summer Desserts With Fruit
- 33 Easy & Fun S’more Recipes
- 23 Best 4th of July Desserts
43 Best Picnic Desserts
Celebrate summer with these 43 best picnic desserts that you will want to make again and again. Find easy dessert recipes for brownies, cookies, cupcakes, fruit bars, and more.
1
Vintage Kitchen Notes
Fudgy Lemon Blondies
Also known as lemon brownies, these are sweet, moist, and intensely flavored lemon bars with a finger-licking glaze. They require few ingredients and are easy to make.
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2
Two Healthy Kitchens
Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake
This rich chocolate cake is easy to slice and serve at picnics, and it uses up that summer crop everyone seems to have too much of ... zucchini!
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Find more zucchini recipes: 53 Must-Try Zucchini Recipes
3
Cheerful Cook
Easy Peanut Butter and Jelly Dessert Bars
These chewy, crumbly, rich PB&J dessert bars are not just for kids. They are perfect for summer cookouts or picnics.
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4
Small Town Woman
Iced Lemon Cookies
These delectable Iced Lemon Cookies are soft on the inside with slightly crispy edges all topped with a four ingredient light sweet lemon glaze.
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5
Lambert's Lately
Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Swirl
With just 5 ingredients, you can make these red velvet brownies in under 30 minutes! They have a rich, fudgy red velvet base with a sweet cream cheese swirl.
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6
The Slow Roasted Italian
Easy Lemon Bars + Recipe Video
Zesty and refreshing, these lemon bars are a burst of sunshine in every bite! Perfectly sweet and tangy, they make any day brighter and more delicious.
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7
Events to Celebrate
Philidelphia Cheesecake Bars
These cheesecake bars are a delicious, romantic treat to bring along with you on a picnic. With the honey graham cracker crust and creamy smooth cheesecake filling, they are a simple dessert that satisfies every time!
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8
All Nutritious
Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Oatmeal Cookie Bars are sweet, chewy, soft and fudgy. They’re gluten-free and super yummy!
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9
xoxoBella
Strawberry Shortcake in a Jar
You don’t need many different ingredients for this mini dessert, and it’s a nice easy recipe to showcase fresh strawberries. Served in a mini mason jar, this individually sized dessert is perfect to pack in a picnic.
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You May Like:38 Sweet and Savory Strawberry Recipes
10
On My Kid's Plate
Lemon Zucchini Cake (With Sweet Lemon Glaze)
This lemon zucchini cake loaf has the most tender crumb and is moist with just the right amount of bright lemon sweetness that just melts in your mouth when you take a bite.
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11
Chenée Today
Oatmeal Cookie Bars with Brown Butter and Nutella Swirl
Nutella lovers will love every bite of these oatmeal cookie bars with Nutella swirl! It’s a decadent treat that’s easy to make and perfect for sharing at home or during family picnics.
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12
I Heart Eating
Peanut Butter Brownies
Peanut butter brownies are chocolate brownies with a peanut butter swirl. This peanut butter brownies recipe is perfect for peanut butter lovers!
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13
Baking Beauty
Peach Crumble
Peach crumble features sweet and juicy peaches with a mile-high crumb topping. This easy recipe comes together in one bowl with seven common ingredients.
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14
The Graceful Dame
Peach Delight
Smooth, sweet, and creamy cheesecake atop a perfect, graham crust that's been piled high with fresh peaches.
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15
Tasty Treats and Eats
Easy Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
The BEST brown butter chocolate chip cookies! These browned butter chocolate chip cookies are rich, sweet and SO delicious! Easy to make too - great for a picnic!
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16
Living Chirpy
Banana Walnut Bread
Bananas and Walnuts combine in this delicious, comforting bread that is super easy to make! Banana Walnut Bread is great for any occasion.
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17
If You Give a Blonde a Kitchen
Blueberry Crumble Bars with Oats
Get all the flavor of blueberry crisp in a dessert bar. These blueberry crumble bars have a buttery oat crumble and juicy berry filling.
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Related: 34 Best Blueberry Recipes
18
Whisking Wolf
Raspberry Streusel Bars
Sweet and tangy, these triple layer Raspberry Streusel Bars are perfect for berry lovers. With a thick layer of raspberry filling wedged between a buttery oatmeal streusel these soft, chewy squares are a must-taste cross between a cookie and a fruit crumble.
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Recommended:39 Deliciously Sweet Raspberry Dessert Recipes
19
Top Mom Ideas
Easy Mini Apple Pies
Easy Mini Apple Pies These mini apple pies are a classic dessert that can be enjoyed hot and sweet at anytime.
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20
Peel With Zeal
Easy Gluten-Free No Bake Cookies- Chocolate and Peanut Butter
Made with chewy oats coated in a rich blend of melted chocolate and peanut butter, these treats are ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes!
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21
Cooking Gorgeous
Chocolate Strawberry Tartlets
These Chocolate Strawberry Tartlets are very easy to make and are perfect for family gatherings, picnics or summer BBQ parties
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22
Chef Ani
Vegan Lemon Crinkle Cookies
This addictive, dainty, chewy lemon crinkle cookie is one of my favorite cookies. With a hint of lemon in every bite and its unique soft texture, one would think you have spent hours in the kitchen, but it is super simple to make with ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard.
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23
Laughing Rooster Eats
Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Filling
The ease of a chocolate cake but fancied up with an easy cream cheese filling. So moist, no frosting is needed or even wanted.
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24
Liv’s Little Muffins
Iced Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
These iced lemon poppy seed cookies are buttery and soft and full of lemon flavour from both the cookie and the lemon glaze. Perfect for a simple summery cookie.
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25
Thyme for Flavor
Biscoff Bites
These no bake biscoff bites are a great sweet treat that are ready in no time. With only 5 ingredients, this easy dessert is perfect for anytime of the year or day!
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26
Two Kids and a Coupon
Lemon Strawberry Cool Whip Cookies
These light and soft cool whip cookies topped with fresh fruit are the ultimate summer time treat.
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27
Unicorns in the Kitchen
French Apple Cake
This easy French apple cake is made with simple ingredients. The moist buttery cake is filled with apple chunks, making it a tasty dessert to enjoy anytime.
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28
Flavor Mosaic
Strawberry Crumb Bars - Flavor Mosaic
Try these delicious Strawberry Crumb Bars, with strawberry filling, and a crunchy crumb topping. They are the ideal dessert to bring to your next summer picnic.
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29
Saving Dessert
Fresh Peach Crumb Bars- Saving Dessert
Enjoy these delicious peach crumb bars all summer long. They are perfect for feeding a crowd this summer.
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30
The View From Great Island
Blackberry Pecan Bars-The View From Great Island
Blackberry pecan bars are the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth this summer. Make this delicious dessert and impress your guests at your next summer party.
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31
Live Well Bake Often
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake- Live Well Bake Often
You will love this pineapple upside-down cake. Full of flavor, this buttery, moist cake with pineapple topping is the perfect treat to enjoy on a picnic this summer.
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32
Double Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
These thick, soft and chewy double peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are an absolute delight. Loaded with silky peanut butter and semi-sweet chocolate chips, they are perfect to bring to your next summer picnic.
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33
Blueberry Banana Bread With Crumb Topping
This Blueberry Banana Bread with Crumb Topping is the perfect quick sweet bread to enjoy for breakfast, snack, or dessert this summer.
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More Family-Favorite Picnic Desserts to Try
- Lemonade Cake– I Wash You Dry
- Watermelon Cake in Mason Jars– Pizzazzerie
- Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes- Girl vs. Dough
- Chocolate Chip Cherry Bars- Averie Cooks
- Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars- Cooking Classy
- Tropical Magic Bars– Boulder Locavore
- Peanut Butter Puppy Chow- Chelsea’s Messy Apron
- Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats– Two Peas and Their Pod
- Key Lime Pie Fudge- Love Bakes Good Cakes
- S’mores Brownies- Bakerita
Looking for more summer recipes? Find easy summer grilling recipes like grilled chicken, juicy burgers, delicious foil-pack dinner ideas, and tasty kabob recipes. Pair these with simple BBQ side dishes, such as pasta salad and potato salad recipes for the perfect summer dinner.
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