Kitchen Serf

  • Recipes and Dessert Ideas
    • Welcome to Kitchen Serf!
      • Let's Connect
      • Blogging Resources
    • Disclosure Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Disclosure Policy
    • Privacy Policy and Terms of Service
  • Welcome to Kitchen Serf!
  • Shop My Kitchen!
  • Freezer Desserts
  • Stay in Touch

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Disclosure Policy
      • Privacy Policy and Terms of Service
    • Welcome to Kitchen Serf!
    • Shop My Kitchen!
    • Freezer Desserts
  • Stay in Touch

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Cookies

    Desserts for a Barbecue

    Updated: Jul 3, 2025 by Jennifer OsbornThis post may contain affiliate links.

    When the grill's hot, the sun is high in the sky and there's no refrigeration in sight, dessert needs to be heatproof and simple.

    These easy, make-ahead treats hold up in the heat, travel well and are of course, delicious.

    A hand holds a Rice Krispies treat topped with colorful sprinkles above a stacked plate of more treats.
    Read more: Desserts for a Barbecue
    Jump to:
    • S'mores Desserts
    • Crispy Rice Desserts
    • Cookies to Take to a Barbecue
    • Portable Fruit Dessert Ideas
    • Dessert Squares and Bars for a Picnic
    • PIN TO SAVE FOR LATER
    • Comments

    If you're heading to a barbecue or hosting one, you want a sweet treat to finish off the saucy, smoky meal.

    But it should be a dessert that won't melt in the heat. That means no key lime pie or lemon squares.

    And, it should also be easily eaten with fingers.

    S'mores Desserts

    S’mores Dip
    Ooey-gooey, chocolatey-marshmallow bliss in skillet form. No sticks, no flames, no camping required. Just grab some crackers or pretzels and enjoy.

    S’mores Bars
    Layers of graham cracker, melty chocolate, and marshmallow baked into easy-to-serve bars. All the fun of a campfire without the smoky hair.

    S’mores Without Graham Crackers
    Short on grahams? No problem. This version swaps in cookies and still delivers that classic combo we all love.

    Crispy Rice Desserts

    Heat resistant, portable, lightweight, chewy. These are perfect picnic desserts.

    Oreo Rice Krispie Treats
    A no-bake treat that blends crispy cereal and crushed Oreos for maximum crunch and creamy goodness.

    Chocolate Crispy Rice Treats

    Your basic crispy rice treats only coated with a layer of chocolate. Throw a layer of sprinkles on top for party vibes.

    chocolate covered Rice Krispie treats on silver tray
    Chocolate covered Rice Krispie treats are about the best thing since sliced bread.

    Sheet Pan Crispy Rice Treats

    Give everyone a choice with a sheet pan of different flavored treats.

    Cookies to Take to a Barbecue

    Cookies Made From A Brownie Mix

    The ultimate fudgy, chewy portable dessert.

    a pile of brownie mix cookies on a pink plate.

    Brownie Cookies with M&Ms

    Or make brownie cookies studded with colorful mini M&M candies.

    M&M Brownie Cookies in a white bowl.
    If you love brownies and cookies, these M&M brownie cookies are the perfect combination of both! Soft, chewy, and loaded with colorful M&Ms, these cookies are rich in chocolate flavor and quick to make.

    Lemon Drop Cookies

    Inspired by the giant, powdered sugar covered lemon cookies at Panera, this chewy citrus cookie is just the thing after eating a bunch of barbecue.

    Lemon Poke Cake
    The only cake in my list of desserts for a barbecue. Moist lemon cake with a light lemon glaze, this cake can easily be eaten with a napkin and your fingers.

    Key Lime Pie

    From mixing to baking, this easy citrus pie is done in 20 minutes and very portable.

    Key Lime Bars

    Just like the pie only in bar form so its more portable and easier to eat with your fingers.

    Portable Fruit Dessert Ideas

    Fruit Skewers
    An eye-popping lineup of fresh fruit on a stick. They’re juicy, sweet, and kinda healthy (but we won’t tell).

    Fruit skewers with strawberries, grapes, and kiwi on a white background, with a blueberry and mint leaf nearby.

    Sugared Prosecco Grapes

    These are a fun outdoor treat, especially if you can keep them frozen in a cooler. Just don't eat them if you're driving.

    Dessert Squares and Bars for a Picnic

    Congo Bars
    Thick, chewy blondies loaded with chocolate chips and walnuts. These babies travel well and vanish even faster.

    S'more Bars Copycat Starbucks

    A graham cracker crust with a layer of chocolate and lightly toasted marshmallows is just the thing after you've eaten a smoked chicken. All by yourself.

    A close-up of gooey smores bars with graham crust, melted chocolate, and toasted marshmallows on a ceramic plate.
    S’mores bars: all the ooey-gooey magic of a campfire treat, made right in your oven.

    M&M Bars

    These are chewy and colorful and easier than scooping individual balls of dough for M&M cookies.

    Bonus Treat: How to Make Classic S’mores
    Feeling nostalgic? Here’s your refresher on how to make perfect s’mores the old-fashioned way.

    PIN TO SAVE FOR LATER

    smore's bars on a pan with Pinterest text on top.
    Planning a summer cookout? These no-fuss BBQ desserts—like cookies, s’mores bars, and fruity treats—hold up in the heat and disappear fast. No fridge, no problem, all delicious.

    Food Safety Tips for a Cookout

    You might also find Desserts to Take to a Funeral helpful as well as Desserts to Make with Almost Nothing.

    More Cookies

    • Three pink crinkle cookies coated in powdered sugar on a black plate.
      Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
    • A plate of chocolate-covered crackers topped with marshmallows and crushed graham crackers.
      S'mores Cracker Cookies
    • Hand piping green icing onto Christmas tree-shaped cookies on a white surface.
      Royal Icing for Cookies
    • Iced Christmas cookies shaped like gift boxes on a white plate, with small trees as decoration.
      Christmas Butter Cookies

    About Jennifer Osborn

    Reporter by trade, dessert blogger by compulsion. Jennifer Osborn shares dessert recipes people actually make.

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Woman with long brown hair and blue glasses smiles at the camera, with sunlight in the background.

    Welcome!

    Hi, my name is Jennifer Osborn. I created Kitchen Serf as a source of dessert ideas for you.

    More about me

    Seasonal

    • squares of gumdrop nougat candy on a white counter top.
      Gumdrop Nougat Candy (use Dots or jellied fruit slices)
    • A hand holds a blue frosted cookie decorated with a snowman made of candy and pretzels.
      Snow Globe Cookies
    • christmas tree cut-out cookie with pale green icing on a marble background.
      Quick Icing with Powdered Sugar
    • No spread cut-out cookies decorated with green and red icing, with a festive mug of marshmallows and Christmas trees in the background.
      No-Spread Sugar Cookies for Decorating

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    Shop!

    • Shop My Kitchen

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Media Kit
    • About Jennifer Osborn

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2026 Foodie Pro on the Feast Plugin