• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Grits and Pinecones
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Southern Favorites
  • All Recipes
  • About me
  • Contact form
  • Subscribe
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Southern Favorites
    • All Recipes
    • About me
    • Contact form
    • Subscribe
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Recipe Collections

    Sweet Simplicity: 17 Easy Desserts for Cookouts and Potlucks

    Modified: Aug 12, 2024 · by Sharon Rigsby · Leave a Comment

    Pinterest pin showing four summer desserts including strawberry pie and trifle.

    Get ready for summer with these 17 easy dessert recipes. Perfect for cookouts and potlucks, these sweet treats are as easy as they are delicious!

    Four summer desserts includidng orange sherbet and strawberry pie.
    Add Grits and Pinecones as a Preferred Source on Google

    Quick to prepare and deliciously satisfying, which one will you be serving this weekend?

    1
    Fresh strawberry pie topped with whipped cream on a white plate.
    Old Fashioned Strawberry Pie Recipe with Jello
    A blast from the past, no-bake Old-Fashioned Strawberry Pie with Jello and a graham cracker crust is bursting with fresh flavors. The fool-proof pie filling is full of ripe, lush, sun-kissed strawberries immersed in a delectable strawberry glaze made with strawberry jello.
     
    Check out this recipe
    2
    Frozen lemonade pie topped with macerated strawberries and blueberries.
    Frozen Lemonade Pie Recipe
    Easy Frozen Lemonade Pie is the perfect combination of sweet and tart flavors, all wrapped up in a crunchy graham cracker crust.  Light and refreshing with a sublime lemony flavor, it's a perfect no-fuss dessert that will quickly become a family favorite. 
    Check out this recipe
    3
    A slice of blackberry pie on a white plate topped with ice cream.
    Old-Fashioned Blackberry Pie Recipe
    This quick and easy recipe features the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors with fresh, juicy, sweet blackberries or dewberries wrapped in a flakey, buttery crust. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and it's the stuff dessert legends are made of.
    Check out this recipe
    4
    A glass dish full of scoops of Snickers Ice Cream.
    Easy Homemade Snickers Ice Cream Recipe (No Churn)
    This easy recipe for no churn, Homemade Snickers Ice Cream only takes 10 minutes to combine the ingredients, and then your freezer does the heavy lifting.
    Check out this recipe
    5
    A clear glass dish with two scoops of orange sherbet, garnished with a sprig of mint.
    Easy Homemade Orange Sherbet Ice Cream
    Made with simple ingredients like freshly squeezed orange juice, buttermilk, and Karo syrup, this refreshing frozen orange dessert is the perfect treat for any occasion. Plus, it can be whipped up in no time with an electric ice cream maker.
    Check out this recipe
    6
    Cherry Cobbler made with a boxed cake mix in a bowl topped by vanilla ice cream.
    Cherry Cobbler with Cake Mix Recipe (Quick and Easy)
    This easy dump cake recipe is made with simple ingredients and packed with flavor, making it the perfect dessert for the entire family to enjoy together.
    Check out this recipe
    7
    Watermelon popsicles on a plate of ice to keep them cold.
    Easy Watermelon Popsicles Recipe – Two Ingredients
    With just two ingredients – fresh watermelon and frozen lemonade concentrate – and two quick steps, you can whip up a delicious and refreshing snack perfect for kids and adults alike. 
    Check out this recipe
    8
    A clear glass dish with two scoops of orange sherbet, garnished with a sprig of mint.
    Easy Homemade Orange Sherbet Ice Cream
    Made with simple ingredients like freshly squeezed orange juice, buttermilk, and Karo syrup, this refreshing frozen orange dessert is the perfect treat for any occasion. Plus, it can be whipped up in no time with an electric ice cream maker.
    Check out this recipe
    9
    A clear glass trifle dish with layers of angel food cake, strawberries and whipped cream.
    Strawberry Trifle with Angel Food Cake Recipe
    Strawberry Trifle with Angel Food Cake with fresh luscious strawberries, billowy whipped cream, and heavenly angel food cake is easy, elegant, and delicious!
    Check out this recipe
    10
    A scoop of strawberry sherbet on a container of ice cream.
    Easy Homemade Strawberry Sherbet
    Easy Homemade Strawberry Sherbet is a sweet-tart, light, refreshing frozen dessert made with fresh luscious strawberries. The perfect ending to the perfect meal, this simple sherbet ice cream recipe only takes minutes to prepare, and then your ice cream maker takes over.
    Check out this recipe
    11
    Scoops of mixed berry sherbet in glass dessert dishes.
    Easy Homemade Mixed Berry Sherbet
    Easy Homemade Mixed Berry Sherbet is a sweet, tangy, and delicious ending to any meal. This simple fruit sherbet, made with a combination of frozen berries including strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, is light and refreshing and just the thing to help you cool off on a hot summer evening.
    Check out this recipe
    12
    A icebox cake decorated to look like the American flag.
    Red, White, and Blue No-Bake Icebox Cake Recipe
    How better to celebrate the 4th of July than with my old-fashioned Red, White, and Blue No-Bake Icebox Cake! This easy layered 4th of July dessert is filled with heavenly whipped cream, graham crackers, fresh sweet strawberries, and delightfully juicy blueberries.
    Check out this recipe
    13
    A bowl of peach cobbler topped with ice cream.
    Easy Old-Fashioned Southern Peach Cobbler Recipe
    Easy Old-Fashioned Southern Peach Cobbler is a simple cobbler recipe, baked in a cast-iron skillet, featuring fresh, frozen, or canned, sweet, juicy peaches and a perfect homemade crust. One bite of this luscious, made from scratch cobbler, and you will understand the true meaning of comfort food.
    Check out this recipe
    14
    Four Key Lime Mousses on a glass serving plate.
    Easy Key Lime Mousse Recipe
    This no-bake light-as-a-cloud mousse combines cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, frozen whipped topping, and key lime juice into a dreamy delectable light dessert that you and your family will love!
    Check out this recipe
    15
    Strawberry peach cobbler in a bowl topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
    Easy Strawberry Peach Cobbler Recipe
    This easy recipe is the epitome of comfort food. It is baked in a cast iron skillet and features a fruit filling with sweet, juicy strawberries and ripe, luscious peaches topped with a golden-brown, buttery crust.
    Check out this recipe
    16
    Southern Style Easy Fresh Peach Pie in a pie plate with fresh peaches behind it.
    Fresh Peach Pie Recipe
    Southern-Style Easy Fresh Peach Pie is full of sun-ripened peach filling cooked to perfection. This peach pie recipe is one you will want to make time and time again.
    Check out this recipe
    17
    Two servings of Homemade Fresh Peach Ice Cream with peaches in the background
    Homemade Fresh Peach Ice Cream Recipe
    What better to usher in summer than Homemade Fresh Peach Ice Cream featuring luscious, juicy and sweet peaches mixed with a rich, creamy and decadent vanilla custard base!
    Check out this recipe

    More dessert recipes:

    • Four images of ice cream and sherbets including orange and berry sherbet.
      Frozen Fantasies: 18 Easy Dreamy Ice Cream and Sherbet Recipes to Try Now!
    • A chocolate mousse cake topped with berries and cut into slices.
      Chocolate Mousse Cake Recipe (No-Bake)
    • Homemade chocolate pudding made without cornstarch in dessert cups. The pudding is topped with whipped cream and a cherry.
      Homemade Chocolate Pudding Recipe without Cornstarch
    • Several scoops of peanut butter and jelly ice cream in white bowls.
      Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream Recipe (No Churn)

    If you need more menu ideas, here is a link to all of my dessert recipes.

    More Recipe Collections

    • Crispy chicken thighs and potatoes cooked in a crock pot.
      12 Crock Pot and Slow Cooker Meals for Easy Fall Dinners
    • Fresh corn, tomatoes, and peas from the farmer's market.
      What Southerners Actually Eat in July
    • Collage of easy chicken thigh recipes including grilled chicken thighs, skillet chicken dinners, casseroles, and baked chicken thigh recipes.
      These 17 Easy Chicken Thigh Recipes Will Save Dinner Tonight
    • A collage of four old fashioned recipes including pecan pie, mac & cheese, and creamed potatoes.
      21 Old-Fashioned Recipes That Taste Just Like Grandma’s

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, content creator, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and I like nothing better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

    🍁Seasonal Favorites

    • A bowl full of Halloween pasta featuring spinach spaghetti, topped with spaghetti sauce, meatballs, and candy eyes.
      Easy Halloween Pasta (Spooky Spaghetti with Eyeball Meatballs)
    • Mummy Jalapeño Poppers with googly eyes on a black plate.
      Easy Halloween Mummy Jalapeño Poppers
    • A sheet pan full of beef nachos topped with sour cream.
      Ultimate Loaded Ground Beef Nachos (Easy Oven Recipe)
    • A rack of smoked spare ribs with BBQ sauce is sliced and on a cutting board.
      Smoked Spare Ribs (Tender, Juicy and Fall-Off-the-Bone Good!)
    • A large white bowl full of chopped salad topped with apples and pecans.
      Apple Pecan Salad Recipe with Dressing
    • A serving of pecan pie dump cake on a plate, topped with a scoop of ice cream and caramel sauce.
      Easy Southern Pecan Pie Dump Cake – Dump, Bake, and Serve Bliss

    Browse more seasonal favorite recipes →

    Reader Favorites and Southern Classics

    • A large bowl of classic Southern Potato Salad, garnished with paprika.
      Classic Southern Potato Salad
    • Six hoecakes or fried cornbread on a white plate.
      Quick and Easy Hoe Cakes (Fried Cornbread)
    • Southern cornbread made with buttermilk, baked in my mother's 10-inch cast-iron skillet.
      Southern Cornbread Recipe (Buttermilk and Cast Iron)
    • A blackened grouper filet on a plate with grits, garnished with a lemon slice.
      Blackened Grouper
    • Hanky Panky appetizers piled high on a black plate.
      Hanky Panky Recipe
    • A plate of oven-baked country-style ribs topped with BBQ sauce and garnished with parsley.
      Boneless Country-Style Ribs in the Oven (Easy, Tender, 300°F Method)

    Browse more reader favorite recipes →

    Featured in Parade, The Today Show, Better Homes & Gardens, Greatist, and more.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Disclosures

    • Privacy Policy & Terms of Service
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    About

    • About
    • Contact

    Copyright © 2025 Grits and Pinecones®

    Grits and Pinecones submark logo with pinecone.
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    • Email
    • Flipboard