This weekend, we’ll say goodbye to spring and hello to summer! As long as Mother Nature complies, I’ll be hosting a barbecue. Traditional food like burgers, hot dogs, and potato salad are of course on the menu. But, in my mind, no party is complete without a dessert. I typically like to serve ones that are easy to make and not too heavy. If you’re looking for a few delicious desserts to add to your table, these are perfect.
Pound cakes are great because they are easy to prepare. Susan White’s (Charlotte, NC) Tropical Pound Cake with its pina colada flavors is perfect for summer.
“My husband finished his first piece of this and then said think I will have another,” shares Susan. I knew this was going to be tasty while this pound cake was baking. It’s dense like a pound cake should be. But, drizzling coconut milk on top helps make the cake very moist.
Lori Redifer’s (Ephrata, PA) Lemon Dressed Fruit Salad would be fantastic alongside Susan’s pound cake. It’s summertime in a bowl.
“This is a delicious, refreshing fruit salad that I made for a family reunion,” explains Lori. “I am very happy to report that everyone seemed to like it.” We adored everything about this recipe.
The mixture of fruit is perfect. A bit tangy from the lemon and sweet from the honey, the dressing has the right balance of flavors. It’s divine when mixed with the fruit.
PJ Humble’s son was visiting and he wanted her to make a yummy dessert. Her recipe creation? Oreo Brownie Delight. “Basically it’s just brownies and the innards of Oreo awesomeness with a few little extras,” reveals PJ.
This is a delight to eat. The brownies are nice and chewy and the creamy Oreo pudding on top is amazing. I could eat just the pudding as a dessert with a spoon! I predict this will be such a hit that you’ll be making it all summer.
Brownies are great. But add cheesecake to them like Kelly Lollman (Madison, NY) did for her Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies and you’ve won my taste buds over.
“I made these to take to work and got rave reviews,” shares Kelly. “Quick and easy to make.”
The base for these brownies is your favorite chewy boxed mix. Then a layer of sweet and tangy cheesecake is added. What makes this special is the icing. Cream cheese and melted chocolate are mixed together. Then marshmallow cream is whipped in which lightens up the frosting. So yummy!
Kids of all ages will go crazy for Sherry Symmonds’ (Hamilton, MS) Cream Cheese Cake Mix Cookies. “Oh my gosh, these are good and so easy,” says Sherry. “I love the flavor the cream cheese gives them.”
These cookies are deliciously sweet and buttery. We used a butter cake mix and added chocolate chips originally in the Test Kitchen. They turned into the ultimate sweet treat.
When preparing this recipe, use your favorite cake mix and get creative with the add-ins. If you want some inspiration, check out our video with four suggestions.
Try one of these delicious desserts and start barbecue season on a sweet note. Happy Memorial Day… and Happy Pinching!