20 easy summer treats to take to your next barbecue

These little treats have dozens of names, but they're easy to whip up no matter how you refer to them. There are few ingredients and no baking required, so as long as you have access to a stovetop and a fridge, you can make these to take to a barbecue. 

Dump cakes come in many forms, and each of them is simple. There’s a reason for their name — just about all you have to do is dump the ingredients, mix, and bake. These are great in the summer because you can utilize all the tasty produce. 

Speaking of utilizing all the fresh produce, fruit tarts are another simple dessert that is great in the summer. They’re a nice alternative to the rich desserts so many of us are used to, and they can make you look like an all-star baker with minimal effort. 

Chocolate bark is so easy and tasty. You can toss fruit, candies, sprinkles, nuts, pretzels, or anything else you can think of in the mix, so it never has to be the same type. Just keep it in the shade if you bring it to a barbecue. 

Rice Krispie bars are a simple dessert to throw together and always please the crowd. You can mix in lots of goodies to give them a summer vibe, like s’mores ingredients or red and blue sprinkles. 

Popsicles are a simple summer treat that anyone can make at home. Sure, you can easily buy them, but you can easily make your own with some juice, fruit, and popsicle molds. 

Cheesecake is tough to master, but a no-bake recipe simplifies it. It’s the perfect dessert recipe for the summer, too, because it saves you the trouble of turning on your oven and unnecessarily heating your whole house. 

If tarts aren’t your thing, try out a galette. It’s an easier baked good to make than pie, but it’s got all the goodness of a pie — produce, filling, and crust. Galettes can be savory or sweet, making them a great go-to all summer. 

Don’t let that episode of Friends fool you. Trifles are easy to make. Once you’ve made the cake portion, the rest of the recipe is just layering. You can buy a box mix for the cake or just purchase something premade to make it even simpler. 

Ice cream cakes are as easy to make as trifles, as they require more assembling than baking. Making an ice cream cake can be a bit time-consuming since you need to let it freeze in between the layers and then let it freeze fully overnight, but as long as you plan ahead, it’s a great dessert to bring to a summer get-together. 

Summertime is for light and fruity desserts, and what fits that bill better than fruit pizza? This dessert also lets you show off your creative side to make a patriotic fruit pizza or one with another summer-inspired fruity arrangement. 

If the barbecue you’re attending has an indoor area, bring some ice cream sandwiches. You can make the ingredients from scratch, or you can buy them all from the store and just assemble them. Either way, they’re fun and delicious. 

Homemade peanut butter cups are a major crowd-pleaser, and you’ll get loads of compliments for bringing something that seems challenging to make but is actually very simple. 

Grilled peaches are an underrated summer treat. Grilling the fruit brings out a caramelized flavor that you can’t get any other way, and there are dozens of ways to make a tasty marinade to make them perfectly rich. They’re so simple that even a grilling novice can make them. 

Of all the pies, strawberry might be the easiest to make. The filling is quick and simple; you only need one pie crust. If you want to make things really simple, buy both from the store. 

Whether you choose peach, apple, blueberry, or any other fruit, a crumble is a simple and easy dessert that is perfect for a barbecue. It meets fruit and sweet dessert fans in the middle, and it’s good warm or cold. 

If you haven’t made sorbet at home, give it a go for your next barbecue. You’ll be surprised at how simple it is, and you’ll be pleased at how tasty it is. And if it melts, it’s basically fruit juice, so everyone can enjoy a delicious drink instead. 

If you can melt chocolate, you can make haystacks. They are both sinfully easy and sinfully good. Don’t be embarrassed by how easy they are to make. Make them and bring them to a barbecue. 

Anyone can put fruit on a skewer. If you want something fresh and summery but still sweet, opt for fruit kabobs. You can jazz them up by adding marshmallows or drizzling them with chocolate. 

If you’re going to a barbecue, you’ve got access to an open flame. If you’re feeling too lazy to make something, at least bring the makings for s’mores.