Ditch the Fork With These 14 Cookout-Friendly Desserts (No Cleanup Required!)

These easy-to-carry treats—think brownies, popsicles, and meringues—are made for picnics, street snacking, and everything in between.

By Jess Eng
Published July 02, 2025
Plate of strawberry rhubarb pop-tarts on a colorful background

Serious Eats / Victor Protasio

Before I leave my apartment, I like to cycle through a mental checklist to be sure I have all the essentials. Keys? Check. Wallet. Ditto. Extra fudgy brownie for eating on the go? Yup. 

Though I’d love to dig into a slice of layer cake or gooey apple pie while I'm commuting across town or socializing at a cookout, those confections aren’t exactly portable. That's where a handheld dessert comes in. It feels a little Seussian to say, but there’s joy in savoring these desserts anywhere, no matter the circumstance: in the car, on a bench, atop a grassy lawn, or at a friend's backyard barbecue. 

Below, you'll find 14 recipes for dessert that can be easily eaten in one hand, whether you're out and about or making the rounds at a potluck or dinner party: creamy mango popsicles, homemade strawberry Pop-Tarts, and crumbly shortbread cookies. These recipes are made for those who like to wander, roam, and galavant—dessert in tow of course.

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  • Scotcheroos

    Plates of scotcheroos, chocolate-topped dessert bars, placed on a pink surface beside glasses of milk

    Serious Eats/ Jatin Sharma

    Midwestern Scotcheroos, which are dressed up with chocolate and peanut butter, are part Rice Krispies treat, part candy bar. Commonly spotted in gas stations and cafes, this beloved treat rules the dessert spread at Midwestern potlucks. Here, a higher-than-usual ratio of corn syrup to sugar amplifies the bars' chewiness, and using brown sugar instead of granulated sugar gives the desserts moisture and deep molasses notes.

  • Mango Yogurt Popsicles

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    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    Made with ripe mangos, full-fat Greek yogurt, heavy cream, sugar, salt, and a hint of lime juice, these frozen treats evoke sweet, velvety, and tangy mango lassis. Fresh Ataulfo mangos work best here, given their creamy sweetness and intense tropical flavor, but if you can't get your hands on them, any variety will work. You can even use frozen, though you might need to add a touch of extra sugar.

  • Bolis de Pay de Limón (Mexican Key Lime Pie Ice Pops)

    Overhead view of two hands holding three key lime bolis over a bag of limes and maria cookies

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    Sweet, tangy key lime pie is delicious as is, so it makes sense that a frozen version would be just as—if not even more—appetizing, especially on a hot day. Bolis de pay de limón, which combines milk, condensed milk, cream cheese, and crumbly cookies, is a natural hit during the summer; I especially love the popsicle-in-the-bag format, which makes it easy to enjoy on the go or chuck into a cooler.

  • Sunny Lemon Bars

    Lemon bars cut into squares and dusted with powdered sugar on a marble countertop

    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    Cooking the smooth, bright custard for these classic lemon bars allows for precise control over temperature to prevent soggy bars. Meanwhile, blitzing the dough in the food processor ensures that the crust stays flaky.

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  • Fudgsicles

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    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    If I had to pick a favorite chocolate summer treat, these DIY Fudgsicles would be a likely contender. Dutch-process cocoa powder gives these popsicles their intense chocolate flavor; using skim milk instead of whole milk, which can muddle flavors, allows the rich chocolate notes to shine through. These frozen treats are refreshing and deeply creamy, and are sure to be an instant crowd-pleaser on a hot summer day.

  • No-Bake Chocolate Dessert

    A plate of layered chocolate squares with a fudgy and textured appearance topped with sea salt

    Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Glaze

    Brownies are the ultimate picnic dessert: They're incredibly snackable, not to mention easy to portion and hold. When it's scorching hot, however, there's almost nothing that will convince me to turn on the oven—not even a rich, fudgy brownie. Thankfully, these no-bake chocolate squares, which taste like the best of brownies, fudge, and mousse combined, require barely any cooking.

  • Meringue Cookies

    Meringue cookies in a bowl.

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    No one will be upset if you deliver a tub of meringues to a party: These spectacular puffs of whipped egg whites and sugar are shatteringly crisp and just sweet enough. Making the perfect meringue requires a bit of patience—low and slow is the name of the game—but take the time to do it right, and you'll be rewarded with crunchy cookies that are delicious on their own or paired with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

  • Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

    oatmeal raisin cookies stacked up on top of each other, and one cookie leaning on the stack. 2 glasses of milk in back and a red swirl background wall.

    Serious Eats / Fred Hardy

    As much as I love chocolate chip cookies, I'd like to avoid getting melted chocolate all over my hands, clothes, or bag. Enter oatmeal raisin cookies. Blooming cinnamon and nutmeg in brown butter releases their aromatic compounds, enhancing the flavor of the spices and resulting in rich, nutty oatmeal raisin cookies.

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  • Rice Krispies Treats

    Overhead view of a torn apart rice krispie treat

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    Rice Krispies Treats are a classic for a reason: Packed with gooey marshmallows and crisp cereal, they're satisfyingly chewy. They're especially delicious when made with toasted cereal and nutty brown butter. Want to mix it up? Add some chocolate or schmaltz for extra oomph.

  • Homemade Strawberry Pop-Tarts

    Plate of strawberry rhubarb pop-tarts on a colorful background

    Serious Eats / Victor Protasio

    These homemade strawberry Pop-Tarts deliver on ‘90s nostalgia with their sweet, thick filling and crumbly pastry. Here, freeze-dried strawberry powder helps absorb excess moisture, resulting in a nicely jammy filling that doesn’t ooze.

  • Shortbread Cookies

    Overheav view of shortbread cookies with coffee

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    Shortbread cookies are delightfully crumbly and buttery. This version takes less than five minutes to prep, and requires just a few pantry staples. For the most tender, flavorful shortbread, be sure to reach for good-quality butter.

  • S'mores Brownie Bars

    20110309-127677-Serious-Sweets-SmoresBrownies-PRIMARY.jpg

    Serious Eats

    S'mores brownie bars bring the spirit of smoky campfire nights to a grab-and-go treat. Without pitching a fire, you can bring these sticky and gooey bars to your next backyard party or picnic.

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  • Jammy Fruit Bars

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    Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

    Inspired by Icelandic hjónabandssæla, these fruit bars can be made with jam or fresh fruit, such as blueberries, raspberries, or cherries. Here, salt brings out the flavor of the fruit, and lemon juice adds brightness to the mix. Using rolled oats as a base, the versatile dough acts as both a satisfyingly crumbly crust and streusel topping.

  • Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

    Strawberry cheesecake bars in a purple tray, on purple velvet

    Serious Eats / Jen Causey

    These cheesecake bars with a strawberry swirl balance a stunning presentation with portability. This version blends cream cheese and goat cheese for a signature creamy texture and a pleasantly tangy twist.

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