39 Desserts Perfect for a Summer Picnic

Mini S’mores

Combine marshmallow creme, chocolate, graham crackers and more for a summery delight at any time of year. —Stephanie Tewell, Elizabeth, Illinois

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Mini Apple Pies

If you adore the taste of an apple pie but prefer a hand-held treat, mini apple pies are the answer. Each one is topped with cinnamon-sugar for maximum fall flavor.

Super Chunky Cookies

Chocolate lovers will go crazy over these cookies that feature loads of chocolate! When friends ask me to make "those cookies," I know exactly what recipe they mean. —Rebecca Jendry, Spring Branch, Texas

Picnic Bars

You'll score points with a crowd when you stir together these delicious fudge-like treats. They're very moist and rich. The chocolate chips and walnuts make a pretty topping. —Frank Bee, Eugene, Oregon

Lemon Coconut Bites

The tangy lemon flavor of this no-fuss dessert is especially delicious on a warm day. It gives me delightful flashbacks of selling lemonade on the sidewalk as a little girl. —Donna Biddle, Elmira, New York

Chocolate Fudge Brownies

My children always looked forward to these fudge brownies as an after-school snack. They're so fudgy they don't need icing. —Hazel Fritchie, Palestine, Illinois

Chocolate Chip Blondies

These chocolate chip blondies are a comforting treat that's ready in just 30 minutes. Meet your new go-to potluck dessert!

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

White chocolate macadamia nut cookies are the king of macadamia nut cookies. These rich, buttery cookies bake up soft with just the right amount of crispness.

Lemon Blueberry Whoopie Pies

These pies are soft, cakey cookies studded with tart, juicy blueberries and filled with tangy cream cheese frosting. I bring them to family and school events and they are always the first thing gone! Make sure to continually scrape the side of the bowl with a spatula while mixing the batter and frosting. —Kathy Martino, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Peach Bars

These tasty, crumbly peach bars are somewhere between a pastry and a natural energy bar, and they're a treat you'll be glad you made during peach season.

Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

Peanut butter lovers go nuts for these rich little sandwich cookies. On a hot day, sandwich ice cream between the cookies instead of frosting. It cools you right down. —Keri Wolfe, Nappanee, Indiana

Nutella Hand Pies

These pint-sized Nutella hand pies made with puff pastry are too good to keep to yourself! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Coconut, Lime and Pistachio Cookies

Perfect for freezing, these cookies look like Christmas but taste like summer. —Barbara Crusan, Pass Christian, Mississippi

Mini Chocolate Chip Sandwich Cookies

I love baking cookies to give as gifts to my family and friends. I created this recipe for my annual holiday cookie platter and it received rave reviews from both children and adults. If the buttercream doesn't come together after all of the butter has been incorporated, add some shortening one tablespoon at a time until the mixture starts to transform. —Julie Thomas, Saukville, Wisconsin

Blueberry Lattice Bars

Since our area has an annual blueberry festival, my daughters and I are always looking for amazing new recipes to enter in the cooking contest. These lovely bars won a blue ribbon one year. —Debbie Ayers, Baileyville, Maine

Zucchini Bread

Turn your garden harvest into a treat! We'll teach you how to make zucchini bread that's perfectly snackable.

Amish Sugar Cookies

The Amish seem to be master bakers, and they did not skimp on Amish sugar cookies.

Loaded M&M Oreo Cookie Bars

We’re all so busy and pressed for time. I find myself creating recipes that are fast to prepare and deliver fabulous results, proving you don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen. Here’s a favorite of mine that combines chocolate candies and cookies into one wonderful bar. —Averie Sunshine, San Diego, California

Yummy Cracker Snacks

These treats are my family’s favorite. In fact, it seems no matter how many I make, they always disappear too soon! —D. Weaver, Ephrata, Pennsylvania

Toni's Tropical Biscotti

My second mom had a hankering for biscotti with pistachios and dried papaya. Since she's a fabulous cook, I gave it a whirl. The result was sensational!—Bonnie Hauschild, Wellington, Florida

Snickerdoodle Blondies

Baking these snickerdoodle blondies will fill your home with delightful cinnamon-sugar aromas. They are soft and chewy, making for a truly flavorful treat.

Lemon Zucchini Drops

When we lived on the East Coast, a nearby fruit and vegetable stand had a bakery featuring these soft, cakelike cookies. We missed every bite when we moved away, so I developed this recipe. —Barbara Franklin, Tucson, Arizona

Maple-Glazed Cinnamon Chip Bars

When I make these, the kitchen smells like Christmas. Cinnamon chips add fabulous flavor to the bars, and the maple glaze fancies them up a bit. —Lyndi Pilch, Springfield, Missouri

Banana Pineapple Bread

Make banana pineapple bread your signature quick bread. It's sweet, spiced, and will have everyone clamoring for another slice.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

My secret to these rich no-bake bites? Pretzels in the crust. They add a salty crunch to the classic peanut butter and chocolate pairing. —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blondies

I converted these blondies to be gluten free so that my family could enjoy a comforting dessert. We were craving brownies one night, and these cakelike treats hit the spot. They are a fantastic spin on gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. —Becky Klope, Loudonville, New York

Watermelon Slice Cookies

Once when I made these butter cookies for a party, a neighbor thought they were so attractive that she froze one to show friends. They're easy to make, too! —Sue Ann Benham, Valparaiso, Indiana

Strawberry-Rhubarb Muffins

Strawberry-rhubarb muffins might just be our favorite baked treat to celebrate the sweet-tart flavors of the late spring and summer harvest.

Apricot Bars

This contest-winning apricot bars recipe is just the thing for snacks, special gatherings, desserts, you name it! Apricot preserves provide the fruit flavor, while shredded coconut and chopped walnuts make them even more delicious. It's incredibly easy to make these as well, and they freeze well so you can save some for later. Enjoy!

Orange Dreams

A fellow teacher shared this recipe with me. We have several great cooks on our teaching staff, and each of us takes turns bringing special treats to the lounge. These moist, chewy cookies with a pleasant orange flavor are a favorite.—Susan Warren, North Manchester, Indiana

Lemon Blueberry Scones

These miniature lemon blueberry scones, dotted with fruit and drizzled with citrusy glaze, are just right for a few sweet bites.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

These irresistible chocolate chip cheesecake Bars are the perfect blend of chewy chocolate chip cookie and creamy cheesecake. They're the ideal treat for any occasion and easy to make and even easier to enjoy.

Butterscotch Toffee Cookies

Decadent and so easy to make, these five-ingredient toffee chip cookies are your next go-to sweet treat.

Angel Macaroons

These chewy coconut cookies start with a boxed angel food cake mix. —Renee Schwebach, Dumont, Minnesota

Lemon Crisp Cookies

Here’s a quick-to-fix delight that’s perfect to make when you’ve forgotten a treat for a bake sale or potluck. They take only 10 minutes to whip up! The sunny yellow color, big lemon flavor and delightful crunch are sure to bring smiles. —Julia Livingston, Frostproof, Florida

M&M Pretzel Cookies

Kids and grown-ups alike adore these sweet and crunchy no-bake cookies. Add more candy for lovers of M&M's, or toss in a few additional pretzels for an extra-salty bite. —Madison Allen, Destrehan, Louisiana

Poppy Seed Mini Muffins

These moist muffins may be small, but they're always a big hit on a brunch buffet, as a quick snack or as part of a bread basket assortment. The combination of poppy seeds and a hint of lemon makes them irresistible. —Kathryn Anderson, Casper, Wyoming

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

Made from a few simple ingredients, these sweet and buttery strawberry oatmeal bars are a cinch to make.