Ultimate Summer Cookout Menu

The sun is shining and the weather is hot, let's plan the ultimate summer cookout menu! We've rounded up all the best summer cookout recipes to make your party planning a breeze. So, prepare the guest lists, choose your menu items and have a great time!

 

A great summer is spent grilling, getting fresh air, and gathering with friends and family to indulge in the ultimate BBQ experience. From juicy burgers to tender smoked ribs, a summer party is a culinary celebration! In this comprehensive roundup, we'll explore your whole summer spread. 

We don't own a gas grill (apartment living) but that doesn't stop us from making any of these easy summer recipes! I'm a huge foodie and though I love all seasons, warm weather means more options! Summer produce, summer cooking and a refreshing cocktail shared with loved ones is the best.

This post is designed to take some of the stress away from planning your ultimate summer hang, enjoy!

Appetizers

Chunky Artichoke Dip- No Cream Cheese

This NO BAKE appetizer can be whipped up in 15 minutes. It’s a crowd pleaser, better double it!

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Smoked Queso Dip

Smoked queso is your favorite queso dip made with Velveeta, Rotel, onions, taco meat, and peppers made in a cast-iron skillet on your smoker or grill. This dip is so good. Rich with smokey flavors yet full of the cheesy goodness that every good crock pot sausage queso has.

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Roasted Tomato Habanero Salsa

This Roasted Tomato and Habanero Salsa recipe is so easy to make and loaded with flavor! It is the perfect alternative to traditional salsa and is great for chips, tacos, burritos and more. Make this spicy salsa recipe for your next party or Taco Tuesday, everyone will love it. 

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Roasted Chili Corn Salsa

This roasted chili corn salsa is made with 6 simple ingredients in less than 5 minutes! It follows Chipotle’s original recipe, and is incredibly fresh, crunchy, tangy, and delicious!

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Roasted Sweet Potato Hummus

The smooth dip combines the rich smoky notes of roasted garlic and smoked paprika with the velvety creaminess of chickpeas and sweet potato.

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Maple Fruit Dip

Maple Fruit Dip perfect for all fruits! But why stop at fruit, when you can add graham cracker sticks, vanilla wafers and gingersnaps to the platter? This easy recipe is made with cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and maple extract.

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Melitzanosalata (Roasted Greek Eggplant Dip)

Melitzanosalata (Roasted Greek Eggplant Dip) is a smokey and delicious Greek appetizer/meze made with fire-roasted eggplants, tangy lemon juice, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. This heavenly eggplant salad is a harmonious blend of smoky, zesty, and vibrant Mediterranean flavors.

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Salads

Mexican Street Corn Salad

This Mexican Street Corn Salad recipe (known in Spanish as Grilled Esquites) is the perfect barbecue side dish.

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Panzanella Toscana with Fresh Mozzarella Caprese

Panzanella Toscana is a Tuscan-inspired, bread and vegetable salad with a strong nod to the southern Italian island of Capri–with fresh mozzarella, extra tomatoes and extra basil. This Caprese Panzanella just screams “summer!”.

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Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

This Chicken Pasta Salad is packed with flavor, texture and is irresistible! Leftover chicken is seared until crispy golden brown, and then tossed in a creamy pesto sauce along with penne pasta, cherry tomatoes and toasted pecans.

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Potato Salad without Mayo

This Mayo-free Potato Salad is easy to make, vegan and gluten-free. It's the perfect side dish to serve in the warmer months.

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Summer Fruit Salad

This Summer Fruit Salad includes a variety of in-season fruits with a lemon-olive oil dressing for a light and flavorful side dish. This fruit salad is dairy-free and does not contain any highly processed ingredients.

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Classic German Pasta Salad (Nudelsalat)

This German Pasta Salad, known as Nudelsalat, is a popular side dish in Germany for summer BBQs, picnics, and parties. Made with pantry staples, this budget-friendly salad can be quickly prepared and customized to suit your taste, dietary needs, or ingredients on hand.

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Marinated Vegetable Salad

Chopped red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots are mixed in a delicious sweet and tangy dressing to make a Marinated Vegetable Salad! This delicious recipe is the perfect way to get in fresh raw vegetables when you aren't in the mood for a traditional salad.

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Rainbow Orzo Salad

Rainbow Orzo Salad is a bright and colorful salad that's perfect for warmer weather. It's crunchy, light and fresh. This easy pasta salad is the perfect side dish or light lunch.

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Gluten-Free Macaroni Salad

This gluten-free macaroni salad is served cold and refreshing on a hot day while still creamy and delicious. With just six main ingredients, plus spices already in your pantry, it can be ready in a pinch for any last-minute summer parties!

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Italian Green Bean Salad

This marinated Italian Green Bean Salad recipe is fresh and easy! It's tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes, almonds, and cheese. It's full of bright Italian flavors and perfect to enjoy during the summer months.

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Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad

Full of salty black olives, sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella balls, and artichoke hearts, this Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad is a summer staple!

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Grilled Corn Salad

Dust off the outdoor grill and get ready for summer with this Grilled Corn Salad. Fresh corn salad is the ultimate cookout side, it's an easy recipe bursting with fresh flavors and made in just 30 minutes!

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Mains

Juicy Grilled Chicken

Juicy grilled BBQ chicken is easily done with this simple brine recipe and chicken seasoned with your favorite barbeque seasoning then grilled to perfection.

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Korean Marinated Short Ribs

These easy Korean Marinated Flanken Short Ribs have mouthwatering flavor with succulently tender meat... and the best part? This Kalbi recipe has no grating required and whether you're marinating them for only 2 hours or overnight, you'll be indulging in game-changing Korean short ribs!

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Portobello Mushroom Burger

This Portobello Mushroom Burger is easy to make and smothered in Smoky Homemade Chipotle Sauce. Cook it on the grill, stovetop or in the oven.

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St. Louis Ribs Recipe

Fire up your grill and elevate your BBQ game with perfectly cooked St. Louis Ribs. Juicy, tender, and charred to perfection, these ribs are a true crowd-pleaser.

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Chili Lime Chicken Kabobs

These chili lime chicken kabobs with veggies make a nice and healthy summer BBQ dish and pair well with many side dishes.

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Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Try this grilled pork tenderloin for your next cookout. Made with a peach BBQ marinade, it boasts sweet and spicy flavors and is perfect for grilling all summer long. Pairs well with potatoes, veggies, and more. 

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Authentic Schwenkbraten Recipe- Marinated BBQ Pork Steak

An authentic Schwenkbraten is one of the highlights at German grill/BBQ parties. These German grilled pork steaks ooze flavour. Paired with a fresh salad and some white crusty bread, this dish makes for a comforting meal.

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Smoked Beer Can Chicken

This easy BBQ beer can chicken recipe is one that our clan goes back to again and again because it’s easy to make and impressive to serve (everyone gets a chuckle from the beer can chicken stand).

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Basil Garlic Marinated Grilled Shrimp Skewers

A quick marinade of basil, vanilla and garlic infuses head-on shrimp with an herby, sweet flavor bringing the taste of summer into your tongue. These skewers come together quickly and are a crowd-pleaser.

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BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Ready in just 20 minutes, these BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers are perfect for an impressive and quick weeknight meal with a glass of white wine and a side salad.

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Smoked Baby Back Ribs

It's time to make the best piece of meat you can make on a smoker, smoked baby back ribs. EVERYONE loves ribs, and there is a reason, they're delicious! So let's roll some smoke and get these ribs smokin'.

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Grilled Hawaiian Steak Skewers

Take a trip to the islands without leaving your backyard! These sweet Grilled Hawaiian Steak Skewers are a quick and easy main course perfect for a summer barbecue or a weeknight dinner.

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Grilled BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs

These grilled BBQ chicken thighs are perfectly sweet and smoky and are the ultimate way to enjoy chicken during grilling season! Marinated and glazed in a simple BBQ marinade, this sticky grilled chicken makes for such a quick, easy and delicious meal.

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​Blackstone Smash Burgers

These Blackstone Smash Burgers are the Ultimate Burger! They are smashed to perfection on the Blackstone griddle with just salt and pepper to keep that delicious beef flavor. This recipe is so easy to make and the taste is phenomenal.

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Romanian Chicken Kebabs- Frigarui Recipe

The frigarui are skewers with marinated chicken meat and a selection of different vegetables. They are best grilled on the barbecue, over flaming hot coal, to get that summery charcoal taste that adds so much flavor to the meat.

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Grilled Ribeye Steak

Grilled ribeye is pure carnivorous bliss, with its juicy, tender meat and the irresistible smoky char from the grill. It's the ultimate indulgence that satisfies all your meaty cravings!

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Balsamic Grilled Salmon with Strawberry Avocado Salsa

This Balsamic Grilled Salmon with Strawberry Avocado Salsa is a fresh and healthy summer meal. It is sweet, savory, and delicious! This meal is Whole30, paleo, and gluten free.

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Sides

Asian Ramen Coleslaw

This quick and easy Asian Ramen Coleslaw is a fast and effortless salad that leaves everyone craving for seconds! This vibrant, zesty, and crunchy Asian Slaw recipe takes less than 10 minutes to prepare, making it an ideal choice for picnics, potlucks, BBQs, and beyond!

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Balsamic Grilled Vegetables

An array of colorful vegetables, a simple marinade and a few minutes is all you need to make this Balsamic Grilled Vegetables recipe! No complicated method, no marinating for hours and an easy dish that can be made in so many ways.

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Grilled Zucchini with Feta

Bring vibrancy and ease to this time of year with this Grilled Zucchini Salad.  The combination of crunchy zucchini, creamy feta, a splash of lemon juice, and fresh herbs makes a light and satisfying meal in just minutes!

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How To Make Bread on the Grill

Grilled bread is a fabulous addition to your backyard barbecue menu! It's a yeasted, rustic bread that you coat with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and fresh herbs, and then cook on a grill.

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Kale Slaw

Kale slaw is an easy, nutritious, and colorful variation of the traditional side dish. Using a mix of kale, green cabbage, carrot, and red onion, this recipe is perfectly suited as a side dish, condiment, or eaten as a salad on it's own.

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Grilled Potatoes (in Foil)

These ultra-easy Grilled Potatoes rely on a clever foil packet technique to eliminate 3 common, additional cooking steps you sometimes see in similar recipes. The result is tender, fluffy potatoes with lots of yummy, golden-brown spots!

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Garlic Dill Pickles

Made with herby fresh dill, pickling spices, and plenty of garlic cloves, a batch of homemade Garlic Dill Pickles is the tangy, crunchy snack you’ve been waiting for! This easy recipe is perfect for using up summer cucumbers from the garden or the farmers market!

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Mizo Glazed Zucchini on the Grill

This Grilled Zucchini Recipe with Miso Glaze requires no special knife skills, is ready in 15 minutes, and will make eating your veggies an absolute delight.

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Burrata Bruschetta with Peaches and Tomatoes

Looking for the perfect easy appetizer recipe for summer? This simple and beautiful burrata bruschetta with fresh juicy peaches and ripe tomatoes is sure to disappear quickly at your next gathering!

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Grilled Vegetables

Gilled Vegetables that are lightly seared and a little smoky are perfect for your summer menu but also great year-round. This method is as easy as slicing up the best fresh veggies and throwing them on the hot grill. 

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Sicilian Spring Onion & Pancetta

Some things in this world are just meant to be together. No other country knows this more than Italy. In Sicily, the clever locals have been enjoying a combination of spring onion wrapped in pancetta for many years. A simple street food that pairs the fragrance of green/spring onion and salty pancetta.

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Smoked Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

A quick and easy stuffed mushroom recipe with sweet Italian sausage.

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Sauces

3 Ingredient BBQ Sauce

3 Ingredient BBQ Sauce is so sweet, tangy, and delicious! With just a few ingredients, this sauce recipe is so easy to make. Why purchase store-bought barbecue sauce when you can make BBQ sauce from scratch?

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Burger Sauce

Make one of the best burger sauces just like the In-N-Out spread from the west coast drive-through chain that started in Southern California.

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Cajun Butter Sauce

Drizzle Cajun butter sauce over your favorite Louisiana seafood boil, lobster tails or crab. It's rich in flavor, velvety, and perfectly spiced. Have this delicious garlic butter sauce on the table in 5 minutes!

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Drinks

Easy Hibiscus Lemonade

This easy Hibiscus Lemonade is delicious, refreshing, and the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Takes just 4 ingredients and 15 minutes. Make this pretty pink lemonade for your next gathering or party.

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Watermelon Mojito Cocktail

This refreshing summer watermelon mojito is made with few simple ingredients and incredibly easy to make. A perfect summer cocktail that great for backyard BBQ parties.

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Iced Rooibos Tea

Iced rooibos tea is a delicious, refreshing herbal summer drink. It takes minutes to prepare and is a healthy, caffeine-free, sugar-free alternative to soft drinks and a tastier option than plain water!

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Spicy Watermelon Margarita

These Spicy Watermelon Margaritas are super refreshing. Made with fresh fruit and only 5 ingredients, it will be your new favorite summer cocktail!

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Sparkling Summer Blackberry Basil Cocktail

Summer is the perfect time to switch up your routine and indulge in a delicious, fresh drink. One of the best ways to do this is to make a sparkling summer blackberry basil cocktail!

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Wild Violet Lemonade and Syrup

Violet syrup is a perfect way to add beautiful color and a hint of floral goodness to drinks and desserts. The violet lemonade is sweet, refreshing and a unique lemonade for springtime!

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Quick and Easy Watermelon Frosé

This frosé, with frozen watermelon and strawberries, is a delightful treat, no matter when and where you're drinking it this summer. It's also incredibly easy.

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Bahama Mama

This Bahama Mama recipe features 3 types of rum and 3 different juices for a fruity, tropical drink that packs a punch. Quick & easy to pull together and perfect for summer parties.

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Mango Crush

This easy and delicious mango rum cocktail, calls for only 2 ingredients! This refreshing cocktail is perfect for summer events and get-togethers it takes zero time to make and is sure to be a hit! Mocktail version included!

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Non Alcoholic Mojito

Non Alcoholic Mojito (mocktail) or Virgin Mojito is a refreshing blend of mint leaves, apple juice, lime juice, elderflower cordial and soda water.

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Blueberry Yuzu Bee's Knees Cocktail

This blueberry yuzu bee's knees cocktail is a fun twist on the traditional bee's knees. Muddled blueberries are mixed with gin, fresh lemon juice, yuzu, honey simple syrup, fresh mint and ice, then shaken and strained into a cold martini or coupe glass.

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Frozen Hurricane

This frozen hurricane is the tropical and refreshing cocktail you are looking for this summer! This slushy drink is a blended version of the classic hurricane cocktail and takes only 5 minutes to make.

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Desserts

Meyer Lemon Bars with Brown Butter

This will be the best Meyer Lemon Bar recipe ever! Meyer lemons make great lemony desserts, what’s exciting about this recipe is the brown butter crust, which has subtle caramel and nutty flavors but in a 100% nut-free recipe.

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Mini Cherry Pies

Bite-sized cherry pies are baked in a muffin pan for the perfect handheld dessert. Filled with juicy cherries and topped with a flaky lattice crust, this take on the hand pie will be the talk of the table!

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Gluten Free Fruit Pizza

This Gluten Free Fruit Pizza with an almond flour crust is a perfect healthy fruit pizza recipe, great for a snack or fruit dessert.

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Mango Lassi

Easy restaurant style mango lassi is a refreshing, creamy drink. It is one of the most popular drinks that you can find at nearly any Indian restaurant. Our recipe gives you an easy way to make this tasty mango flavored beverage any time you want.

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No Bake Key Lime Cheesecake Bars

These No Bake Key Lime Cheesecake Bars are the best recipe to make on a hot summer day because there's no oven required!

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Chocolate Covered Pineapple

Get ready for a tropical twist on chocolatey delights with just two ingredients! This recipe for chocolate covered pineapple will transport your taste buds to a paradise of sweet, tangy, and oh-so-chocolatey goodness, perfect for parties, BBQs, or whenever you want an easy treat.

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Peach Delight

Smooth, sweet, and creamy cheesecake atop a perfect, graham crust that has been piled high with fresh peaches. With just one bite, you'll know why this family favorite dessert is called "peach delight"! It's simple, dreamy, and perfectly delicious!

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Grilled Pineapple Recipes

This Grilled Pineapple recipe is more than just grilling pineapple. The flavors are sweet, spicy and smokey. They are an easy and super healthy summer cookout idea that everyone will LOVE! Best of all, you can serve them as an appetizer, side dish OR as a dessert!

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Mini Blueberry Pie Pops

These little star-shaped mini blueberry pie pops are a simple and fun dessert. They use a 10-minute homemade blueberry filling and premade pie crusts. Drizzle them with a white vanilla glaze and sprinkle with red and blue sugar.

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Balsamic Peach Dessert Pizza

A delicious dessert pizza made from homemade pizza dough, mascarpone cheese, brandied peaches and drizzled with balsamic glaze.

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No Bake Cheesecake Jars

Ditch the oven and make these delicious no-bake cheesecake jars. They're easy to make and perfect for sharing with friends. So get ready to celebrate America's birthday in style with this yummy dessert.

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Grilled Peaches with Vegan Peach Ice Cream

This recipe is sure to make some very happy people around your house. There is something about the grilled fruit’s warmth and flavor, combined with the cold delicious vegan peach ice cream that hit all the right notes. 

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S'mores Cake

S’mores Cake is an easy recipe for rich, chocolate graham cracker sheet cake topped with toasty marshmallows and melty chocolate! 

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Biscoff Brownies

These gooey, fudgy biscoff brownies are an easy decadent dessert with irresistible heaps of scrumptious cookie butter in every bite!

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Grilled Blueberry Pie

Bake this Blueberry Pie Recipe outdoors on your gas or charcoal grill. It works just like an indoor oven and keeps your house cool on scorching hot days.

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Gluten-Free Tres Leches Cake

This delicious Gluten-free Tres Leches Cake is super moist from the heavenly cinnamon-dusted cream-soaked cake with whipped cream topping. Every bite is luscious and melts in your mouth! This special gluten-free cake will be a family favorite for any celebration.

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Berry Trifle

Berry Trifle is an easy no-bake dessert filled with layers of pound cake or angel food cake, pastry cream using instant pudding and fresh berries.

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Vegan Peaches and Cream

This Vegan Peaches and Cream is a healthy, dairy-free and delicious version that comes very close to the classic! This yummy seasonal dessert packs a heap-load of peachy flavor while boasting a light cinnamon crunch, thanks to the Maple Cinnamon Granola Topping.

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