Opinion 10 easy vegan desserts to sweeten your next BBQ

Want to add something sweet to your next plant-based BBQ spread? We’ve got you covered with these lazy vegan dessert recipes – all 100% egg-free, dairy-free, and fuss-free! (Plus, as indulgent as it gets 🤤)

Let’s be real: When planning food for a BBQ, dessert sometimes takes a back seat. We get it: You’re too busy dreaming about chargrilled veggie skewers, sizzling vegan sausages, and that classic potato salad you’ve been craving. But who doesn’t love a sweet treat? From throw-together chocolate mousse to low-effort plant-based cheesecake, each of these lazy vegan desserts is so straightforward that they’ll make showing up with something sweet as easy as pie (literally).

With minimal prep (and in some cases, no baking at all), whipping up one of these simple sweet treats will guarantee you’ll be crowned BBQ MVP 😉👑 Here are some of our favourite easy vegan dessert recipes to take your next BBQ to the next level…

1. Lamington Loaf

This vegan take on an iconic Aussie classic needs no introduction – and of course, it has to top the list! Served as an easy-peasy loaf rather than fiddly little squares, it’s a sure-fire nostalgic recipe that stays true to all the coconutty, chocolatey goodness you remember.

2. Native Summer Custard Tart

Filled with wattleseed-infused custard and topped with seasonal fruits, flowers, and pistachios, this Australian summer-inspired tart is a healthy vegan dessert option that feels just the right amount of fancy. And we assure you – no one will guess how easy it was to assemble. 

3. Easy Chocolate Mousse with Avocado

Rich, silky, and unbelievably simple, this 5-minute vegan dessert recipe is a game-changer. Just blend ripe avocado with coconut cream, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla, and a sprinkle of salt – and voilà! You’ve got an indulgent, chocolatey treat with practically zero effort.

4. Mango, Lime & Coconut Swirl Popsicles

These creamy, zesty popsicles are pure sunshine on a stick. This quick vegan dessert is refreshing, tropical, and super easy to freeze ahead for a BBQ on a hot day. Featuring swirls of coconut yoghurt, fresh mango, and lime juice, they’re simple, nourishing, and utterly irresistible. 

5. Classic Tiramisu

Who doesn’t love a good tiramisu?! The secret to the fluffy, airy dairy-free custard in these tiramisu cups is aquafaba – a magical vegan ingredient that whips just like egg whites. Layer with coffee-soaked biscuits for a decadent vegan dessert that tastes chef-worthy, but comes together in a flash.

6. Hummingbird Cake 

This delightfully nutty banana and pineapple-infused cake is layered with plant-based cream cheese frosting and bursting with bright tropical flavours. It’s the ultimate vegan dessert for when you want something comforting, fruity, and filling (and that didn’t take all day to make).

7. Lemon Tart

This lemon tart features a buttery crust filled with zingy plant-based lemon curd – the ideal balance of sweet and citrusy freshness to complement your savoury spread. Garnish with edible flowers or fresh berries for an easy vegan dessert that looks just as good as it tastes.

8. Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Cake

This indulgent, no-fuss frozen cake is literally just vegan ice cream and a base of crumbled Oreos. It’s a deceptively simple recipe – perfect for a hot day – that’s guaranteed to disappear before it melts. 

9. Raw Blueberry Macadamia Cheesecake

Another no-bake gem, this brilliantly purple blueberry-macadamia cheesecake is a silky, wholesome treat that looks (and tastes) like a work of art. Made with macadamias, coconut oil, and antioxidant-rich berries, it’s the perfect raw vegan dessert recipe to cool off with on a sunny afternoon.

10. Matcha Custard Jars

These super impressive matcha custard jars are one of those legendary 5-minute vegan dessert recipes that look so much more complicated than they actually are. Creamy, lightly earthy, and subtly sweet, they’re ideal for anyone keen to try something a little different – plus, they’re portable, making them easy to take to any BBQ picnic spot!

No time to bake? Grab a vegan dessert from the shops instead

If you’re really short on time, you can grab plenty of ready-to-eat sweets on your way past the shops! Coles, Woolworths, and other major Aussie supermarkets stock lots of vegan-friendly dessert options, including everything from dreamy vegan chocolate to decadent dairy-free ice cream tubs 🤤

Whether you bake something yourself or grab an easy, no-prep option on the go, you’ll be all set to treat yourself (and your mates) to something sweet that’s egg-free, dairy-free, and best of all, stress-free – as all BBQ spreads should be!

Need to sort some savoury BBQ options too? Snag these tasty vegan sausages and burgers available at Coles and Woolworths, or check out our favourite easy plant-based recipes for summer grilling. Or eat with your eyes over on our Instagram!