30+ Delicious Summer Desserts That Are Perfect for Peak Sunshine
Fruit is the star of the show in these refreshing hot weather desserts.
Trying to figure out a dessert course for your next backyard barbecue, or just looking for easy after-dinner treats to give your kids? Look no further. This list of ultimate summer desserts has something for every sweet tooth, whether you prefer a chocolatey treat, scoop of ice cream, tropical ice pop, or a fresh fruit cobbler.
Lemon-Blueberry Cake
For an easy dessert that will wow any summertime guests, give this refreshing icebox cake a whirl. It calls for vanilla sandwich cookies, pillowy whipped cream, jammy blueberries, which peak in the summer, and tart lemon sorbet. Translation: There's a little something for everyone in this colorful confection.
Tiramisu for Two
Greg DuPree
This make-ahead dessert can sit in the fridge for up to two days before serving. And with only 15 minutes of prep time and no baking required, this tiramisu recipe tops the list for being nearly effortless. Cooling, sweet, and crunchy, this dessert is everything you could want on a hot summer day.
No-Churn Papaya Ice Cream
What is there to say about no-churn papaya ice cream? So much. First of all, it's way easier to make than regular ice cream, since all you have to do is whip up heavy cream with sweetened condensed milk and fold in some papaya. No special equipment is needed! Not to mention, it's delicious, too. Scoop right out of the freezer or turn into decadent sundaes with roasted pineapple, toasted coconut flakes, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
Peach Cobbler Trifle
Peaches and cream? Yes. please! Here, juicy peaches, which are at their peak during the summer months, are bathed in sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon before being paired with heavy whipping cream and a store-bought pound cake. Pop this baby in the freezer so it gets a nice, refreshing chill.
Frozen Strawberry Trifle
If you're hosting a backyard party and need a make-ahead dessert, this trifle is it. It's made with only five ingredients—fresh and frozen strawberries, sugar, cream, ladyfingers, and ice cream—and is refreshingly cool since your freezer will do most of the work. While you can serve this dessert at any point, it's especially tasty in the summer when you can top it with freshly harvested strawberries.
Apricot Almond Cake
Stone fruits—think apricots, peaches, plums, mangoes, and cherries—have their peak season from June to September, which means you can totally make them the stars of your summer desserts. Here, apricots are paired with almonds (another stone fruit) via almond flour, almond milk, and almond extract, which accentuates the apricots' floral notes. This plant-based treat will be a hit with vegans and omnivores alike.
Watermelon Mojito Granita
This refreshing granita recipe is practically perfect for a hot summer day spent by the pool. It's made with watermelon, white rum, and mint jelly, as well as a generous dose of acidic lime juice. Even if you're not into the typically gritty texture of granita, we urge you to give this recipe a try. The mint jelly gives it an irresistibly silky texture that's hard to say no to.
Coconut Cake Doughnuts
The beauty of making doughnuts at home is that you don't have to wait in line or feel bad about eating seconds, or…thirds. And these are so delicious, you'll probably want the whole batch. The batter has coconut cream and nutmeg for a delicious tropical vibe, and after frying 'em you'll toss the doughnuts in a cinnamon-spiked coconut-sugar mixture. For a brunch treat, serve with coffee, or if you're serving as a dessert, a rum-spiked cocktail would pair perfectly.
Cantaloupe-Coconut Ice Pops
When the temperatures rise, the last thing you want to do is cook something really complicated. Luckily, these vibrant cantaloupe-coconut ice pops require only 20 minutes of hands-on prep. You can also make them ahead of time, which is helpful if you're hosting a big barbecue or pool party. Look for top-of-the-season summer cantaloupe, which is deliciously sweet and pairs perfectly with the sweet basil-coconut cream that draws out the floral notes of the fruit. A finishing touch of toasted coconut at the bottom of each pop adds a satisfying crunch.
Mango Pound Cake
Here's a fun twist on your average quick bread—a not-too-sweet loaf that folds in fresh chopped mango, while a blend of coconut oil and melted butter makes for a perfectly moist texture. Not only does coconut oil add delicious tropical flavor, but it also draws out the floral notes of mango. If you, by some miracle, have leftover cake, griddle up thick slices in melted butter. Bonus points for topping them with a scoop of ice cream or mango sorbet.
Dark Chocolate Coconut Tartlets
Sneak some protein into dessert time with sunflower seed butter or any other creamy nut butter. When mixed with silky melted dark chocolate, it's the filling for an unbelievably easy coconut tartlet dessert recipe.
Mixed Berry Biscuit Cobbler
The warm, fluffy biscuits are the real star here and have uses far beyond cobbler. Scoop them onto a baking sheet and bake until golden, then build strawberry shortcakes or serve with warm stone fruit.
Honey Whole Wheat Strawberry Clafoutis
Have you ever roasted or broiled strawberries? It brings out their natural sweetness and softens them to an almost spoonable consistency. We used the technique to add flavor to this whole wheat clafoutis, which is a sweet addition to any summer dessert menu.
Vanilla Peaches in Rosé
Peaches and rosé join forces to create this summertime dessert, which is basically summer in a bowl. Oh, and there's plenty of vanilla ice cream too. You'll start by making a syrup with rosé and sugar, plus vanilla and anise for aromatic floral notes. Then, you'll pour this over cut peaches and let them soak up the delicious flavors. Finally, serve the peaches over vanilla ice cream, with extra syrup drizzled on top. Trust us, you'll be making this dessert all summer long.
Banana Pudding Pie Bars With Meringue Topping
Imagine eating a giant bowl of banana pudding, except it's served atop a Nilla Wafer crust and comes topped with toasty, fluffy, marshmallowy meringue. The homemade banana pudding is a star on its own, so save the recipe and serve it with warm fruit or layer in a trifle.
Lemon Ricotta Cake
No mixing bowl is needed for this simple summer recipe—simply combine all the ingredients for this light and fluffy, sweet, and easy breakfast casserole and pop it in the oven.
Honeydew and Blackberry Ice Cream Sundaes
There's nothing wrong with a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream on a hot day, but if you're looking for something a bit different that also happens to highlight some scrumptious summer fruit, don't skip this sundae recipe. You'll start by stirring together a sesame-almond brittle that's infused with honey, and then nestle scoops of blackberry ice cream with honeydew melon. And if you love a little crunch, you'll be pleased to know that this dessert is topped with shards of sweet brittle and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
Chocolate Raspberry Skillet Cake
Raspberries are a delicious summer fruit but highly perishable. Sometimes they go bad within three days of bringing them home from the supermarket. This skillet cake uses them up before that happens. If you don't have the graham flour that this recipe calls for, just sub in whole wheat flour. The berries will still pull their weight and make this dessert delectable.
Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake With Yogurt
You don't need an electric mixer for this easy dessert recipe. You just whisk the batter together, add the blueberries, and bake for 70 to 75 minutes. Serve immediately, or wrap it up and freeze it for up to a month.
Nectarine Olive Oil Cake
Nectarines are in season from April through August, making this dessert ideal for summertime. This cake's complex olive oil and pureed nectarine combination makes for an elegant dessert that pairs perfectly with vanilla ice cream. If you don't have any nectarines, peaches are a worthy substitution.
Caramel Plum Galette
This rustic pie is filled with summer plums (a high-fiber fruit) and anise-scented caramel. Though the homemade crust is divine, you can always substitute a store-bought crust to pull this recipe off in no time.
Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats
No, these bars are not made with Cocoa Krispies. There are just four high-quality ingredients here: finely chopped bittersweet chocolate bars, coconut oil, crispy rice cereal, and flaky sea salt. Call them a grown-up version of Rice Krispy Treats, which are fun to eat in any season but especially at summer gatherings.
Mexican Fried Ice Cream
When making this popular treat, the only ingredient that gets fried is the panko crumbs. Then you stir in sugar, salt, and cinnamon, and it's time to roll balls of ice cream in it! Drizzle with honey and serve right away on a warm summer evening.
PB&J Ice Cream Sandwiches
Strawberry jelly features in this recipe, but the peanut butter part comes from the flavor of the cookies. Fill the peanut butter cookies with vanilla ice cream, then roll the exposed sides in some freeze-dried strawberries with diced peanuts. This might be a good option for dessert on the Fourth of July!
Easy Ice Cream Cake
There are just four ingredients in this cake recipe: heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, ice cream sandwiches, and chocolate chips. When you're done assembling, cover it with plastic wrap and freeze it for at least one hour. This is a great cake to nibble on amidst all your summer fun.
Peanut Butter Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
'Tis the season for ice cream! This decadent dessert for summer entertaining involves baking peanut butter oatmeal cookies from scratch, then boosting the deliciousness by sandwiching a small scoop of vanilla ice cream between two cookies.
Mint Chip Ice Cream Pie
Rice Krispy Treats are just the start of the delicious desserts you can make with crisped rice cereal. Another option? Consider this minty ice cream pie with its crispy chocolate crust, which will add some extra refreshment on a hot day.
Frozen Banana Ice Cream
Banana ice cream is the perfect treat for anyone who has to avoid dairy but still wants something cool and sweet on a hot day. It's also a great way to use up those bananas on your counter that are one day away from being too ripe for consumption.
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Scones
White chocolate and macadamia nut is a proven winning combo in cookies, so it's no surprise that the duo is right at home between the flaky layers of a scone. Each scone is blanketed in a buttery caramel glaze, a few more macadamia nuts for crunch, and some flakes of sea salt for an elegant finish.
Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies
Antonis Achilleos
These carrot cake sandwich cookies combine everything we love about a classic carrot cake (the tangy cream cheese filling, the flecks of carrot), with a handheld cookie. Oats and sweetened coconut add texture to the dough, which results in a cookie that doesn't feel too rich.
Lemon Pudding Cake Recipe
A layer of airy cake sits on top of creamy pudding in this lemon pudding cake recipe that is perfect for a summer picnic. Lemon zest brings a welcomed tang to the dish.
Hot Honey Peach Upside Down Cake
GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING BY EMILY NABORS HALL, PROP STYLING BY CLAIRE SPOLLEN
Surprise and delight your guests with this twist on a traditional pineapple upside-down cake. Hot honey brings a spicy sweetness that is truly unique and perfectly complements the nutmeg-vanilla cake. Serve with vanilla ice cream or a healthy dollop of whipped cream.
Related: 6 Slow Cooker Cake Recipes for Desserts You Can Set and Forget
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