92 Easy Summer Desserts to Devour from Now Until Labor Day
Hot days, long nights, all the barbecues and the year’s sweetest produce. These are our favorite things about summer, and they call for one more: dessert. Whether you’re having family lunch on the patio, attending a holiday cookout, hosting a 4th of July party or sneaking around the kitchen at midnight for a late-night bite, these 92 easy summer desserts are guaranteed to hit the spot. There’s a recipe for everyone on this list, whether you’re all about seasonal berries or a s’mores diehard.
49 4th of July Desserts That Never Go Out of Style
1. Atlantic Beach Pie
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 50 minutes (plus chilling)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients
This bright, tart and just-salty-enough pie is like a cross between key lime and lemon meringue—with a crispy saltine crust. The filling sets in the fridge, so it's basically foolproof.
2. Roasted Stone Fruit with Wild-Whipped Cream
Maya Visnyei/Cook It Wild
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Nothing against s'mores, but this simple dish will become your go-to camping dessert in no time. The whipped cream is shaken in a wide-mouth water bottle for convenience, and you can use any stone fruit you'd like, from peaches to plums to cherries.
3. Rainbow Cookie Icebox Cake
Alana Kysar/Dinner Party Project
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: no bake, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
Laced with almond extract and raspberry jam, this no-bake masterpiece tastes just like its namesake. Lay the colored creams on thick: The wafer cookies will expand as they chill, so this step ensures that each layer is visible once the cake is sliced.
4. Grilled Pineapple with Coconut Whipped Cream
Floating Kitchen
Time Commitment: 20 minutes (plus chilling time)
Why We Love It: gluten free, vegan, crowd-pleaser
Charred fruit is a prime summer dessert, and healthy to boot. (In our book, that means you should go for double of the homemade whip.)
5. Campfire Grilled S’more Calzones
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
The kids will love stuffing these little pockets of deliciousness with their favorite fillings and watching them turn gooey on the barbecue. Wow them with homemade vanilla marshmallows.
6. Ombré Ice Cream Cake
Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 4 hours (includes freezing)
Why We Love It: no bake, <10 ingredients, one pan
We love an impressive no-bake dessert. This one has five layers of ice cream and sorbet separated by fluffy whipped topping. We went with raspberry, strawberry and vanilla for a decidedly pink look, but you can opt for any color scheme.
7. Peanut Butter Freezer Pie
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 4 hours (includes freezing)
Why We Love It: no bake, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Graham cracker crust, meet easy PB filling (made with chunky peanut butter, sugar, cinnamon and heavy cream). Want to work in some chocolate? Top the pie with chocolate fudge drizzle or chocolate curls.
8. Raspberry Ricotta Cake
Chris Bernabeo/Sweet Enough
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
Despite its elegant appearance, this simple dessert is easy enough to prepare in one bowl. Use fresh raspberries and/or blackberries to pull it off in the summertime and frozen berries in the off season.
9. No-Bake Cheesecake with Raspberry Compote
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours
Why We Love It: no bake, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Guess what? You don’t need an oven to reach cheesecake nirvana. Plus, this one is super easy to prepare, thanks to a press-in graham cracker crust and two-ingredient raspberry sauce.
10. Fresh Fruit Ice Pops
Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours
Why We Love It: no bake, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, vegan
You’re never too old for an ice pop on a hot summer day. You are, however, too old for ice pop-stained lips. Skip the fake dyes in favor of real fruit this year.
11. Lemon Meringue Cookies
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
These cookies are softer and cakier than most and bursting with tons of citrusy brightness. How do we do it, you ask? By rubbing lemon zest into the sugar at the very start.
12. Vanilla Bourbon Cherry-Blueberry Pie
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
You can never have too much seasonal fruit. Cherries and blueberries are peeking through the cutest star-studded crust that's just right for July 4th. Dig in while you and your family watch fireworks.
13. Easy Cherry Skillet Cake
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Your cast iron skillet is a secret weapon when it comes to dessert. We love cherries here, but strawberries or blueberries would work beautifully too. Extra whipped cream, please.
14. Chocolate Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 55 minutes (includes freezing)
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
We’re pretty sure serving these ice cream sandwiches at breakfast will win you the Number One Mom award. Skip the store-bought waffles and bring on the sprinkles.
15. Broiler S’mores
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
You don’t need to build a fire in the yard to indulge in this campout classic. Layer graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows in a skillet and pop that bad boy under the broiler for a few minutes. The marshmallows will be toasted and the chocolate melted just enough, without all the fuss.
16. Cheater’s Mini Rhubarb Galettes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
In the world of baked goods, the galette is pie's cool cousin who always shows up rocking seasonal fruit and an effortless golden-brown crust. Just roll out premade dough, pile late spring's rhubarb slices in the middle and fold the edges to hold it all together. Ta-da.
17. Strawberry Pie with Strawberry Crust
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
Food coloring is so ten years ago. That’s why this gorgeous strawberry pie with strawberry crust gets its vibrant pink hue from freeze-dried strawberries (which you can pick up at Trader Joe’s) instead.
18. Neapolitan Pie
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
The hardest decision we’ve ever had to make: chocolate, strawberry or vanilla? Thankfully, this treat makes it easy on us. Three layers of custard and a whole lot of whipped cream are the keys to this nostalgic dessert.
19. Puff Pastry Plum and Thyme Galette
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, one pan, crowd-pleaser
This galette can’t get any simpler. You don’t have to make pie dough; just crinkle store-bought puff pastry into a skillet, pile on the fresh fruit and your dessert will be ready in less than an hour.
20. Vegan and Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Ginger Tart
Nisha Vora
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes (plus chilling time)
Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, dairy free, special occasion-worthy
Vegan and gluten-free can sometimes taste a little too healthy, if you get our drift. But not this dessert, thanks to its fudgy consistency and the irresistible combination of dark chocolate and ginger.
21. Ultimate PB&J S’mores
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Lunch's quintessential sandwich crossed with camping's official mascot. Gooey marshmallows and blueberry jelly layered between peanut butter-graham cracker sandwiches are a match made in dessert heaven.
22. Sweet Corn Doughnut Holes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
If you want everyone to tilt their heads back in bliss and say “wow,” make these sweet corn doughnut holes. Fresh corn kernels are whipped up into a light-as-clouds pastry cream that makes our mouth water just thinking about it.
23. Fourth of July Ice Cream Cake
Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 4 hours
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
Now that’s how you celebrate America’s birthday. It’s all about assembly—no complicated steps or baking required—so you’ll have more time to focus on the rest of your dishes. We recommend adding a few candles for a festive touch.
24. Blackberry Panna Cotta Tartlets
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
This Italian gelatin dessert is as easy to prepare as it is beautiful. Whip up a quick shortbread crust, make the filling and wait for the tarts to set in the fridge.
25. No-Bake Berry Tiramisu
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Why We Love It: no bake, one pan, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
A treat that has Fourth of July written all over it, thanks to vibrant fruit, raspberry jam and ricotta-cream cheese filling. These lady fingers won’t miss the coffee (and neither will you).
26. Four-Ingredient Ice Cream Pie with Peanut Butter Krispie Crust
Foodie Crush
Time Commitment: 15 minutes (plus chilling time)
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, no bake, kid-friendly
We know, it sounds impossible, but your favorite ice cream *can* get even better. Spruced up with a layer of peanut butter-infused crisped rice and all your favorite toppings, it’s a ridiculously easy win.
27. Honey-Peach Semifreddo
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 8 hours and 20 minutes (includes freezing)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, no bake, make ahead
We only ever see it on fancy dessert menus, but the luscious Italian treat is actually easy to pull off at home. Combine diced peaches, peach jam, egg yolks, sugar and almond extract in a loaf pan, pop it in the freezer overnight and blow everyone away at the picnic.
28. Coconut Cookies
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
What do you get when you combine sugar cookies and macaroons? You'll find out in 30 minutes. We won't tell if you start with store-bought sugar cookie dough.
29. Snickers Dip
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no bake, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Aside from using Snickers candy bars as a garnish, this dip incorporates everything you love about them—salty peanuts, gooey caramel and sweet milk chocolate—into one party-ready dip. Sign us up.
30. Vegan Spelt Plum Galette
The Full Helping
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, crowd-pleaser
Vegan butter holds the hearty crust together. Go all-out with a sweet glaze made from non-dairy milk, agave and demerara sugar.
31. Lemon-Berry Sheet Pan Trifle
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours and 45 minutes (includes drying time)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, gluten free
Looking for a red, white and blue dessert for your Memorial Day cookout? Meet our modern take on the old-school British dessert, served on a single baking sheet instead of in a fancy crystal-cut bowl.
32. Botanical Shortbread Cookies
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, one bowl
Hello, garden party. Violets, pansies, roses and lavender are all edible, but if you’re looking for a fancier selection, order from a specialty store like Gourmet Sweet Botanicals. There’s no need to dry and press the flowers; just glue them to the cookies with egg wash and they’ll flatten in the oven.
33. Berry Galette
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Load up on fresh berries at the farmers market and half your work is done, since this treat practically makes itself. Pile the fruit in the center, fold the crust and bake. Honestly, the hardest part is choosing whether to eat it with ice cream or whipped cream. (Go for both.)
34. Nectarine Blueberry Pie
Saving Room for Dessert
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
Blame it on the juice, baby. This goodie is loaded with tangy nectarines and plump blueberries. The stars of golden-brown pie crust are a photo-worthy, flag-inspired topper.
35. Churro Bites with Chocolate Sauce
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
These cuties can be summed up in one word: irresistible. The fried cinnamon-sugar dough is even more amazing when it’s bite-sized—and served with warm chocolate sauce for dipping.
36. Peach Cobbler
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, beginner-friendly
Since stone fruit doesn’t need much help in the flavor department, we coat sliced peaches with just the essentials: butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Then, we layer mounds of scrumptious biscuit dough on top to form a crust. All you need now is vanilla ice cream.
37. Peaches-and-Cream Ice Pops
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 40 minutes (includes freezing)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
When the weather goes above 70 degrees, you can pretty much guarantee we’re craving (or eating) an ice pop. And while you could wait around for the ice cream truck, making your own is way more fun. This one stars roasted peaches and Greek yogurt.
38. Mini Mason Jar Apple Pies
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Single-serve portions of this apple delight allow you to sample the rest of the dessert spread (plus a mason jar is way more unexpected than a pie dish). They’re super easy to make, thanks to store-bought dough.
39. Glazed Doughnut Cookies
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
You love doughnuts, but heating up a giant vat of oil? Not so much. That’s why we’ve transformed the treat’s sweet icing and cinnamon-sugar flavors into a simple cookie that bakes in 15 minutes. Genius.
40. Red, White and Blue Ice Cream Floats
The Butter Half
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, no bake, gluten free
Root beer who? This is a festive take on a vintage drink everyone can get behind. Combine fresh berries with strawberry and lemon-lime sodas. Finish each glass with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and voilà.
41. Blueberry Lemon Icebox Cake
Sally’s Baking Recipes
Time Commitment: 5 hours (includes chilling time)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, <10 ingredients
Graham crackers and whipped cream make this assemble-and-chill treat a breeze to put together, but homemade blueberry sauce takes it over the top.
42. Dessert Nachos
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Introducing dessert nachos. We repeat: dessert nachos. You already love starting a meal with the savory kind, so why not end one with a plateful of this sweet version, made with cinnamon-sugar tortilla chips and all the toppings?
43. Strawberry-Mango Hawaiian Shave Ice
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 5 hours and 30 minutes (includes freezing)
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, one pot, special occasion-worthy
Cool off with a cup of Hawaii’s signature treat. This DIY version doesn’t even require a shave ice machine—all you need is a blender.
44. Coconut Choux Bites
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
It’s snack time, so we’re heading to France. These traditional cream puffs have a few twists up their sleeves: sweetened coconut and crunchy pearl sugar.
45. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: no bake, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
At our house, it's never a sure thing that cookie dough will make it into the oven. So, we embraced it and turned our favorite guilty pleasure into its own party-friendly dessert.
46. Lemon Pie with Blueberry Meringue
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
You’re looking for a baking project that’s impressive but attainable. Enter this striking, fluffy beauty. The light-as-air topping gets its lilac hue from freeze-dried blueberries.
47. Cake Batter Dip
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, no bake, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
Once the kids try this, they’ll be asking for it for every year for their birthdays. That’s because it’s made with Funfetti cake mix, heavy cream, sour cream and confectioners’ sugar. Don’t be shy with the rainbow sprinkles. Heat treat the cake mix by toasting it on a baking sheet at 350°F for about 5 minutes, so it’s safe to eat raw.
48. Easy Key Lime Pie Bars
Averie Cooks
Time Commitment: 3 hours and 10 minutes (includes chilling)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
One bite and you’ll be transported to a sunny Florida beach. Think homemade graham cracker crust and condensed milk-lime filling with thin-sliced limes on top.
49. Summer Fruit Plate
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, no cook
Say what you will about serving fruit for dessert, but no one’s turning down ice-cold produce on a hot summer day. Substitute the pesto-rolled mozzarella for a sweet yogurt dip if you like to keep the dish strictly sweet.
50. Vegan, Gluten-Free Strawberry Shortcake
Minimalist Baker
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, dairy free, kid-friendly
Coconut "buttermilk" whipped cream. Almond flour shortcake. Hulled strawberries. Yeah, we're gonna need more napkins for this seasonal beauty.
51. Raspberry Lemonade Cookies
Cupcake Project
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
The prettiest drink of the season just got even tastier. Freeze-dried raspberries turn the cookies pink. And don’t get us started on the lemon glaze (or the pièce de résistance, homemade candied lemon slices).
52. No-Bake Coconut Cream Pie
Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes (includes chilling)
Why We Love It: no bake, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Your oven can sit this one out. The fridge and freezer are all you need to pull this baby off (plus canned cream of coconut, heavy cream, sugar and toasted shredded coconut).
53. Ruby Red Grapefruit Panna Cotta
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
This bittersweet dessert only requires six ingredients. It’s a solid light option to serve after spending the day eating hot dogs and hamburgers.
54. Skillet Peach Cobbler
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Skip all that kneading and rolling. With skillet peach cobbler, you can satisfy your craving in under an hour, minus all the heavy lifting. Pass the whipped cream.
55. Blueberry, Blackberry and Raspberry Soufflés
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
When it comes to this light and airy dessert, intimidating is an understatement. But don’t worry: This version is quick, easy and foolproof, not to mention ridiculously impressive.
56. Gluten-Free Pistachio Apricot Tart
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
Why should gluten eaters have all the fun? This wheat-free pistachio apricot tart is sweet, tangy and oh so satisfying. (It’s pretty darn photogenic, too.)
57. Deep Dish French Silk Pie with Hazelnut-Oreo Cookie Crust
Ambitious Kitchen
Time Commitment: 10 minutes (plus chilling time)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Calling all chocolate stans: This is one decadent dessert you’ll never forget. Raw hazelnuts, Oreos and melted butter create the crust, which is filled with dark chocolate and whipped cream.
58. Red, White and Blue Icebox Cake
Oh, Sweet Basil
Time Commitment: 30 minutes (plus chilling time)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, no bake
You’re only six ingredients away from tasting the best dessert at the barbecue. Think graham crackers, homemade whipped cream, seasonal fruit and lots of powdered sugar.
59. Mini Strawberry Ice Cream Pies
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Crumbly graham cracker crust, warm roasted strawberries, a cold scoop of vanilla ice cream. Sold yet? Sprinkle on some blueberries for a patriotic flourish.
60. Bite-Size Almond Raspberry Spoon Cakes
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, one bowl
Lightly sweet and bursting with almond flavor, these cake bites can be whipped up by hand using nothing but a whisk and a single bowl. Go ahead, have two (or five).
61. Cookies-and-Cream Shortbread Cookies
Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Don’t tell anyone, but Oreos are our secret obsession. Cookies-and-cream shortbread cookies have a classier vibe than the O.G., but the same flavor, snap and creaminess. Plus, they’re ready to devour in 40 minutes.
62. Grapefruit Meringue Stacks
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, gluten free, <10 ingredients
This looker is part pavlova and part meringue pie. Start by making five-ingredient meringue cookies, then stack them between layers of grapefruit curd.
63. Homemade Milano Cookies
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
That 16-cookie bag disappears pretty quickly in our house. With this recipe in your back pocket, you’ll never run out again.
64. Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
We love cheesecake. We love cookies. Naturally, we had to combine them to make the greatest thumbprint cookie ever. Let's waste no time and get right to baking (not that you'll need a lot of it, since they only need half an hour).
65. Itty-Bitty Sandwich Cookies
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
These are so tiny that you can eat them by the handful, and that’s exactly what we intend to do. A glass of milk is optional, but encouraged.
66. Oreo-Stuffed Brownies
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, one pan, beginner-friendly
An impossible choice: cookies or brownies? Well, let us fill you in on a secret. You don't have to choose. These nine-ingredient handhelds are truly the best of both worlds.
67. Coconut Popsicles
Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 4 hours (includes freezing)
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Finding ways to keep cool is your top priority in the summertime. Luckily, you can have these raspberry jam-coconut milk masterpieces in the freezer in just a few minutes. No molds on hand? Go old-school by using ice trays or paper cups.
68. Chocolate Kiss Powder Puff Cookies
Averie Cooks
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Think Russian teacakes, except mind-blowingly easy to make. Like, three ingredients easy. Shake things up with peanut butter cups or caramels instead of Kisses.
69. No-Bake Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, no bake, make ahead
Pretzels. Peanut butter. Chocolate. Need we say more? We think not, but we will reiterate that these don’t require a single second in the oven.
70. One-Ingredient Watermelon Sorbet
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 4 hours (includes freezing)
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, gluten free, beginner-friendly
Have you met the easiest dessert on the face of the earth yet? She’s pleased to make your acquaintance. Cool off with this genius treat made from twice-frozen watermelon purée. No one will ever guess that it’s pure fruit.
71. Dairy-Free Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: dairy free, gluten free, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
You won’t believe how creamy this dessert is, despite being free of dairy. (We have the coconut milk-cashew filling to thank for that.)
72. Vegan Chocolate Fondue Dessert Party Platter
The Full Helping
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
This dessert board has everything from fresh fruit to ice cream sandwiches. But the real star is the non-dairy fondue, made with coconut sugar, vegan dark chocolate and an alternative milk of your choice. We’ll bring the wine.
73. Peaches and Meringue
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients, gluten free, <30 minutes
The broiler transforms these brown sugar-coated peaches into a bonafide treat. Even the pickiest kids at the cookout will be all over them.
74. No-Bake, Gluten-Free Rose Petal Brownies
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no bake, gluten free, vegan, special occasion-worthy
We don’t normally like to play favorites, but we’re pretty obsessed with these photo-ready fudgy brownies. Buried under all that chocolate are macadamia nuts and dried cherries.
75. Vegan Mint Chip Ice Cream
The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 15 minutes (plus chilling time)
Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
Combine cashews, coconut milk, coconut cream and a few pantry staples, and boom: You'll have an uncanny, dairy-free ice cream alternative on your hands for sundaes, cones and milkshakes.
76. Glazed Blueberry Cake
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
The cake's moist, tender crumb means you can scarf down two slices without feeling weighed down. With all those berries (and icing) on top, it's practically a fruit salad, right?
77. No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 8 hours and 30 minutes (includes chilling time)
Why We Love It: no bake, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Does it get any simpler than a press-in graham cracker crust and a citrusy, no-bake filling? Didn't think so. It tastes just as decadent as standard cheesecake, and you won't even need to fuss with the oven or a water bath.
78. Grilled Pineapple Split Sundae with Cherry Sauce
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, gluten free
Keep the coals nice and hot after your steak dinner: Grilling the pineapple before assembling the sundaes makes the treat feel way more seasonal. The homemade cherry sauce is just, um, the cherry on top.
79. Cherry Slab Pie
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, <10 ingredients
Cherries aren't at peak deliciousness for long, so we take every chance we get to bake with them. All this easy-to-slice pie is missing is fresh whipped cream and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
80. Grilled Angel Food Cake with Blueberry Sauce
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Consider this the easiest way to upgrade a store-bought dessert. Char a few slices of cake on the grill for a touch of smoke, then drizzle with three-ingredient blueberry sauce.
81. Cantaloupe-Mint Sorbet
Tara Donne/Cooking Solo
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 40 minutes (includes freezing)
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, dairy free, gluten free, special occasion-worthy
Four ingredients + a stint in the freezer = the most refreshing summer dessert you've ever made. Might we suggest dropping a scoop in a flute of Champagne?
82. Pink Lemonade Bars
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Warning: Bring these to a picnic once and your friends will request them for every summer shindig you ever attend. The secret to the dessert's pink hue is raspberry purée.
83. Berry-Coconut Rocket Pops
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours
Why We Love It: gluten free, dairy free <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
Your favorite nostalgic ice pop, minus the weird dyes and sweeteners. Our take on the treat is made with fruit, sugar and coconut milk—that's it.
84. Mini Apricot Meringue Pies
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Coconut shortbread crust. Simple sugared apricots. Toasty swoops of meringue. Are you drooling yet or is it just us?
85. 3-Ingredient Strawberry Ice Cream Shell
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, kid-friendly, make ahead, <30 minutes
If you have ten minutes, this wow-worthy ice cream topper is within reach. Freeze-dried strawberries are the key to the shell's vibrant color and fruity flavor.
86. Strawberry Upside-Down Cake
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, one pan
Who needs frosting when berries and brown sugar alone can do all this? Slather on the whipped cream to your heart's content.
87. Mini Key Lime Pies
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 40 minutes (plus chilling time)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
Aka our favorite way to utilize a muffin tin. Use regular limes if you can't find key limes—just be sure to squeeze them by hand instead of using bottled juice for the best flavor.
88. Clementine Meltaway Cookies
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
Cornstarch is the secret to the cookies' melt-in-your-mouth texture. Swap clementines for any type of citrus you'd prefer, like Meyer lemon or blood orange.
89. No-Churn Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream
Kelly Marshall/Sunday Best
Time Commitment: 12 hours (includes freezing time)
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, no cook, kid-friendly
This recipe is only one of the bajillion reasons we love canned sweetened condensed milk. Thanks to that shortcut, you can pull this off *without* a fancy ice cream machine.
90. Banana Pudding Cups
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 4 hours and 20 minutes (includes chilling)
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
There's no better end to a barbecue feast than banana pudding. Bonus points for serving it Southern-style with a pitcher of sweet tea and mini pecan pies.
91. Mini Strawberry-Rhubarb Shortcakes
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
They may look fancy, but they're really just teeny-tiny biscuits layered with jam and whipped cream. Even your kids can help you make the dough. Make these early in the summer, while rhubarb is still available.
92. Upside-Down Mini Lemon Meringue Pies
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 4 hours (includes chilling)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Instead of fussy pie crust, the lemon curd and springy meringue are casually layered in cups. You could easily opt for bowls or mason jars instead.
50 Memorial Day Desserts That Aren't Just Flag Cake
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
