25 Dessert Recipes for Sweet, Sweet Summer
As the temperature rises and the days grow longer, there's nothing quite like indulging in a sweet treat to cool off and savor the flavors of the season. These 25 Summer Dessert Recipes combine summer produce, no-bake options, and chilly desserts that you're sure to love. Because even in peak heat, you still need to satisfy your sweet tooth. So, dive in and enjoy the sweet offerings of summer!
1. Best-Ever Strawberry Crisp
Summertime and the living is easy — and so are the desserts. The Best-Ever Strawberry Crisp comes together in just under 40 minutes, and makes use of one of the best berries of the season for a burst of summertime sweetness. For extra satisfaction, try picking your strawberries for this recipe locally; the Best-Ever Strawberry Crisp deserves the freshest ingredients. Top it with whipped cream or ice cream, and serve it at your next barbecue.
See More2. Bea's Lemon Pound Cake
Bea always looks forward to summer because it gives her an excuse to whip up her favorite desserts! Bea's Lemon Pound Cake is a golden, buttery, rich cake experience, one that you can't help but slice into, and each slice is infused with that lovely summery flavor of lemon, with its brightness, tang, and sweet sharpness! And that's before the wonderful lemony glaze on top! Bea's Lemon Pound Cake is what the season is demanding for in a dessert, and you'll understand why from the first bite!
See More3. Pineapple Angel Dessert
This heavenly golden treat looks like the sun breaking through the clouds, and if you're in a bad mood, it will turn that mood around in a second! Pineapple Angel Dessert is an ethereally light and creamy treat, with layers of vanilla-pineapple pudding between tender angel food cake. It's tropical, zesty, sweet, and rich all at once; the perfect platform for your favorite summer fruits. Pineapple Angel Dessert is the halo of desserts!
See More4. Classic Strawberry Shortcake
For something called a "shortcake," this is one dessert that always manages to stand tall. This Classic Strawberry Shortcake features buttery, short, crumbly shortcake sandwiching sweetened homemade whipped cream and bright, juicy, summery strawberries. It's like a dessert sandwich, only it's even better than that sounds! Classic Strawberry Shortcake livens up summer evenings and shows us that desserts can make delicate and delectable memories!
See More5. Blueberry Slump
One of New England's classic desserts, Blueberry Slump is made to get you out of a slump; it's the perfect pick-me-up dessert. Who can argue with blueberries simmered to a sweet, jammy, royal purple that tastes like the best days of summer? Or with the buttery, golden brown dumplings piled on top? No one, that's who! Blueberry Slump is no slouch when it comes to a rustic and tasty treat! Grab some ice cream and dig into the summery sweetness!
See More6. Mimi's Fresh Zucchini Bread
It’s quite amazing how a summer vegetable makes one of the best desserts around. But in Mimi’s Fresh Zucchini Bread, the veggie adds in a lot of moisture, keeping the cake soft. This bread tastes delicious right out of the oven with a pad of butter and a squeeze of honey or the following day with a milky cup of coffee or tea.
See More7. Peach Cobbler
Peach Cobbler is just the summer dessert you were looking for! Ripe, sweet, tangy peaches are baked to jammy perfection with a crumbly, golden brown, and crunchy crumble on top. Once you serve it hot with vanilla ice cream, Peach Cobbler will rapidly become one of your go-to desserts and your comfort foods. Can you say “YUM”? This Peach Cobbler is the perfect way to bring your next barbecue to a sweet end.
See More8. Summer Trifle
It may be called a trifle, but few desserts are as substantially satisfying or as delicious! The Summer Trifle is layer upon layer of sweetness, from the fluffy cream stripes to the bands of jammy, bright, tart berries and the spongy, soaked ladyfingers. This dessert is traditionally served in a glass dish because all the layers deserve to be marveled at... and then thoroughly enjoyed by the heaping bowlful! The Summer Trifle beckons you to enjoy it just as you would a mild sunny day!
See More9. Green Angel Cake
Not many angels appear in green, but this emerald treat has all the signs of a divine dessert! This Green Angel Cake infuses tender, fluffy, ethereal cake with bright, summery lime flavor, and then tops it with a light and creamy lime frosting. This heavenly treat is like a cloud of citrus goodness that will grant wings to its serving plate! Green Angel Cake is the harp-strum of desserts!
See More10. Cherry Crisp
Cherry Crisp brings you that warm and crunchy flavor you love about your fall desserts but with the bright and sweet taste of summer thanks to a beautiful pop of cherries! We love this recipe because it's just so easy to make and the flavors it brings are unmatched. Like the oats and almonds coated in cinnamon brown sugar and the plump cherries swimming in a slightly citrusy, sugary sea... it's definitely a yum, yum, yum combination. Our favorite way to enjoy Cherry Crisp? Oh, there's only one way... steaming hot and topped with a creamy scoop of our favorite vanilla ice cream!
See More11. Summery Dessert Pizza
Pizza is perfect for every meal–dinner, breakfast, lunch, dessert... wait, dessert? Yep, Summery Dessert Pizza makes it possible for pizza to enter the final course category! It has all the characteristics of a savory pizza but with a sweet, summer-time twist! Like a crispy, vanilla cookie crust that's smothered with a creamy, rich "sauce." You can't forget the toppings! Rather than pepperoni and cheese, your teeth will be sinking into all your favorite fruits that are even better than usual because they're coated in a sugary citrus glaze to add even more sweetness. See? This Summer Dessert Pizza qualifies for the beloved sweet course and is sure to steal a "pizza" your heart!
See More12. Lemon Meringue Pie
A delicious dessert for the summer! Lemon Meringue Pie features a creamy custard bursting with sunny lemon flavor that will have you beaming. With a layer of crispy yet fluffy meringue on top, Lemon Meringue Pie looks as impressive as it tastes! Balancing tardiness and sweetness on a buttery crust, this impressive-looking dessert is ready in just 40 minutes!
See More13. Strawberry Lemon Blondies
There's still time for one more truly refreshing, summery dessert before autumn starts in earnest! And what better way to encapsulate summer than with Strawberry Lemon Blondies? It's like the coolest beverage of the season baked into a fudgy cake form! The bright lemon and strawberry flavors are baked into the tender, sweet blondie, and then it all gets topped with a creamy glaze with even more of that deliciously fresh fruit flavor! Take a bite of Strawberry Lemon Blondies and let your taste buds enjoy a little bit more summer fun!
See More14. No-Bake Lemon Icebox Pie
This dish is a dream. Or perhaps our No-Bake Lemon Icebox Pie is just what you'll be dreaming of once you give it a try! It's a creamy, luscious, and truly rich pie, with plenty of bright, sunny lemon flavor melting in your mouth with each bite! All this on top of a crumbly graham cracker crust that provides a lovely contrasting crunch! No-Bake Lemon Icebox Pie is the perfect summer dessert, no question!
See More15. Cool Whip® Banana Split
Summer in a bowl? That is definitely what Cool Whip® Banana Split will have you feeling like with every spoonful! Sweet banana slices and juicy strawberries are paired with a couple dollops of frozen, almost-ice-cream-like Cool Whip and a drizzling of decadent chocolate syrup for a bowlful of summertime delight. Cool Whip Banana Split is an all-season way to eat a "healthier" version of this much-loved dessert. Everyone will go bananas for it!
See More16. No-Bake Peaches & Cream Tart
No-Bake Peaches & Cream Tart is a delicious dessert that doesn’t even require you to turn your oven on! Fresh peaches and sweet cream on top of a ladyfinger crust make for a yummy confection that you won’t be able to get enough of. No-Bake Peaches & Cream Tart takes only 20 minutes to whip up, so you can spend more time just enjoying the creamy, rich, and summery taste! When you bring this to the next cookout, everyone will be thanking you!
See More17. Fridge Queen Cake
When your refrigerator becomes the key to making an amazing dessert, you have to give credit where credit is due. This palace-worthy, Fridge Queen Cake is a royal way to turn any day into a bright, summer-fresh experience! This slice of majesty is packed with juicy, ripe blackberries smoothly blended with tangy cream cheese and cool, creamy whipping cream, all layered and reigning atop a sweet, crunchy-soft graham cracker crust. Just pop this exquisite Fridge Queen Cake into the icebox (aka your freezer) for a bit and create a glorious new monarchy of deliciousness all for yourself! All hail the Queen!
See More18. Key Lime Cake
Why should pie have all the tropical fun? Key Lime Cake keys into what makes the classic dessert so beloved: the delicate yet sharp balance of sweet and tart that only limes can provide. So, the tender cake and the creamy icing are both infused with sunny lime flavor, so you don't miss out on even a hint of that luscious goodness. Whipping up a Key Lime Cake is a great way to enjoy the summer even when it's winter, helping your tastebuds imagine themselves relaxing on a white sandy beach as they enjoy each bite!
See More19. Granny's Icebox Sundae
She sure always knows how to treat us right! Granny's Icebox Sundae is a treat the whole family looks forward to again and again, much like visiting Granny. Layers of creamy vanilla ice cream and semisweet chocolate perch atop a crunchy vanilla wafer crust, and then get frozen together, just waiting to be shared with everyone and anyone that comes a-callin'. You want ice cream, where ya gonna go? You know where! Granny's Icebox Sundae will always be there waiting for you. She's just the best... just like this dessert!
See More20. Aunt Betty's Lemonade Icebox Pie
Our Aunt Betty is known for two things, her creamy homemade pies and her perfectly refreshing lemonade. Well, one day she had a wild hair and decided it might be fun to blend them together. And guess what?! It was the most delicious thing we've ever tasted! That's how Aunt Betty's Lemonade Pie came to be. We get a slice of her citrusy filled pie on a graham cracker crust every time we visit her and each time, she watches us eat and with a smile says, "You know, two wrongs make a right... well in this case, two rights made the most amazing dessert I've ever tasted!" We couldn't agree more. Aunt Betty's Lemonade Pie is just the best thing ever, just like our favorite auntie!
See More21. Two-Spoon Banana Split
It's time to have some sweet fun with your special someone thanks to Two-Spoon Banana Split! This deliciously sweet and decadent dessert is the perfect way to cap off any romantic dinner. The creamy ice cream, sweet bananas, gooey chocolate sauce, and fruity strawberry syrup will have you both swooning. And the best part? You can share it rom-com style with two spoons! Two-Spoon Banana Split will allow you to indulge in a little sweetness and make all your hopeless romantic dreams come true!
See More22. The Best Blackberry Crisp
One of the best parts of summer is berry season. Take full advantage of the abundance and freshness of blackberries by making The Best Blackberry Crisp. The fruit becomes warm and bubbly in the oven and the crunchy streusel topping adds a balance of texture. The Best Blackberry Crisp is a beautiful balance of tartness, sweetness, fruitiness, and richness. Of course, ice cream is a necessary addition as it cools down the dessert.
See More23. Dirt Pie
Dirt Pie is one of those childhood names that undersells the delectability of this dessert. In fact, you could even call it heavenly: creamy, chocolatey, and smooth with a crunch of cookie crumble on top, Dirt Pie is a dark and sweet delight! It’s a mountain of chocolate perfect for serving alongside vanilla ice cream or some fresh berries!
See More24. Icebox Coffee Cake
If you're a coffee lover, we've found something new for you to love. This Icebox Coffee Cake is perfect for your next dessert wake up call. The creamy chocolate-coffee pudding combo, layered atop the crunchy, cinnamon-y graham crackers with the foamy whipped cream brews up the perfectly lively coffee-loving dessert you've been longing for. Don't let the same old dessert grind get you down; get yourself a cup, ahem, we mean, a plate with a slice of our Icebox Coffee Cake for your post-dinner pick-me-up. When you're a coffee aficionado, we understand the love for that aromatic flavor in any form. So, go on, espresso yourself... because it's good all the way to the last drop, ahem, we mean piece, it's good to the last chocolatey piece. You and your cup o' Joe will definitely be going back for a double shot!
See More25. Grilled Apple Crisp
It seems like you can make every kind of meal on the grill: burgers, chicken, pork chops, steaks, and hot dogs, with toasted buns for each. Your barbeque is sure to be a success! But wait, what about dessert? Surely that needs some kind of oven or stove-top? Not at all! Grilled Apple Crisp uses a cast-iron skillet and foil so you can cook up a wonderful summertime dessert without cooling down the grill. The results are a bubbling, sweet sensation filled with tender, cinnamon-infused apples and topped with a crunchy brown sugar crust. Grilled Apple Crisp is the perfect finishing touch for your cookout. Make sure you have plenty of ice cream on hand!
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