These easy and delicious summer desserts are perfect for your next backyard BBQ.
Summer desserts hold a special place in my heart.
When I was a child, and we were staying with my grandmother (which was often) every meal ended with dessert. The ritual of dining together as a family wasn’t complete without it.
Plus it was frequently a bribe to eat all our dinner.
And though Nana was big on dessert, the truth was, she was a lousy cook.
Her summer desserts featured jelly that always had a big thickened “skin” at the bottom, which, while chewy and flavorsome, left the rest of the jelly somewhat depleted and sloppy. This was invariably accompanied by French vanilla Weight Watchers ice cream.
The lingering taste of this combo lives on in my memories with a surprising degree of fondness.
And while I definitely don’t have dessert after dinner most days, I am still partial to a summer dessert when spending time with friends and family, dining al fresco, and celebrating the various holidays that punctuate the summer period.
Luckily, my skills extend beyond jelly and ice cream – in fact I would go as far to say that trifles are my jam.
If you too like to enjoy a sweet treat on a summer eve, check out these summer desserts. You’ll find an impressive range from no bake strawberry cheesecakes through to chocolate pavlovas.
Summer desserts
This recipe for berry chantilly cake is a light and yellow cake with plenty of fresh berries and a unique fluffy whipped cream frosting.
Silky smooth and simple to make, this blackberry tart is filled to the cookie-crumb brim with freshly pureed berries. Dreamy in color and creamy delicious, this no-oven-required recipe is purple perfection.
Blackcurrant cheesecake is an easy no bake dessert which makes the most of fresh summer fruits.
If you want homemade pie without the hassle, this blueberry galette recipe is perfect for you! It’s a rustic yet show stopping dessert with a juicy blueberry filling, easy all butter pie crust and minimal prep.
This chocolate cherry tart is equal parts cherries and chocolate. The chocolate layer comes in the form of a rich ganache, similar to the filling of a truffle, by simply mixing heavy cream with chocolate - that's it!
This chocolate pavlova dessert is the perfect combination of sweet and decadent flavors thanks to the souffle style base, chocolate cream filling and fresh summer fruit topping.
This easy strawberry crumble recipe is a favorite summer dessert. It should be made on repeat during strawberry season. This easy dessert combines sweet strawberries and a crunchy crumble topping.
There is no better dessert for summer than one that’s covered in a range of fresh fruit. Delicious crisp short crust pastry, filled with silky smooth creme patisserie and topped with all the fruit you love, creates a delicious, light and very good looking dessert!
Indulge in this stunning and bright gluten-free fruit pizza. This scrumptious treat combines fudgy brownies, creamy whipped cream cheese frosting, and a burst of fresh fruit.
This easy gluten-free peach cobbler is vegan, allergy-free, made with sweet fresh peaches, and a buttery biscuit topping! A homemade old-fashioned Southern dessert recipe that's simple and quick, but out of this world delicious.
These Vietnamese ice cream bars don’t require an ice cream maker, any skill or much time to make and are also vegan and gluten free.
This easy, no-fuss recipe can easily be made ahead, but still looks fancy..
This lemon meringue pie recipe is absolutely irresistible. The flaky butter crust is filled with smooth tangy lemon deliciousness, then topped off with a gorgeous amount of fluffy, lightly sweet meringue.
Mascarpone, lime and white chocolate dessert with a cookie crust
This mascarpone, lime and white chocolate dessert is the epitome of summer. When the weather is warm, a light cheesecake is often the chosen way to finish off a meal.
Mango sticky rice is a Southeast Asian dessert consisting of steamed glutinous sticky rice in coconut milk with fresh sliced mangoes.
Summer is the perfect time to treat yourself to a light, refreshing, easy dessert that captures the essence of the season. This no-bake mixed berry cheesecake recipe is not only oh-so-easy to make, but it's also a little lighter than the heavier mascarpone-based, or baked cheesecakes.
Take tiramisu to a whole new level with this coffee and donuts no bake tiramisu cake.
Creamy and delicious, this no-churn pistachio ice cream is made with just 4 ingredients, and the best part- no ice cream maker needed! Just prep the ingredients, freeze until set, and in just a few hours you will have a rich, decadent ice cream that you won't believe didn't come from your favorite ice cream shop.
This easy summer dessert: a lemon no-bake cheesecake with swirls of passion fruit curd.
This peach blackberry cobbler is the ultimate summer dessert. It’s a delicious blend of juicy peaches, sweet blackberries, and it’s topped with a flaky biscuit topping.
Sweet, buttery, and so simple to make, this Piña Colada Bars Recipe will be your new favorite summer dessert! Fresh pineapple and shredded coconut top a flaky shortbread crust that is easily made gluten-free. Cut into squares and enjoy your favorite frozen drink in dessert form.
This fruit crumble tart has a sweet shortcrust pastry shell and fresh summer fruits topped with an oat crumble. It is delicious served with fresh cream, ice cream or custard.
This dessert has a rich, creamy flavor similar to the gelato and the praline gives a caramel flavor to it. It is served with delicious strawberry homemade jam.
This raspberry sherbet is everything a good sherbet should be; a perfect balance of fresh fruit flavors with a creamy smooth texture.
This sour cherry tart recipe highlights the flavors of fresh, summer sour cherries. It uses just enough sugar to balance out the bright acidity without masking their natural cherry flavor. A layer of almond cream adds a touch of decadence (while being easy to make!)
This strawberry galette radiates spring and summer vibes! It's the perfect dessert because it's easy, beautiful and wildly popular.
A quick and easy no-bake strawberry icebox cake that’s layered with graham crackers, whipped cream cheese filling, and sliced strawberries. Simple, sweet, and perfectly refreshing.
Strawberry pretzel salad is an old-fashioned treat everyone will enjoy! A perfect blend of salty and sweet. Featuring a buttery pretzel crust, followed by a light cream cheese layer, and mouthwatering strawberry Jell-O topping filled with more strawberries!
Filled with whipped cream and pureed strawberries, Strawberry Whipped Cream Pie is fresh and light and the perfect simple summer dessert.
Summer fruit salad is the absolute perfect summer side dish, snack, dessert, or even brunch option! A big variety of colorful juicy fresh fruits make this salad a pretty as it is delicious.
Celebrate the sunshine with this summer raspberry cake. This light and fluffy cake can be made with fresh or frozen raspberries, uses simple ingredients, and takes just 15 minutes to prepare.
If you're in the mood for a frozen dessert that's rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor, this recipe for tiramisu ice cream is the perfect choice! Combining classic tiramisu flavors with homemade ice cream, this dessert is a true showstopper.
It's like a warm, vanilla-scented, custardy embrace for your soul. This recipe tops that dream-come-true with blackberry sauce scented with rosewater.
This delicious no-bake vegan coconut key lime cheesecake is the ultimate summer treat. It's made with wholesome raw vegan ingredients making it the perfect guilt-free dessert.
Enjoy the taste of summer with these summer dessert recipes.
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