30 Delicious Desserts Perfect for Peak Summer

Fruit is the star of the show in these refreshing hot weather desserts.

Frozen Strawberry Trifle
Photo: CAITLIN BENSEL

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.

If you're looking for a grand finale to serve at the big family gathering or a sweet treat to celebrate every day, you'll find it on our list of best summer dessert recipes. These sweet recipes are fast and easy, so you'll be able to actually enjoy your own patio party for once!

01 of 30

Watermelon Mojito Granita

Watermelon Mojito Granita
Antonis Achilleos

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.

02 of 30

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Scones

macadamia-nut-scones-0419foo
Victor Protasio

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.

03 of 30

Apricot Almond Cake

Apricot Almond Cake
Greg DuPree

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.

04 of 30

Frozen Strawberry Trifle

Frozen Strawberry Trifle
Caitlin Bensel

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.

05 of 30

No-Churn Papaya Ice Cream

papaya-ice-cream-0419foo
Victor Protasio

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.

06 of 30

Lemon-Blueberry Cake

Lemon-Blueberry Cake Recipe
Greg DuPree

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.

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Peach Cobbler Trifle

Peach Cobble Trifle Recipe
Greg DuPree

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.

08 of 30

Coconut Cake Doughnuts

coconut-cake-doughnuts-0419
Victor Protasio

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.

09 of 30

Cantaloupe-Coconut Ice Pops

Cantaloupe Coconut Ice Pops
Victor Protasio

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.

10 of 30

Mango Pound Cake

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Victor Protasio

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.

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Dark Chocolate Coconut Tartlets

Healthy Desserts Recipes: Dark Chocolate Coconut Tartlets
Jennifer Causey

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.

12 of 30

Mixed Berry Biscuit Cobbler

Mixed Berry Biscuit Cobbler
Kelsey Hansen

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.

13 of 30

Honey Whole Wheat Strawberry Clafoutis

Honey Whole Wheat Strawberry Clafoutis
Kelsey Hansen

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 our whole wheat clafoutis, which is a sweet addition to any summer menu.

14 of 30

Vanilla Peaches in Rosé

Vanilla Peaches in Rosé
Victor Protasio

Peaches and rosé join forces to create this 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.

15 of 30

Banana Pudding Pie Bars With Meringue Topping

Banana Pudding Pie Bars With Meringue Topping
Brie Passano

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 vanilla pudding is a star on its own, so save the recipe and serve it with warm fruit or layer in a trifle.

16 of 30

Lemon Ricotta Cake

Lemon Ricotta Dump Cake
Caitlin Bensel

No mixing bowl needed—simply combine all the ingredients for this light and fluffy, sweet, and easy breakfast casserole and pop it in the oven.

17 of 30

Honeydew and Blackberry Ice Cream Sundaes

Honeydew Blackberry Sundaes
Victor Protasio

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.

18 of 30

Chocolate Raspberry Skillet Cake

Chocolate Raspberry Skillet Cake
Samantha Seneviratne

Raspberries are delicious 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.

19 of 30

Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake With Yogurt

Blueberry Yogurt Cake
Jennifer Causey

You don't need an electric mixer for this easy 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.

20 of 30

Nectarine Olive Oil Cake

Nectarine Olive Oil Cake Recipe
Greg DuPree

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.

21 of 30

Caramel Plum Galette

Caramel Plum Galette
Samantha Seneviratne

This rustic pie is filled with summer plums 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.

22 of 30

Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats

Healthy Desserts Recipes: Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats
Jennifer Causey

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.

23 of 30

Ice Cream S'mores

Ice Cream S'mores
Tom Schierlitz

Can you beat s'mores? Of course you can! Just add a scoop of premium vanilla ice cream to your marshmallow fluff. Then close up your graham crackers and dunk them in melted chocolate.

24 of 30

Mexican "Fried" Ice Cream

mexican-fried-ice-cream-1219sta
Jen Causey

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.

25 of 30

PB&J Ice Cream Sandwiches

PB&J Ice Cream Sandwiches
Greg DuPree

Strawberry jelly features in this recipe, but the peanut butter part comes from the flavor of the cookies. Fill them with vanilla ice cream, then roll the exposed sides in some freeze-dried strawberries with diced peanuts.

26 of 30

Chocolate Caramel Ice Cream Pie

Chocolate Caramel Ice Cream Pie
Maria Robledo

With the help of Nutella and a pre-made chocolate cookie crust, this recipe couldn't be easier. Once the ingredients are assembled, the pie needs to be in the freezer for at least three hours, or overnight. When you serve it, drizzle some caramel syrup on the plates as well as on the pie.

27 of 30

Easy Ice Cream Cake

The secret to this astonishingly simple four-ingredient dessert? Using ice cream sandwiches to build your cake. Get the recipe for Easy Ice Cream Cake.
Marcus Nilsson

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.

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Peanut Butter Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Peanut Butter Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ngoc Minh Ngo

This decadent dessert involves baking peanut butter oatmeal cookies from scratch, then boosting the deliciousness by sandwiching a small scoop of vanilla ice cream between two cookies.

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Mint Chip Ice Cream Pie

Mint Chip Ice Cream Pie
Yunhee Kim

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.

30 of 30

Frozen Banana Ice Cream

Two Scoops of Banana ice cream in a white bowl with sliced banana and mint as garnish
Tatiana Volgutova/Getty Images

Banana ice cream is the perfect treat for anyone who has to avoid dairy but still wants something cool and sweet. 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.

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