Could there be anything better than a warm fruit cobbler topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a perfect summer night? Or maybe a chewy, gooey s’mores bar fresh from the oven?
These recipes are pure joy. If you want to make this the most delicious summer ever, you’ve come to the right place. We have 25 of the very best desserts just waiting for you.
1. S’mores Poke Brownies
S’mores and summer are a match made in heaven. But let’s be real, not all of us have a campfire ready to go. So even though these brownies aren’t the traditional kind, they give you all those amazing flavors with the bonus of a fudgy brownie. YES.
You bake the batter right on top of a Graham Cracker crust and then finish the whole thing off with a ridiculous amount of marshmallows. It’s just so good.
2. Orange Creamsicle Popsicles
Creamsicles were my absolute favorite when I was a kid, and I’m still obsessed with them! But instead of grabbing them from the store, I’ve been making my own for years now.
It’s so unbelievably easy. You just need cream, milk, honey, and vanilla, plus the juice and zest from two oranges. That’s it!
3. No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cannoli Cheesecake
The filling for a cannoli is so creamy and sweet, and the secret to getting it just right is using the perfect kind of ricotta. If you decide to skip the ricotta, it will still taste good, but not knock-your-socks-off great!
For this cheesecake, you’ll use real cannoli shells that are crushed up and mixed with melted butter and some Graham Cracker crumbs. And that little hint of citrus in the filling is exactly what you’d hope for from a classic cannoli!
4. Pina Colada Trifle
When you want something that feels extra special, you have to give this very grown-up trifle a try. With all those layers of rum-soaked ladyfingers, pineapple jelly, oven-roasted pineapples, and a luscious coconut custard, it’s just impossible to say no.
Top it all off with caramelized pineapple, and it’ll be gone in a heartbeat.
5. Fresh Fruit Tart with Vanilla Pastry Cream
The next time you need a summer dessert for a party, you have to think about making this gorgeous fresh fruit tart. You’ll whip up a super simple pastry dough and blind-bake it, since the filling itself is no-bake.
From there, it gets filled with a yummy pastry cream and topped with fresh strawberries, mangoes, kiwi, or fresh blueberries. You can use anything you like!
6. Refreshing Margarita Popsicles
Looking for something with a little more kick? I’ve got you covered! These margarita popsicles are cool, zippy, and loaded up with tequila.
Add a lime wheel and a sprinkle of sea salt to the top, and they are just about as good as it gets.
7. Creamy Pineapple Pie
If you thought that key lime pie was simple, this one is going to blow your mind. The filling is so easy. Just mix condensed milk with crushed pineapple (juice and all!) and fold in some Cool Whip.
That’s all there is to it. It’s creamy, sweetly tart, and even more delicious with some toasted coconut on top and a little drizzle of dark chocolate.
8. Maple Grilled Peaches & Almond Cookie Crumb
Here is an absolutely fantastic and refreshing treat for a warm summer day. And it’s so easy to make for a whole party of people.
You’ll need fresh, ripe peaches, of course, plus a simple almond cookie crumb. Serve them with a scoop of raspberry sorbet and a drizzle of caramel. Yum!
9. Peanut Butter Icebox Cake
Icebox cakes are such incredible summer desserts. They’re so creamy, packed with flavor, and ridiculously easy to whip up.
And while you can totally make them with fresh blueberries or other fruits, I think this peanut butter version is just to die for! And yes, there are Reese’s inside the cake *and* on top!
10. Passionfruit and Prosecco Jelly Cups
Jelly, or Jell-O, isn’t just a great treat for kids. This grown-up take is made with a sweetened passion fruit puree and Prosecco for a fruity and boozy little dessert.
And as if it wasn’t yummy enough already, this gets served with a sweet and creamy mascarpone topping. Total yum.
11. Berry Parfait
You don’t need any special glass dishes or cute little mason jars for this dessert, even though mason jar desserts are definitely adorable.
These super quick parfaits can be made with store-bought pound cake, whipped cream, and sweetened berries, all layered up in wine glasses.
The key here is to let the berries marinate in the agave syrup to get the most flavor.
12. Watermelon Ice
Watermelon is such a sweet and simple treat on a hot day. For this ice recipe, all you’re going to need is watermelon, some lime juice and zest, and a little bit of time.
Blitz your melon with the lime and then spread it all out on a baking dish. After that, you just need to scrape it with a fork every once in a while.
13. Ice Cream Sandwiches
Believe it or not, you can make your own ice cream sandwiches right at home with just a couple of pantry staples. Well, pantry and freezer staples, I guess!
Just grab some cookies and add a scoop of your favorite ice cream. Then, you can roll them in toasted coconut or sprinkles for a really fun finish.
14. Key Lime Pie
The very first time I had key lime pie was in a bar at sunset in Key West. It definitely holds a special spot in my heart.
I love how this recipe adds brown sugar to the Graham Cracker crust for a deeper flavor. And the filling is only four ingredients! Just make sure to get real key lime juice, and you’re all set.
15. Mocha Torte
As far as no-bake desserts go, this frozen chocolate and coffee cheesecake is a total winner. Using an Oreo crust for lots of chocolate flavor, the filling is a creamy mix of cream cheese, chocolate syrup, condensed milk, and coffee.
Folding in whipped cream helps add air, giving it a rich yet unbelievably light texture.
16. Gin and Tonic Slice
There’s really nothing like a cool G&T on a hot day, and this recipe is definitely one for the adults. Between the cookie crumb, a creamy lemon filling, and the gin and tonic flavored jelly, you’ll want to keep the kids away from this one.
It’s light, zippy, and just a little bit boozy. What else could you want from your summer treats?
17. Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake
Did you also grow up on Dairy Queen? It’s seriously the best, right? So if you’re looking for a bit of nostalgia, or just craving something cold and sweet for dessert, you have to try this ice cream cake recipe.
You get both chocolate and vanilla, plus that classic layer of chocolate crunchies. So good!
18. Swirled Meringues with Blueberry Sauce
This make-ahead summer dessert might look a little tricky, but I promise it’s so worth the extra effort. Making meringues can be tough, especially on a hot day.
The key here is the added cornstarch and cream of tartar. Once you’ve mastered those egg whites, you can top this with anything you want!
19. Margarita Cupcakes
Nothing screams summer quite like a pitcher of margaritas and a spot by the beach. To be fair, I drink margaritas all year, but still.
These cupcakes are an amazing way to celebrate the summer months. The super soft and moist sponge has lime zest all through it. And the zippy, tequila-infused frosting is the boozy cherry on top!
20. Creamy Blackberry Basil Nice Cream
Just in case you haven’t heard of it, “nice” cream is basically blended frozen bananas. It’s sweet, fruity, vegan, and tastes just like real ice cream.
And it is so easy to jazz up! Just take this recipe, for example. It’s infused with blackberries and basil, which makes it super berrylicious with a little bit of herbal goodness.
21. Strawberry Panna Cotta
Panna Cotta is a wonderfully simple, sweet, and delicious dessert. Adding strawberries into the mix gives you a perfectly pink version with a fresh and smooth taste.
You’ll want to puree *and* then strain the seeds, and be really careful not to heat the gelatin mixture too much. I love the pink color in this dessert and think a whipped chocolate cream would be a fantastic complement.
22. Mississippi Mud Pie
This isn’t anything like the mud pies from your childhood. This amazing pie is made with a pecan shortbread-style crust.
The next layer is a sweet cream cheese and white chocolate pudding delight, which is followed by a layer of chocolate pudding and Cool Whip. It takes about an hour to put together and is worth every single second.
23. 3-Ingredient Homemade Mango Ice Cream
You don’t need a fancy ice cream maker or a Ninja Creami to make ice cream at home, ya know! And this 3-ingredient recipe is all the proof you need.
Just blend frozen mangos with coconut milk and maple syrup until it gets thick and smooth.
