Satisfy your sweet tooth with these easy summer desserts! They include fuss-free ice cream recipes, no-bake treats, fruit pies, crisps, and more.
Bring on the summer desserts! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for frozen treats like ice cream and popsicles. I’m ready for no-bake sweets that hit the spot on days when it’s too hot to use the oven. And I’m especially ready for summer desserts that showcase the season’s best fruit.
Cherry pie? Peach crisp? Blueberry cobbler? Yes, please!
You’ll find 30 of my favorite easy summer desserts below. Some are perfect for packing up for picnics. Others are designed to help you cool off on hot days, and still others are celebration-worthy centerpieces like pies, cakes, and tarts.
I love each and every one of these recipes. I’m planning to make as many as I can this season. I hope you enjoy them too!
Our Best Summer Desserts
This classic dessert is perfect for summer gatherings. Bake off the tender lemon cornmeal biscuits in advance. When you’re ready to serve, let everyone assemble their own shortcake with fresh strawberries and cream.
These homemade ice pops are SO refreshing on a hot summer day! They’re easy to make with 2 ingredients: watermelon and lime juice.
Out of all the summer dessert recipes here, this crisp is the one I make most often. It’s a breeze to put together, and I love how the sweet, juicy peaches contrast with the crisp, nutty topping.
Got a bumper crop of summer zucchini? Put it to work in these gooey brownies. The zucchini melts into the rich chocolate batter. You won’t be able to tell it’s there!
We always go blueberry picking in the summertime, and I love to make this cobbler when we get home. Flaky homemade biscuits top the juicy, jammy filling.
No list of summer desserts is complete without ice cream! You can’t beat the homemade kind. Make a creamy, classic vanilla, or add mix-ins like chocolate chips or fresh fruit.
Tart cherries are one of my favorite summer fruits. There’s no better way to use them than in this cherry pie! It has a flaky, buttery crust and velvety, almond-scented filling.
This sweet and sour crisp pairs perfectly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
When it’s too hot to turn on the oven, make these no-bake cookies on the stovetop! They’re chewy, fudgy, and packed with chocolate peanut butter flavor.
Cobbler recipes don’t get simpler than this! The sweet, buttery topping calls for just 6 ingredients, and it comes together quickly in one bowl. Sprinkle it over the peaches and pop them in the oven, and you’ll have a mouthwatering summer dessert on the table in no time.
Topped with a bright lemon glaze, this simple loaf is one of my favorite easy summer desserts. You can also skip the glaze and call it breakfast.
Hands down one of the most festive summer desserts! Colorful stripes of ice cream top a thin layer of homemade chocolate cake.
Clafoutis are a French dessert that consists of seasonal fruit baked into a lightly sweet custard. They sound fancy, but they’re really simple to make. Try this recipe with sweet cherries, or sub in another summer fruit like raspberries or blueberries.
If you love no-bake summer desserts, you have to try this luscious tart. It has a crisp graham cracker crust, tangy cream cheese filling, and fresh fruit topping. I use vegan cream cheese to make it dairy-free.
I love bright, citrusy desserts in the summertime! These lemon cookies are a hit at picnics and cookouts. They have chewy middles, crisp edges, and a lovely lemon flavor.
This vegan ice cream is a must-try easy summer dessert! Made with just 3 ingredients, it’s creamy, rich, and nutty. It’s just as delicious as any dairy-based ice cream I’ve tried.
Moist and warmly spiced, this classic quick bread is a perfect easy dessert for summer picnics. I call for walnuts here, but for a sweeter treat, feel free to swap in chocolate chips.
Sweet, juicy summer peaches become even sweeter and juicier on the grill. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, they’re a fresh, easy summer dessert.
How cute are these no-bake cheesecake slices?! They have a date and walnut crust on the bottom, a creamy “cheesecake” layer in the middle, and a bright, refreshing raspberry stripe on top.
I made these cookies for our neighborhood block party last summer, and they were a HUGE hit! Portable and finger-friendly, they’re a great treat to bring to all kinds of gatherings.
These classic cookies are also perfect for BBQs, picnics, and cookouts.
This sweet sorbet is easy to make in the blender! I add a handful of fresh mint to make it extra-cooling and refreshing.
This moist, fudgy quick bread is like a mashup of my classic zucchini bread and zucchini brownies. It freezes perfectly, but if you’re anything like us, you won’t have any trouble finishing a loaf within a couple of days…or hours. 🙂
Keep a stash of these chewy, bite-sized cookies in the fridge for summer snacking.
Throw pineapple rings on the grill for a sweet end to a summer meal.
These scrumptious dessert bars are vegan and gluten-free! They have an oat and walnut crust and crumble topping.
You can make a good s’more with a toasted marshmallow, Hershey chocolate, and graham crackers. But add a few more ingredients, and you’ll have a great one. Try using dark chocolate, adding fresh berries, or drizzling on salted caramel or peanut butter!
These homemade pops taste like a classic fudgsicle (cool! creamy! delicious!). But they’re secretly healthy, made with avocado, almond butter, and maple syrup.
Greek yogurt gives this lemony loaf cake an AMAZING moist texture. Enjoy slices on their own, or serve them with fresh berries and whipped cream for a bright summer dessert.
Fruit crisps will always be my favorite easy summer desserts. In this one, a brown sugar and cinnamon crumble tops a thick layer of jammy blackberries. Don’t skip the vanilla ice cream for serving!
Easy Summer Desserts: Strawberry Shortcake
Serves 8
These strawberry shortcakes are one of our favorite easy summer desserts!
for assembly
- 3 cups strawberries, sliced
- 2 cups whipped cream or coconut whipped cream
- Mint leaves, optional
Prevent your screen from going dark
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
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Using your hands, work the coconut oil in until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, eggs, and milk and mix until just combined. The dough will be more moist and pliable than traditional biscuit dough.
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Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured piece of parchment paper and pat into a ½-inch-thick rectangle. Fold the dough into thirds and pat or roll again until 1-inch thick. Freeze for 20 minutes.
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Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Remove the dough from the freezer and use a 2½-inch round biscuit cutter to cut out 3 to 4 biscuits. Re-roll the scraps as necessary to cut out 8 1-inch thick biscuits. Place the biscuits on the baking sheet.
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If desired, brush the tops of the biscuits with a little almond milk and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
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Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.
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Assemble the strawberry shortcakes with the biscuits, strawberries, cream, and mint, if desired.
