Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 30+ Delicious Summer Desserts That Are Perfect for Peak Sunshine Fruit is the star of the show in these refreshing hot weather desserts. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 30, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player 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. 01 of 31 Lemon-Blueberry Cake 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. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 31 Tiramisu for Two Greg DuPree This make-ahead dessert can sit in the fridge for up to two days before serving. And with only 15 minutes of prep time and no baking required, this tiramisu recipe tops the list for being nearly effortless. Cooling, sweet, and crunchy, this dessert is everything you could want on a hot summer day. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 31 No-Churn Papaya Ice Cream 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. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 31 Peach Cobbler Trifle 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. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 31 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. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 31 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. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 31 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. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 31 Coconut Cake Doughnuts 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. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 31 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. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 31 Mango Pound Cake 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. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 31 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. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 31 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. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 31 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 this whole wheat clafoutis, which is a sweet addition to any summer dessert menu. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 31 Vanilla Peaches in Rosé Victor Protasio Peaches and rosé join forces to create this summertime 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. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 31 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 banana pudding is a star on its own, so save the recipe and serve it with warm fruit or layer in a trifle. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 31 Lemon Ricotta Cake Caitlin Bensel No mixing bowl is needed for this simple summer recipe—simply combine all the ingredients for this light and fluffy, sweet, and easy breakfast casserole and pop it in the oven. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 31 Honeydew and Blackberry Ice Cream 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. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 31 Chocolate Raspberry Skillet Cake Samantha Seneviratne Raspberries are a delicious summer fruit 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. GET THE RECIPE 19 of 31 Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake With Yogurt Jennifer Causey You don't need an electric mixer for this easy dessert 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. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 31 Nectarine Olive Oil Cake Greg DuPree Nectarines are in season from April through August, making this dessert ideal for summertime. 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. GET THE RECIPE 21 of 31 Caramel Plum Galette Samantha Seneviratne This rustic pie is filled with summer plums (a high-fiber fruit) 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. GET THE RECIPE 22 of 31 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, which are fun to eat in any season but especially at summer gatherings. GET THE RECIPE 23 of 31 Mexican Fried Ice Cream 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 on a warm summer evening. GET THE RECIPE 24 of 31 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 the peanut butter cookies with vanilla ice cream, then roll the exposed sides in some freeze-dried strawberries with diced peanuts. This might be a good option for dessert on the Fourth of July! GET THE RECIPE 25 of 31 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. This is a great cake to nibble on amidst all your summer fun. GET THE RECIPE 26 of 31 Peanut Butter Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches Ngoc Minh Ngo 'Tis the season for ice cream! This decadent dessert for summer entertaining involves baking peanut butter oatmeal cookies from scratch, then boosting the deliciousness by sandwiching a small scoop of vanilla ice cream between two cookies. GET THE RECIPE 27 of 31 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, which will add some extra refreshment on a hot day. GET THE RECIPE 28 of 31 Frozen Banana Ice Cream 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 on a hot day. 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. GET THE RECIPE 29 of 31 White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Scones 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. GET THE RECIPE 30 of 31 Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies Antonis Achilleos These carrot cake sandwich cookies combine everything we love about a classic carrot cake (the tangy cream cheese filling, the flecks of carrot), with a handheld cookie. Oats and sweetened coconut add texture to the dough, which results in a cookie that doesn't feel too rich. GET THE RECIPE 31 of 31 Lemon Pudding Cake Recipe Lemon Pudding Cakes in Ramekins. Diana Rattray A layer of airy cake sits on top of creamy pudding in this lemon pudding cake recipe that is perfect for a summer picnic. Lemon zest brings a welcomed tang to the dish. GET THE RECIPE 6 Slow Cooker Cake Recipes for Desserts You Can Set and Forget Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit