35 Easy Summer Desserts to Beat the Heat

When I think of summer desserts, my mind goes to bright, fruity, and light recipes. 

And boy, do these recipes deliver!

35 Summer Dessert Recipes We Adore!

Summer is the perfect time to take advantage of all the fantastic fresh fruits that are in season.

I’m talking about colorful fruit tarts, homemade ice cream, popsicles, and more.

So if you’re in the mood for a sweet summer treat, keep reading.

Because I’ve rounded up a whopping 35 easy summer desserts you and your family will love.

1. Key Lime Pie

The first time I had key lime pie was in a bar, at sunset, in Key West. So it holds a special place in my heart.

I love the addition of brown sugar into the Graham Cracker crust here for a deeper flavor.

And the filling is just four ingredients! Just be sure to get real key lime juice, and you’re all set.

2. Passionfruit and Prosecco Jelly Cups

Jelly (Jell-O) isn’t just a great treat for the kids. 

This grown-up version is made with sweetened passion fruit puree and Prosecco for a fruity and boozy little dessert. 

And as if it wasn’t yummy enough, this gets served with a sweet and creamy mascarpone topping. Yum! 

3. Easy Lemon Bars

We can’t talk about summer dessert recipes and not mention these sunny lemon bars.

The crust is a wonderfully sweet and buttery shortbread. Meanwhile, the filling is rich, smooth, and bursting with zippy lemon goodness.

Serve with a simple dusting of powdered sugar, and dig in!

4. Peach Dump Cake

Peaches are big in my house. So come summer, they go in everything from salads to cakes. 

And while a lot of these summer dessert ideas are cool and refreshing, this one is warm and comforting.

But don’t worry, it’s not heavy at all. So serve it with vanilla ice cream or peach sorbet and get ready to drool.

5. Affogato

Trust me when I tell you there’s nothing better on a hot summer day than an affogato.

This hugely popular Italian dessert features a scoop of vanilla ice cream or gelato with a shot of espresso poured over the top.

It’s hot, cold, sweet, and bitter. Try it once, and you’ll be hooked.

6. Fresh Fruit Tart with Vanilla Pastry Cream

The next time you need summer desserts for a crowd, consider this gorgeous fresh fruit tart.

You’ll make a super simple pastry dough and blind-bake it since the filling is no-bake.

From there, it’s filled with yummy pastry cream and topped with fresh strawberries, mangoes, kiwi, fresh blueberries – you name it!

7. Ice Cream Sandwiches

Believe it or not, you can make ice cream sandwiches at home with just a couple of pantry staples.

Well, pantry and freezer staples, anyway!

Just grab some cookies and add a scoop of your favorite ice cream. Then, roll them in toasted coconut or sprinkles for a fun finish.

8. S’mores Poke Brownies

S’mores and summer go hand in hand. But, unfortunately, we don’t all have access to an open flame. 

So while these brownies may not be traditional, they’ll give you all those great flavors with the added benefit of a fudge brownie. 

Bake the batter on a Graham Cracker crust, and top the whole thing with a ton of marshmallows. Delish!

9. Creamy Pineapple Pie

If you thought the key lime pie was easy, this will knock your socks off.

The filling is effortless – just mix condensed milk with crushed pineapple (juice and all) with some Cool Whip. That’s it.

It’s creamy, sweetly tart, and even better with toasted coconut on top (and a drizzle of dark chocolate).

10. Ice Cream Balls 

As much as I love fried ice cream, it’s a bit of a pain to make.

So, I made these ice cream balls instead, and they were such a hit with my family and friends.

The coating blends crushed Graham Crackers, peanut butter, sugar, and cinnamon.

Roll the ice cream until it’s covered, then add a drizzle of caramel or dark chocolate. Yum!

11. Gin and Tonic Slice

There’s nothing quite like a cool G&T on a hot day, and this recipe is definitely one for the grown-ups.

Between the cookie crumb, creamy lemon filling, and gin & tonic flavored jelly, you’ll need to keep the kids away.

It’s light, zippy, and just a little boozy. What more could you want in your summer treats?

12. Swirled Meringues with Blueberry Sauce

This make-ahead summer dessert might look intimidating, but I promise it’s worth the extra effort. 

Making meringues can be tricky, especially on a hot day. So the key here is the added cornstarch and cream of tartar.

Once you’ve mastered those egg whites, you can top this will anything you like!

13. Pina Colada Trifle

For something really special, you have to try this very grown-up trifle.

With all those layers of rum-soaked ladyfingers, pineapple jelly, oven-roasted pineapples, and coconut custard, it’s impossible to resist.

Top it with caramelized pineapple, and it’ll be devoured in a flash. 

14. Dirt Pudding Cups

Here’s one for the kids and the kids at heart!

This no-bake summer sweet is a simple layer of instant pudding topped with crushed Oreo cookies. 

Add some gummy worms to complete the look. How cute, right?

15. Watermelon Ice

Watermelon is a sweet and easy treat on a hot day.

And for this ice recipe, all you need is watermelon, lime juice and zest, and some time. 

Blitz the melon with the lime and spread it onto a baking dish. From there, you’ll just need to scrape it with a fork every now and then.

16. Shoney’s Strawberry Pie

Did you go crazy on the fresh strawberries at the farmers market? Me too!

So let’s make this lovely strawberry pie.

Use a pre-made crust, make your own, or even go for an Oreo crust. That bright filling will taste amazing no matter what.

Top it off with whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings. Delish!

17. Peanut Butter Icebox Cake

Icebox cakes are such incredible summer desserts.

They’re creamy, loaded with flavor, and oh-so-easy to whip up.

And while you can easily make them with fresh blueberries or other fruits, I think this peanut butter recipe is to die for!

And yes, there’s Reese’s in the cake and on top!

18. Lemon Blueberry Bread

A good cake is a hit year-round. But this lemon blueberry bread really amplifies what I love about summer. 

The cake is yellow, moist, and perfectly lemony. And the pops of blueberry are perfect against the light sponge. 

Add a zippy lemon glaze and you’re all set.

19. Mocha Torte

As far as no-bake desserts go, this frozen chocolate and coffee cheesecake is a winner. 

Using an Oreo crust for plenty of chocolate flavor, the filling is a creamy mixture of cream cheese, chocolate syrup, condensed milk, and coffee. 

Folding in whipped cream helps to incorporate air for a rich yet incredibly light texture.

20. Strawberry Panna Cotta

Panna Cotta is a wonderfully simple, sweet, and delicious dessert. 

Adding strawberries into the mix creates a perfectly pink variation with a fresh and smooth taste. 

Be sure to puree and then strain the seeds, and be careful not to heat the gelatin mixture too high. 

I love the pink in this dessert and think whipped chocolate cream would be a great compliment. 

21. Berry Parfait

You don’t need special glass dishes or cute little masons jars for this dessert (though mason jar desserts are undoubtedly adorable).

These super-fast parfaits can be made with store-bought pound cake, whipped cream, and sweetened berries, all layered into wine glasses. 

The key here is to marinate the berries in the agave syrup for maximum flavor. 

22. Mississippi Mud Pie

Nothing like the mud pies of your childhood, this pie is made with a pecan shortbread-style crust. 

The next layer is sweet cream cheese and white chocolate pudding delight, followed by a layer of chocolate pudding and Cool Whip.

It’ll take about an hour to make and is worth every second.

23. Mini Cheesecake Bites

I love cheesecake in all its forms. But these bites are my go-to for the summer.

They’re rich and creamy with such a satisfying texture. And you can jazz them up with all kinds of fun toppings.

So make a big batch and go wild!

24. No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cannoli Cheesecake

Cannoli filling is creamy and sweet, and the key to its success is finding the right kind of ricotta. 

If you skip the ricotta, it will taste great but not super-great!

This cheesecake uses real cannoli shells crushed and mixed with melted butter and some Graham Cracker crumbs.

And the hint of citrus in the filling is just what you’d expect from an authentic cannoli!

25. Margarita Cupcakes

Nothing says summer like a pitcher of margaritas and a seat by the beach. 

To be honest, I drink margaritas all year round, but still. These cupcakes are a great way to celebrate the summer months. 

The super soft and moist sponge has lime zest spread throughout. And the zippy tequila-infused frosting is the boozy cherry on top!

26. Homemade Dole Whip

If you’ve ever been to Disney, chances are you’ve tried the Dole Whip.

But rather than spend thousands of dollars on a trip to Orlando, why not make this at home?

It’s ultra smooth and tropical, with just enough fruity goodness to satisfy your sweet tooth.

And you can even make it vegan if you use dairy-free ice cream.

27. Strawberry Shortcake

Planning a garden party this summer? Then you have to make this effortless strawberry shortcake recipe.

You’ll use Bisquick to make the biscuits dough. Then fill it with sweet whipped cream and fresh strawberries once it’s baked.

To make this extra special, try macerating the fruit in basil simple syrup!

28. Cherry Yum Yum

If you love cherries as much as I do, you’ll want to bookmark this cherry yum yum recipe.

It’s kind of a mashup of cherry cobbler and cheesecake. And it’s drool-worthy!

Just make a simple pecan base, then top it with sweetened whipped cream. From there, you can add any pie filling you like, but I think cherries are the best!

29. Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake

Did you grow up on Dairy Queen too? It’s the best, isn’t it?

So if you’re hunting down a bit of nostalgia (or just feel like something cold and sweet for dessert), try this ice cream cake recipe.

You get chocolate and vanilla, plus that signature layer of chocolate crunchies. Yum!

30. Creamy Blackberry Basil Nice Cream

In case you’re unfamiliar, “nice” cream is blended frozen bananas. It’s sweet, fruity, vegan, and tastes just like real ice cream.

And it’s so easy to jazz up! Take this recipe, for example.

It’s infused with blackberries and basil, making it berrylicious with just a bit of herbal goodness.

31. Orange Creamsicle Popsicles

Creamsicles were my go-to when I was a kid. And I still love ’em!

But instead of buying them from the store, I’ve been making my own for years.

All you need is cream, milk, honey, and vanilla, plus the juice and zest of two oranges. Easy peasy!

32. Refreshing Margarita Popsicles

Want something a bit boozier? I’ve got just the thing!

These margarita popsicles are cool, zesty, and loaded with tequila.

Add a lime wheel and some sea salt to the top, and they’re about as good as it gets.

33. Banana Split Cake

When I need summer desserts for a crowd, I almost always turn to this banana split cake.

It’s got everything you love about the classic sundae – ice cream, bananas, cherries, nuts, and cream – but it’s much easier to whip up.

It’s such a refreshing treat, and it looks fantastic with the cherries on top.

34. 3-Ingredient Homemade Mango Ice Cream

You don’t need a fancy ice cream maker or Ninja Creami to make ice cream at home, ya know!

And this 3-ingredients recipe is proof!

Just blend frozen mangos with coconut milk and maple syrup until it’s thick and smooth.

35. Maple Grilled Peaches & Almond Cookie Crumb

Here’s a terrific and refreshing treat for a hot summer day. And it’s effortless to make for a party full of people.

You’ll need fresh, ripe peaches (of course) plus a simple almond cookie crumb.

Serve them with raspberry sorbet and a drizzle of caramel. Yum!