We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
Is it just us, or are desserts even harder to resist in the summer? Maybe this habit dates back to childhood, but a popsicle can be a satisfying distraction in the middle of a hot day when even the hardest-working air conditioning can’t seem to cool a room and a slice of pie is just the treat to follow a lobster roll.
If you’re looking to indulge your sweet tooth as the heat waves continue, try one of these six summer dessert ideas. From no-bake thumbprints to no-churn ice cream, these ideas are easy ways to give in to sugar cravings because there’s no better season to be free to do as you please.
Peanut Butter Thumbprints
When the weather is warm and a sweet craving hits, there are two things you probably don’t want to deal with: an oven and waiting. This recipe from The Minimalist Baker delivers a no-bake thumbprint recipe that features creamy peanut butter, sea salt, maple syrup, almond flour, and fresh berries. Another bonus? You can freeze this recipe for up to a month.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake
Speaking of peanut butter, this recipe from Half Baked Harvest pairs it with chocolate for an easy-to-assemble ice cream cake. Wafer cookies and salted butter form the base of the cake, and then chocolate ice cream, creamy peanut butter, and coconut oil are layered on top. When the cake is set, finish it off with roasted peanuts.
Blueberry Pie Cookie Bars
Summer picnics call for sweet-yet-simple desserts, and this recipe from Sugar Salted meets that demand. Fresh blueberries, lemon juice, and granulated sugar form the filling of these cookie bars, which are combined with a handmade crust. Sprinkle almonds and pearl sugar on to the dough before baking.
Lemon Tart
A lemon tart is a classic sunny-day dessert, and this recipe from Half Baked Harvest promises to get it on your plate as quickly as possible. Graham crackers, honey, butter, and pretzels form the crust that’s pushed into a tart pan, and a mixture of heavy cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract is poured inside. When the tart has set, top it with fresh berries.
Stone Fruit Tart
The cinnamon sugar crust of this vibrant tart by How Sweet Eats will remind you of carnival churros, and yet the filling is decidedly grown-up. Thinly sliced peaches and plums mix with pitted cherries, vanilla bean, and cornstarch before being poured into the crust. Once it’s all cooked to a golden brown, the tart is cooled and served.
Grilled Pineapple and Coconut Ice Cream
Can’t escape to the islands this summer? That’s not a problem when you can make this tropical vegan recipe from Joyful Healthy Eats. Thick slices of fresh coconut are grilled on an open flame, and then a scoop of coconut ice cream is placed on top. To make it extra decadent, top everything with a drizzle of caramel and a handful of toasted coconut flakes.
Read on for more summer-ready recipes:
13 Vegetarian Barbecue Recipes That Even Your Meat-Eating Friends Will EnjoyDitch the Greens: 10 Fruit Salads We’d Rather Eat Instead7 Simple One-Pot Meals That Were Made for Busy Summer Nights