20 Best Summer Desserts for a Sweeter Season
Bonus: They're easy to make on hot days!
Turning on the oven may not sound especially appealing during the dog days of summer, but that doesn’t mean sweet cravings disappear. That’s exactly why it helps to have a few easy summer desserts in your back pocket. Whether you’re hosting a cookout or just in the mood for refreshing frozen treats, these sweet recipes are bound to come in handy all season long.
Here, you’ll find summer desserts for just about every occasion, from s'mores treats for your next camping trip to fruity summer pies that make the perfect ending to a backyard dinner. There are also plenty of no-bake desserts and ice cream recipes for the hottest days of the season. You’ll find ideas like homemade drumsticks, no-churn mango sorbet, Ree Drummond’s beloved key lime pie, and easy ice cream pies and cakes that turn store-bought ingredients into something truly special.
Looking to use seasonal produce? There are tons of blueberry desserts, strawberry recipes, and sweet peach treats on the list ahead. You’ll also find tropical treats using pineapple and coconut. No matter which recipe you choose, these light and bright treats will be a welcome addition to your backyard barbecue or even your 4th of July spread. But don't wait too long. Before you know it, the summer desserts will be replaced by pumpkin spice everything!
Mango Pie
A bright, tropical pie that brings a burst of sunshine to every bite with its creamy mango and coconut filling within a graham cracker crust. It’s topped with coconut whipped cream, lime zest, and fresh mango.
Get Ree’s Mango Pie recipe.
Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding
This cool, creamy dessert feels right at home on any summer table. Layered with vanilla wafers, sliced bananas, and rich pudding, it’s a nostalgic crowd-pleaser.
Get the Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding recipe.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Icebox Cake
A dream dessert for chocolate lovers. Layered with chocolate chip cookies and fluffy whipped cream, then chilled until soft and cake-like. Simple and delicious!.
Key Lime Bars
These bars pack all the bright, refreshing flavor you want in a summer dessert. With a buttery crust and a creamy key lime filling that’s sweet, tart, and citrusy, they’re an easy crowd-pleaser for picnics, parties, and hot afternoons alike.
Get Ree’s Key Lime Bars recipe.
Pig Cake
With its fruity flavor and old-fashioned charm, pig cake is like a taste of the tropics. Moist mandarin orange cake topped with a fluffy pineapple-studded frosting makes this chilled classic especially refreshing for potlucks and cookouts.
Get Ree’s Pig Cake recipe.
Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
Craving a cool, creamy, and citrusy treat? This cheesecake delivers. It adds a tangy lemon curd, and fluffy toasted meringue topping to every bite.
Get the Lemon Meringue Cheesecake recipe.
Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Sandwiches
Yes, you can take a beloved summer dessert and turn it into an icy, cold treat! Combine soft, chewy white chocolate chip cookies with strawberry ice cream for the ultimate sweet flavor in every bite.
Pink Lemonade Pie
Brighten up any summer day when you whip together a vanilla cookie crust with a creamy, zesty filling made from pink lemonade mix, lemon zest, and whipped cream.
Get Ree's Pink Lemonade Pie recipe.
Strawberry Delight
A delightful summer dessert, this no-bake recipe layers a buttery graham cracker crust, velvety cream cheese filling, and glossy strawberries for a tasty treat that's so simple to prepare.
Get the Strawberry Delight recipe.
Blackberry Pie
Blackberries are at their sweetest and juiciest during the hottest days of summer, making it the ideal time to bake up a homemade pie. Full of fresh flavor, this dessert is as lovely to look at as it is delicious!
Get the Blackberry Pie recipe.
Mango Sorbet
On a hot day, all you want is a cold and refreshing treat. Try mango sorbet! It's no churn, meaning you don't need an ice cream maker. All you need is a food processor.
Get the Mango Sorbet recipe.
Lemon-Blueberry Sheet Cake
Sheet cakes are so easy to transport to your summer celebrations. Moist lemon cake serves as the backdrop to an icing made with blueberry preserves and fresh lemon juice. Finish with even more blueberries.
Get Ree's Lemon-Blueberry Sheet Cake recipe.
Red, White, and Blue Popsicles
While these popsicles look pure Americana, you don't have to wait for a holiday to make them. They have the sweet seasonal flavors of both strawberries and blueberries, perfect for any hot summer day.
Get Ree's Red, White, and Blue Popsicles recipe.
Peach Cobbler
Amazing news: No need to fuss with pie crust for this summer cobbler, it’s got a sweet, golden biscuit topping. It’s even better when paired with a big scoop of ice cream on top.
Get the Peach Cobbler recipe.
Copycat Drumsticks
This classic ice cream truck treat is just like the kind you might remember as a kid. It's filled with vanilla ice cream, topped with chopped nuts, and even has that crispy sugar cone that's coated on the inside with chocolate.
Get the Copycat Drumsticks recipe.
Lemon Crinkle Cookies
These cookies are like a burst of sunshine in every bite. They're a summery twist on the traditional crinkle cookie, but made with both lemon zest and lemon juice for citrusy flavor.
Get the Lemon Crinkle Cookies recipe.
Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
These bars will satisfy that cheesecake craving in half the time. The buttery crust, creamy cheesecake filling, and strawberry swirls can even be made ahead of time.
Get the Strawberry Cheesecake Bars recipe.
Blueberry Pie
This pie is best made with fresh blueberries are at their summer peak. Don't be intimidated by the lattice topping, it's actually surprisingly easy to achieve.
Get the Blueberry Pie recipe.
Homemade Creamsicle Pop
You only need three ingredients to make these creamy, dreamy pops. They're made using popsicle molds, but good old-fashioned paper cups with wooden sticks would work, too.
Get the Homemade Creamsicle Pop recipe.
Coconut Cream Pie
A comforting, tropical pie that’s made with a silky coconut custard and plenty of homemade whipped cream on top. To give it an extra boost of tropical flavor, garnish with toasted coconut chips.
Get the Coconut Cream Pie recipe.
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