Perfect Summer Dessert Recipes for All Occasions

All of these summer dessert recipes are ready for your next BBQ, outdoor party, or just a relaxing summer evening in the hammock. Each of these are unique and refreshing, with a fun combination of flavors.

There is just something about those long summer nights that beg for parties and cookouts. Whenever I host a party of any kind, you know I’m going to make sure there are plenty of desserts for everyone. (And plenty of easy summer appetizers too!)

This collection of summer dessert recipes all look enticing and are absolute showstoppers. They will impress your guests and make you proud to share them with everyone. Even better is how easy they are to make! You don’t even have to be an experienced pastry chef to whip these treats up.

FAQs about Summer Dessert Recipes

Before we get into the recipes, I’m going to address some common questions I’ve received over the years of sharing these desserts. If you have another question that isn’t answered here, please leave it in the comments, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Which types of fruit are seasonal in the summer?

Fruit always tastes best when you use what’s in season. The most common fruits that are seasonal in the summer are berries and stone fruits (fruits with a pit in the middle like peaches).

I highly recommend browsing a local farmer’s market in the summer. There is nothing quite like baking with fresh fruit.

These are the most common summer fruits – but check your local area to see if they are in season where you live.

• Apricots
• Plums
• Cherries
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Peaches

What types of recipes are served in the summer?

Since it’s the warmest in the summer, salads and grilled foods do the best. Things that will cool you down when it’s hot out (like fresh fruit salads, fruit desserts, and frozen treats) are really popular in the summertime.

It’s also not as fun to cook in a hot kitchen in the summer, so anything grilled or no-bake is a huge bonus!

Which desserts do well in the heat?

The best desserts for serving outdoors when it is hot out include anything that is not frozen. Cakes, cupcakes, and dessert bars are fantastic.

Ice cream cakes or frozen fruit bars are incredibly refreshing in the heat, but they have a tendency to melt. So, it’s best to only serve them right when people will eat them immediately.

Summer Desserts

Here we go! Let’s look at my all-time favorite summer dessert recipes. I hope you find a few new favorites from this list.

1. Mixed Berry Pound Cake

Let’s start out with a really simple recipe. Mixed berry pound cake is aesthetically pleasing, with pops of blue, red, and green. The fresh mint leaves enhance the flavors and add a bit of chill to the cake too.

2. Blueberry Lemon Zucchini Cupcakes

I love serving cupcakes at parties because they are already individually portioned. Blueberry lemon zucchini cupcakes are a delicious way to hide high-fiber zucchini. You don’t even have to tell your guests you added it.

3. Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Pie

The combination of strawberries and rhubarb makes me think of home gardens and farmer’s markets. Strawberry rhubarb crumble pie looks and tastes like a family recipe passed down from generation to generation.

4. Vegetable Garden Mini Cakes

Evoke images of cute little garden veggies in these sweet, delicate cakes. Don’t let the decorations fool you – these cakes don’t actually contain vegetables.

5. Homemade Strawberry Shortcakes

Spongy little cakes topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberries, how much more summertime does it get? These homemade strawberry shortcakes are a classic summer dessert.

6. Mini Blueberry Cheesecake

Blueberries are another classic fruit found in summertime desserts. These mini blueberry cheesecakes are adorable and perfect for brunch too.

7. Strawberry Ice Cream Cheesecake

Serve this frozen treat indoors – you’ll enjoy how refreshingly delicious it is! Strawberry ice cream cheesecake is a creamy frozen treat perfect for any occasion.

8. Strawberry Jell-O Pretzel Salad

It’s both a dessert and a salad – a combination the midwest knows very well. Strawberry Jell-O pretzel salad can be enjoyed with your meal or saved for after.

10. Cheesecake Dip with Strawberries

This incredible cheesecake dip is the perfect thing to serve as both an appetizer at wedding showers or birthday parties and as a dessert at cookouts. The dip has the perfect creamy consistency and is easy to use as a dip with strawberries and other types of fruit.

11. Strawberry Coconut Cake

Bring a taste of the islands to your dessert table! This strawberry coconut cake is two layers of bright pink strawberry goodness and decadent buttercream.

12. Mini No-Bake Key Lime Pie

Grab some mini mason jars and assemble the cutest little key lime pies. They are the perfect portions for guests or to limit your dessert intake.

13. No-Churn Ice Cream

Forget about an ice cream maker – you don’t need it to make this creamy and amazing no churn ice cream. It only has two ingredients, so it’s a breeze to prepare.

14. Cream Puff Cake

This cream puff cake is both delicate and awe-inducing. Every single bite just melts in your mouth.

15. Ritz Cracker and Mixed Berry Ice Box Cake

With an incredible 3-D design, this icebox cake will draw people in and have them asking you how you did it. What they don’t know is just how simple this cake is to make!

16. Ice Cream Pudding Dessert

This old-fashioned Ice Cream Pudding Dessert (or Ice Cream Salad as it’s known in my family) is an easy-to-make dessert recipe comprised of a salty Ritz cracker crust and creamy toasted coconut ice cream pudding filling. It’s one of my favorite. I know you’re going to love it too.

17. Mixed Berry Shortcakes

Have a little fun with a classic shortcake. These mixed berry shortcakes are a fun new take on a summertime favorite. This recipe also includes instructions for homemade whipped cream that you can use over and over again in other desserts.

18. Blueberry Cream Pie

Plump, juicy blueberries sit in a bed of delicate cream – a combination that could not get any better! This blueberry cream pie will remind you of southern hospitality and summertime memories.

19. Mason Jar Cherry Supreme

For the perfect blend of sweet and tart, make a batch of this cute little mason jar cherry supreme. The sugary-sweet cherries sit on top of a delicious graham cracker crust – it’s incredible.

That’s a Wrap on the Best Summer Dessert Recipes!

I hope you enjoyed browsing this list of delicious summer dessert recipes. Pin your favorites to Pinterest and create an epic summertime cookout that everyone will talk about.