the best summer desserts
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Summer is my favorite season, and easy, no-fuss summer desserts are my love language. When the grill has cooled and the evening calls for something sweet to wrap up a perfect day, these simple treats deliver. Below is a curated list of 20 of my best summer desserts from pies to ice cream and everything in between, there’s something here for every craving.
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Cookie Central
Soft Snickerdoodles – extra cinnamon-y, just the way they should be. This snickerdoodle recipe makes soft and chewy cookies.
Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies – bits of Heath bar mixed with a chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe is the cookie you never knew you needed in your life.
Soft Ginger Cookies – big bakery style ginger cookies are for anytime of year, not just the fall. Anytime I see them in a bakery or treat shop, I have to get one. Make these gingery cookies for your next cookout.
Brown Butter Carrot Cookies – this cookie is a mix between a cookie and a scone. They are perfectly sweet with a delicious glaze. Use up some of that garden carrot bounty with these carrot cookies.
Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies – speaking of garden bounty, if you’re like me, you’re always looking for ways to use up zucchini and these cakey zucchini chocolate chip cookies should be on the top of the list.
Fruity Desserts
Pineapple Mango Upside Down Cake – this is the perfect summer cake! Deliciously sweet champagne mangos are nestled inside of pineapple rings and topped with a moist pineapple cake. I’m drooling.
Fresh Cherry Pie – fresh cherries and lots of orange zest make this classic cherry pie a real show stopper. Get fancy with cookie cutters to make an interesting top crust and you’ll be the star of the block party.
Dark Chocolate Pear Tart – this chocolate tart with fresh pear is not only beautiful, it’s incredibly delicious and is made with a buttery walnut crust.
Seckel Pear Tart – look for seckel pears (tiny pears) at farmers markets and make these cute individual pear tarts with a sweet Reisling wine glaze.
Frozen Treats
Homemade Moose Tracks Ice Cream – this super creamy ice cream base gets a dose of chocolatey fudge sauce and mini peanut butter cups and is incredibly delish!
Boozy Peach Popsicles – these fresh peach and yogurt popsicles with a touch of coconut vodka are a super easy adult sweet treat.
Quick Cherry Ice Cream – whiz frozen cherries and vanilla yogurt in a food processor for a creamy and dreamy cherry ice cream. No ice cream maker necessary!
2-Ingredient Dole Whip – you read that right, just 2 ingredients, well 3 if you want the traditional pineapple juice float. You can’t go wrong with this quick and satisfying dole whip dupe.
Rolo Buttermilk Ice Cream – hold on, before you check out with the word “buttermilk” let me assure you that it adds an incredible flavor to ice cream!
Chocolate Desserts
Chocolate Port Wine Cake – take a box of devils food cake and make it into the most delectable cake you’ve ever made! The addition of sour cream keeps this luscious chocolate cake moist and perfect.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie – what’s better than a chocolate chip cookie? I’m glad you asked, a cookie pie shell filled with a velvety smooth chocolate custard and topped with brown sugar whipped cream. No joke.
Chocolate Zucchini Brownies – we’re back with more garden bounty recipes with these whole wheat zucchini brownies that are chewy and loaded with flavor.
Chocolate Olive Oil Zucchini Bread – double chocolate with shredded zucchini and olive oil to keep it all moist and delicious.
Chocolate Banana Bread – yes, you can eat it for breakfast, but this cakey banana bread would make a delicious dessert as a base for a scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of warm chocolate sauce.
Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars – now you don’t need to keep running to the store to keep granola bars in the fridge all summer. Make this easy granola bar recipe and use it to top ice cream or fresh berry crumbles.
Cacao Cream Tart Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups ground chocolate wafers, about 26
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 6 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- ¾ cup Artisana cacao bliss spread, or other nut butter like peanut or cashew
- 1 cup whipping cream, chilled
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 oz white chocolate
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a food processor, grind the cookies into a fine crumb. Add the melted butter and mix well to combine. Press the cookie mixture into a 9-inch tart pan, or pie plate. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool completely.
- In a medium mixing bowl add the cream cheese and cacao bliss, mix well with a hand mixer. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl add the whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla and with the whisk attachment, beat until soft peaks form. Add half of the whipped cream mixture to the cream cheese mixture and whisk to combine. Fold in the remaining whipped cream mixture carefully and add to the cooled cookie crust.
- Set a small bowl over a pan of simmering water and add the white chocolate. When the chocolate looks melted, stir briefly to combine. Remove from the heat and pour into a small piping bag fitted with a small tip or a zip-top lunch bag and snip the corner. Pipe the white chocolate from the center out to the edge. Use a small paring knife and gently drag it over the white chocolate to create a webbed effect. Refrigerate for 2 hours and serve.
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Notes
Nutrition
* Nutritional information is not guaranteed to be accurate.
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Co-Founder at Spiceology | More About Heather…
Heather is a recipe developer and content creator living in Vancouver, Washington. She started Farmgirl Gourmet in 2006, almost 20 years ago, as a way to share recipes with friends and family. Heather is also the co-founder of Spiceology , a unique spice company, which she started in 2013. She shares family friendly recipes for easy everyday meals with a gourmet twist.