Summer desserts are the sweetest way to beat the heat and treat yourself to something light, fruity, and refreshing! Whether planning a picnic, throwing a backyard bash, or just looking for quick and easy summer dessert ideas, this list covers you. From no-bake summer desserts to light summer sweets, something here makes every sunny day extra special.
There’s nothing like summer desserts to bring joy to your table during the year’s warmest months.
Think cool summer treats like berry trifles, summer fruit puddings, and easy summer desserts with few ingredients that come together in minutes.
Love baking?
Try summer baking recipes like peach cobblers or a chilled summer berry tart for the perfect picnic treat.
Not into baking?
Go for no-cook desserts like fruit skewers with chocolate drizzle or frozen yogurt pops.
Whether hosting a party, participating in a summer food service program, or prepping for a bake sale, these best summer dessert recipes deliver delicious results without overheating your kitchen.
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21. Heavenly Oreo Lemon Dessert
Credit: Life In The Loft House
This Heavenly Lemon Oreo Dessert is everything you want in summer desserts: light, creamy, and bursting with citrusy goodness.
With layers of Golden Oreos, lemon pudding, and whipped topping, this no-bake dessert is perfect for hot weather.
Whether planning a BBQ, pool party, or picnic, this treat is one of the most refreshing summer desserts you can serve.
Add it to your go-to list of easy summer dessert recipes that impress without turning on the oven.
20. Golden Oreo Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
Credit: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
These Golden Oreo Strawberry Cheesecake Bars are the sweet, fruity treat your summer dessert ideas need!
The creamy cheesecake layer sits on a buttery Oreo crust, topped with fresh strawberries for an indulgent and refreshing bite.
Perfect for picnics, bake sales, or backyard brunches, they rank high on our list of light summer desserts and are an easy favorite for any summer picnic food lineup.
19. No-Bake Berry Dessert Lush
Credit: Crazy For Crust
Cool, creamy, and bursting with berry flavor, this No-Bake Berry Dessert Lush is a crowd-pleaser for all your summer baking recipes, minus the actual baking!
With a buttery crust and luscious layers of cheesecake, pudding, and berries, it’s the definition of no-bake summer desserts.
Ideal for pool parties and BBQs, this sweet treat stands out as one of the best summer dessert recipes for entertaining.
18. Raspberry Peach Crumble
Credit: Mom On Timeout
Juicy peaches, tart raspberries, and a golden buttery crumble topping, this Easy Raspberry Peach Crumble screams summer desserts!
It’s a simple bake that pairs beautifully with vanilla ice cream and perfectly ends any summer meal.
Whether for a weeknight dinner or a summer picnic snack, this dessert recipe for summer is both rustic and elegant, giving you all the fruity vibes of the season in one pan.
17. Snickers Apple Salad
Credit: Crayons And Cravings
This creamy, crunchy Snickers Salad is one of the most unexpected yet irresistible summer sweet recipes!
With chopped apples, whipped topping, and chunks of Snickers candy bars, it blurs the line between side dish and dessert.
Serve it at picnics or BBQs and watch it disappear.
If you’re looking for cool summer desserts that are quick and fun to make, this one is a crowd favorite for both kids and adults alike.
16. Summer Berry Jello Lasagna
Credit: OMG Chocolate Desserts
Layered, colorful, and refreshing, this Summer Berry Jello Lasagna is a visual and flavorful hit.
This summertime dessert recipe always wows with its combination of cream cheese, whipped topping, graham crackers, and fruity Jello layers.
Perfect for making summer treats ahead, this one’s fun, festive, and lavish, perfect for a red-white-and-blue-themed celebration or any hot-weather gathering.
15. Strawberry Icebox Cake
Credit: Eating On A Dime
When it’s too hot to bake, this Strawberry Icebox Cake is the go-to treat for an easy, creamy fix.
With layers of graham crackers, whipped cream, and sweet strawberries, it chills into one of the simplest, most refreshing summer desserts you’ll ever taste.
Ideal for potlucks, summer lunch programs, or holiday weekends, this dessert delivers flavor and coolness without any oven time.
14. Strawberry Mousse
Credit: An Italian In My Kitchen
This light and fluffy Strawberry Mousse is the dreamy treat your summer dessert lineup needs!
Made with fresh berries and whipped cream, it’s the cool summer dessert perfect for garden parties, poolside snacks, or a romantic date night.
Serve chilled for a refreshing escape from the heat.
This mousse proves that light summer desserts can be elegant, fruity, and irresistible.
13. No-Bake Banana Split Cake
Credit: My Heavenly Recipes
You’ll go wild for this No-Bake Banana Split Cake if you love banana splits!
It’s one of the most fun and easy summer desserts with layers of graham crackers, creamy filling, bananas, pineapple, strawberries, and whipped topping.
Ideal for summer picnic foods or backyard birthday parties, this layered dessert is fruity and nostalgic and guaranteed to disappear quickly at any gathering.
12. No-Bake Pineapple Cream Dessert
Credit: Bake At Midnite
Say hello to sunshine on a plate with this No-Bake Pineapple Cream Dessert!
It’s fruity, creamy, and tropical, everything you want in a summer dessert recipe.
With its refreshing texture and effortless prep, this treat is perfect for summer lunch programs, potlucks, or even as a light dessert after a BBQ.
Bonus: no oven required!
11. Key Lime Pie Bars
Credit: Brown Butter Blondie
Bright, zesty, and irresistibly smooth, these Key Lime Pie Bars are the ultimate summer desserts when you need a tangy treat.
With a buttery graham cracker crust and velvety lime filling, these cookies are perfect for summer baking recipes or when you want something chilled and citrusy.
These bars slice beautifully and are ideal for summer picnic snacks or dessert trays.
10. Blueberry Crumble Cheesecake Pie
Credit: OMG Chocolate Desserts
This Blueberry Crumble Cheesecake Pie is everything you love about summer, baked into one beautiful dish.
A luscious cheesecake layer meets juicy blueberries and a buttery crumble topping for a sweet, decadent dessert with berry flavor.
It stands out among berry summer desserts and is a fabulous choice for casual dinners and festive events.
9. No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
Credit: Butter With A Side Of Bread
This No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake is a creamy, fruity masterpiece that screams easy summer dessert recipes.
Made with fresh strawberries and a buttery crust, this chilled dessert is perfect for hot days when turning on the oven is a no-go.
Serve it at brunches, picnics, or as a sweet ending to a summer food menu.
8. Brown Sugar Peach Cake
Credit: The View From Great Island
Loaded with juicy peaches and a brown sugar glaze, this Brown Sugar Peach Cake is one of the most comforting and flavorful summer baked goods.
Serve it warm with ice cream or enjoy it cool with tea; it’s versatile, cozy, and bursting with seasonal sweetness.
Add it to your list of good summer desserts that highlight fresh fruit.
7. 5-Layered Turtle Lasagna
Credit: My Heavenly Recipes
If you’re craving indulgence, this 5-Layer Turtle Lasagna is the ultimate in summer dessert decadence!
With layers of chocolate, caramel, cheesecake, and whipped cream over a cookie crust, this chilled dessert is a dream for hot days.
It’s a showstopper for parties and one of the top-rated summer desserts for chocolate lovers.
Cool, rich, and ultra-creamy, this dessert is perfect for making ahead and wowing your guests.
6. Very Berry Dessert Lasagna
Credit: OMG Chocolate Desserts
Looking for refreshing summer desserts that scream berry season?
This Very Berry Dessert Lasagna layers cream cheese, whipped topping, graham crackers, and a rainbow of berries into a no-bake treat you’ll want to make all summer.
Perfect for cookouts, celebrations, or family dinners, it’s one of those easy summer dessert recipes that looks as good as it tastes.
A fruity masterpiece for berry lovers everywhere!
5. Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes
Credit: Baker By Nature
These Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes are sunshine in cupcake form!
With a soft lemon base and fresh raspberry flavor throughout, they make a perfect treat for any summer dessert ideas list.
Topped with light, citrusy frosting, they’re great for brunches, baby showers, or as a sweet surprise at a summer picnic.
Their bright flavor and bakery-style look make them one of the best summer treats to bake this season.
4. Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Credit: Grand Baby Cakes
These Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches are the cool treat you need when the heat hits hard!
Rich, chewy brownies sandwiched between your favorite ice cream flavor make for one of the most satisfying summer desserts.
They’re great for dessert, picnics, parties, or when craving something cold and chocolaty.
Skip the store-bought versions; these homemade sandwiches are next-level indulgent and customizable!
3. Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
Credit: Stephanie’s Sweets
These Strawberry Shortcake Trifles are adorable, individual-sized summer sweet recipes.
They feature pound cake, whipped cream, and juicy strawberries.
Perfect for portion control (or not!), they’re great for BBQs, potlucks, or summer picnic snacks.
Light, fruity, and ready in a flash, these trifles are pretty to serve and one of the most fun summer treats.
2. Lemon Blueberry Cake
Credit: Just So Tasty
This Lemon Blueberry Cake is a bakery-worthy masterpiece ideal for summer baking recipes.
Its moist lemon cake layers are bursting with fresh blueberries and topped with creamy frosting, making it as beautiful as it is flavorful.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just love berry summer desserts, this one has a bright and tangy flavor that’s hard to resist.
Serve it as the centerpiece for your next summer gathering!
1. Strawberry Lemon Blondies
Credit: The View From Great Island
These Strawberry Lemon Blondies are a zesty, chewy twist on a classic dessert bar, making them one of the best summer dessert recipes for citrus fans.
They’re packed with real strawberries and a bold lemon kick, baked to perfection with a soft, gooey texture.
Whether you’re hosting a bake sale or need a sweet ending to your summer lunch, these blondies are both easy and unforgettable.
FAQs About Easy Summer Desserts For A Crowd
Q. What are the best summer desserts to beat the heat?
Cool summer desserts like no-bake cheesecake bars, berry trifles, or frozen yogurt bark are total lifesavers when the temperature rises. These refreshing summer desserts are perfect for sunny days and backyard gatherings, giving you sweet relief without heating the kitchen.
Q. What are some easy summer dessert recipes for a crowd?
Need easy summer desserts for a crowd? Try summer pies, summer berry cake pops, or a big batch of trifle berry recipe. These desserts are simple to prep and serve, making them ideal for cookouts, picnics, or potlucks.
Q. Are there any light and healthy summer desserts?
Yes! Light summer desserts like fruit salad with mint, gluten-free berry crisp, or a simple summer fruit tart are refreshing and nutritious. These healthy summer desserts strike the perfect balance of sweet and guilt-free indulgence during warmer months.
Q. What are the most popular no-bake summer dessert ideas?
Some best no-bake summer desserts include chocolate peanut butter bars, cold lemon pudding cups, and no-cook berry parfaits. These easy summer dessert recipes save time and are perfect when you want something sweet without turning on the oven.
Q. Which summer dessert recipes are perfect for a picnic?
Great desserts for picnics include turon (Filipino fried banana rolls), mini summer pies, and scallop squash muffins. These summer sweet recipes are easy to pack, serve, and enjoy outdoors, making them ideal for summer adventures or summer food service programs.
Now comes the important question… Which summer desserts do you like the most? Please let me know in the comments.
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