If there’s one thing I learned in life, it’s that you don’t need an occasion to enjoy a delicious dessert.
But when the heat cranks up and I’m craving something sweet, the last thing I want to do is break a sweat making something.
That’s why I love these easy summer dessert recipes!
They come together super fast and taste amazing.
So if you’re looking for something sweet on a slow, sticky afternoon, these are totally worth the (minimal) effort.
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Cups
The key to making a summer dessert is staying as far away from your oven as possible.
That’s why I love no-bake recipes!
To make no-bake strawberry cheesecake cups, start by crushing graham crackers and mixing them with some melted butter.
Press the mix into the bottom of jars or cups.
Then beat cream cheese with a little bit of sugar and vanilla before folding it into some whipped cream.
You want a texture that’s light and smooth!
Spoon the filling over the crust and let it chill in the fridge to set.
While that’s happening, slice up fresh strawberries and toss them with a splash of lemon juice for a quick and refreshing topping.
Put it all together and grab a spoon!
Frozen Yogurt Bark with Berries
Frozen yogurt bark is a healthy way to cool down on hot summer days!
Line a baking sheet with parchment and spread out a thick layer of yogurt.
I love using vanilla, but you can use any flavor you want.
Drizzle a little honey onto the yogurt, then scatter a mix of fresh berries, granola, and a handful of chopped nuts or chocolate chips.
Freeze until everything is completely solid, then crack it into pieces.
Frozen yogurt bark stores well in a freezer bag in the freezer, so it’s easy to grab a piece when the snack cravings hit!
Homemade Watermelon Sherbet
Watermelon sherbet is super easy to make!
Cut up a seedless watermelon and toss the chunks into a blender with a squeeze of lime juice.
Blend everything until smooth, then strain to remove any pulp for a silkier texture.
In a separate bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk and a splash of heavy cream, then stir in the watermelon juice.
Pour the mixture into a loaf pan or shallow container and freeze for a few hours, stirring once or twice during the first hour to keep the texture light.
Once it’s firm, scoop and serve straight from the freezer.
Lemonade Icebox Pie
Crush up some graham crackers and blend with melted butter before pressing into a pie dish.
Chill the crust while you make the pie filling by whisking together sweetened condensed milk, whipped topping, and frozen lemonade concentrate.
Make sure everything’s smooth!
Pour the filling into the crust and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours until it’s firm.
Before serving the pie, add a layer of whipped cream and a few lemon slices (if you want to make it feel fancy).
I can’t get over how much this pie tastes like a frozen lemonade stand!
Grilled Peaches with Honey and Cream
Not every summer dessert has to be cold and oven-free.
Trust me, this one is worth a little extra heat!
Halve and pit a few ripe peaches, then brush them with a little bit of oil and grill them cut-side down until caramelized.
While they’re still warm, drizzle the peaches with honey and a pinch of cinnamon.
The heat brings out all the sweetness in the fruit, and the grill adds a touch of smokiness.
If you want to cool them down, serve them with some vanilla ice cream.
Mango Coconut Chia Pudding
Whisk together coconut milk, chia seeds, a little maple syrup, and a splash of vanilla.
Let it chill in the fridge for at least a few hours—or overnight—until it thickens up like pudding.
When you’re ready to serve, layer it with diced fresh mango in jars or cups.
The chia pudding is creamy and cool, and the mango adds that bright, juicy contrast.
A sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes on top doesn’t hurt either.
Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
Unwrap a bunch of store-bought ice cream sandwiches and line them up in a baking dish to make the first layer.
Spread whipped topping over them, then add a drizzle of chocolate sauce and maybe a few crushed cookies or sprinkles.
Repeat with another layer of sandwiches and more toppings.
Freeze the whole thing until it’s firm enough to slice like a cake.
Berry Shortcake Trifles
Grab store-bought pound cake or angel food cake and cut it into cubes.
Layer the cake with whipped cream and mixed berries in glasses or jars, repeating until full.
You can mash some of the berries with a little sugar to make a juicy layer that soaks into the cake.
Let them sit in the fridge for a bit before serving so the flavors mingle.
They’re easy to scale up or down depending on how many people you’re feeding.
Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas
Cut bananas in half and stick a popsicle stick in each one, then freeze them until solid.
Melt chocolate chips with a bit of coconut oil and dip each banana half, letting the excess drip off.
Before the chocolate hardens, roll them in crushed peanuts, sprinkles, or cookie crumbs.
Lay them on a parchment-lined tray and freeze again until the coating sets.
They keep well for days, so you can make a whole batch ahead of time.
Key Lime Pie Popsicles
Mix together sweetened condensed milk, Greek yogurt, and key lime juice until smooth and tangy.
Pour the mixture into popsicle molds and tap to remove air bubbles.
Drop a few crushed graham cracker bits into each mold for that classic pie crust vibe.
Freeze until solid and run the molds under warm water to release.
Raspberry Lemonade Slush
Toss frozen raspberries, lemonade, and a scoop of ice into the blender and let it whirl until slushy.
If the berries are extra tart, a drizzle of honey can mellow things out.
Pour into glasses and add a lemon wedge or a few extra berries for flair.
It’s the kind of treat that feels halfway between a drink and dessert, with just enough sass to keep it interesting.
Leftover slush cubes can go straight into the freezer for round two.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Stir together graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, melted butter, and peanut butter until everything’s smooth and thick like cookie dough.
Press it into a baking dish and level it out with the back of a spoon.
Melt chocolate chips with a bit of peanut butter and pour it over the top in a glossy layer.
Let it chill in the fridge until it sets enough to slice.
These bars come out rich, sweet, and just the right amount of messy.
Peach Cobbler Dump Cake
Grab a can or two of peaches in juice and pour them into a greased baking dish.
Sprinkle a box of yellow cake mix right over the top.
No mixing needed!
Dot the whole thing with thin slices of butter and slide it into the oven until the top gets golden and the fruit starts bubbling.
The peaches soften into syrupy pockets while the cake mix turns into this crumbly, crispy topping.
It smells like summer and disappears fast once you start scooping.
Cherry Cola Jello Cups
Heat cherry cola just until warm, then whisk in cherry-flavored gelatin powder until it’s fully dissolved.
Pour the mix into clear cups and let it chill until slightly set, then drop in a few maraschino cherries.
Once firm, add a dollop of whipped cream and maybe a cherry on top for the full soda shop vibe.
The combo of fizzy cola flavor and sweet cherry is surprisingly nostalgic.
Cereal Milk Ice Cream
This easy summer dessert recipe is unique and delicious!
Soak your favorite sugary cereal in milk for about 20 minutes, then strain it and set the milk aside.
Mix that with whipped cream, sweetened condensed milk, and a splash of vanilla, then pour it into a container and freeze.
The flavor ends up tasting exactly like the bottom of a cereal bowl, in the best possible way.
You can stir in cereal pieces, cookie chunks, or swirls of syrup before it freezes fully.
More Quick & Easy Summer Desserts to Make
If you’re craving something sweet but don’t want to spend hours baking, you’re in the right place. These quick, no-bake summer desserts are perfect for busy days and sunny afternoons.
Strawberry Icebox Cake
Layer juicy strawberries, whipped cream, and graham crackers in a dish. Chill overnight until soft and creamy—the kids will love it!
Peach Parfaits
Grab some ripe, sweet peaches and slice them up. Layer with creamy yogurt and crunchy granola for a delicious, refreshing treat.
Cherry Vanilla Yogurt Popsicles
Mix together creamy vanilla yogurt and juicy fresh cherries, then pour into popsicle molds. Freeze until set for an easy, refreshing summer treat everyone will love.
Mango Coconut Popsicles
Blend together ripe mangoes with coconut milk for a tropical, creamy snack. Freeze into popsicle molds—perfect for hot summer days.
Watermelon Pizza
Slice watermelon into rounds for the easiest dessert ever. Spread whipped cream, add fresh berries and mint, and serve chilled.
Blueberry Lemon Trifle
Layer fluffy lemon pudding, fresh blueberries, and store-bought pound cake in a clear bowl. Chill and scoop into cups for a pretty, no-fuss dessert.
Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Cups
Prepare a quick, velvety chocolate mousse and spoon into small cups. Top with fresh raspberries—simple, rich, and so pretty.
Banana Split Bites
Cut bananas into bite-sized pieces and skewer with strawberries and pineapple chunks. Drizzle melted chocolate on top and freeze for a kid-friendly snack.
Key Lime Pie in a Jar
Mix up a creamy, tangy key lime filling in minutes. Spoon it over buttery graham cracker crumbs inside mini jars and chill until set.
Blackberry Fool
Gently fold juicy fresh blackberries into lightly sweetened whipped cream. Serve chilled in pretty glasses—so easy, yet fancy enough for guests.
Pineapple Coconut Cream Cups
Blend ripe mango with whipped cream or coconut cream for a smooth, fruity filling. Spoon into small cups and chill for a light, tropical treat that tastes like summer in every bite.
Mixed Berry Yogurt Bark
Spread creamy Greek yogurt onto parchment-lined trays and sprinkle generously with fresh mixed berries. Freeze, then break into bite-sized pieces—perfect to grab and go.
Chocolate-Dipped Clementines
Peel sweet clementines and dip each segment halfway in melted chocolate. Chill until chocolate hardens—quick, fun, and tasty.
Lemon-Raspberry Icebox Bars
Make lemon-flavored whipped cream and layer with graham crackers and raspberries in a pan. Let chill overnight for a sweet, tart, melt-in-your-mouth treat.
Creamy Fruit Salad
Toss together fresh summer fruit like berries, melon, and grapes. Fold gently into sweetened whipped cream and chill briefly for a quick, classic favorite.
Frozen Yogurt Berry Bites
Spoon creamy Greek yogurt into mini muffin tins and top with fresh berries like raspberries or blueberries. Freeze until firm for a poppable, refreshing snack.
Peach Melba Cups
Layer sweet peach slices, raspberry sauce, and whipped cream in small cups. Chill briefly for a fruity dessert that feels a little fancy but takes just minutes.
Tropical Fruit Skewers
Thread chunks of pineapple, mango, and kiwi onto skewers and drizzle with melted white chocolate. Pop in the fridge to set—sweet, colorful, and ready in no time!
Sweet, Simple, and Perfect for Doing Absolutely Nothing
Summer desserts don’t have to be complicated to be amazing.
These are the kind of treats that let you stay cool, satisfy your sweet tooth, and still have time to lounge in the shade or float in the pool.
It doesn’t matter if you’re sharing with friends or just treating yourself.
Having a few of these recipes in your back pocket makes lazy days taste even better!
