If you’re looking for some new summer desserts to try, this is the post for you. I’ve rounded up 36 of my favorite summer dessert recipes. There are cakes, cookies, dessert bars and other fun recipes to try.
From desserts made with fresh summer fruit to rich and decadent cupcakes, bars, and cookies, there are so many ways to treat yourself this summer. I hope you find some new recipes to try!
Dessert Bars
Dessert bars are great treats for summer parties, BBQs and potlucks because they’re easy to serve and the options are endless. Here are a few of my favorite recipes you might like to try.
Whole Lemon Bars | If you’re looking for an amazing lemon bar recipe, this is it. These lemon bars are the only ones I make because they have a thick and velvety custard that isn’t too sweet or too tart, with a great lemony flavor. The secret is using a whole lemon to make them!
Blueberry Pie Bars | These fruity dessert bars are the perfect way to showcase blueberries. They have all the components of a pie but are so much easier to make. They have a buttery crust, juicy blueberries, and a sweet crumble topping.
Raspberry Dessert Bars | These sweet and tart raspberry lemonade bars sit on a buttery crust and are topped with a delicious crumble.
Cookies and Cream Blondies | These blondie bars are thick and chewy and studded with crushed Oreo cookies for a cookies and cream twist.
Butter Mochi | Hawaiian butter mochi is a soft, chewy cake bar with a tropical coconut flavor. It’s made with glutinous rice flour (so it’s gluten-free, too). It’s super easy to make from scratch.
Ultimate Cookie Bars | These cookie bars combine brownies, Oreos, and chocolate chip cookies into one decadent dessert bar.
S’mores Brownies | You don’t need a campfire to enjoy s’mores – just make these brownies instead! They have graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows just like the original but in dessert bar form. You might like to try my Nutella s’mores bars, too!
Cookies
I love to make cookies all year and especially when fresh fruit is available in the summer. There are few different cookie recipes here to browse including no-bake cookies, cookie bowls, and even edible cookie dough!
No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies | These are always a summer classic because you don’t have to turn on the oven to make them. My version combines oats, chocolate and Nutella – they are so good! I also have a no-bake keto cookie recipe you might like to try, too.
Chocolate Cookie Bowls | The only thing better than a scoop of ice cream is serving it in a chocolate cookie bowl. These are easy to make and great for summer parties. If you love brownies, I also have a Nutella brownie bowl recipe, too.
Banana Oatmeal Cookies | If you want a treat on the healthier side, these two-ingredient oatmeal cookies are a good choice. They don’t have any flour or refined sugar but they still taste like soft, sweet cookies.
Strawberry Shortcake Cookies | These strawberry cookies are a sweet way to use fresh strawberries when they are in season. The cookies are similar to scones and have a light and fluffy texture.
Flourless Nutella Oatmeal Cookies | These flourless Nutella cookies are just four ingredients and so simple to make. They are chewy, nutella-y, and have some healthy oats mixed in.
Blueberry Cookies | Blueberries and cream cheese are a perfect combo in these soft cookies.
Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies | This is one of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes. They’re soft and stay soft for days after you bake them. They are the perfect summer treat.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough | This edible chocolate chip cookie dough is made without eggs so you can eat it straight from the bowl! I also have a cookies and cream cookie dough you might like, too.
Strawberries and Cream Cookies | If you love strawberries and cream you have to try these cookies. They’re easy to make and a great way to bake with strawberries.
Cake Recipes
I never get tired of cake recipes and some of my favorite recipes are very easy to make. Even if you don’t have a lot of ingredients on hand you can make a beautiful cake for dessert.
Water Cake | This Italian water cake is easy to make and only requires a few pantry staples. No need for eggs or dairy, but you’d never guess.
3-Ingredient Sponge Cake | This is the easiest sponge cake recipe. You can top it with fruit and whipped cream or use it to make layer cakes with frosting.
Chocolate Cherry Crisp Dump Cake | This easy dessert is perfect to make for a summer party. Just dump several ingredients in a baking dish and bake. No need to mix, whisk, or whip anything! I also have an easy blueberry cobbler dump cake recipe you might like, too.
Chocolate Cupcakes | Sometimes a simple chocolate cupcake is the perfect summer dessert. These are very rich with a decadent ganache frosting.
No-Bake Strawberry Nutella Tiramisu | This is a twist on a traditional Italian tiramisu with strawberries and Nutella. It’s an easy no-bake dessert.
Cherry Cake | When cherries are in season during the summer, I love to make this simple cherry cake. The batter takes just minutes to make and it’s a great way to feature fresh cherries in a dessert.
Strawberry Shortcakes | This is one of my favorite desserts to make during the summer. The combination of fresh fruit, whipped cream, and biscuits is so delicious! Or try my strawberry cake – it’s delicious, too.
Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake | This cake is so easy to make with just two ingredients. It’s a great short-cut recipe when you need a quick dessert.
Blueberry Mochi Cake | I love mochi cake and this blueberry version is perfect for the summer.
Crazy Chocolate Cake | This crazy cake is made without butter, eggs, or a mixing bowl. All you need are some pantry staples, which are mixed directly in your baking pan. The result is a deliciously moist and tender made-from-scratch chocolate sheet cake. I also have a snickerdoodle cake recipe that’s made the same way.
Chocolate Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting | Mascarpone frosting is one of my favorite frostings for cupcakes. It goes with everything, including chocolate, and it’s light and creamy.
Basque Burnt Cheesecake | This unique looking cheesecake is creamy and light with a caramelized surface. It is also much easier to make than traditional cheesecake and hard to mess up.
More Summer Dessert Recipes
These summer desserts are fun and creative and most of them are very easy to make. From cool and creamy pudding and mousse recipes to sweet ice cream sandwiches, I’m sure there’s a few in here you’ll want to make this summer.
Japanese Milk Pudding | This simple milk pudding is just 4 ingredients. It has a silky, creamy texture and tastes like ice cream in pudding form.
Matcha Jelly | Matcha green tea flavored gelatin is topped with sweetened condensed milk for a light and refreshing dessert.
2-Ingredient Blueberry Tart | It doesn’t seem possible, but you can make a beautiful blueberry tart with just two ingredients. No one will guess how easy it was to make!
Cotton Candy Affogato | This is a really fun and creative dessert that is perfect when you have guests. Traditional affogato is vanilla ice cream with espresso – adding cotton candy makes a fun presentation that no one will forget.
2-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse | You only need two ingredients for this chocolate mousse and it doesn’t require any cooking. All you do is blend the ingredients, chill the mousse, and serve. Or, if you like pudding you might like to try my easy chocolate pudding recipe.
Churro Ice Cream Sandwiches | Baked churro cookies with ice cream is a fun treat during the summer!
Mexican Fried Ice Cream | This is a fun fair food treat you can easily make at home. It’s crunchy, cold, and creamy!
Easy Mango Coconut Pudding | This dairy-free mango coconut pudding is just 2 ingredients – no gelatin needed! It’s light, creamy, and easy to make.
