30 Easy Summer Desserts

Satisfy your sweet tooth with these easy summer desserts! They include fuss-free ice cream recipes, no-bake treats, fruit pies, crisps, and more.

easy summer desserts

Bring on the summer desserts! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for frozen treats like ice cream and popsicles. I’m ready for no-bake sweets that hit the spot on days when it’s too hot to use the oven. And I’m especially ready for summer desserts that showcase the season’s best fruit.

Cherry pie? Peach crisp? Blueberry cobbler? Yes, please!

You’ll find 30 of my favorite easy summer desserts below. Some are perfect for packing up for picnics. Others are designed to help you cool off on hot days, and still others are celebration-worthy centerpieces like pies, cakes, and tarts.

I love each and every one of these recipes. I’m planning to make as many as I can this season. I hope you enjoy them too!

Our Best Summer Desserts

  1. Strawberry Shortcake

    This classic dessert is perfect for summer gatherings! Bake off the tender biscuits in advance. When you’re ready to serve, let everyone assemble their own shortcake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

    Make this recipe:

    Strawberry Shortcake
  2. Watermelon Popsicles

    These homemade ice pops are SO refreshing on a hot summer day! They’re easy to make with 2 ingredients: watermelon and lime juice.

    Make this recipe:

    Watermelon Popsicles
  3. Peach Crisp

    Out of all the summer dessert recipes here, this crisp is the one I make most often. It’s a breeze to put together, and I love how the sweet, juicy peaches contrast with the crisp, nutty topping.

    Make this recipe:

    Peach Crisp
  4. Zucchini Brownies

    Got a bumper crop of summer zucchini? Put it to work in these gooey brownies. The zucchini melts into the rich chocolate batter. You won’t be able to tell it’s there!

    Make this recipe:

    Zucchini Brownies
  5. Blueberry Cobbler

    We always go blueberry picking in the summertime, and I love to make this cobbler when we get home. Flaky homemade biscuits top the juicy, jammy filling.

    Make this recipe:

    Blueberry Cobbler
  6. Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

    No list of summer desserts is complete without ice cream! You can’t beat the homemade kind. Make a creamy, classic vanilla, or add mix-ins like chocolate chips or fresh fruit.

    Make this recipe:

    Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
  7. Homemade Cherry Pie

    Tart cherries are one of my favorite summer fruits. There’s no better way to use them than in this cherry pie! It has a flaky, buttery crust and velvety, almond-scented filling.

    Make this recipe:

    Homemade Cherry Pie
  8. Rhubarb Crisp

    This sweet and sour crisp pairs perfectly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

    Make this recipe:

    Rhubarb Crisp
  9. No-Bake Cookies

    When it’s too hot to turn on the oven, make these no-bake cookies on the stovetop! They’re chewy, fudgy, and packed with chocolate peanut butter flavor.

    Make this recipe:

    No-Bake Cookies
  10. Easy Peach Cobbler

    Cobbler recipes don’t get simpler than this! The buttery biscuit topping calls for just 6 ingredients, and it comes together quickly in one bowl. Layer it over the peaches and pop them in the oven, and you’ll have a mouthwatering summer dessert on the table in no time.

    Make this recipe:

    Easy Peach Cobbler
  11. Lemon Blueberry Bread

    Topped with a bright lemon glaze, this simple loaf is one of my favorite easy summer desserts. You can also skip the glaze and call it breakfast.

    Make this recipe:

    Lemon Blueberry Bread
  12. Ice Cream Cake

    Hands down one of the most festive summer desserts! Colorful stripes of ice cream top a thin layer of homemade chocolate cake.

    Make this recipe:

    Ice Cream Cake
  13. Cherry Clafoutis

    Clafoutis are a French dessert that consists of seasonal fruit baked into a lightly sweet custard. They sound fancy, but they’re really simple to make. Try this recipe with sweet cherries, or sub in another summer fruit like raspberries or blueberries.

    Make this recipe:

    Cherry Clafoutis
  14. Summer Fruit Tart

    If you love no-bake summer desserts, you have to try this luscious tart. It has a crisp graham cracker crust, tangy cream cheese filling, and fresh fruit topping. I use vegan cream cheese to make it dairy-free.

    Make this recipe:

    Summer Fruit Tart
  15. Lemon Cookies

    I love bright, citrusy desserts in the summertime! These lemon cookies are a hit at picnics and cookouts. They have chewy middles, crisp edges, and a lovely lemon flavor.

    Make this recipe:

    Lemon Cookies
  16. Vegan Ice Cream

    This vegan ice cream is a must-try easy summer dessert! Made with just 3 ingredients, it’s creamy, rich, and nutty. It’s just as delicious as any dairy-based ice cream I’ve tried.

    Make this recipe:

    Vegan Ice Cream
  17. Zucchini Bread

    Moist and warmly spiced, this classic quick bread is a perfect easy dessert for summer picnics. I call for walnuts here, but for a sweeter treat, feel free to swap in chocolate chips.

    Make this recipe:

    Zucchini Bread
  18. Grilled Peaches

    Sweet, juicy summer peaches become even sweeter and juicier on the grill. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, they’re a fresh, easy summer dessert.

    Make this recipe:

    Grilled Peaches
  19. Raspberry Vegan Cheesecake

    How cute are these no-bake cheesecake slices?! They have a date and walnut crust on the bottom, a creamy “cheesecake” layer in the middle, and a bright, refreshing raspberry stripe on top.

    Make this recipe:

    Raspberry Vegan Cheesecake
  20. Snickerdoodle Cookies

    I made these cookies for our neighborhood block party last summer, and they were a HUGE hit! Portable and finger-friendly, they’re a great treat to bring to all kinds of gatherings.

    Make this recipe:

    Snickerdoodle Cookies
  21. Best Peanut Butter Cookies

    These classic cookies are also perfect for BBQs, picnics, and cookouts.

    Make this recipe:

    Best Peanut Butter Cookies
  22. Tart Cherry and Mint Sorbet

    This sweet sorbet is easy to make in the blender! I add a handful of fresh mint to make it extra-cooling and refreshing.

    Make this recipe:

    Tart Cherry and Mint Sorbet
  23. Chocolate Zucchini Bread

    This moist, fudgy quick bread is like a mashup of my classic zucchini bread and zucchini brownies. It freezes perfectly, but if you’re anything like us, you won’t have any trouble finishing a loaf within a couple of days…or hours. 🙂

    Make this recipe:

    Chocolate Zucchini Bread
  24. Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

    Keep a stash of these chewy, bite-sized cookies in the fridge for summer snacking.

    Make this recipe:

    Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
  25. Grilled Pineapple

    Throw pineapple rings on the grill for a sweet end to a summer meal.

    Make this recipe:

    Grilled Pineapple
  26. Strawberry Rhubarb Bars

    These scrumptious dessert bars are vegan and gluten-free! They have an oat and walnut crust and crumble topping.

    Make this recipe:

    Strawberry Rhubarb Bars
  27. Fancy S’mores

    You can make a good s’more with a toasted marshmallow, Hershey chocolate, and graham crackers. But add a few more ingredients, and you’ll have a great one. Try using dark chocolate, adding fresh berries, or drizzling on salted caramel or peanut butter!

    Make this recipe:

    Fancy S’mores
  28. Chocolate Pudding Pops

    These homemade pops taste like a classic fudgsicle (cool! creamy! delicious!). But they’re secretly healthy, made with avocado, almond butter, and maple syrup.

    Make this recipe:

    Chocolate Pudding Pops
  29. Lemon Yogurt Cake

    Greek yogurt gives this lemony loaf cake an AMAZING moist texture. Enjoy slices on their own, or serve them with fresh berries and whipped cream for a bright summer dessert.

    Make this recipe:

    Lemon Yogurt Cake
  30. Blackberry Crisp

    Fruit crisps will always be my favorite easy summer desserts. In this one, a brown sugar and cinnamon crumble tops a thick layer of jammy blackberries. Don’t skip the vanilla ice cream for serving!

    Make this recipe:

    Blackberry Crisp

9 comments

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  1. Lisa
    08.11.2026

    Love this website Ialways use it for inspo

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      08.14.2026

      So glad you love the website, Lisa!

  2. Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
    04.25.2025

    Hi Rachel, I’m so sorry to hear that! Just so I can help troubleshoot, did you change anything about the recipe?

  3. Amy Krasnansky
    07.06.2024

    Can I use your strawberry shortcake picture as the basis for a small art quilt? It looks delicious, by the way. Too bad I am on a keto diet.

  4. Louann
    08.07.2021

    Mouth watering.
    Inviting
    Pleasing to the eyes

  5. fat tiger frozen momos
    06.24.2021

    5 stars
    All the desserts listed by you are in my list of favourites already. Thank you so much for bringing this to me.

  6. Nicole Griffin
    06.17.2021

    Yum, cannot wait for peaches to be ripe soon!

  7. Sabrina from newkitchenlife.com
    06.15.2021

    yay, thank you for all of these! Lemon Olive Oil Pistachio Cake looks wonderful, will have to work my way through all of them!

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I'm Jeanine, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and founder of Love & Lemons, a trusted recipe resource for millions of home cooks. I create fresh, easy, and delicious vegetarian recipes that celebrate seasonal ingredients and flavors.

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