50 light and refreshing desserts for summer
There's something about dessert that just hits different in the summer. Fresh fruit and berries are at their peak in the summer months, so it's easy as pie to find plump, juicy, and sweet strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, watermelons, and peaches at the grocery store, farmers market, and even in your own backyard. Ice creams, sorbets, and other icy treats push past cakes and crumbles to stand front and center on exceptionally hot days. (Seriously, what's better than a popsicle when it's 90 degrees outside?) Whipped creams and mousses float effortlessly into your mouth. Tarts filled with custard beg to be eaten.
These desserts are just lighter than their hearty winter counterparts, and while most people would say yes to sweets in any form, there are certain things that quite simply taste better in the summer. (We love you, hot caramel, but not when it's sweltering outside.)
From tarts and crisps to sorbets and pies, Stacker compiled a list of light and refreshing dessert recipes from Allrecipes. With 50 to choose from, you're bound to be in sugar heaven all summer long. Take a look below, and be careful not to drool all over your screen.
No Bake Cheesecake II
- Prep: 30 mins
- Additional: 2 hrs
- Total: 2 hrs 30 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 - 9 inch cheesecake
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
The Ultimate Berry Crumble
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Additional: 30 mins
- Total: 1 hr 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 2-quart baking dish
- Number of ingredients: 16
- Read more about the recipe here
Oat Pudding with Mango and Coconut
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Additional: 15 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 2 cups
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here
Easy Malai Kulfi
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 25 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 3 cups
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here
Lemon-Raspberry Trifle
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Additional: 20 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 18
- Yield: 1 large trifle
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
Mango Cheese Tart with Blueberries
- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 - 8 inch tart
- Number of ingredients: 11
- Read more about the recipe here
Rainbow Sherbet Cake
- Prep: 15 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 1 -9 inch cake
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here
Lemon Blueberry Cobbler
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 11x7-inch cobbler
- Number of ingredients: 11
- Read more about the recipe here
Yummy Blueberry Cobbler
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
- Read more about the recipe here
Angel Fruit Trifle
- Prep: 15 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 trifle
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
Strawberry Refrigerator Cake
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Additional: 4 hrs 30 mins
- Total: 5 hrs 20 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch pan
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
Strawberry Mint Seduction
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here
Peach-Raspberry Crisp
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 1 hr 5 mins
- Additional: 45 mins
- Total: 2 hrs 10 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 1 8x10-inch crisp
- Number of ingredients: 12
- Read more about the recipe here
Lemon Tart with Fresh Berries
- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Additional: 4 hrs
- Total: 5 hrs
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 lemon tart
- Number of ingredients: 13
- Read more about the recipe here
Pina Colada Sorbet
- Prep: 25 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 5.75 / cups
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here
Watercress, Melon and Almond Salad
- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here
Hawaiian Wedding Cake II
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 14
- Yield: 1 - 10x15 inch pan
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here
Frozen Blueberry Crisp
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 8x8-inch crisp
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
Air Fryer Strawberry Crisp
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 10 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 small crisps
- Number of ingredients: 11
- Read more about the recipe here
Blackberry-Mango Tart
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Additional: 5 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here
Abby's Lemon Raspberry Dessert Bars
- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Additional: 6 hrs
- Total: 7 hrs
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 16
- Read more about the recipe here
Smart Cookie Strawberry Shortcakes
- Prep: 45 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 25 mins
- Total: 1 hr 20 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 shortcakes
- Number of ingredients: 16
- Read more about the recipe here
Brandy Baked Peaches
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 peach halves
- Number of ingredients: 10
- Read more about the recipe here
Grilled Fruit Kabobs
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 12 kabobs
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here
Lemon Souffle Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping
- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Additional: 5 hrs
- Total: 6 hrs 20 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 15
- Read more about the recipe here
Watermelon Salad with Grapes and Citrus
- Prep: 15 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 4
- Read more about the recipe here
Georgia Peach Pie
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 - 9 inch deep dish pie
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here
Drunken Berries
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Additional: 4 hrs 5 mins
- Total: 4 hrs 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
Pumpkin-Walnut Bread
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 1 hr 30 mins
- Total: 1 hr 45 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 loaf
- Number of ingredients: 13
- Read more about the recipe here
Easy Baked Apricots
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 3
- Read more about the recipe here
Strawberry Cobbler
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
- Read more about the recipe here
Mocha Semifreddo
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 4 mins
- Additional: 8 hrs 4 mins
- Total: 8 hrs 18 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 2 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
Easy No-Bake Strawberry Ice Cream Cake
- Prep: 20 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 20 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 ice cream cake
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here
Jayme's Sweet Summer Berry Dessert
- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
Summer Couscous
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
- Read more about the recipe here
Summer Salad
- Prep: 10 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 10 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 2 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
Summer Lasagna
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Additional: 10 mins
- Total: 1 hr 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 14
- Read more about the recipe here
Summer Sandwich
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here
Summer Sausage
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 8 hrs
- Additional: 3 days
- Total: 3 days 8 hrs 10 mins
- Servings: 40
- Yield: 40 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here
Blueberry Dessert
- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Additional: 20 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 -8x12 inch dish
- Number of ingredients: 13
- Read more about the recipe here
Pumpkin Dessert
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 16
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch dish
- Number of ingredients: 11
- Read more about the recipe here
Dessert Pizza
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 - 12 inch pizza
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
Pretzel Dessert
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 11
- Yield: 10 to 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
Dessert Pizza
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 - 12 inch pizza
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
Pumpkin Dessert
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 16
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch dish
- Number of ingredients: 11
- Read more about the recipe here
Lemon Dessert
- Prep: 15 mins
- Additional: 3 hrs 30 mins
- Total: 3 hrs 45 mins
- Servings: 15
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch pie
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
Brigadeiro Dessert
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
Dessert Bars
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 20
- Yield: 20 - 1 inch squares
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here
Toffee Dessert
- Prep: 25 mins
- Additional: 8 hrs
- Total: 8 hrs 25 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
- Read more about the recipe here
Avocado Dessert
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 4
- Read more about the recipe here
