These desserts are perfect for the hottest days, when turning on the oven feels like too much effort. They’re light, cool, and full of bright flavor that makes everything feel a little easier. Each bite is refreshing enough to cut through the heat and keep you coming back. Keep these recipes on standby as they could be the only thing to save you from the summer heat.
Floating Island
Also known as île flottante in French, a floating island is a light, fluffy, and creamy classic French dessert that is, in fact, no-bake and super easy. Made with milk, sugar, egg, and vanilla, the floating island dessert isn't just simple to make but also gluten-free!
Go to the recipe: Floating Island
Crème Brûlée Cake
Your classic crème brûlée dessert just got even better with this irresistible vanilla crème brûlée cake! This eye-catching dessert is made with a light and spongy vanilla cake base, topped with a creamy homemade vanilla pastry cream, and then brought to life with a caramelized layer of crunchy burnt sugar. It will quickly become one of your favorites!
Go to the recipe: Crème Brûlée Cake
Strawberry Mousse
This light and creamy strawberry mousse is one of the best things to arrive at your spring or summer dessert table! Made with fresh strawberries and topped with a delightful vanilla chantilly cream, this easy strawberry mousse recipe has just the right sweetness and fruity flavor for a mid-day snack or post-dinner dessert. Serve it with a bowl of ice cream or chocolate-covered strawberries for the ultimate treat!
Go to the recipe: Strawberry Mousse
Baklava Cheesecake
This delicious baklava cheesecake recipe is a must-try for baklava and cheesecake lovers. It's the rich and creamy flavor of a traditional cheesecake but wrapped in a nutty phyllo crust drizzled in honey and rosewater syrup. What's more, it's actually very easy to make!
Go to the recipe: Baklava Cheesecake
Beignets
Popular in French cuisine and a staple in the Louisiana city of New Orleans, these New Orleans-style homemade beignets are fun to make and hard to resist! Their light, sweet, and pillowy texture make them the perfect treat to enjoy any time of day: For breakfast, an afternoon snack, or dessert. Top them with sugar, fill them with cream, or dip them in your morning coffee.
Go to the recipe: Beignets
Rum Baba
Rum baba (baba au rum), this classic yeast bundt cake soaked in delicious rum syrup, decorated with a light vanilla bean whipped mascarpone frosting, is the ultimate brioche-like boozy dessert! My rum baba recipe is super fluffy and moist, and the rum-based soaking syrup makes it even creamier without making it soggy.
Go to the recipe: Rum baba
Blueberry Cookies
If you like the flavor of blueberry muffins but the crunchiness of cookies, then you will love this recipe for blueberry cookies! Made with fresh blueberries and topped with a light and fluffy blueberry cream cheese homemade frosting, these soft, chewy blueberry cookies aren’t just irresistible but also beautiful.
Go to the recipe: Blueberry Cookies
Strawberry Icebox Cake
This delicious no bake strawberry icebox cake is the perfect dessert for those warm spring and summer days when you don't want to spend hours in the kitchen or even turning on the oven! Layered with fresh strawberries, graham cracker cookies, and a rich vanilla whipped cream, it's light, refreshing, and 100% made from scratch. Whether making it for yourself or sharing it with a crowd, it is guaranteed to become a favorite!
Go to the recipe: Strawberry Icebox Cake
Chouquettes
Made with fluffy choux pastry dough and sweet Swedish pearl sugar, these light and airy chouquettes may be only one or two bites, but they are absolutely irresistible! Serve these delicious French sugar puffs for breakfast with a hot cup of tea or coffee, and enjoy a few as an afternoon snack or after dinner.
Go to the recipe: Chouquettes
Strawberry Muffins
Sweet, light, and packed with fruity flavor, these strawberry muffins are the perfect addition to your breakfast or brunch menu. This easy strawberry muffin recipe uses fresh strawberries and a hint of vanilla flavor to create a delicious and versatile muffin that the whole family will love. And they only take 30 minutes to bake!
Go to the recipe: Strawberry Muffins
Fraisier Cake
Fraisier cake (French strawberry cake) consists of buttery sponge layers filled with incredibly delicious and silky crème mousseline (pastry cream enriched with butter), a layer of refreshing strawberry compote, and the signature strawberry decoration around the cake. No doubt, fraisier cake is the queen of strawberry cakes, and it´s easier to make than you might think!
Go to the recipe: Fraisier Cake
Blueberry Ricotta Cake
This moist blueberry ricotta cake will be the highlight of your dessert table this summer! Made with fresh blueberries and creamy ricotta cheese, then topped with a bright, flavorful lemon glaze, it will melt in your mouth and make your taste buds explode.
Go to the recipe: Blueberry Ricotta Cake
Limoncello Tiramisu
This bright and refreshing limoncello tiramisu puts a citrusy twist on the classic Italian dessert! Made with limoncello lemon curd, sweet ladyfingers, and creamy mascarpone cream between each layer, it will surely leave an impression.
Go to the recipe: Limoncello Tiramisu
Ricotta Pie
While classic Italian ricotta pie is traditionally made at Easter, you can certainly enjoy it throughout the whole season! Lemon-infused ricotta gives a rich yet light flavor and an amazing creamy custard texture.
Go to the recipe: Ricotta Pie
Mango Mousse
This light and creamy mango mousse is the perfect way to sweeten your day! Made with fresh, pureed mangoes and topped with delicious chantilly cream, it will satisfy your sweet tooth without weighing you down. Enjoy it on its own with a bowl of ice cream, or add it to your favorite cakes and pies for a fruity treat you won't forget!
Go to the recipe: Mango Mousse
Strawberry Crunch Cake
You are going to fall in love with this easy-to-make delicious strawberry crunch cake! Inspired by the legendary frozen strawberry shortcake ice cream bars, this cake tastes just like that ice cream transformed into an amazing cake! It's a moist 3-layer sponge, full of fresh fruity strawberry flavor with a yummy light cream cheese frosting, and then beautifully decorated with tasty strawberry crunch!
Go to the recipe: Strawberry Crunch Cake
Pavlova Wreath
This signature easy pavlova wreath recipe adds an elegant look to the traditional pavlova. It features a crisp meringue shell topped with fluffy homemade whipped cream, fresh fruit, and mint leaves as a refreshing garnish. In my beginner-friendly recipe, you'll find my foolproof techniques and expert tips that guarantee a flawless result every time.
Go to the recipe: Pavlova Wreath
Lemon Raspberry Cake
This lemon raspberry cake is moist, fluffy, filled with a creamy, tangy raspberry curd, and frosted with a lemon raspberry cream cheese frosting. It's packed with lemon and raspberry flavors and is the perfect refreshing cake!
Get the recipe: Lemon Raspberry Cake
Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
Fluffy and moist lemon meringue cupcakes have a lemon base, filled with lemon curd filling, and topped with toasted meringue. These tangy and sweet cupcakes are a refreshing and bright dessert.
Get the recipe: Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
Key Lime Poke Cake
This Key lime poke cake is a hybrid of Key lime pie and cake—a mashup of two amazing desserts! Boxed cake mix is given a tangy twist with a creamy Key lime filling. This easy Key lime poke cake is light and refreshing, the perfect dessert for spring or summer.
Go to the recipe: Key Lime Poke Cake
Lavender Lemon Bars
These lavender lemon bars are a sweet twist on traditional lemon bars! Homemade lavender sugar is used in the crust and filling to add a light lavender flavor. They’re tangy, sweet, and refreshing!
Get the recipe: Lavender Lemon Bars
Sicilian Cheesecake
Luxurious, light, and easy to make, my creamy Sicilian cheesecake is perfect for desserts, holidays, and every kind of celebration.
Go to the recipe: Sicilian Cheesecake
Lemon Eclair Cake
This lemon eclair cake is a delicious and refreshing dessert that is perfect for any occasion. Made with layers of graham crackers, lemon pudding, and whipped frosting, it’s a light and creamy treat that will leave you wanting more. Nothing says spring or summer more than the zesty and tangy flavor of lemon. When combined with the light and airy texture of a classic eclair cake, it creates a dessert that is simply irresistible.
Go to the recipe: Lemon Eclair Cake
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