16 Desserts That’ll Sweeten Up Your Labor Day Weekend
Well, it’s happened.
Summer has flown by and the waning days of August are upon us. School supplies line store shelves and stores all across the country are pulling out their Halloween and fall décor. Before we know it, pumpkin spice will be everywhere.
And while we’re big fans of all the flavors that fall has to offer, we’re not quite ready to say “buh-bye” to sunny days and warm, sticky nights. At least not until after Labor Day.
So, to ease our pain, we’ve rounded up 16 of our favorite decadent, comforting, seasonal desserts that are perfect for transitioning from season to season. From citrusy tarts and gooey brownies to stone fruit crisps and, yes, even a pumpkin pie mousse, each one of these sweet treats is a perfect send-off to summer.
Check ‘em out below.
Hungry for more? From cake pans and baking sheets to cookie cutters and rolling pins, our Bakeware Collection has everything you need to whip up something sweet.
LEMON COCONUT TART WITH VANILLA BEAN CRÈME FRAÎCHE AND CANDIED LEMONS
Bright, creamy and brimming with coconutty goodness, this citrus- and vanilla-laced tart will have you reminiscing about the long, sunny days of summer.
Pro Tip: Candied lemons make an excellent garnish for cocktails—whip up a few extra and store in an jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to six months.
Get the Lemon Coconut Tart with Vanilla Bean Crème Fraîche and Candied Lemons recipe!
STRAWBERRY RHUBARB CRISP
If you ask us, crisps are the quintessential summer dessert (sorry, s’mores).
Jammy fruit mingling with notes of lemon and vanilla topped with a buttery, flaky streusel topping? Sign us up! Serve with your favorite ice cream and say farewell to summer with every bite.
PEANUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE MARBLE BROWNIES
Okay, okay—yes, brownies, while delicious, aren’t revolutionary. But this peanut butter-laced recipe is the exception. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and you just might think you’ve died and gone to gooey, brownie heaven.
RASPBERRY ROSE PANNA COTTA
We love panna cotta—it’s silky, airy and brimming with notes of vanilla and sweet cream. So, when we get a chance to indulge in panna cotta that’s layered in white chocolate and bursting with bright raspberry and delicate rose, well, that’s pretty much a win-win-win in our books.
RASPBERRY TIRAMISU
Yes, we’re on a raspberry kick, but only because berries reach peak season during the summer and we want to enjoy all that juicy, jammy flavor while it lasts. Plus, they pair deliciously with the layers of nutty espresso, silky, creamy mascarpone and bittersweet chocolate in this tiramisu recipe.
SWEET CHERRY HAND PIES
As summer fades to fall and “Back to School” ads are plastered on TVs and billboards, we try to find any way we can to hang onto those fading sunny days. And, dare we say, these little cherry hand pies just might do the trick!
Not only are they the perfect grab-and-go dessert to fuel your Labor Day adventures, but the leftovers make perfect sweet treats to stuff into lunchboxes for the first day back.
SNICKERDOODLE SKILLET COOKIE
Skillet cookies are perfect for summer—they’re packed with ooey, gooey nostalgia and, since they’re baked in cast iron, can be made practically anywhere! But this recipe, with its additions of rich caramel, warm cinnamon and decadent white chocolate, is a delicious nod to the changing seasons.
MUFFIN PAN LIME TARTS
These little bites of sunshine are all you need to keep the carefree days of summer going.
Baked in a muffin pan for endless convenience, these tarts are packed with a silky, lime-soaked custard surrounded by a buttery, cream cheese crust. They’re light, bright and a perfect complement to the waning days of summer.
PEACH SEMIFREDDO WITH GRAHAM CRACKER
Labor Day might signal the end of summer, but it’s peak season for stone fruit! So, what better way to say “sayonara” to summer than with a creamy, cold, peachy dessert that transcends the seasons.
Topped with a graham cracker crumb and layered in notes of caramelized peaches and sweet cream, this recipe is the perfect complement to all of those late summer adventures still to be had.
PEACH PECAN CRISP
Like we said, these waning August days are the perfect time to indulge in succulent and ripe stone fruit, which is why this peach pecan crisp recipe is ideal for Labor Day festivities.
Not only does it pack a peachy-keen punch, but September is the start of pecan season, making this a delicious way to transition from summer to the chilly days of fall.
MINI CHEESECAKES
Looking to add some bite-size fun to your weekend? Then give these mini cheesecakes a try!
Cheesecake is a de facto celebratory dish. So, when it’s topped with fresh summer raspberries, we take that as a sign to gobble up as many as we can before the season ends.
Chef’s Note: If you don’t have a mini cheesecake pan, a muffin pan will work just as well.
PEANUT BUTTER ICE CREAM SANDWICHES
If there’s one dessert that makes us nostalgic for those carefree days of summer, it’d be ice cream sandwiches.
And sure, back then the ones we were going crazy for weren’t homemade, but that didn’t make us love them any less. But this recipe—with homemade, gooey peanut butter cookies—is an excellent way to relive that childhood bliss.
FIG AND RASPBERRY TART WITH HONEY
For a dessert recipe that’s a stunning ode to all that summer and early fall has to offer, look no further than this raspberry and fig tart.
Figs come into their peak late-August through late-September, taking over for summer’s bountiful berries once the weather starts to turn. Topped with a drizzle of honey, every bite pays homage to the seasons.
DULCE DE LECHE ICE CREAM
Few desserts are as simple and delicious as ice cream. Just saying the words “ice cream” conjures up images of cold, sweet cream scooped into a cone and drizzled with your favorite toppings.
This ice cream recipe is no exception. Thanks to the inclusion of dulce de leche, this ice cream is endlessly decadent, requiring no sprinkles, chocolate or toppings. But, that’s not to say you shouldn’t.
BLOOD ORANGE TART
As much as we hate to admit it, the number of late summer sunsets we have to look forward to is quickly dwindling. And as excited as we are for all of the wonderful things fall has to offer (did someone say “sweater weather?”), we’re not quite ready to let those golden hours go.
So, don’t be surprised if you catch us making this citrus-soaked, silky, buttery, sunset of a dessert well into September.
PUMPKIN MOUSSE WITH BOURBON WHIPPED CREAM
Alright, you’re probably thinking to yourself: “It’s the middle of August, I don’t want to see the word ‘pumpkin’ for another month.”
And we totally get it. But, when those crisp autumn winds start to blow in and the sun sits a little lower in the sky, don’t be surprised to find yourself reaching for this decadent, silky mousse.
Brimming with notes of warm cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and topped with a homemade bourbon whipped cream, this dessert is light enough to be enjoyed during the last few sticky summer days and comforting enough to indulge in during the colder months ahead.
Get the Pumpkin Mousse with Bourbon Whipped Cream recipe!
Hungry for more? From cake pans and baking sheets to cookie cutters and rolling pins, our Bakeware Collection has everything you need to whip up something sweet.
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