9 Easy Summer Dessert Recipes That Are Guaranteed to Impress

Summer might be the time of year when barbecues and picnics reign supreme, but there’s nothing quite like settling in to watch the sunset with a sweet treat on your lap. 

Whether it’s a classic peach pie, some boozy homemade popsicles, or a jammy cobbler, we’ve got 9 summer dessert recipes that are guaranteed to impress. Check them out below!

Bourbon Peach Pie

There are few things that conjure the same feeling of nostalgia as a classic, homemade pie. The way the aromas of caramelized fruit mingle with hints of sugar and a buttery crust—nothing sounds as sweet as a slice of pie on a warm summer night. 

And this peachy-keen treat is peak summer, stuffed to the brim with ripe, bourbon-soaked peaches and hints of nutmeg and cinnamon, we wouldn’t blame you for stealing a second piece… or a third.

Summer Berry Cobbler

We go absolutely bonkers for berries in the summer. So of course, we would be thoroughly impressed (and grateful) if someone showed up to a party with this jammy, buttery cobbler. Brimming with juicy berries and notes of lemon juice, this one–pan dessert comes together in under an hour. Now that’s definitely impressive!

Fun fact: this recipe was originally created for one of our cooking classes! Test your skills with us and book a class today! 

Classic Strawberry Shortcakes

Ripe strawberries, homemade whipped cream, and buttery, crumbly biscuits. Wow, our mouths are drooling just thinking about this decadent summer classic.  

While this one may take a bit longer to assemble, its palate-pleasing combo of vanilla, ripe fruit and biscuity warmth might just cause you to break out into your best Harry Styles impersonation: “tastes like strawberries, on a summer evening.”

Sweet Cherry Hand Pies

Cherry season may be short and sweet, but we think that’s all the more reason to stuff them into a homemade hand pie and celebrate their arrival! 

Utilizing almond meal and almond extract, these portable treats emulate the sweet warmth of late summer evenings spent on the patio. The best part? Because all of that deliciousness is wrapped up in a kid-friendly package, it’s ideal for days spent on the boat or tucking into your hiking bag.

Classic French Fruit Tart

If there’s one thing we love more than ripe berries in the summer, it’s ripe berries in the summer on a bed of decadent white chocolate, wrapped in a buttery, shortcrust dough.  

And who cares if the white chocolate might melt in the sun—all the more reason to gobble up every last piece.

Lemon Meringue Pie

It’s hard to know how long the term ‘meringue’ as it’s known today has been in our vocabulary—some historians believe the term dates all the way back to Francois Massialot’s cookbook published in 1692! Regardless, we’ve been loving this classic dessert’s light, sugared lemon flavors for as long as we can remember, and its signature golden brown top and buttery crust are a delicious substitute for bonfire s’mores.

Summer Fruit Oatmeal Crisp

We love crisps because they are simple and absolutely delicious—especially when served alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  

Stuffed with ripe berries (see, told you we loved them) and topped with an oatmeal and pecan crisp, this refreshing, easy dessert will have everyone begging for seconds.

Peaches and Cream Trifle

Okay, okay. We know that when you see “trifle” your mind probably goes immediately to that one episode of Friends where Rachel absolutely botched it. But this one is so simple, even she couldn’t mess it up! 

Layered with ripe peaches, berries and chunks of angel food cake, this classic English dessert gets an update with whipped cream cheese for a dessert that’s as timeless as ever.

Nectarine and Raspberry Galette

Stone fruit and berries are to summer what pumpkins and squash are to fall: quintessential. 

So of course, we think there’s no better way to celebrate this seasonal treat than to pile them into pastry dough and chow down with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Can you say, “yum”?