Sweet Like Summer — Desserts That Beat the Heat

Summer is a whole mood—sunshine, late nights, and the kind of desserts that feel like vacation in a bite. When the temps rise, we’re not firing up the oven for triple-layer tortes. We’re craving cool treats, juicy fruits, and anything that pairs well with bare feet and a porch swing.

Whether you’re planning a backyard BBQ, packing a picnic basket, or just need something sweet after a long beach day, these summer desserts deliver all the fun without the fuss.

My Favorite Summer Dessert Vibes:

1. Fruit-Forward & Flirty

Summer fruits are the it girls of the dessert world—peaches, berries, watermelon, cherries, mango. Serve them fresh, roast them with a drizzle of honey, or tuck them into hand pies and galettes. Bonus points if there’s a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream melting on top.

2. Chilled & Creamy

Think panna cotta, no-bake cheesecakes,  or icebox pies. These cool-down treats are rich but refreshing—like dessert in linen pants.

3. Frozen Fun

Mousse cakes, sorbets, granitas, and of course, ice cream in all its forms. Pro tip: Freeze leftover cake scraps and layer them into parfaits with whipped cream and fruit. Boom—frozen trifle.

4. Citrus Everything

Lemon bars, lime tarts, grapefruit curd—you name it. Citrus is like sunshine in flavor form, and it makes everything taste lighter, brighter, and a little more alive.

5. Boozy & Blissed Out

Tipsy desserts like sangria-soaked stone fruit, rosé granita, or bourbon-peach crumble bring a grown-up sparkle to the table. Just enough to keep things interesting.

Time Saving Baking Tips for Summer

If you do bake, keep it simple:

• Sheet pan pavlovas
• Shortcakes with fresh whipped cream
• Macarons with tropical flavors like passionfruit, coconut, or guava
• My personal favorite – Swiss rolls filled with berries and cream (light, fluffy, and picnic-perfect).

Get all my favorite Summer Recipes in my new E-book!

My new e-book, The Secrets of a Swiss Roll: Summer Series shares everything you need to know for that perfect swirl, without the cracks! 

Let the flavors do the talking—this is not the season for heavy frostings or complicated techniques. Go for desserts that are as laid-back and lovely as the season itself. Whatever you’re making, let it feel like summer: breezy, juicy, a little messy, and totally unforgettable. Now pass the pavlova and turn up the tunes.