You can do more with the cornucopia of fruits available in summer than just wash it off, slice it up, and pop it in your mouth … much more! From an eye-popping galette to lip-licking pies and cakes, we’ve collected an assortment of stunning dessert recipes that will take advantage of whatever fruits you have in abundance in your fridge or ripening on your counter. Dig in!
Peach Cobbler Trifle
We love a summery peach cobbler, but the downside is having to turn on the oven. Not with this recipe from Real Simple, which transforms a perennial favorite into a quick, warm-weather-friendly trifle that takes less than 30 minutes to put together. Simply soak the peaches in lemon juice, sugar, and spice mix, whip your cream, break apart your pound cake, and layer!
No-Churn Strawberry Basil Ice Cream
Want to try your hand at homemade ice cream, but don’t have an ice-cream maker? This clever no-churn method doesn’t require any special equipment and creates a light, creamy, and airy dessert. This summery flavor from Goodtaste is ultra-concentrated with roasted strawberry puree and fresh basil leaves.
Blueberry Cookies
Justine of Justine Snacks says these are the best cookies she’s ever made, and so many people agree. Her recipe went totally viral on TikTok, with countless re-creations and shares from Real Simple, Spruce Eats, Kitchn, and Good Morning America! The secret to the bright purple hue of these treats is using frozen blueberries. If you have some fresh berries on hand that will be spoiling soon, pop them in the freezer to make these chewy cookies.
Mixed Berry Pandowdy
We’ve all heard of pies, crisps, and cobblers, but have you ever tried a pandowdy? This incredibly easy dessert has all of the elements of a fruit pie—juicy filling, golden-brown pastry crust—but it requires a fraction of the effort. It’s a beautifully rustic dessert with bits of pastry that are crispy on top and soaked in fruit juices on the bottom.
Peach and Ginger-Pecan Cake
This nutty cake from Desserts for Breakfast is all about the peaches. The cake, which is super moist and flecked with freshly grated ginger, acts as an altar for a layer of sliced juicy stone fruit. Make the cake and frosting in advance, then right before it’s time to serve, slice up your most beautiful peaches and serve.
Blueberry Pie with Rye Crust
This is a great twist on a classic blueberry pie by Justin Chapple for Food & Wine. The traditional filling is baked into a crust that is a blend of all-purpose and rye flours. The rye adds a touch of savory nuttiness that plays nicely with the sweet berries. Make this pie with local, peak-season blueberries for best results.
Best-Ever Strawberry Shortcake
What’s a more iconic summer dessert than strawberry shortcake? This Chris Morocco recipe from Bon Appétit includes a clever tip for the most tender shortcake: Add finely grated cooked egg yolks. The yolks prevent the gluten from overdeveloping while also providing extra fat. The result is a light, crumbly, and uber-tender baked good that’s the perfect vehicle for deep red strawberries and a generous serving of whipped cream.
Whole-Grain Strawberry-Cherry Crisp
If you want to indulge in a summer dessert but are also trying to keep it light, try this whole-grain crisp from Martha Stewart Living. The fruit filling relies on the natural juices of the fruit for most of its sweetness, and the crunch is provided by a simple topping of oats, shredded coconut, and whole-wheat flour. For a final dollop of creaminess, opt for Greek yogurt instead of whipped cream.
Apricot, Cherry, and Almond Galette
The more rustic cousin of a pie, a galette involves layering fruit on a round of pie dough and decoratively folding up the edges so the fruit is nice and snug. This version from Martha Rose Shulman in the New York Times plays on the classic French flavor pairing of apricots and almonds (with cherries added for contrasting tartness). This dessert gets a triple dose of almond flavor from almond extract, slivered almonds, and a sprinkling of ground almonds under the fruit filling. If your apricots aren’t perfect, don’t worry—the sliced fruit will cook down until it’s sweet and juicy.
Berry and Thyme Cobbler
On a busy weeknight when you’re craving something homemade and decadent, a cobbler is the way to go! The crisp biscuit topping doesn’t require any kneading, folding, or cutting. Simply toss your fruit in some sugar and mix up this easy batter, then spoon it over the top before baking. This all-purpose recipe from Rachael Ray also adds a touch of herbal thyme and bright lemon zest.
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