Summer Dessert Ideas

Summer is in full swing and you know what that means...fun fun fun in the sun!  And fun desserts too!  Whether you're at a beach party or at a backyard barbeque, these mouthwatering treats will be a delicious addition to your next shindig.  I have everything from cookies to cakes to avocado ice cream (yes, you read that right!).  Whichever one you pick, I'm sure they'll be a hit with everyone :-)



I don't know about you but there's something about s'mores that brings out the kid in everyone.  Here's a fun twist to this beloved classic.  You only need four ingredients for these fruit s'mores: graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate and fruit!  You can leave out the marshmallows and add more layers of fruit for a vegan version.  There's lots of vegan chocolate out there but I love Chocolate Dream and Enjoy Life because they're also allergy-friendly.



My boys absolutely love these allergy-friendly chocolate banana pops!  They're perfect for hot summer days and you can get the kids involved in making them.  They're so quick and easy to make too!  If you have little ones like I do, you may want to cut the bananas smaller so they're the perfect size for them to enjoy. 



This avocado ice cream reminds me of the one my grandma used to make back in the Philippines.   If you've never tried avocado as a dessert, you've gotta try this.  It's so rich and creamy and you don't even need an ice cream maker!


You wanna try another one of my favorite Filipino treats?  These deep-fried coconut rice balls are called karioka (no, not karaoke, but yes Filipinos love that too). It's crispy outside and chewy inside like a churro but with bits of shredded coconut mixed in and it's covered with this incredible brown sugar glaze that hardens into a shell. Oh my goodness!  I'm drooling as I'm typing this so I better finish this post fast so I can make some.



Who doesn't love chocolate chip cookies?  For summer, you can add a scoop of ice cream in between two cookies and voila...chocolate chip ice cream sandwich!  I have four allergy-friendly versions you can try: egg-free, egg-free double chocolate, vegan and my oldest son's favorite, crazy delicious cookies. 



These brigadeiros are so rich and fudgy you'd think it took hours and hours to make them but you're wrong.  It takes 15-20 minutes to make (plus about an hour to chill in the refrigerator).  No wonder they're so popular in Brazil. They look so cute and festive covered in colorful sprinkles, don't you think?



Grab some frozen puff pastry from your grocery store's freezer aisle and bake them so you can make these beautiful fresh fruit strudels.  I used a combination of fresh strawberries, canned peaches and frozen blueberries but you can pick any fruit you love.



I think this red velvet cake (you can use my egg-free version) will be perfect for Fourth of July.  Top it with red, white and blue decorations and it will be a festive centerpiece for your party.



If you're having a tropical-themed summer party, try these coconut macaroons.  I used sweetened condensed milk and flour for my egg-free coconut macaroons and egg-free jackfruit coconut macaroons.  For my vegan coconut and lime macaroons, I used coconut milk.



These funnel cakes were inspired by the fun and crazy food they have at the Del Mar...errr...I mean San Diego County Fair.  Maybe if I'm brave enough I might try a homemade version of the deep fried cereal they're serving this year.  Hmmmm...maybe I'll stick to fruit.  You know what's good deep fried?  Canned jackfruit and lychees.  Try it! It's so good.  I have a feeling I can use my waffle recipe (maybe add more coconut milk) for a vegan alternative to this.



These deep fried apple pies are a riff on my favorite treat from "the golden arches."  I used my mom's empanada dough for the crust and used three different apples for the filling.  Why use three?  I think it gives the apple filling a balance of flavors and textures...or maybe I'm just being picky and complicated.  Whatever.  Choose the apples you love and you'll be fine.

Hope these summer dessert ideas inspire you to make something fun and delicious for your next get-together.

Have a great summer everyone! 

Please note: I am not a paid endorser nor did I accept any free samples of the brands or products mentioned in this post. These are products that I purchased myself and personally recommend :-)