Watermelon pizza slices with yogurt and berries.
Food & Drink

43 light and refreshing desserts for summer

Written by:
麻豆原创
July 1, 2022
Olga Miltsova // Shutterstock

43 light and refreshing desserts for summer

There's something about dessert that just hits different in the summer. Fresh fruit and berries are at their peak in the summer months, so it's easy as pie to find plump, juicy, and sweet strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, watermelons, and peaches at the grocery store, farmers market, and even in your own backyard. Ice creams, sorbets, and other icy treats push past cakes and crumbles to stand front and center on exceptionally hot days. (Seriously, what's better than a popsicle when it's 90 degrees outside?) Whipped creams and mousses float effortlessly into your mouth. Tarts filled with custard beg to be eaten.

These desserts are just lighter than their hearty winter counterparts, and while most people would say yes to sweets in any form, there are certain things that quite simply taste better in the summer. (We love you, hot caramel, but not when it's sweltering outside.)

As we venture further into the sweltering dog days of summer, we're in need of sweet treats more than ever. With that in mind, 麻豆原创 compiled a list of light and refreshing dessert recipes from , from tarts and crisps to sorbets and pies. With more than 40 to choose from, you're bound to be in sugar heaven all summer long. Take a look below, and be careful not to drool all over your screen.

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No Bake Cheesecake II

- Prep: 30 mins
- Additional: 2 hrs
- Total: 2 hrs 30 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 - 9 inch cheesecake
- Number of ingredients: 6
-

The Ultimate Berry Crumble

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Additional: 30 mins
- Total: 1 hr 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 2-quart baking dish
- Number of ingredients: 16
-

Oat Pudding with Mango and Coconut

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Additional: 15 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 2 cups
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Easy Malai Kulfi

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 25 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 3 cups
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

Lemon-Raspberry Trifle

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Additional: 20 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 18
- Yield: 1 large trifle
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

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Mango Cheese Tart with Blueberries

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 - 8 inch tart
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Rainbow Sherbet Cake

- Prep: 15 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 1 -9 inch cake
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Lemon Blueberry Cobbler

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 11x7-inch cobbler
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Yummy Blueberry Cobbler

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Angel Fruit Trifle

- Prep: 15 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 trifle
- Number of ingredients: 6
-

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Strawberry Refrigerator Cake

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Additional: 4 hrs 30 mins
- Total: 5 hrs 20 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch pan
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Strawberry Mint Seduction

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

Peach-Raspberry Crisp

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 1 hr 5 mins
- Additional: 45 mins
- Total: 2 hrs 10 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 1 8x10-inch crisp
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Lemon Tart with Fresh Berries

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Additional: 4 hrs
- Total: 5 hrs
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 lemon tart
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

Pina Colada Sorbet

- Prep: 25 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 5.75 / cups
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

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Watercress, Melon and Almond Salad

- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Hawaiian Wedding Cake II

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 14
- Yield: 1 - 10x15 inch pan
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Frozen Blueberry Crisp

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 8x8-inch crisp
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Air Fryer Strawberry Crisp

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 10 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 small crisps
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Blackberry-Mango Tart

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Additional: 5 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

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Abby's Lemon Raspberry Dessert Bars

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Additional: 6 hrs
- Total: 7 hrs
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 16
-

Smart Cookie Strawberry Shortcakes

- Prep: 45 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 25 mins
- Total: 1 hr 20 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 shortcakes
- Number of ingredients: 16
-

Brandy Baked Peaches

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 peach halves
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Grilled Fruit Kabobs

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 12 kabobs
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

Lemon Souffle Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Additional: 5 hrs
- Total: 6 hrs 20 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 15
-

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Watermelon Salad with Grapes and Citrus

- Prep: 15 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

Georgia Peach Pie

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 - 9 inch deep dish pie
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Drunken Berries

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Additional: 4 hrs 5 mins
- Total: 4 hrs 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 6
-

Pumpkin-Walnut Bread

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 1 hr 30 mins
- Total: 1 hr 45 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 loaf
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

Easy Baked Apricots

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 3
-

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Strawberry Cobbler

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Mocha Semifreddo

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 4 mins
- Additional: 8 hrs 4 mins
- Total: 8 hrs 18 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 2 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Easy No-Bake Strawberry Ice Cream Cake

- Prep: 20 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 20 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 ice cream cake
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Jayme's Sweet Summer Berry Dessert

- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 6
-

Blueberry Dessert

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Additional: 20 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 -8x12 inch dish
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

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Pumpkin Dessert

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 16
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch dish
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Dessert Pizza

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 1 - 12 inch pizza
- Number of ingredients: 6
-

Pretzel Dessert

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 11
- Yield: 10 to 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Lemon Dessert

- Prep: 15 mins
- Additional: 3 hrs 30 mins
- Total: 3 hrs 45 mins
- Servings: 15
- Yield: 1 9x13-inch pie
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Brigadeiro Dessert

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 6
-

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Dessert Bars

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 20
- Yield: 20 - 1 inch squares
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Toffee Dessert

- Prep: 25 mins
- Additional: 8 hrs
- Total: 8 hrs 25 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Avocado Dessert

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

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