21 Summer Dessert Recipes Perfect For A BBQ or A Party

If you adore custard tarts but want to lighten up your life slightly, this fruit pizza is a dream.

The base is a jumbo sugar cookie topped with a mixture of cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar.

And then the real fun begins when you top the cookie with your favorite fruit.

Anything from strawberries and blueberries to grapes, mangoes, peaches, and kiwis will work beautifully!

When it comes to summer, nothing screams dessert like cold fruity cheesecake. And what's even better are these mii cheesecake bite.

Perfect at the end of a summer party or a BBQ dinner. Plus, you can make them ahead.

What's not to like?

Key lime pie is summer in a dessert!

This tangy-sweet key lime pie requires just 7 ingredients. It's easy to make, and sits on a thick and nutty graham cracker macadamia crust.

It's the perfect cake to serve when it's hot and sweaty outside.

We all know and love pavlova. But what about pavlova bombs?

Pavlova Bombs are mini pavlovas balls filled with lemon curd, raspberry coulis and whipped cream. They look so pretty and when you place your spoon into once of them it explodes with colourful fillings!

Shockingly easy and impressive!

These simple frozen chocolate bananas are the best alternative to popsicles when the sun’s beating down.

The 70% dark chocolate coating offers a glorious depth while the crumbled nuts, cacao nibs, and dried raspberries add crunch!

You can even throw in a drizzle of peanut butter or almond butter for a hit of healthy fat.

Rich, creamy, and oh-so-satisfying are the words that come to mind when I think of this frozen yogurt bark.

Using Greek yogurt lends this healthy snackseveral gramsof protein, and the chopped nuts or granola add fiber and crunch!

Oh, and don’t forget the sprinkle of fresh fruit that lets you make the most of seasonal strawberries.

These super-colorful fruit kabobs are a fun way for the whole family to work a few extra nutrients into their diets.

You’ll combine pineapple, banana, kiwi, orange, and strawberries for a mix of colors, textures, and flavors.

Finish things off with a drizzle of dark chocolate, and you’ll have a seriously tasty summer dessert on your hands.

And if you want a more traditional version, these mini pavlovas are perfection.

They are the individual version of traditional pavlovas but are easier to make and transport, and totally adorable to look at!

This TikTok sensation gets all the rave this summer! 

I get that cottage cheese ice cream sounds weird, but it’s the perfect hunger-buster for hot summer days.

The cheese is whipped up in a food processor and results in a creamy, rich, and smooth texture. Plus, it’s rich in protein too.

And don’t worry – the frozen berries, banana, and squirt of honey keep things sweet!

To add some texture, throw on chopped fruit, crumbled nuts, or your favorite nut butter.

Chocolate chips, a creamy filling, and perfectly chewy cookies? Where on EARTH do I sign up?!

The mini chocolate chips in this recipe add tons of texture, and you can use your favorite ice cream as the sandwich filling!

And don’t worry – the super soft cookies mean you won’t have to deal with sensitive teeth.

Looking to add some tang to a traditional fruit salad? Well, this is one of the sweet summer dessert you need to try.

It combines a colorful mix of fresh fruits with fresh lime juice for a zesty kick and pineapple juice for sweetness.

And the honey? It gives everything a subtle sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm the natural goodness of the fruit!

Nothing screams summer like a cake filled with berries.

And this vanilla cake is made to impress. It looks incredible but it's not to complicated to make, and it's simply delicious.

When I’m craving something sweet but can’t justify the sugar rush, I’ll reach out for frozen grapes!

These tiny morsels of magic are soft, sweet, and somehow taste exactly like fruit sorbet.

Plus, they’re awesome for regulating your body temperature if you’re struggling with warmer weather.

Whether it’s a birthday or a dinner with friends, this classic Italian gelato cake is a guaranteed hit.

It's made with creamy hazelnut gelato, dark chocolate, and a crunchy cookie base.

And the best part? You don’t need an ice cream maker!

Italians love their lemons, and this granita is a gorgeous way to get your dessert fix when it’s hot out.

Every time I make it, it reminds me of my childhood and hot summer days spent on the beach in Sicily.

It’s fruity and refreshing like sorbet, but the texture is far icier and requires just 3 ingredients!

So, grab your freshly squeezed lemon and a sprig of mint for the ultimate freezer-friendly dessert.

If you can’t be bothered to churn your own ice cream, this is the recipe you are looking for.

These 3-ingredient, low-sugar, and gluten-free popsicles are the best way to get your frozen fix this year.

You just need a blender, popsicle molds, frozen fruit of your choice, and a bit of natural yogurt and honey.

Tiramisu is such an easy dessert to make, it's fresh and perfect to end a BBQ or a summer party.

And these mini individual bite-size tiramisu look incredible and will be ready in no time. And you will be sure to impress your guest!

Calling all vegans – this mocha nice cream is infused with glorious coffee flavors and contains absolutely no dairy.

And thanks to the bananas and cocoa powder, it’s 100% naturally sweetened!

You can either snack on it soft-serve-style, freeze it until it’s scoopable, or blend it into a thick shake.

Good news, cookie friends! 

These no-bake treats are loaded with chocolate, peanut butter, and oatmeal for all the indulgence with zero oven time.

Simply mix up the ingredients, form those cookie shapes, and let them firm up at room temperature!

This homemade ice cream cake recipe is the BEST summer treat!

It's easy to make, with 3 ice cream flavors on top of a chocolate cake base.

The perfect refreshing, yet indulgent summer dessert.

These tasty watermelon popsicles get a bright and zesty flavor from real lemon juice and fresh mint.

They’re 100% naturally sweetened (hello, healthy options!), and you need just 4 wholesome ingredients to pull things together.

Plus, you can even store these sweet treats in an airtight container for up to 2 months!