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Summer is in full swing, and whether you’re having an outdoor barbecue or a night in with the family, you’ll want something sweet to cap off the day. But in hot and humid weather, you might not necessarily want to fire up the oven.
For those moments, here are seven of our favorite no-bake dessert recipes that are perfect for summer. Many of the prep steps for these desserts are kid-friendly, so the littlest chefs can help in the kitchen!
1. Banana Pudding
This Southern staple requires just a few ingredients and a refrigerator to transform into a creamy, banana-flavored treat. Banana pudding is typically served in a trifle or casserole dish, but you can layer it in any vessel you have on hand.
This recipe from Taste of Home shows you how to make it from scratch, but you can also save time by using instant pudding (banana or vanilla flavor) instead of making the custard layer.
2. Buckeye Peanut Butter Balls
This five-ingredient recipe will be a smash hit with the chocolate peanut butter lovers in your life. Mix peanut butter, confectioner’s sugar, butter and vanilla; form the mixture into bite-sized balls, then dip in melted chocolate. You’ll have a hard time waiting for them to freeze before you devour them all! For an easy-to-follow guide, head over to The Recipe Critics.
3. French Silk Pie
For something that’s simultaneously light and decadent, try your hand at a French silk pie. The chocolate mousse-like filling pairs well with the crust of your choice. While a traditional flaky pie crust is typically used, you can also make your own cookie crust by mixing crushed cookies with butter. For a sweet-and-salty option, you can also opt for a pretzel crust, as seen in Cup of Jo’s recipe.
4. Key Lime Cheesecake
Summer and citrus go together beautifully, especially in this key lime cheesecake by Martha Stewart. This recipe takes the best of both key lime pie and cheesecake, while eliminating the need to fire up the oven. If you can’t find key limes, you can always sub in regular limes at the same ratio.
5. Lemon Tarts
Both the filling and crust of these lemon tarts by Women’s Day are not only no-bake, but handmade – you’ll only need a stovetop to make the lemon filling. If you don’t have a food processor, you can finely crush the graham crackers by hand and mix in with the melted butter. Alternatively, you can save time by serving the lemon filling in teacups or pudding cups with a spoon.
6. Rice Krispy Treats
Rice Krispy treats are the no-bake bake sale classic. They’re both tasty and easy to prep in large quantities. The most involved step is melting the butter and marshmallows, which you can do over a stovetop or even in the microwave. Sally’s Baking Addiction offers a simple-to-follow recipe.
Once you’ve mastered the original, don’t be afraid to experiment a bit to suit your flavor profile (and the ingredients you have on hand). Use different kinds of cereal, add some fun mix-ins, or try browning your butter before mixing in the marshmallow.
7. Sorbet
If you have frozen fruit and a blender or food processor, you can make sorbet! Add in some honey or your preferred sweetener, plus a splash of juice or water for a smoother texture as needed. Blend all the ingredients and enjoy a cold, dairy-free delight. The flavor combinations are limitless, but if you’re looking for inspiration, Tasty offers five different takes.
Don’t feel like making your own dessert? The Cookie Cups has you covered! Order your favorite Cups for in-store pickup, or get them delivered via DoorDash or Grubhub.