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30 Minutes or Less

Healthy Summer Fruit Crisp

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Overhead image of summer fruit crisp in a baking dish with vanilla ice cream on top.

A healthy fruit crisp loaded with fresh summer fruits! The perfect warm-weather dessert, best served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Super easy to make with just one bowl, in 30 minutes.

Close-up overhead image of summer fruit crisp in a baking dish with vanilla ice cream on top.

What You’ll Need to Make Summer Fruit Crisp

Summer Fruit – I used fresh blueberries, strawberries, and peaches in my summer fruit crisp, but any fruit will work! Feel free to use whatever you have on-hand, or whatever’s on sale at the grocery store that week. The only thing to note is, whichever fruit you use, make sure it totals to about 5-6 cups for this recipe.

Maple Syrup – This healthy dessert recipe is sweetened with maple syrup! It’s refined sugar-free and honestly so healthy you could get away with eating it for breakfast.

Rolled Oats – Any type of rolled oats will do – old-fashioned, quick cook, etc. The only type of oats you’ll want to avoid for your fruit crisp topping are whole oats, steel-cut, or Irish oats.

Almond Flour – The almond flour keeps this recipe gluten-free! However, if you don’t have almond flour, or want to make this nut-free, you can replace the almond flour with all purpose flour.

Butter or Coconut Oil – Use whichever you prefer in your crisp! I typically just use whichever I have on-hand. Coconut oil is obviously the healthier option, but butter adds a bit more flavor, which I love.

Overhead image of summer fruit crisp in a baking dish with vanilla ice cream on top.

Tips and Tricks

  • Keep this recipe simple! You’ll only need one bowl, which is used to first mix together the filling, then the crisp. There’s no need to dirty any extra dishes for this healthy dessert recipe.
  • This summer fruit crisp is best served warm with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream on top. Though feel free to serve it however you’d like. On its own is delicious, or with a dollop of fresh whipped cream – yum!
  • Store leftover fruit crisp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If enjoying leftovers, I recommend reheating in the microwave for just about 30 seconds before eating.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Dairy-Free: Use either non-dairy butter, or take the coconut oil option in the crisp.

Make it Nut-Free: For a nut-free dessert, replace the almond flour with 1/2 cup of all purpose flour.

Healthy Summer Fruit Crisp
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Healthy Summer Fruit Crisp

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes
Total time

30

minutes

A healthy fruit crisp loaded with fresh summer fruits! The perfect warm-weather dessert, best served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Super easy to make with just one bowl, in 30 minutes.

Ingredients

  • For the filling:

  • 2 cups blueberries

  • 2 cups sliced strawberries, or raspberries

  • 2-3 peaches, pitted and sliced

  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • For the crisp:

  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats

  • 1/2 cup almond flour

  • pinch of salt

  • 1/4 cup butter or coconut oil, solid

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
  • Mix together all filling ingredients in a large bowl, then transfer to a 9-inch baking dish.
  • Mix together all crisp ingredients in a large bowl (you can use the same bowl you used to make the filling), then evenly sprinkle crisp over top of the filling.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until fruit is soft, then let cool slightly before serving.

Recipe Video

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30 Minutes or Less

3-Ingredient S’mores Dip

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graham cracker being dipped into s'more dip

Super quick and easy 3-ingredient s’mores dip! Melty chocolate and gooey marshmallows, served with graham crackers. Throw together this simple dessert in just 10 minutes!

overhead image of s'mores dip with graham crackers and mini marshmallows on the side.

What You’ll Need to Make S’mores Dip

Chocolate Chips – Either chocolate chips or a chopped chocolate bar will work here! Layer your chocolate at the bottom of a baking pan, then top with marshmallows. After baking, the chocolate chips will be perfectly melty and delicious.

Marshmallows – I used mini marshmallows in my s’mores dip, but large marshmallows work just as well. Arrange the marshmallows on top of the chocolate chips before baking. Then, bake until the marshmallows are perfectly toasted and golden brown.

Graham Crackers – Serve your s’more dip with graham crackers on the side. Or, if graham crackers aren’t really your thing, serve it with whatever you’d like! For a healthier option, try fresh strawberries and apple slices. I also love serving my dip with these Simple Mills Honey Sweet Thins – they’re gluten-free!

graham cracker being dipped into s'mores dip

Tips and Tricks

  • Like a more well-done s’more? Then bake this dessert dip for a few extra minutes, or until the marshmallows are toasted to your liking.
  • Jazz up this recipe for your next holiday party! Making s’mores dip for fourth of July? Add a small handful of red, white, and blue sprinkles to the top of your dip right before serving.
  • Store leftover s’mores dip covered, at room temperature, for up to one week. To reheat, simply add back into the oven according to the recipe instructions.
s'mores dip in a small cast iron skillet.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan: For a vegan s’more dip, use vegan chocolate chips and vegan marshmallows.

Make it Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free graham crackers in this recipe.

3-Ingredient S'mores Dip
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3-Ingredient S’mores Dip

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

2

minutes
Cooking time

5

minutes
Total time

7

minutes

Super quick and easy 3-ingredient s’mores dip! Melty chocolate and gooey marshmallows, served with graham crackers. Throw together this simple dessert in just 10 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

  • 20 large marshmallows, or 2 cups mini marshmallows

  • graham crackers, for serving

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 450° Fahrenheit and lightly grease an 8-inch baking pan or cast iron skillet.
  • Spread chocolate chips in an even layer in the bottom of the pan, then arrange marshmallows on top of the chocolate chips.
  • Bake for 5-7 minutes, or until marshmallows are toasted to your liking. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes before serving with graham crackers.

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30 Minutes or Less

How to Cut a Watermelon (3 ways!)

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Showing a watermelon cut 3 ways.

Three quick and easy ways to cut a watermelon! Cubes, triangles, or sticks – serve up that big, juicy watermelon whichever way you’d like. I even included a few tips on how to pick a perfectly ripe watermelon!

Watermelon cut into sticks with bowls on the side.

How to Tell if a Watermelon is Ripe

  • Weight – A ripe watermelon will be pretty heavy. This is simply because it’s loaded with delicious, sweet juices! So if you pick up two even-sized watermelons and one feels heavier than the other, definitely go with the heavier one.
  • Color – Look for a watermelon with a big ole’ yellow spot! That yellow spot is where the watermelon laid on the ground while it grew. A large yellow spot is a good indicator that the watermelon had plenty of time to ripen on the vine.
  • Sound – Pick up the watermelon and give it a gentle, yet firm slap. Listen for a hollow sound – if the watermelon sounds hollow, then that means it’s bursting with tons of juice! However, if it sounds dull, or feels at all mushy, then pass on that watermelon.

How to Cut a Watermelon – 3 ways!

Watermelon cut into cubes in a bowl with fresh mint.
Close-up image of watermelon cut into cubes.

Cubes

  1. Using a sharp knife, slice about 1-inch off each end of the watermelon, then stand the watermelon up on one cut end.
  2. Slice off watermelon rind, sliding your knife from top to bottom, following the shape of the watermelon. Continue to work your way around the watermelon until rind is fully removed.
  3. With the watermelon still standing upright, make 1-inch lengthwise slices down the watermelon.
  4. Set half of those slices aside, then take the other half and lay them flat on your cutting board. Make 1-inch lengthwise cuts through this stack of slices, then rotate the stack 90° and make 1-inch cuts perpendicular to the other cuts you just created.
  5. Transfer that cut and cubed watermelon to a bowl, then repeat with the other half until all is cut.

OR freeze your cubed watermelon and use it to make my 3-ingredient WATERMELON MARGARITAS!

Watermelon cut into triangles on a serving platter with fresh mint and lemon.
close-up image of watermelon cut into slices.

Triangles

  1. Lay the watermelon on its side and use a sharp knife to cut down the middle, creating two halves.
  2. Place one half with the flesh-side facing down, then create 1-inch cuts lengthwise down the watermelon.
  3. Take one slice, and lay it flat on your cutting board. Make two diagonal cuts (in opposite directions) through each slice, creating three watermelon triangles from each slice.
  4. Continue this same process with remaining slices.
Watermelon cut into stick with lemon on the side.
Watermelon cut into sticks with bowls on the side.

Sticks

  1. Lay the watermelon on its side and use a sharp knife to cut down the middle, creating two halves.
  2. Place one half with the flesh-side facing down, then create 1-inch cuts lengthwise down the watermelon.
  3. Rotate your watermelon 90° on the cutting board, then make 1-inch cuts perpendicular to the other cuts you just created.
  4. Repeat this process for the other watermelon half, then serve.
Watermelon cut three different ways on a serving platter.

Tips and Tricks

  • Use a very sharp knife to cut your watermelon! A dull knife makes it much harder, and more dangerous. Dull knives are more prone to slipping and sliding when trying to cut (because they’re not sharp enough to cut through the watermelon) and a slip of your knife could result in an injury.
  • Beware of watermelon juice! A perfectly ripe watermelon, while delicious, will release a ton of juice. Therefore, cut watermelon is best served in a bowl, rather than on a plate, to help contain all that liquid.
  • These cutting techniques will work on any kind of watermelon! Seedless, mini, or even those watermelons with the orange/yellow flesh can all be cut the same way.

Interested in More Helpful How-Tos? Click HERE.

How to Cut a Watermelon (3 ways!)
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How to Cut a Watermelon (3 ways!)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: SnacksDifficulty: Easy

Three quick and easy ways to cut a watermelon! Cubes, triangles, or sticks – serve up that big, juicy watermelon whichever way you’d like. I even included a few tips on how to pick a perfectly ripe watermelon!

Ingredients

  • 1 watermelon

Directions

  • Cubes
  • Using a sharp knife, slice about 1-inch off each end of the watermelon, then stand watermelon up on one cut end.
  • Slice off watermelon rind, sliding your knife from top to bottom, following the shape of the watermelon. Continue to work your way around the watermelon until rind is fully removed.
  • With the watermelon still standing upright, make 1-inch lengthwise slices down the watermelon.
  • Set half of those slices aside, then take the other half and lay them flat on your cutting board. Make 1-inch lengthwise cuts through this stack of slices, then rotate the stack 90° and make 1-inch cuts perpendicular to the other cuts you just created.
  • Transfer that cut and cubed watermelon to a bowl, then repeat with the other half until all is cut.
  • Triangles
  • Lay the watermelon on its side and use a sharp knife to cut down the middle, creating two halves.
  • Place one half with the flesh-side facing down, then create 1-inch cuts lengthwise down the watermelon.
  • Take one slice, and lay it flat on your cutting board. Make two diagonal cuts (in opposite directions) through each slice, creating three watermelon triangles from each slice.
  • Continue this same process with remaining slices.
  • Sticks
  • Lay the watermelon on its side and use a sharp knife to cut down the middle, creating two halves.
  • Place one half with the flesh-side facing down, then create 1-inch cuts lengthwise down the watermelon.
  • Rotate your watermelon 90° on the cutting board, then make 1-inch cuts perpendicular to the other cuts you just created.
  • Repeat this process for the other watermelon half, then serve.

Recipe Video

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30 Minutes or Less

Watermelon Margaritas (just THREE ingredients!)

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frozen watermelon margaritas in two glasses with a watermelon slice on the rim.

These watermelon margaritas will be your new favorite summertime cocktail! With just three ingredients and a blender, you’ll have the most delicious and refreshing frozen drink. Frozen watermelon, lime juice, and a splash (or two) of good quality tequila come together to make this best-ever, easy summer cocktail!

two frozen watermelon margaritas with limes on the side.

I’m a BIG margarita girl, we know this by now. I absolutely gushed over my love for margaritas in my Skinny Blackberry Margarita post, so I’ll spare you from all of that this time around. Though what I will say is that this particular margarita recipe includes my all-time favorite summer fruit – WATERMELON. I’ve honestly never met anyone who ever had a bad thing to say about watermelon. It’s naturally oh-so sweet, crazy refreshing, and is really only available in the warmer months, making it all the more special. I plan on enjoying a lot, and I mean A LOT of this coveted fruit over the next few months. And there’s nothing anyone can do to stop me! You know what I also plan on enjoying a lot of this summer? These watermelon margaritas.

Your typical margarita has its fair share of added sugars. Though thanks to watermelons natural sweetness, this refreshing cocktail has NO added sugar! And like I mentioned before it only requires three ingredients (plus ice). Which means it’s the easiest and healthiest alcoholic beverage of all time. That’s right – of. all. time. I highly recommend you blend up a batch of these watermelon margaritas for your next summer barbecue or party. Maybe even for the 4th of July, perhaps?! This recipe yields about 4 margaritas, but can easily be doubled or even tripled if you’d like. Cheers to SUMMER and cheers to WATERMELON MARGARITAS!

overhead image of two frozen watermelon margaritas

What You Need To Make Watermelon Margaritas

Frozen Watermelon – To freeze watermelon, start by slicing it into 1 to 2-inch chunks. Need help slicing your watermelon? Check our my How to Cut a Watermelon blog post! Then, transfer the chunks to a parchment lined baking sheet, in a single layer, and place in the freezer. Freeze the watermelon for at least 2 hours or until frozen solid. Once frozen, you can go straight into using it in this recipe, or transfer to an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months!

Now, let’s backtrack for a second. There are a few things you want to look for when picking out your watermelon. A perfectly ripe and ready to slice watermelon will have a decently-sized yellow spot where it once laid on the ground right before it was picked. If that spot is more white than yellow, it’s not ripe – the more yellow it is, the better. Another thing to check for when looking for a ripe watermelon is the sound. Pick up the watermelon and give it a few taps. If it sounds deeply hollow that means it’s exploding with juicy flavor and is ready to enjoy!

Tequila – A good quality tequila will make all the difference in the enjoyment and smoothness of these watermelon margaritas. I highly recommend a blanco silver tequila, which is most often used in margarita recipes. I use and love Don Julio tequila for its smoother taste, without being outrageously priced.

Lime Juice – Fresh is always best, though bottled lime juice would also work in this recipe! The lime juice gives this cocktail its signature taste while also bringing out the freshness of the watermelon. If you’re feeling fancy, save a few lime slices to garnish your drinks with!

Make it a Mocktail

  • Replace the tequila with 1/4 cup of water for an alcohol-free, refreshing watermelon margarita mocktail!
Watermelon Margaritas (just THREE ingredients!)
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Watermelon Margaritas (just THREE ingredients!)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: DrinksCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Total time

5

minutes

These watermelon margaritas will be your new favorite summertime cocktail! With just three ingredients and a blender, you’ll have the most delicious and refreshing frozen drink. Frozen watermelon, lime juice, and a splash (or two) of good quality tequila come together to make this best-ever, easy summer cocktail!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups frozen watermelon, see Notes

  • 1/2 cup tequila

  • 1/2 cup lime juice

  • 1 cup ice

Directions

  • Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until no chunks of watermelon or ice remain.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Frozen Watermelon: To freeze watermelon, cut a fresh watermelon into chunks and then spread into an even layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Transfer baking sheet to the freezer for 2-3 hours or until watermelon is frozen solid.

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30 Minutes or Less

Watermelon Salad with Feta, Mint, and Lime

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overhead image of watermelon salad in a bowl.

Fresh and delicious watermelon salad! This easy summer side dish is finished off with a tangy 3-ingredient lime dressing. Make this watermelon salad with feta, mint, and lime for your next summer party or barbecue!

close-up image of watermelon salad with mint, feta, and lime

What You’ll Need to Make Watermelon Salad

Watermelon – Fresh watermelon is in peak season from May through September, so get your watermelon fix in while you can! Need help with how to cut a watermelon? Follow my step-by-step how to cut a watermelon post here. Or, save some time and buy pre-cut watermelon from the store.

Cucumber – Half an English cucumber adds to the freshness of this delicious summer salad. Dice or slice your cucumber however you’d like for this recipe.

Red Onion – Thinly sliced red onion adds a nice, tangy bite to this sweet and savory salad. However, if you’re not a fan of raw onion, you can totally leave this out.

Feta – Add as much or as little crumbled feta to your salad as you’d like! Feta is deliciously creamy and salty, and tastes incredible in this watermelon salad recipe.

Mint – Fresh mint takes this salad over the top! Not sure mint in a salad will taste good? Just give it a try, trust me.

Lime Juice – The acidity in fresh lime juice brings out the freshness of all ingredients in this dish. A 3-ingredient lime dressing may sound simple, but it does a lot for this salad!

lime dressing being poured over watermelon salad.

Tips and Tricks

  • Feel free to prep this salad ahead of time! Make the salad, then whisk together the dressing, and store them separately. When ready to serve, pour lime dressing over the salad and enjoy.
  • Have fun with this watermelon salad, and customize it however you’d like. Add or remove any ingredients you prefer. I’ll sometimes add a small handful of chopped pistachios to this salad, and it’s delicious!

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Dairy-Free/Vegan: Either leave out the feta, or use your favorite vegan feta (I recommend VioLife Vegan Feta) for a vegan watermelon salad!

Watermelon Salad with Feta, Mint, and Lime
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Watermelon Salad with Feta, Mint, and Lime

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: SidesDifficulty: Easy
Servings

3

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

0

minutes
Total time

10

minutes

Fresh and delicious watermelon salad! This easy summer side dish is finished off with a tangy 3-ingredient lime dressing. Make this watermelon salad with feta, mint, and lime for your next summer party or barbecue!

Ingredients

  • 3 cups watermelon, cubed

  • 1/2 English cucumber, diced

  • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

  • 1 cup feta, crumbled

  • 1/2 cup fresh mint, roughly chopped

  • For the lime dressing:

  • 1/4 cup olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons lime juice

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

  • Add all salad ingredients to a large bowl and gently toss to combine.
  • In a separate small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients.
  • Dress this watermelon salad right before serving.

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