This collection of healthy summer desserts is your ultimate guide to gluten-free, feel-good treats that are perfect for warm weather! From baked peaches and frozen yogurt bark to s’mores bars, lemon bars, and strawberry shortcakes. With 20+ recipes to choose from there’s something for every summer craving, cookout, and backyard party. If you’re looking for easy, healthy summer dessert recipes that everyone will love (even kids!) this is the list!
1
4-Ingredient Peach Cobbler
This 4 ingredient peach cobbler is the perfect simple yet delicious dessert recipe! Made with fresh summer peaches and a perfectly sweet crumb topping. Whip up this super easy recipe for potluck, parties, or summer bbqs! This recipe even includes gluten-free and vegan options.
These healthy watermelon gummies are made with just 3 simple ingredients—fresh watermelon, lime juice, and grass-fed gelatin. Packed with collagen to support glowing skin and gut health, they’re naturally sweet, sugar-free, and perfect for kids or adults. A fun, fruity snack that’s refreshing, nourishing, and easy to make right at home!
These s’mores bars are something else! A buttery graham cracker base followed by a lush layer of chocolate is topped off with toasty marshmallows. These s’mores bars will blow you away with how delicious and addictive they are – all while being vegan and gluten-free!
These baked peaches are warm, tender, and caramelized with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon – made with just 4 simple ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes! Topped with a scoop of homemade no-churn vanilla bean ice cream (no ice cream maker required!), this is the ultimate easy summer dessert that tastes far more impressive than the effort it takes to make. If you're looking for an easy baked peaches recipe that's perfect for peak peach season, this is the one to make this weekend!
These easy Blueberry Muddy Buddies are a no-bake, gluten-free, and dairy-free twist on the classic sweet snack. Made with just 5 simple ingredients—including fresh blueberries and peanut butter – they come together in minutes for the perfect healthier treat. Great for snacking, sharing, or storing in the fridge all week long!
These strawberry shortcakes are my mom's famous recipe – flaky, buttery biscuits piled high with juicy strawberries and homemade whipped cream, and the first dessert I crave every single summer when fresh berries are at their peak! They feel fancy enough for a summer party but are surprisingly simple to make from scratch, with no mixer or special equipment required. It's a classic strawberry shortcake recipe SO good, everyone will ask for the recipe!
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.
This viral watermelon shaved ice is the ultimate healthy summer treat made with just frozen watermelon and a splash of fresh lime juice! It’s refreshing, naturally sweet, and perfect for hot days when you want something light and hydrating. This easy 1-ingredient recipe is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and ready in minutes – no ice cream maker needed!
This gluten-free strawberry shortcake is the easy, light, and summery dessert you’ll want to make again and again! With just 6 simple ingredients, it’s fluffy, naturally gluten-free, and topped with a generous layer of whipped cream and sweet, juicy strawberries. It's perfect for birthdays, holidays, or any warm-weather gathering, this shortcake is a no-fuss, totally delicious crowd-pleaser!
Fresh, creamy, and irresistibly delicious pineapple ice cream! Made with just two ingredients, and in under 5 minutes. This pineapple ice cream is the BEST healthy summertime treat.
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!
This cottage cheese blueberry pie ice cream is a creamy, high-protein frozen treat made with just 5 simple ingredients – a silky cottage cheese base swirled with jammy blueberry preserves and studded with buttery graham cracker pieces for a flavor that tastes exactly like a slice of blueberry pie! No ice cream maker needed, under 5 minutes of prep, and it's naturally sweetened and packed with protein. If you're looking for an easy, healthy cottage cheese ice cream recipe that tastes like a real dessert, this blueberry pie version is the one to make!
This frozen yogurt bark is a creamy, colorful summer treat made with vanilla Greek yogurt, swirled with fruit jam, and loaded with fresh berries, and crunchy nuts! It takes just 10 minutes to prep, NO baking, and tastes like ice cream. An easy, healthy frozen yogurt bark recipe that's as beautiful as it is delicious!
These healthy lemon bars are creamy, perfectly tart, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup – made with a secret ingredient (cottage cheese!) that keeps them higher in protein and silky smooth without any refined sugar. Built on a buttery graham cracker crust and baked to custardy perfection. These healthy lemon bars taste just as indulgent as the classic version but with healthier ingredients.
Frozen Chocolate Protein Peanut Butter S’mores Bars
These Frozen Chocolate Protein Peanut Butter S’mores Bars are a chocolate protein twist on the nostalgic campfire classic. With graham crackers, creamy peanut butter, chocolate protein whipped cream, and a chocolate chip coating, they’re indulgent and seriously delicious! This no bake recipe is easy to make, freezer-friendly, and the perfect treat when you want something sweet and satisfying.
These healthy gluten-free zucchini brownies are rich, fudgy, and secretly packed with shredded zucchini for a boost of hidden veggies! Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and made in just one bowl, they’re a deliciously easy dessert that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free.
This high protein s’mores dip is a quick and easy 4-ingredient recipe with over 30 grams of protein per serving! Made with Greek yogurt, chocolate protein powder, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips – it’s a healthier way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Perfect as a post-workout snack, party dip, or high protein dessert!
This healthy strawberry peanut butter chocolate bark is made with just 3 simple ingredients and takes only minutes to prep! It's a delicious no-bake treat that's vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and low in sugar. Perfect for a freezer-friendly snack or healthy dessert everyone will love!
This healthy milkshake recipe is creamy, dairy-free, and made with just 4 simple ingredients – no banana or ice cream required! Choose from chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry for a naturally sweetened treat you can blend in under 2 minutes. It’s the perfect quick and refreshing dessert or snack that’s vegan, gluten-free, and totally customizable!
These healthy strawberry peanut butter cups are a delicious, no-bake treat made with just 5 simple ingredients. Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, they’re perfect for a quick snack or a better-for-you dessert. Easy to customize and bursting with sweet, chocolatey flavor, they’re the ultimate healthy twist on a classic favorite.
Effortless and delicious 5-Ingredient Triple Berry Crisp, crafted with frozen mixed berries and a simple, wholesome crisp topping! This fruit crisp is not only simple to make, but also easy to adapt to a variety of diets, making it a perfect treat for any occasion. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious and healthy dessert!
Looking for a delicious and easy-to-make single serve dessert? This peach crisp is perfect for you! With just a handful of ingredients, you can whip up this vegan and gluten-free treat in no time
These chocolate covered strawberry brownies are rich, fudgy, and totally delicious! They’re made with almond flour and coconut sugar for a healthier twist, but are still just as indulgent. These are the perfect Valentine’s Day recipe, or any day treat!
My mom’s been making her FAMOUS strawberry shortcakes every summer for as long as I can remember! Flaky, buttery shortcake biscuits piled high with juicy, fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream. It’s simple, classic, totally nostalgic, and the perfect summer dessert!
I always thought this recipe seemed more complicated than it actually was, which is why it took me years to try making it myself. But once my mom finally shared it with me, I was genuinely shocked at how simple it is. You don’t need a stand mixer, you don’t need any special equipment, and the whole thing – biscuits, strawberries, and homemade whipped cream – can be on the table in just over an hour! It’s the kind of recipe that feels fancy but is actually pretty simple, which makes it absolutely perfect for summer parties, Fourth of July, and honestly any time you can get your hands on fresh, in-season strawberries. If you love fresh berry-forward desserts like this one, then you’ll want to try my 4-Ingredient Peach Cobbler and 4-Ingredient Baked Peaches next!
Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Shortcakes
My mom’s famous recipe! This isn’t just any strawberry shortcake – it’s the one my mom has made every single summer for as long as I can remember, and the first thing I crave every year when the weather warms up. Some recipes are just special, and this one is. I’m so excited to finally share it here!
Perfect for summer parties. Flaky biscuits, juicy macerated strawberries, and homemade whipped cream. This is a showstopping dessert that always gets rave reviews, whether you’re serving it at a backyard barbecue, a Fourth of July gathering, or a casual dinner party. You can even set up a shortcake bar and let everyone build their own!
Amazing during strawberry season. Ripe, in-season strawberries are the star of this recipe, and when they’re at their peak sweetness there is truly nothing better. Macerated in sugar and a little lemon juice, they become incredibly juicy and flavorful in a way that store-bought strawberry sauce just can’t replicate.
Feels fancy, but is actually pretty simple. I know shortcake biscuits can sound intimidating, but they’re really just a lightly sweetened, butter-packed dough that comes together in minutes. No mixer or special equipment, just your hands, a bowl, and a baking sheet.
Easily made gluten-free! Simply swap the cake flour for a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and you’ve got a completely gluten-free strawberry shortcake that nobody will ever know is different. See the variations section below for all the details!
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
Make ahead: The macerated strawberries can be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored covered in the fridge. The biscuits are best eaten the day they’re baked, but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days and warmed slightly before serving. Make the whipped cream fresh just before serving.
Make it gluten-free: Swap the cake flour for a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend (I love Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 or King Arthur Measure for Measure) in a 1:1 ratio. The texture may be very slightly different but still absolutely delicious. Just make sure your baking powder is certified gluten-free as well.
Make it dairy-free: Swap the butter in the biscuits for cold vegan butter (Miyoko’s or Earth Balance work great), the heavy cream in the biscuits for full-fat coconut cream, and the heavy cream in the whipped cream for a chilled can of coconut cream. Whip the coconut cream until fluffy — it’s a wonderful dairy-free whipped topping!
Add blueberries: Toss a handful of fresh blueberries into the macerated strawberries for a beautiful red, white, and blue summer dessert. This is especially perfect for Fourth of July!
Swap the fruit: This recipe works beautifully with any summer fruit. Try it with fresh peaches, mixed berries, or a combination of raspberries and strawberries.
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Mom’s BEST Strawberry Shortcakes Recipe 🍓
These strawberry shortcakes are my mom's famous recipe – flaky, buttery biscuits piled high with juicy strawberries and homemade whipped cream, and the first dessert I crave every single summer when fresh berries are at their peak! They feel fancy enough for a summer party but are surprisingly simple to make from scratch, with no mixer or special equipment required. It's a classic strawberry shortcake recipe SO good, everyone will ask for the recipe!
1tablespoonfresh lemon juicecan sub orange or lime juice
For the shortcakes:
2cupscake flouror gluten-free all purpose flour
1/2teaspoonsalt
4teaspoonsbaking powder
1/2teaspooncream of tartar
3tablespoonssugar
1/2cupcold butter(1 stick)
1eggbeaten
1/3cupheavy cream
For the homemade whipped cream:
1cupheavy cream
1-2tablespoonspowdered sugar
1teaspoonvanilla extract
Instructions
Combine sliced strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Toss to combine. Let sit for 1–2 hours to release their juices.
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Combine the cake flour, salt, baking powder, cream of tartar, and sugar in a large bowl.
Cut butter into small bits and add to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or fork, work butter in until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
Add the beaten egg and heavy cream and mix with a fork until the mixture just holds together.
Turn out onto a well-floured surface and knead by folding over 8–10 times, rotating as you go.
Pat into a ½-inch thick rectangle. Cut into 6 larger or 8 smaller equal squares.
Place biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet (do not grease). Separate biscuits slightly for crispier edges, or place touching for softer sides.
Bake 15–20 minutes until light golden brown.
While the shortcakes bake, add the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to a clean bowl. Whip with a hand or stand mixer until soft peaks form.
Slice shortcakes in half horizontally. Spoon a generous helping of macerated strawberries onto the bottom half, top with a dollop of homemade whipped cream, place the top half on, and serve immediately. Enjoy!
This easy piña colada recipe is made with just 3 ingredients – frozen pineapple, coconut milk, and light rum – blended into the most refreshing, tropical frozen cocktail with NO added sugar! It comes together in just 5 minutes, makes a whole pitcher, and tastes exactly like the piña colada you'd order on a beach vacation. If you're looking for an easy, healthier piña colada recipe that's perfect for summer parties, this is the one to make this weekend!
These mango margaritas are made with just 3 ingredients – frozen mango, tequila, and fresh lime juice – blended into the most refreshing, naturally sweet frozen cocktail you'll crave all summer! No added sugar, no triple sec, no complicated steps – just two minutes, three ingredients, and you've got a whole pitcher ready to go. If you're looking for an easy mango margarita recipe that's as easy as it is delicious, this is the one to make this weekend!
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!
Cool and refreshing frozen daiquiris, with a secret ingredient! My Mom's famous recipe for this best EVER frozen cocktail. Just four ingredients, perfectly sweet, and totally delicious.
Light and refreshing sunset spritz mocktail! Fresh blueberries and pineapples, with a hint of lime, and plenty of bubbles. This sunset spritz mocktail is so tasty, you won't even miss the alcohol!
This easy watermelon paloma recipe was developed by none other than my Mom! Consider her our resident bartender, and the only person I trust to make a really REALLY good drink. With fresh watermelon juice, a splash of lime, and a fizzy finish, this watermelon paloma will become your go-to summer cocktail!
A lighter, but just as delicious skinny strawberry margarita! Shake up one of these ice cold cocktails at your next Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, or summer party. Made with fresh-squeezed juice, good quality tequila, and fresh strawberries for an incredibly light and refreshing cocktail!
There are few things as good as an ice cold pineapple margarita! Shake up one of these fruity, but not-too-sweet drinks with just 4 ingredients. Best enjoyed on a hot summer day or at your next party!
The BEST summertime (or anytime!) cocktail – cool and refreshing Aperol spritz! Bubbly, citrusy, and never too sweet. Just three ingredients, and a white wine glass is all you'll need to make this delicious drink.
This Spicy Margarita Mocktail is a refreshing, non-alcoholic drink made with fresh jalapeño, lime juice, and a splash of orange. It’s light, zesty, and perfect for hot summer days or your next mocktail happy hour. Made with just 5 simple ingredients and no alcohol, it's an easy, flavorful twist on the classic margarita!
Peach season only comes around once a year, and these baked peaches are exactly how I think you should be spending it! Warm, tender, juicy peaches baked with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until they’re soft and bubbling – then topped with a scoop of homemade no-churn vanilla bean ice cream that takes ’em over the freaking top. It’s the kind of dessert that looks and tastes like you spent hours on it, but it’s really just 4 simple ingredients and about 25 minutes of oven time. This is the dessert I make every single summer when peaches are at their absolute best!
The homemade vanilla bean ice cream is the real showstopper here, and the best part is that you don’t need an ice cream maker to make it. Just whipped cream, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla bean — that’s it. It’s rich, creamy, studded with real vanilla bean, and the perfect partner for warm baked peaches. If you love easy, no-fuss summer desserts, you’ll also want to try my 4-Ingredient Peach Cobbler for another way to enjoy those summer peaches!
Why You’ll Love This Baked Peaches Recipe
Just 4 ingredients. Peaches, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. That’s the entire list for the peaches themselves – simple, classic, and absolutely delicious.
Perfect for summer. This is peak peach season magic! Warm, juicy, caramelized fruit, and it makes the most of those perfectly ripe peaches sitting on your counter.
Super easy to make. No special equipment, no complicated steps. If you can slice a peach in half, you can make this dessert. The oven does almost all of the work.
Totally delicious. Tender, caramelized peaches with a buttery cinnamon-sugar filling, topped with rich homemade vanilla bean ice cream – this is the kind of dessert that feels fancy but is genuinely effortless!
No ice cream maker needed. The homemade vanilla bean ice cream comes together with just 3 ingredients and a hand mixer. No churning, no special equipment – just whip, mix, and freeze!
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
Make it dairy-free/vegan: Swap the butter for vegan butter or coconut oil in the peaches. For the ice cream, use a can of full-fat coconut cream in place of the heavy whipping cream (chill it well before whipping) and a dairy-free sweetened condensed milk alternative, such as coconut condensed milk.
Brown Sugar: Coconut sugar makes a great natural substitute and adds a similar caramel-like depth. Maple syrup or honey also work – drizzle over the peaches instead of sprinkling.
Cinnamon: Add a pinch of nutmeg or ginger alongside the cinnamon for extra warmth and spice.
Add a Splash of Liquor: For an adults-only version, add a splash of bourbon, rum, or brandy to the butter and brown sugar mixture before baking for a deeper, more sophisticated flavor.
No vanilla bean? No problem. Vanilla bean paste or even plain vanilla extract both work wonderfully in the ice cream if you don’t have a whole vanilla bean on hand.
Skip the ice cream: If you’re short on time, these baked peaches are also delicious served with a dollop of Greek yogurt, whipped cream, or even on their own!
Sam’s Recipe Tips
Use ripe but firm peaches. Peaches that are too soft will turn mushy and fall apart in the oven. Look for peaches that give just slightly when pressed and smell fragrant at the stem – that’s the sweet spot.
Make the ice cream ahead of time. Since the ice cream needs at least 4 hours to freeze solid, make it the night before or earlier in the day so it’s ready to scoop the moment your peaches come out of the oven.
Don’t overmix the ice cream base. When folding the sweetened condensed milk into the whipped cream, be gentle. Overmixing can deflate the whipped cream and result in a denser, less airy ice cream.
Let the peaches cool slightly before serving. Straight out of the oven, the peaches will be very hot and the ice cream will melt almost instantly. A few minutes of cooling time lets you enjoy the perfect balance of warm peach and melty ice cream without it turning into a puddle.
Don’t skip the butter pat in each cavity. It melts down and mixes with the brown sugar and peach juices to create a rich, buttery sauce that pools in the bottom of the baking dish – make sure to spoon some of that sauce over the peaches when serving!
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4-Ingredient Baked Peaches with Homemade No-Churn Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
These baked peaches are warm, tender, and caramelized with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon – made with just 4 simple ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes! Topped with a scoop of homemade no-churn vanilla bean ice cream (no ice cream maker required!), this is the ultimate easy summer dessert that tastes far more impressive than the effort it takes to make. If you're looking for an easy baked peaches recipe that's perfect for peak peach season, this is the one to make this weekend!
Start by making the homemade vanilla bean ice cream (or skip to Step 4 to make the baked peaches) by pouring the heavy whipping cream into a clean bowl and beating with either a hand or stand mixer until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.
Add the can of sweetened condensed milk and the scraped inside of a vanilla bean pod or vanilla bean paste, and gently mix until completely combined.
Transfer the ice cream mixture to a container and place in the freezer for at least 4 hours, or until solid before scooping and serving with the baked peaches.
For the baked peaches, preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
Arrange the peach halves in a baking dish, cut-side facing up. Place a piece of butter on top of each peach.
Then, sprinkle ½ tablespoon of brown sugar on each peach, before sprinkling the peaches evenly with cinnamon.
Bake the peaches for about 20-25 minutes, or until they’re soft and easily pierced with a fork. Remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving warm with a scoop of homemade vanilla bean ice cream!
Notes
Use ripe but firm peaches so they hold their shape in the oven.
Make the ice cream ahead of time — it needs at least 4 hours to fully freeze.
For dairy-free, use coconut cream and a dairy-free condensed milk alternative.
Store leftover baked peaches in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat in the microwave or oven before serving.
Store leftover ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.
At 9 months pregnant in the dead of summer, watermelon is one of my biggest cravings! I got creative a few weeks ago with these 3-ingredient watermelon gummies, and can’t wait for the day I can have one of my frozen watermelon margaritas again. But for now, fresh watermelon sounds the best – and fresh watermelon happens to be the only ingredient in this watermelon shaved ice recipe. Just fresh watermelon, cut into spears, frozen solid, then shaved into a bowl. This healthy frozen treat couldn’t possibly get any easier (or more delicious)!
Why You’ll Love This Watermelon Shaved Ice
Only 2 ingredients – You don’t need any added sugar, syrups, or flavorings.
Naturally hydrating – Watermelon is over 90% water and rich in antioxidants like lycopene.
Perfect for summer – Cold, sweet, and incredibly refreshing.
Fun to make – Grating frozen watermelon turns it into a fluffy, icy treat that’s just as fun to prepare as it is to eat.
Can I Make This With Any Other Fruit?
Yes! This recipe works well with frozen mango, pineapple, or cantaloupe. Just make sure the fruit is firm enough to grate after freezing. Watermelon works especially well because of its high water content and natural sweetness, but feel free to experiment with other frozen fruits for different flavors and colors.
Recipe Variations and Toppings
Tajin or chili lime seasoning – Add a spicy, tangy twist!
Coconut milk drizzle – For a creamy, tropical flavor.
Fresh mint or basil – Chopped herbs elevate the flavor beautifully.
Fruit syrup or honey – Optional if you want it a little sweeter.
Top with berries or shredded coconut – Adds texture and color.
5 from 1 vote
Viral Watermelon Shaved Ice
This viral watermelon shaved ice is the ultimate healthy summer treat made with just frozen watermelon and a splash of fresh lime juice! It’s refreshing, naturally sweet, and perfect for hot days when you want something light and hydrating. This easy 1-ingredient recipe is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and ready in minutes – no ice cream maker needed!