When you picture the favorite foods of summer, images of potato salad, burgers and hotdogs with a side of watermelon, or a crab and shrimp boil certainly come to mind. While we may have the main courses covered, how about some new and fun sweet treats for those hot summer days? Here are a few creative and delicious summer sweets to cool down a hot afternoon.

Ice Cream Sandwiches

The classic ice cream sandwich brings back memories of flagging down the ice cream truck and winding up with a chocolate and vanilla mustache. While these are still an all-time favorite, there are some fun ways to take this concept up a notch. For example, instead of using the traditional chocolate cookie why not mix it up and use waffles, a chocolate chip cookie or Rice Krispy treats? Unsure which would be best? Set up an ice cream sandwich bar with all of the options, as well as different flavors of ice cream and some delicious toppings to go on the sides of the sandwich. The combinations are endless when you think to combine your favorite sweets with this classic treat.

No Bake Pies

Let’s face it – in the summer heat, the last thing you want to do is turn on the oven and bake.  With that said, don’t let the high temperatures rule out pie as a favorite summer treat. No bake pies are so creamy and delicious, you may never return to the traditional apple pie. The crusts are a breeze as well, simply use graham crackers or chocolate cookie crumbs to avoid having to roll out any dough. Some fun flavors to try are peanut butter cream pie, a creamy coffee pie, or a rocky road freezer pie. Feel like being a bit more creative? Have some fun experimenting with your own flavors to come up with a new family favorite.

Ice Cream

Ice cream is the perfect summer sweet treat. Sure, you can pop on over to the local market and pick up a gallon, but where’s the fun in that? Things have come a long way since making homemade ice cream with our grandparents – no more machines, no more churning, but instead just follow a few easy steps to create your own fabulous frozen goodness. All you need to start are two basic ingredients: heavy whipping cream and sweet condensed milk. To make the base, whip the heavy cream and fold in the condensed milk. From there, you can get wild and add any ingredients you desire. Once you have created your concoction, pour it into a freezer safe bowl and chill for four hours. Once frozen, scoop it into a bowl and add some toppings.

S’mores

What’s better than a perfect summer night under the stars with a fire and having some s’mores?   S’mores are a campfire favorite for children and adults alike. Graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate are a combination that can’t be beat, but why not take this classic combination and add a little extra goodness to it? Try swapping out the graham crackers for chocolate chip cookies and adding some sliced strawberries to the mix. Or swap out the graham crackers, replace them with chocolate wafer cookies, and sprinkle some cinnamon onto your marshmallow. Lastly, try the Elvis s’more, which is a classic combination with the addition of peanut butter and banana. Enjoy creating your own flavor combinations!

Fruit

Fruit is at your fingertips and while it may not sound enticing compared to the other sweet treats listed, with a few additional ingredients it can become a dessert the family requests time and time again. A classic summertime favorite is grilled peaches or fried bananas topped with honey, sea salt, and vanilla ice cream. Want a healthier alternative? Try vanilla yogurt with blueberries and raspberries topped with honey and balsamic vinegar. For a fun and interactive fruit dessert, make banana split kabobs. Offer up an array of ingredients such as bananas, pineapple, strawberries, brownie bites, whipped cream and nuts or sprinkles. Everyone gets a skewer and can make their own.

 

Enjoy your summer sweet treats! Be sure to let us know your favorites!