The Best Summer Desserts You'll Want To Make Right Now

There's nothing quite like sweet summertime. The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and your kitchen is likely bursting with seasonal treats. With just one trip to the local farmers market, you likely arrive home feeling so inspired to bake or prepare something that lives up to the best flavors and aromas of the season.

Whether you're planning a romantic backyard dinner with your partner, packing up for a family bonfire at the lake, or heading to a potluck picnic at a friend's house, you're sure to find the perfect recipe for any event that makes its way onto your calendar during the sunny season. We here at Mashed have done all the hard work for you when it comes to picking out the tastiest summertime treats.

The most difficult task you'll have is choosing from all of the delicious recipes we've put together just for you. If you scoop up some fresh, beautiful berries when you shop, consider baking cupcakes that will taste as sweet as they look. Or if you're feeling nostalgic for some Disney magic, take your taste buds back to Main Street, U.S.A. and whip up our refreshing copycat recipe for Disney's Dole Whip.

Whichever summer dessert you decide to make will surely be a hit with your guests. You'll also capture the most Pinterest-worthy foodie snaps to post on your feed with these delicious recipes.

These Disney Dole Whip cups will transport you to the Magic Kingdom. If you've ever been to Disneyland or Disney World, you may have already enjoyed this dessert straight from the source. There's no doubt about it — it's magical. But now, you can whip it up in your own kitchen with our copycat recipe. To put this yummy, tropical treat together, all you'll need is frozen pineapple, vanilla ice cream, vanilla essence, and pineapple juice. The next time your family wishes upon a star, they're probably hoping you make them this Disney Dole Whip recipe.

Growing up, one of your favorite things to do in the summer was likely running out to the ice cream truck to buy your favorite chilled treats. Nothing beats Good Humor's ice cream bars on the hottest of days, right?

Even though you're in the adult world now and likely not dashing outside the second you hear the tune of the ice cream truck grace your street, one thing's for sure: You're never too old to enjoy a classic, good ole' ice cream sandwich.

Our ice cream sandwiches recipe is easy to make and undeniably tasty to eat. It calls for homemade chocolate cookies and your favorite tub of ice cream. To prepare the cookies, you'll need white sugar, brown sugar, flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, butter, and an egg. Feel free to add sprinkles or chocolate chips to your cookie dough, too. After the dough is mixed, the cookies are baked for 16 to 18 minutes and then cooled off. Then, it's time to stuff your sandwiches with ice cream — don't be shy, stuff them high! These sweet delights will be ready to serve up in a matter of 36 minutes.

Sure, grabbing your favorite booth at the local diner to enjoy an ice cream sundae is always fun, but when you've spent a long day in the sunshine and want to split something sweet with your partner at home, we've got the best dessert for you. Our banana split recipe is dangerously delicious, and it's one you'll likely want to make again and again. It's the ultimate cool-down treat to combat the heat of summer.

Make sure you have all your ingredients on hand ahead of time, including a ripe banana, ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and maraschino cherries. For a healthy twist, recipe developer Laura Sampson of Little House Big Alaska suggests swapping out the ice cream for frozen yogurt. Or if you'd like to go dairy-free, choose a coconut-based ice cream and a non-dairy whipped cream. Whichever version you go with, there's always a cherry on top.

These berry margarita cupcakes are almost too pretty to eat. (Okay, 'almost' is the keyword here.) If you love margaritas, cupcakes, and berries, then clearly, this recipe is calling your name. It's a refreshing, summery treat that'll take your dessert presentation to the next level — just be sure to give these cupcakes the love they deserve and display them on a pretty pedestal cake platter.

Pretty in pink takes on a whole new, sweet meaning when it comes to these cupcakes. All you'll need for your batter is mixed berries and fresh lime juice, in addition to your basic ingredients like flour, salt, baking soda, sugar, eggs, butter, vanilla extract, and milk. But the real fun comes in the tequila lime buttercream topping. Garnish each treat with a slice of lime, and you're ready to serve up a batch of very berry margarita cupcakes.

If you didn't have strawberry shortcake in the summer, did summer really even happen? This traditional summertime dessert is a seasonal staple for a reason. Our strawberry shortcakes recipe calls for flaky homemade buttermilk biscuits, and they are truly divine. Do we have your attention? Good. Now, let's get started with the details so you can be summer dessert-ready in no time.

This is one of those recipes that'll make your guests think you spent all day in the kitchen to prepare, since it's such an aesthetically-pleasing post-meal treat. Little will they know, the recipe is pretty simple to prepare and doesn't call for any crazy ingredients or steps. The buttermilk biscuits are made with flour, butter, buttermilk, and baking powder, and all you'll only need heavy cream and vanilla extract to prepare the whipped cream, with fresh sliced strawberries mixed with sugar for the filling. Extra points for the presentation if you have a coordinating red and white-checkered tablecloth.

Ice cream is hands-down the most classic, refreshing summertime dessert — and regardless of age, we all scream for it. The best part is, you can actually prepare this sweet sensation in only five minutes, and then let it chill for six hours. 

You'll have a post-dinner delight to look forward to in just a few simple steps. This recipe only requires two cups of heavy cream and one can of sweetened condensed milk to make this treat come to life. Our two-ingredient ice cream recipe also doesn't call for churning. It's so easy, you're really missing out if you don't try it.