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I hold a special place in my heart for summer foods. I just love summer BBQs, cookouts, and potlucks!
I’ve compiled all of the BEST summer recipes in one place so you’re prepared for your next summertime event.
Listed below are dessert ideas for parties, recipes to bring to a potluck, no-bake desserts, easy savory recipes the whole family will love, and more.
Free Baking Science Mini-Course!
From cookies that spread to undercooked brownies, this FREE 5-day Baking Science course helps you conquer common baking challenges and make bakery-worthy treats every time.
Many of these recipes would be so much fun to make with the kids through the summer, too!
Let me know which summer recipe you’re most excited to try in the comments below.
The BEST Summer Recipes
No-Bake Summer Recipes
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake is like a giant peanut butter cup! It features a buttery graham cracker crust, creamy peanut butter cream cheese filling, all topped with thick and fudgy chocolate ganache. Perfect for summertime parties!
No Bake Mini Blackberry Cheesecakes
Adorable No Bake Mini Blackberry Cheesecakes are ultra-fresh, vibrant, and simple to make with no oven (or even stove) required! Perfect for those hot days when you don’t want to turn on the oven.
No Bake S’mores Mini Cheesecakes
Chocolate cheesecake. Toasted marshmallow meringue topping. Buttery graham cracker crust. Need I say more? All the classic campfire treat flavors packed into an easy no-bake, pre-portioned dessert. These Mini S’mores No-Bake Cheesecakes are the cutest, most delicious bites of nostalgia you’ll eat this summer!
Brown Butter Rice Crispy Treats
Brown Butter Rice Crispy Treats are crispy, sticky, and gooey. The Brown Butter gives these classic treats a fun, updated twist, bringing a delicious nuttiness to the sticky deliciousness! These are such a fun treat – and bonus: they’re SO easy to make, with no oven time required.
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bars feature a buttery graham cracker crust and a homemade double strawberry cheesecake filling for an easy crowd-pleasing summer treat that everyone at the cookout will love.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream is egg-free and uses secret ingredients to make easy, creamy, and flavorful ice cream. Impress everyone at your party with this homemade nostalgic ice cream this summer.
No Bake Frozen Blueberry Pie
Easy No Bake Frozen Blueberry Pie is fresh, frosty, and fruity – the perfect summer dessert for any cookout, BBQ, or get-together!
Summer Cookie Recipes
Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies
You can’t go wrong pleasing everyone with my ultra-thick Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies! Golden brown edges, ooey-gooey centers, and the perfect classic flavors. This easy recipe can be made in just 30 minutes and is sure to be a hit.
Glazed Lemon Cookies
Glazed Lemon Cookies feature buttery, citrusy, soft, and perfectly sweet cookies topped with a lemon glaze. These are the best lemon cookies that come together quickly, contain simple ingredients, and don’t even require chilling.
S’mores Cookies
S’mores Cookies are loaded with chocolate chips and graham cracker crumbs, topped with mini marshmallows and Hershey’s chocolate. All the classic campfire treat flavors are packed into this quick and easy cookie recipe, perfect for any summertime gathering. Pro tip: use these instead of graham crackers at your next bonfire for the ultimate s’mores treat!
Homemade Oreo Cookies
Homemade Oreo Cookies taste just like the famous store-bought sandwich cookies – but better! These delicious homemade Oreos are easy to make and can be customized with your favorite flavored filling (double-stuffed if you prefer!).
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are big, thick, chewy, and soft, and loaded with peanut butter and chocolate flavor. They are outrageously good, and are super easy to make – no mixer required. Everyone at your BBQ will be asking for this recipe!
Brown Butter Dulce de Leche Cookie Cups
Brown Butter Dulce de Leche Cookie Cups feature soft, chewy, bite-sized brown butter cookie cups that are filled with dulce de leche and topped with flaky sea salt. Every bite is salty-sweet heaven! This recipe is easier than you think, uses store-bought dulce de leche, and is ready in an hour! What’s not to love?
Homemade Fudge Rounds
Homemade Fudge Rounds taste just like the packaged ones but even BETTER because they’re less artificial but just as chewy, fudgy, soft, and chocolaty. The perfect bites of nostalgia for any summer party.
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies are soft and chewy in the middle yet crisp at the edges, studded with white chocolate chips and crunchy macadamia nuts. So delicious and super easy to make, these are the perfect cookies for white chocolate lovers everywhere!
Brownies, Cheesecake Bars & More Summer Bar Bakes
Best Ever Chewy Brownies
A summertime party classic, these BEST Chewy Brownies are just as chewy as boxed brownies but packed with way more decadent chocolate flavor. This one-bowl recipe can be made in less than 1 hour! With over 1,000 5-star ratings, I know they’ll be a hit at your next gathering.
S’mores Fudge Bars
S’mores Fudge Bars have a thick layer of buttery graham cracker crust, rich, fudgy chocolate filling, and a homemade toasted marshmallow topping. A delicious summertime treat that’s a hit with kids of all ages!
Blondies Recipe
Ultra-flavorful Blondies are gooey, chewy, and loaded with chocolate chips or any mix-in your heart desires. One bowl recipe, no mixer required, and made with pantry staples in just 45 minutes. This easy blondie recipe is easy to transport and serve, so it’s perfect to take to any summer party!
Raspberry Lemonade Cheesecake Bars
Raspberry Lemonade Cheesecake Bars are like biting into sunshine! A buttery, crisp graham cracker base topped with a zesty lemon cheesecake and vibrant raspberry swirl. As pretty as they are delicious, these bars are perfectly tart, sweet, and full of summertime flavors.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars take chewy chocolate chip cookie dough and layer it with a creamy, rich, smooth vanilla cheesecake. Two perfect beginner-friendly desserts in one! Your cookout guests will go crazy for these bars.
Cosmic Brownies
A nostalgic classic, this copycat recipe for Cosmic Brownies is ultra-rich, fudgy, and chewy. Just like the kind you buy at the store, but oh so much better with no preservatives!
Peanut Butter Stuffed Brownies
Peanut Butter Stuffed Brownies are fudgy chocolate brownies stuffed with a thick layer of pure peanut butter for the most rich and indulgent treat. The kids will adore these!
Summer Pies & Cobblers
Key Lime Pie
My Easy Key Lime Pie Recipe is packed full of bright, fresh lime flavor, a hint of ginger in the buttery graham cracker crust, all topped with fresh whipped cream. One bite will transport you straight to the sunny Florida Keys!
Peach Galette
Peach Galette is so much easier to make than a peach pie, but with the same deliciously sweet summery peach flavor and flaky all-butter crust in every bite. Serve this homemade galette recipe with vanilla ice cream for the perfect rustic dessert.
Blueberry Cobbler
Blueberry Cobbler is bursting with delicious blueberry flavor, featuring a hint of bright lemon freshness, and finished with a light, fluffy cake topping. This super quick and easy recipe is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, for a sweet summertime hit!
Blueberry Peach Pie
Homemade Blueberry Peach Pie features a perfectly crisp and flaky crust with a thick, fresh, and luscious summery filling. This delicious pie is the perfect summertime dessert!
Brown Butter Peach Cobbler
This Brown Butter Peach Cobbler is the most flavorful cobbler recipe you’ll ever try. The brown butter peaches, warm spices, and the biscuit-like base and topping make for the ultimate summer treat. Use fresh, frozen, or canned peaches.
Easy Apple Galette
Homemade Apple Galette is so much easier to make than apple pie! This recipe has a buttery, flaky tart crust and a perfectly spiced apple filling. The best rustic dessert to serve a crowd for Memorial Day, 4th of July, or anytime.
Summertime Cakes
Chocolate Sheet Cake
EASY Chocolate Sheet Cake with simple fudge frosting takes just minutes to prepare and doesn’t even require an electric mixer. Such a crowd pleaser perfect for any party or BBQ!
Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Ultra-rich, moist, and fudgy Easy Chocolate Zucchini Cake is the perfect summer treat for any chocoholic and can be made in less than 1 hour! No mixer required. The perfect way to use up that homegrown zucchini!
Angel Food Cake
You only need 7 ingredients to make the BEST Angel Food Cake recipe! This cake is perfectly light, airy, and fluffy. Served with homemade whipped cream and fresh berries for a light dessert after a big cookout.
Vanilla Sheet Cake with Grilled Strawberries
Vanilla Sheet Cake with Grilled Strawberries features an ultra-moist, tender, and slightly spongy vanilla cake with fresh whipped cream and slightly smoky grilled strawberries on top. This cake is the perfect summer dessert for a crowd!
Red Velvet Cake
The BEST Red Velvet Cake recipe ever! Ultra moist, buttery, tender, and soft cake with the most perfect red velvet flavor. Topped with easy cream cheese frosting. The best centerpiece for any party!
Fun Summer Bakes
Baked Strawberry Lemon Doughnuts
Baked Strawberry Lemon Doughnuts are made with a yeasted dough but baked for the best fluffy texture without frying! Topped with a beautiful naturally colored strawberry glaze. Get the kids involved for a fun summer activity you can all enjoy together!
S’mores Pizookies
Ultra ooey-gooey S’mores Pizookies feature chocolate chip cookie dough stuffed with marshmallow, chocolate, and graham cracker bits baked in a mini skillet, for the cutest summertime dessert ever.
Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwiches
Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwiches are the ultimate summer treat with homemade red velvet cookies, vanilla ice cream, and red white and blue sprinkles for the Fourth of July or Memorial Day! Make them ahead of time for the BBQ.
French Silk Pie
One of my most popular recipes ever, this French Silk Pie features an Oreo cookie crust, rich and creamy chocolate filling, and is topped with homemade whipped cream and chocolate shavings!
Peanut Butter Pie
My homemade Peanut Butter Pie is super quick and easy to make, with just a few ingredients involved. The biggest hit ever with any peanut butter lovers – everyone coming back for seconds!
Frozen Mint Chocolate Chip Pie
Frozen Mint Chocolate Chip Pie is perfect for summer! Mint Oreo crust, easy homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream, and a thick layer of chocolate ganache. So delicious and perfect to serve a crowd on a warm night.
Savory Summer Recipes
Homemade Burger Buns
Homemade Burger Buns are SO much better than anything store-bought! Beautifully light and fluffy inside, and slightly crusty on the outside. These buns are the perfect canvas for any type of burger you’re grilling up this summer.
Homemade Hawaiian Bread Rolls
Copycat Hawaiian Rolls are light, fluffy, and utterly delicious – just like the store-bought version, but even better! Sweet, soft, squishy, and surprisingly easy to make, these are the perfect rolls for any sliders on your menu.
Focaccia Bread
This homemade recipe for EASY No Knead Focaccia Bread is surprisingly simple. Rich, flavorful, and soft bread with ultra-crispy edges, this bread makes for a terrific lunch, or a great side for your cookout.
Best Potato Salad Recipe
This BEST Potato Salad recipe is so easy to make! Made with Greek yogurt, fresh dill, and parsley for a perfectly fresh and summery side dish. Mayonnaise-free and way better than any store-bought version, this easy side will be the talk of your party.
Easy Cornbread Recipe
My Easy Cornbread Recipe is moist, buttery, fluffy, and so delicious. Topped with jalapeño honey butter, your friends and family will love this recipe at your summer BBQ this year!
Red Lobster Homemade Cheesy Garlic Biscuits
These Red Lobster Homemade Cheesy Garlic Biscuits are super easy and take only 30 minutes to make! They taste a million times better than the original cheddar bay biscuits! Slightly flaky and crisp on the outside, ultra-tender and fluffy inside, and bursting with cheesy buttery garlic goodness.
Ultimate Mac & Cheese
This baked Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese recipe has a creamy, silky, rich cheese sauce that’s perfectly balanced by a crisp and crunchy homemade breadcrumb topping. Simple to make, and the perfect side that’s easy to transport to any summer parties!
