10 favorite summer recipes;

Summer is here. And that means warm, sunny (sometimes too sunny) days, and evenings outdoors. To me, summer evokes so many good memories. BBQ’s and charred burgers and hot dogs, splashing around in friends’ pools, catching fireflies at dusk, and time with friends & family.

Luckily for me it also means summer treats, potlucks, and good food all around. So here are some of my favorite summer recipes to pair perfectly with your summer vibes!

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1. brown sugar cinnamon ice cream;

When summer comes, we all scream for ice cream! This brown sugar cinnamon ice cream is the perfect cool treat on a sweltering summer day. It does require an ice cream maker but oh. my. goodness. You can’t beat a silky and smooth ice cream from home. Especially when it has such a cinnamon flavor that’s really rounded out with warm brown sugar.

Add this to your summer recipes and make a big batch because you’ll definitely want to be snacking on this delicious brown sugar cinnamon ice cream all summer long!

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2. lemon cake bars;

Lemon cake bars are so light and airy that they’ll carry you away on vibes and good juju. Sweet and tangy lemon with a subtle hint of almond makes each bite light and fluffy in your mouth.

And did I mention that of all the summer recipes, these lemon cake bars only have three ingredients? Three ingredients! If you dare, add a–gasp–fourth ingredient! Fresh fruit like strawberries or raspberries add an extra beautiful pop of color and provides contrast both with texture and flavor in these fluffy lemon cake bars.

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3. sheet pan s’mores;

To me, summer and s’mores are synonymous. No matter if you’re hardcore camping in the mountains, setting up a tent in your backyard, or just chillin’ around a fire pit–there’s never a bad time for s’mores! I could probably make a summer recipes list of just the s’mores-inspired recipes I’ve shared, including s’mores marshmallows and s’mores kiss cookies.

But for this roundup of summer recipes, I had to tap in sheet pan s’mores. They’re so simple, easy, and a great way to feed a crowd, without a lot of sticks and crowding around an open flame. Sure, you won’t get the satisfaction of charring your marshmallow over an open fire. But you do get quick and easy and delicious graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows to stuff in your face!

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4. mexican street corn pasta salad;

This recipe for mexican street corn pasta salad over at foodwithfeeling is oh-so-scrumptious. Pasta with scrumptious crema sauce, and of course grilled corn. Add some spices, cojita cheese, bell pepper, and avocado, and you have a hearty, healthy, delicious summer pasta salad to add to your favorite summer recipes!

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5. icebox cake;

My family’s traditional icebox cake is, of course, chocolate icebox cake. But what makes this one of my go-to summer recipes is that it hits two points. One, it’s delicious (and chocolate). And two, it’s so simple to make, a fun activity. I have fond memories of making icebox cakes with my parents and sister growing up, and it’s a dessert we still make to this day.

Stacked chocolate wafers and whipped cream, you may scratch your head and wonder how it becomes “cake”. It’s so easy to make, but you’ll need to let it sit for several hours up to overnight to fully become “cake”. Soft layers are made as the chocolate wafers soak up moisture from the whipped cream. It’s crazy how something so simple can be so tasty!

If you’re feeling sassy, consider changing up this chocolate icebox cake to a gingerbread version instead. All the ease and convenience of the classic chocolate version, but with a fun twist on flavor. Who needs it to be cold outside to enjoy some gingerbread? Not me!

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6. firecracker cookie bars;

Thick pillowy sugar cookie bars. Top them with white frosting. Sprinkle on red, white, and blue M&Ms to get them Fourth of July vibes. But what really makes these–POP!–is pop rocks. Literal fireworks in your mouth. Make sure you only add the pop rocks right before serving. Moisture is what makes them start their snap, crackle, and pop and if you wait too long they may go off without you!

Last time I made these, I accidentally bought peanut butter red, white, and blue M&Ms! I debated whether to use them or not, but laziness won out because I didn’t want to go to the grocery. But man, peanut butter M&Ms work great here too!

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7. the best burger rub;

Summertime is for grillin’. And If you’re grilling, you need a good burger. Beef, bison, veggie, soy, impossible–all burgers are welcome! And if you’re making burgers, well then you need the absolute best burger rub!

It’s super simple, and great to make ahead Once you have it on hand, you’ll use it all the time. Add a little sprinkle to any burger and rub it all over to elevate any cookout burger.

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8. pecan streusel apple pie;

Apple pie as a stone-cold summer classic. You can never go wrong with homemade pies when it comes to summer recipes. Honorable mentions in the pie category go to the classic lattice apple pie, and the chocolate lattice strawberry pie, both beautiful lattice pies. But for this roundup of summer recipes, I just have to go with pecan streusel apple pie.

It has the perfect combination of ingredients: sweet and cinnamon apple pie filling dumped into a buttery crust, and topped with the most sensational pecan crumble made with whole-grain oats. I can eat half a pie myself in one sitting, no help needed. (May or may not have happened. Twice.) Of course if you’re magnanimous you can share, or you can just plan to hoard the tasty pie all for yourself!

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9. mini blackberry lime tarts;

Mini blackberry lime tarts are the perfect individual dessert. I love individual desserts because it means I don’t have to share. These cute little cups are the perfect size for such a tangy, intense dessert. At first glance, you may miss the blackberry and think it’s just a simple lime pie.

But don’t worry, the secret is a layer of berry compote between the sweet and crumbly pie crust and the dense and tangy sharp lime filling.

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10. grilled pineapple;

For a healthful option, grab a fresh pineapple and slice it up. Grilled pineapple is perfect for potlucks, BBQs, cookouts, you name it. Use the natural sweetness of the pineapple and add just a touch of cinnamon, and suddenly your yellow ring sure is tasty.

Throwing the pineapple on the grill adds a bit of smoky char, which is perfect to counterbalance the warm cinnamon spice and acidic pineapple. Easy, tasty, healthy. You can’t get better than that in your summer recipes.

11. [Bonus] No bake summer beach bear pudding cups;**

These cute little cups of summer fun are perfect for your beach week or pool day. Layered vanilla pudding and whipped topping make for a refreshing bite. And then decorate each of your cups with a little beach scene. Sand, drink umbrellas, and little teddy grahams swimming in the water or lounging on a beach towel make these the cutest summer dessert yet!

You don’t even have to assemble them—let your guests make their own little scene for a fun DIY activity.

Recipe coming soon!

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Which recipe are you bringing to your next summer gathering? Or better yet, just spend an afternoon and make all 10! I promise your cookout will be the one that everyone raves about. Dessert is most definition the way to people’s hearts.