This is a list of 19 easy no-bake recipes for summer days. What is really cool about them is that they are easy enough for your little helpers to join in and help you. And these are delicious treats that are sure to keep you cool.
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1) No-Bake Cheesecake Jars
First up are no-bake cheesecake jars. What makes these really appealing is that they are in single-serve portions, and having them in these cute little jars also just makes them visually appealing, so everyone just wants to grab one and enjoy it. These can be a weeknight dessert or a special dessert for a cookout. It really doesn't matter.
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No-Bake Cheesecake Jars
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the graham crumbs and melted butter together and press into the bottom of six jars.
- Beat the cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
- Whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks and fold it into the cream cheese mixture.
- Spoon the filling over the crust in each jar and chill at least 3 hours before serving.
Notes
2) Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Next up are peanut butter chocolate bars. And peanut butter and chocolate just naturally go together, right? When you think of the two flavors, you think of Reese's peanut butter cups, but these bars are going to be really easy to just grab as you are enjoying your summer evenings. And it is two classic flavors that kids and adults alike both enjoy.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the melted butter, graham crumbs, powdered sugar, and 1 cup of the peanut butter until combined, then press into a lined 9x13 pan.
- Melt the chocolate chips with the remaining peanut butter until smooth.
- Pour the chocolate over the peanut butter layer and spread evenly.
- Chill for 2 hours, then cut into bars to serve.
Notes
3) Lemon Icebox Cake
This lemon icebox cake is tangy and dreamy, and it is unlike most desserts. And the really cool part about this is that it gets better the longer it sits and chills in the fridge, meaning that it's going to be a really refreshing snack for everyone to grab. And there's just something about that bright lemony color that screams summer.
Lemon Icebox Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks, then fold in the condensed milk, lemon juice, and zest.
- Spread a thin layer of the lemon cream in the bottom of a 9x13 dish.
- Layer graham crackers and lemon cream, repeating until you finish with cream on top.
- Cover and chill at least 6 hours or overnight so the crackers soften, then slice.
Notes
4) Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This strawberry and pretzel salad is sure to be a hit because you have the sweetness of strawberries, which everyone loves, with that crunch of pretzel thrown in. This is a sweet, salty, jiggly, and creamy dessert all in one bite, and it is perfect for potlucks and something everyone will enjoy.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the crushed pretzels with melted butter and 0.25 cup of the sugar, press into a 9x13 pan, and chill until firm.
- Beat the cream cheese with the remaining sugar, fold in the whipped topping, and spread over the pretzel crust.
- Prepare the strawberry gelatin per the package using 2 cups water, stir in the sliced strawberries, and let it cool until slightly thickened.
- Pour the strawberry layer over the cream cheese layer and refrigerate at least 4 hours until set, then cut and serve.
Notes
5) Coconut Lime Energy Bites
Anything with coconut just immediately gives you that tropical feel-good vibe. And these coconut lime energy bites are going to do just that. These are perfect for your hungry kiddos during the summer, but this is something that adults are going to love as well.
Coconut Lime Energy Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Combine the oats, most of the coconut, almond butter, honey, lime zest, lime juice, and vanilla in a bowl.
- Stir until the mixture holds together when pressed.
- Roll the mixture into bite-sized balls.
- Roll the balls in the reserved coconut and chill for 30 minutes before serving.
6) Oreo Icebox Cake
The great part about this one is that it requires minimal effort, but the kids are going to be convinced that you are a dessert wizard with this one. It only requires three ingredients, but it is going to have a big wow factor that shocks everyone.
Oreo Icebox Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Whip the heavy cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
- Spread a thin layer of whipped cream in the bottom of a loaf pan.
- Layer cookies and whipped cream, repeating until you finish with cream on top.
- Crush a few extra cookies over the top and chill at least 4 hours until the cookies soften, then slice.
Notes
7) Watermelon Mint Popsicles
Watermelon is the holy grail of summer fruits. Everybody loves watermelon. The minute you bite into it, it just feels like summer. And these watermelon mint popsicles give you a twist on that traditional flavor.
These are going to be refreshing and so perfect when you have your sweaty, overheated kids coming in from a hot afternoon outside. This is the cooling relief everybody's going to love.
Watermelon Mint Popsicles
Ingredients
Method
- Blend the watermelon, honey, and lime juice until completely smooth.
- Stir in the chopped mint by hand.
- Pour the mixture into popsicle molds and insert the sticks.
- Freeze for at least 5 hours until solid, then run molds under warm water to release.
Notes
8) S'mores Icebox Cake
Of course, we need another icebox cake on here. And this s'mores icebox cake is a no-bake cake, giving you that s'mores flavor indoors without all of that outdoor hassle. You are avoiding sticky fingers and bugs and are left with a really great summer dessert.
S'mores Icebox Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the cold milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes, then fold in half of the whipped topping.
- Fold the marshmallow cream into the remaining whipped topping.
- Layer graham crackers, chocolate pudding, and marshmallow cream in a 9x13 dish, repeating until the dish is full.
- Top with mini marshmallows and chill at least 4 hours so the crackers soften, then slice.
Notes
9) Raspberry Lemonade Bars
These raspberry lemonade bars are sure to be a summer hit for your family. They are sweet and tart, and they have a really fun pink color that everyone is going to enjoy and be really excited to cool off with.
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Raspberry Lemonade Bars
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the wafer crumbs with melted butter and press into a lined 8x8 pan.
- Beat the cream cheese with the condensed milk and lemon juice until smooth.
- Swirl in the mashed raspberries and pour over the crust.
- Chill at least 4 hours until firm, then cut into bars.
Notes
10) Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
Next up is the chocolate peanut butter pie. Again, chocolate and peanut butter just go together. It is a flavor combination that everyone enjoys. And having it in this pie format makes it very easy to just cut and serve. And it is going to be a summer treat that everyone is asking you to make again and again.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the cream cheese, peanut butter, and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Fold in the whipped topping until fully combined.
- Spoon the filling into the chocolate cookie crust and smooth the top.
- Drizzle with chocolate sauce and chill at least 4 hours before slicing.
Notes
11) Frozen Yogurt Bark
Next up is frozen yogurt bark. My kids absolutely love this because it's so easy to customize. You simply spread Greek yogurt on some parchment paper on a sheet pan and throw in fruits or sprinkles or chocolate chips, freeze it, and then break it up. It is a great grab-and-go snack, and it's healthy as well, which makes it a win in our house.
Frozen Yogurt Bark
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the honey and vanilla into the Greek yogurt.
- Spread the yogurt in an even layer on a parchment-lined sheet pan.
- Scatter the berries and granola over the top, pressing them in gently.
- Freeze for at least 4 hours until solid, then break into pieces to serve.
Notes
12) No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake
This no-bake chocolate eclair cake is perfect for summer because you don't have to turn on the oven, but you are still going to have a dessert that smells and tastes like a giant eclair. And, most importantly, it's sure to be a dessert that everyone loves.
No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the cold milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes, then fold in the whipped topping.
- Line a 9x13 dish with a layer of graham crackers.
- Spread half the pudding mixture over the crackers, add another cracker layer, then the rest of the pudding and a final cracker layer.
- Warm the chocolate frosting until pourable, spread over the top, and chill at least 6 hours, then slice.
Notes
13) Berry Cheesecake Salad
Here is a summer dessert that is going to surprise you because it is a dessert dressed up as a side dish. But it's so good, and it looks so pretty that this is going to get eaten before the burgers even finish cooking on the grill at your next cookout.
Berry Cheesecake Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth, then fold in the whipped topping.
- Gently fold in the strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
- Transfer to a serving bowl.
- Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
14) Avocado Lime Tart
This avocado lime tart is another dessert that may surprise you. A lot of people don't think of avocado being used in desserts, but you can actually whip it down to give a really silky texture, and that's what makes this tart so delicious.
Avocado Lime Tart
Ingredients
Method
- Blend the avocados, condensed milk, lime juice, and zest until completely smooth.
- Pour the filling into the graham cracker crust and smooth the top.
- Chill at least 4 hours until firm.
- Top with whipped topping and a little extra lime zest before slicing.
Notes
15) Coconut Macaroons
Macaroons are always so pretty that people tend to just gravitate toward them because they look so good. And these no-bake coconut macaroons are no different. They are chewy and sweet, and they are seriously the MVP of no-fuss recipes. They are reliable and a low-effort option you definitely want in your dessert rotation.
Coconut Macaroons
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the shredded coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla together until well combined and sticky.
- Scoop the mixture into mounds on a parchment-lined tray.
- Chill for at least 2 hours until firm.
- Drizzle with melted chocolate and chill briefly to set before serving.
16) Banana Split Fluff
A banana split is a classic American dessert, and it always just looks so good that people want to dive in. And this banana split fluff is a no-bake option that is going to take your classic sundae and repackage the whole thing into one giant bowl that is meant for sharing.
This is going to be a summer treat that everyone loves, and it's really easy to have as a weeknight dessert or as a bowl you take to your next cookout.
Banana Split Fluff
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the pudding mix with the cold milk for 2 minutes, then fold in the whipped topping.
- Gently fold in the bananas, pineapple, and cherries.
- Stir in the mini chocolate chips.
- Chill for 1 hour, then serve cold in bowls.
Notes
17) Pistachio Cream Dessert
Pistachio ice cream has become a new favorite flavor of mine, and this no-bake pistachio cream dessert is going to be a green, fluffy dessert that everyone is curious about, so everyone is going to try it, and everyone is going to love it. It's cool, it's refreshing, and it tastes delicious.
Pistachio Cream Dessert
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the crushed cookies with melted butter, press into a 9x13 dish, and chill.
- Beat the cream cheese with powdered sugar and half the whipped topping, then spread over the crust.
- Whisk the pistachio pudding mix with the cold milk until thick and spread over the cream cheese layer.
- Top with the remaining whipped topping, sprinkle with chopped pistachios, and chill at least 3 hours before serving.
18) Mango Coconut Chia Pudding
I love putting chia in recipes because it is an added fiber and protein source. And so, if you can do that in a dessert, that is a win in my book. This no-bake mango coconut chia pudding is one that you want to make the night before, and you are going to wake up to a finished dessert that requires no further effort on your end.
Chia will swell up, so that is why you want to do this overnight. It's going to make it very full, filling, and pretty. The mango and coconut just scream tropical vacation… summertime.
Mango Coconut Chia Pudding
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the chia seeds, coconut milk, honey, and vanilla together in a bowl.
- Stir again after 5 minutes to break up any clumps.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight until thick and pudding-like.
- Spoon into glasses, top with diced mango and toasted coconut, and serve.
Notes
19) No-Bake Pina Colada Pie
Piña colada is another tropical flavor that is just really fun, and this no-bake piña colada pie is going to deliver that tropical flavor in a fun dessert format that you can just slice and serve, and it's the perfect summer cool-down treat.
No-Bake Pina Colada Pie
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the cream cheese, coconut cream, and powdered sugar until smooth.
- Fold in the drained crushed pineapple and the whipped topping.
- Spoon the filling into the graham cracker crust and smooth the top.
- Sprinkle with toasted coconut and chill at least 4 hours before slicing.