Perfectly ripe summer berries – for delicious desserts (Picture:olgakr/olgakr)

No-one wants to be in the kitchen slaving over a hot stove in summer. Yet, when the sun does decide to shine and we all want to party, having a delicious dessert on hand is a must.

With fresh summer berries, chocolate and cream anyone can wizz up something delicious in minutes. Here are eight ideas for drool-worthy summer desserts you can put together quickly while the BBQ gets going.

While it’s great to cook everything from scratch, summer is the time to forget that preconception. From simple dishes to make and keep in the freezer through to some of the ultimate summer cheat desserts. These simple puddings may compromise on time but never on taste.



Anything with chocolate has to be a winner. How about this instant chocolate mousse, one with zero setting time needed, from ChocolateLogBlog – it’s amazingly healthy too, with banana, avocado and date syrup rather than refined sugar, eggs and cream.


Amazingly healthy raw chocolate mousse (Picture:ChocolateLogBlog.com)

Or try these naughty little strawberry treats suggested by FromTheHealthyHeart – just melt some really good quality dark chocolate and dip your strawberries for instant decadence.

Simple strawberries with darkest chocolate (Picture:FromTheHealthyHeart.com)

LavenderandLovage manages to make a wonderfully posh strawberry trifle pots from just a few ingredients. By using really good quality, simple ingredients this dessert could grace any dinner table.

Posh strawberry trifle pots (Picture:LavenderandLovage.com)

While you might have to start home-made ice-cream in advance, the no-churn type, like this pretty rose ice-cream from SimplyFood, is really quick to put together. Prepare in advance and keep it in the freezer.

Get it canned (Picture:simplysensationalfood.com)

An ice-cream sandwich with fruit compote is another easy to put together dessert that makes it look like you’ve been in the kitchen for hours. FarmersGirlKitchen cheats with these posh Belgium biscuits to create something really special.

Retro ice-cream sandwich with rhubarb compote (Picture:farmersgirl.blogspot.com)

Shop bought meringues are a great way to cheat. I use them to make Eton mess, the posh pudding that legend says was invented when a labrador sat on a picnic hamper and wrecked the pavlova. Dessert like this in less than five minutes can’t be bad.

Pretty tea-cups of Eton mess (Picture: London-Unattached.com)

MaisonCupCake uses pre-made puff pastry to make these sophisticated yet simple plum and almond galettes. A few minutes to put them together then pop in a hot oven til cooked.

Super simple plum galettes (Picture:maisoncupcake.com)

Finally, for those emergency dessert moments, how about an instant strawberry cheesecake as recommended over at BangersandMash. Delicious – and, you know, a packet of digestives will make loads of these!

Instant cheesecake from your biscuit tin (picture: Bangers-and-Mash.com)

Advertisement Advertisement