No summer picnic spread would be complete without a sweet finish. But picnic desserts can be a little tricky, especially in summer when we also have heat and portability to contend with.
I’ve created a selection of summer picnic desserts that celebrate the season’s sweetest produce and are picnic-suitable.
Food Safety Tips for Summer Picnics: Food safety is a greater consideration for summer picnics. See my tips for keeping food cold to ensure your picnic food is always at its best—especially those beautiful summer desserts.
Tips for No-Fuss Summer Picnic Desserts
The best picnic desserts balance ease of preparation and portability with delicious, refreshing flavors.
Here are some handy tips for preparing great picnic desserts for hot weather:
- Choose No-Bake Recipes: To avoid using the oven during hot weather, opt for no-bake desserts like Chocolate Oat Bars or Key Lime Pie Bars.
- Use Fresh, Seasonal Ingredients: Incorporate seasonal fruits like berries, peaches, or melons for freshness and vibrant flavors.
- Portable is Key: Focus on desserts that are easy to transport, such as cookies, bars, or cupcakes, which are less likely to get messy. See my tips for transporting cupcakes to make life super easy.
- Keep Desserts Cool: Unlike my desserts that don’t require refrigeration, if your dessert includes ingredients that may melt or spoil, use coolers or ice packs to keep them fresh until served.
- Simplify Serving: Prepare individual serve desserts, like mini pies, truffles, or jar desserts, to make serving easier, minimize the need for utensils, and make cooling desserts easier.
- Incorporate Summer Flavors: Play with summer flavors like lemon, coconut, and strawberry.
Summer Dessert Recipes
Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies
Fudgy brownies topped with lush, creamy cheesecake and fresh summer raspberries make a portable, irresistible treat. Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies are the perfect summer chocolate indulgence.
Get the Raspberry Cheesecake Brownie Recipe
Summer Zucchini & Berry Cake
Bring two of summer's most plentiful harvests together in this gorgeous zucchini and berry cake. Bake it with or without berries, or switch it up with the berries of your choice. This is a quick, easy, and versatile recipe perfect for a summer picnic hamper.
Get the Zucchini Cake Recipe
Photo credit: sustainmycookinghabit.com
Raspberry Cupcakes With Lemon Mascarpone Frosting
I love these cupcakes because they are the perfect nod to glorious seasonal fruits and summer picnics. Ready in under an hour, these beautiful cupcakes with lush lemon mascarpone frosting will bring a burst of sunshine to any picnic.
Get the Raspberry Cupcake Recipe
Healthy No-Bake Key Lime Bars
Fresh, sweet, and zesty key lime flavors sing summer. These Key Lie Pie Bars are a healthier version of the original but with all the fresh, creamy sweetness. And, they are very picnic portable.
Get Key Lime Pie Bars Recipe
Chewy Lemon Sugar Cookies
This is my favorite summer picnic dessert cookie, not only because it’s full of fresh summer flavor but also because they are so easy to whip up in advance, which is great for warm-weather entertaining.
Get the Lemon Sugar Cookie Recipe
Watermelon Pizza
Why make fruit salad when you can make Watermelon Pizza? Fresh fruit with yogurt is a wonderful finish to any picnic, but why not jazz it up a little with this gorgeous take on fruit salad? This is an easy, no-bake summer picnic dessert that’s bursting with fresh summer fruits, mint, lime, and Greek yogurt served in adorable slices.
Get the Watermelon Pizza Recipe
Photo credit: swirlsofflavor.com
Fruit Fries with Coconut Yogurt Dip
Another take on traditional fruit salads and platters is fruit sticks with a creamy coconut dip. Fruit makes the perfect summer dessert, especially when you get creative.
Get the Fruit Fries Recipe
Photo credit: bitesizedkitchen.com
Lemon Shortbread Squares
Light, fresh, and tart, these easy Lemon Shortbread Squares are a delicious summer picnic dessert. Gorgeous on their own, they also make a lovely summer statement topped with some seasonal berries or sliced fresh strawberries.
Get the Lemon Shortbread Square Recipe
Photo credit: marathonsandmotivation.com
Piña Colada Hand Pies
There is nothing more summery than a Piña Colada, so why not channel that tropical vibe into a very compact and portable picnic dessert? A perfect summer combo of pineapple, coconut, and rum will transform your picnic into a tropical paradise no matter where you lay your picnic blanket.
Get the Piña Colada Hand Pies Recipe
Photo credit: heavenlyhomecooking.com
Easy Key Lime Truffles
If you love the creamy flavors of Key Lime Pie and want an even more portable recipe, these Key Lime Truffles are where it is at. Quick and easy to make, these truffles are the perfect sweet treat for summer parties and picnics.
Get the Key Lime Truffle Recipe
Eton Mess
A typical English picnic dessert (originating from Eaton College) is traditionally made using fresh-cut strawberries, strawberry puree, crushed meringues, and thick whipped cream. It is basically a pavlova but in a jar, which makes it perfectly portable for summer picnics.
Get the Eton Mess Recipe
Photo credit: lostinfood.co.uk
Pineapple Hummingbird Cake Recipe
With the sweet flavors of the tropics, this moist and creamy Hummingbird cake is loaded with sweet pineapple and crunchy pecans, topped with luscious cream cheese frosting. It's a very on-season summer indulgence that takes less than an hour to whip up.
Get the Pineapple Hummingbird Cake Recipe
No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars
For a super portable, no-fuss chocolate sweet treat, these no-bake Chocolate Oat Bars are perfect for summer picnics. Naturally sweet with crunchy almonds, whip these up in under half an hour.
Get the Oat Bar Recipe
No Bake Coconut Balls
Deliciously creamy coconut truffles, these no-bake Coconut Balls are perfect for a summer picnic. Whip them up in under 20 minutes for an easy, breezy bite-size picnic sweet treat.
Get the No Bake Coconut Balls Recipe
Easy Avocado Chocolate Truffles
Let avocado replace heavy, unhealthy cream in this decadent and delicious chocolate avocado truffle recipe. Quick and easy to make in advance, they make a great portable dessert for the warmer months.
Get the Chocolate Avocado Truffle Recipe
Lavender Lemon Bars
A bright and breezy lemon-lavender combination, these fragrant lavender lemon bars not only look beautiful but are brimming with the fresh flavors of summer. They make an elegant addition to any summer picnic spread.
Get the Lavender Lemon Bars Recipe
Photo credit: shekeepsalovelyhome.com
Blackberry Tartlets
These adorable little summer sweets will brighten any summer picnic spread. Flaky puff pastry bases, crisp apple slices, patisserie custard, and juicy blackberries. They may be the cutest, tastiest blackberry tartlets you can make in under an hour.
Get the Blackberry Tartlet Recipe
Photo credit: amummytoo.co.uk
More Picnic Dessert Ideas
No picnic is complete without the sweet touch of a dessert. There’s a multitude of delicious, easy-to-transport options for summer picnics. Keep things light, refreshing, and on season; you can’t go wrong.
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