Classic Summer Desserts to Try Now

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Get ready to indulge in Salted Caramel Pretzel Crunch Bars, tangy and sweet Lemon Meringue Pie, and the creamy delight of Unbelievable Butterscotch Pudding (Homemade). This collection also features the rich decadence of The Best Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes, the nostalgic comfort of classic Chocolate Pudding Recipe, and the juicy goodness of a Mountain Fresh Peach Pie Recipe. From cozy Gingerbread Mug Cake to the bright and fresh Rhubarb Tart with Lemon, Cardamom & Vanilla, plus the perfect bite-sized treats like Chocolate Chip Espresso Oatmeal Cookies and Ooey-Gooey Salted Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars, topped off with luscious Dark Chocolate Ice Cream — these wildly delicious desserts will satisfy every craving!

Salted Caramel Pretzel Crunch Bars

salted caramel pretzel crunch bars cut into squares with a bite taken from one bar
Photo credit: Sally’s Baking Recipes

Sweet, salty, and seriously addictive, these Salted Caramel Pretzel Crunch Bars stack buttery shortbread, gooey caramel, crunchy pretzels, and a chocolate layer for a treat that disappears fast.
Get the Recipe: Salted Caramel Pretzel Crunch Bars

Lemon Meringue Pie

vegan lemon pie.
Photo credit: The Big Man’s World

This Lemon Meringue Pie skips the eggs and dairy but delivers all the sweet-tart flavor you expect, thanks to a silky lemon curd and cloud-like vegan meringue. Easy to make and even easier to love, it’s a refreshing plant-based spin on a nostalgic classic.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Meringue Pie

Unbelievable Butterscotch Pudding (Homemade)

Spoonful of homemade butterscotch pudding with salted caramel in glass cup
Photo credit: Sally’s Baking Recipes

Rich, silky, and deeply caramelized, this Unbelievable Butterscotch Pudding is made from scratch on the stovetop with brown sugar and butter. Naturally gluten- and nut-free, it’s even better with a splash of bourbon—or just a generous spoon.
Get the Recipe: Unbelievable Butterscotch Pudding (Homemade)

The Best Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes

The Best Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcake resting on a cupcake wrapper
Photo credit: Minimalist Baker

Moist, rich, and made in one bowl, The Best Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes are proof that dessert can be both indulgent and allergy-friendly. Finish with ganache or enjoy as-is—either way, they’ll disappear fast.
Get the Recipe: The Best Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes

Chocolate Pudding Recipe

Chocolate pudding topped with whipped cream in bowl
Photo credit: Sugar Spun Run

Rich, silky, and completely egg-free, this Chocolate Pudding Recipe proves that homemade is always better than store-bought. Finish it with a dollop of whipped cream for a truly decadent treat.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Pudding Recipe

Mountain Fresh Peach Pie Recipe

Mountain Peach Pie from FoodieCrush
Photo credit: Foodie Crush

The Mountain Fresh Peach Pie Recipe delivers peak summer flavor with a golden, homemade crust and juicy peaches kissed with orange zest. It’s the pie even non-bakers can master.
Get the Recipe: Mountain Fresh Peach Pie Recipe

Gingerbread Mug Cake

gingerbread mug cake.
Photo credit: The Big Man’s World

The Gingerbread Mug Cake is the fastest way to festive flavor, ready in minutes and packed with warm spices. Gluten-free and foolproof, it’s the coziest shortcut to dessert.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Mug Cake

Rhubarb Tart with Lemon, Cardamom & Vanilla

A rustic Rhubarb Tart with lemon, cardamom and vanilla tucked into a flakey free-form buckwheat crust.  Simple, elegant, and delicious!
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Elegant and earthy, this Rhubarb Tart with Lemon, Cardamom & Vanilla balances sweet, tart, and spice in a rustic buckwheat crust. It’s spring and summer in one beautiful, free-form dessert.
Get the Recipe: Rhubarb Tart with Lemon, Cardamom & Vanilla

Chocolate Chip Espresso Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with melted chocolate and a light glaze on a wire rack, next to an orange dahlia flower.
Photo credit: Half Baked Harvest

Chocolate Chip Espresso Oatmeal Cookies by Half Baked Harvest bring the bold flavor of coffee together with sweet, gooey chocolate and hearty oats. Finish with an optional vanilla glaze for an irresistible twist on a cookie classic.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Espresso Oatmeal Cookies

peanut butter oatmeal cookie bar with a bite taken out
Photo credit: Ambitious Kitchen

These Ooey-Gooey Salted Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars hit all the right notes—salty, sweet, rich, and chewy. Naturally gluten-free and made with dark chocolate, they’re irresistible with a sprinkle of sea salt.
Get the Recipe: Ooey-Gooey Salted Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Dark Chocolate Ice Cream

an ice cream scooper scooping Dark Chocolate Ice Cream
Photo credit: Erren’s Kitchen

This Dark Chocolate Ice Cream is velvety, bold, and rich with deep cocoa flavor. Made with simple ingredients, it’s a frozen treat that’s both indulgent and easy to love.
Get the Recipe: Dark Chocolate Ice Cream

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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