In our eyes, summer is truly the season of the soirée (and the perfect excuse to make a delicious summer dessert). Sunny evening barbecues, al fresco lunches and Aperol on the patio – all occasions worthy of easy to throw together recipes that look far more impressive than the time it took to make them.
Get things off to a tasty start with a starter recipe fit for a dinner party, move on to a mezze of sharing mains, and follow it all with one of our gorgeous summer desserts.
From a cocktail-themed pavlova to classic Eton mess, our selection of easy summer dessert recipes will have you sorted for everyone's favourite hosting season.
Looking for more summer recipes? Take a browse through our best-ever recipes for al-fresco dinner season.
Best summer desserts
Eton mess
Eton mess is a summer classic, and if you use ready-made meringue like we do, it's amazingly easy to make. We've also used Pimm's-soaked strawberries for an extra fruity kick.
Lemon drizzle tiramisu
Switch out your usual recipe for the coffee-soaked Italian classic for a zesty lemon version with our lemon drizzle tiramisu. Made with fresh lemon cream, lemon curd and extra zest, it's the most delicious way to end a meal.
Espresso martini ice cream
Why not make your favourite digestif cocktail into a creamy dessert? That's exactly what our recipe for espresso martini ice cream does, and it involves no churning whatsoever.
Rhubarb and custard tart
Rhubarb is one of our all-time favourite summer fruits, and there's no better way to make the most of it than with this gorgeous tart. Inspired by the retro sweets, this tart is surprisingly easy to make, and is always a crowd-pleaser.
Homemade Vienetta
If you've got a soft spot for this frozen dessert, you'll love our recipe for the homemade version. Drizzled in melted dark chocolate and topped with crushed nuts, it's the perfect dinner party dessert for summer.
Pornstar martini pavlova
Turn a classic cocktail into a beautiful pudding with this pornstar martini pavlova recipe. Topped with a zesty whipped cream, plenty of fresh passionfruit and flecks of lime zest, it's a gorgeous centrepiece for any occasion.
Strawberry tart
Simple, yet effective, this pretty tart is the best way to use seasonal strawberries. Top with edible flowers and more fresh berries for a show-stopping summer dessert.
Rhubarb and custard tiramisu
Bright pink rhubarb and gorgeous green pistachios make this dessert one of our favourites. Slice and serve to dinner guests for ultimate wow-factor.
Limoncello lemon meringue pie
This towering meringue-based dessert is genuinely far easier to make than it looks. By using a ready-made pastry case, this dessert can be on the table in around half an hour, making it a host's dream pudding.
Eton mess ice cream
Make everyone's favourite fruity summer pudding into creamy homemade ice cream with our easy recipe. Like all good ice cream recipes, you don't need to churn it – simply mix and freeze.
Summer Trifle
Sometimes simple is best, and when it comes to summer puddings there's nothing simpler than a fruity summer trifle. The layers of fruit, cream and sponge look gorgeous in your best glass dish, too.
Raspberry frangipane tart
Use fresh, seasonal raspberries in this easy frangipane tart recipe for the prettiest summer pudding. Serve with fresh whipped cream or mascarpone and more fresh fruit on the side.
Berry ice cream
This frozen berry ice cream couldn't be easier to make. Scoop it into little dishes or cones and garnish with sundae toppings for a retro spin.
Rum and pineapple drizzle cake
Get inspired by tropical flavours with this easy drizzle cake. Top with whipped coconut cream and strands of lime zest for more of a pudding feel.
Mint choc-chip ice cream
Mint choc-chip ice cream is the perfect palate-cleansing pudding, and it's super easy to make yourself. We like ours topped with torn fresh mint and a drizzle of melted dark chocolate.
Lemon cream doughnuts
These cheat's lemon cream doughnuts are utterly delicious, filled with a zesty cream and easy to make. They're brilliant for lunches in the garden, or a fun post-dinner treat.
Chocolate strawberry cake
This pretty cake is topped with chocolate dipped strawberries for a truly show-stopping feel. The strawberry-flavoured icing is one of our favourites, too.
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