Summertime means BBQs and lots of backyard parties, which means lots of yummy food and drinks. A good dessert is the perfect encore after hamburgers and hot dogs. But, the last thing you want to do is spend hours slaving away in a hot kitchen making a dessert. I wanted to share some super simple summer desserts that you can either make for your own BBQ or bring with you when you’re invited to a party. They are guaranteed to be a hit every time and end the party on a “sweet note”! The best thing is that you never have to turn your oven on to make them.
1) Patriotic Berry Trifle with Mascarpone Whipped Cream
8 ounces mascarpone cheese
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pound cake, cubed (bought from the grocery store bakery)
Strawberries, sliced
Blueberries
This one will not only taste great, but it will also look great in a trifle bowl.
First, make your mascarpone whipped cream. Whip the mascarpone cheese and add heavy cream, then whip again. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and whip until thick. Taste and add more sugar or vanilla to your liking.
Second, make your layers. In a trifle bowl or aluminum lasagna pan, alternate layers of pound cake, strawberries, whipped cream, blueberries, more whipped cream, and repeat one more time starting with the pound cake. Top the trifle with leftover strawberries and blueberries.
If you want to make it even easier, you can substitute the mascarpone whipped cream for cool whip.
2) Self-Serve Sundae Bar
Self-serve bars are always a favorite. Just buy a few flavors of ice cream {you can go classic and get vanilla and chocolate}, your favorite toppings {hot fudge, caramel sauce, sprinkles, wet walnuts, fruit, whipped cream}, and you are set! You could even buy fun disposable sundae cups like these, and your guests will have a ton of fun making their own dessert.
3) Ice Cream Truck Bars
Bring everyone back to their childhood and get some classic ice cream truck bars. All you have to do is buy them, open the box, and let everyone pick their own! Check out BuzzFeed’s article for the most popular bars.
4) Dunkaroo Dip
Dips and BBQs go together like peanut butter and jelly. This recipe has only 3 ingredients, plus Teddy Grahams, graham crackers, or animal crackers for dipping. The kids will love this one, and it will bring everyone else back to their childhood.
1 box Funfetti cake mix
2 cups Greek yogurt
1/2 container Cool Whip
Add all ingredients in a large bowl and stir until combined.
5) Fruit Skewers
Strawberries, halved
Cantaloupe, cubed
Pineapple, cubed
Green grapes
Red grapes
Blueberries
Wooden skewers
Take your skewers and load your fruit on!
You could also make this one look like a rainbow. To make like a rainbow, put in this order: 2 red grapes, 2 blueberries, 2 green grapes, cube of pineapple, cube of cantaloupe, half of a strawberry.
You could also serve this with a yogurt dip of plain greek yogurt and honey.
I hope you enjoy! Do you have any other super simple desserts to share?
