Our Best Desserts to Enjoy this Summer

Low Calorie Easy Sorbet Dessert Recipes

Let’s begin the list with something cool, sweet and refreshing.  Even though the summer season has beautiful weather; sometimes you need something to beat that heat.  So here we have the Easy Sorbet low calorie recipe.  These desserts are extremely healthy and great for your body.  In addition, to being easy makes they require few ingredients as well.  No ice maker needed just a blender and a freezer then starving mouth.

Best Dessert for the Summer Pina Colada Icebox Pie Recipe

How about a nice icebox pie?  Pina colada is one of those flavorings that goes great with whichever form it is made in; such as a drink, cookies, cakes and most of all pies.  The Pina Colada Icebox Pie recipe is an easy bake dessert that you and your family will love enjoying.  Not only will the pie be a delicious treat but will add an fragrant aroma for the liking.  Thanks to My Recipes for this sweet and magnificent recipe- we can all enjoy!

Frozen Lemonade Pie with Raspberries Lemon Dessert

How about a simple no bake pie that carries the beloved flavors of summer?  Then check out this lemon dessert, that will blow your socks off.  The Frozen Lemonade Pie with Raspberries Lemon Dessert recipe is an easy bake that will be a family summer favorite.  With the citrus spunk of the lemon mixed with the sweet tart of the raspberry in addition to the cool creamy filling, this is sure to be the dessert to cool you down for the summer.

Beautiful Strawberry Dessert a Strawberry Shortcake Bar Recipe

Strawberries are literally the fruits of the summer season.  So with that being said, last but certainly not least try out this luscious strawberry dessert.  The Strawberry Shortcake Bar recipe, will be just the quick dessert that everyone will enjoy during the summer season.  The wonderful cookie base combined with the creamy light filling and sweet strawberries to top will be to die for.  You just have to try, you won’t regret it.

Need a few more of the best Summer dessert recipes to make the season even sweeter then just take a look below…

How about a pop of berry, blue berry that is… Here is a blueberry dessert that will be great for the kids- Blueberry or Cherry Pops Recipe

Here’s another lemon dessert that will be great for a summer picnic-  Simple Lemon Chiffon Cake recipe

The Summer season is one of the best seasons for baking.  Plus, what’s even more great about it is that the Summer season has all of the amazing fresh fruits growing in season.  But let’s not waste anymore time just talking about these great dessert recipes and get to making them.  Also, Stagetecture readers, do you have any Summer desserts that you have?  Then don’t hold them in, we’d love to hear about them.

For more summer desserts look through our dessert archives.

St. Patrick’s Day Desserts: Pistachio Cupcakes Recipe

[ad#co-3]

St. Patrick’s Day Dessert Ingredients:

⅔ cup of milk (room temperature)

¾ cup of unsalted butter (room temperature)

¾ cup of cake flour

¾ tsp. of salt

¾ cup of regular flour

1 cup of pistachio nutmeats (roasted)

1 cup of pistachio buttercream

1½ cups of white sugar (separate)

2 tsp. of vanilla

2 tsp. of baking powder

4 large eggs

 St. Patrick’s Pistachio Cupcakes Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350ᵒ. Insert paper liners into your muffin cups.
2. Blend ½ cup of sugar and pistachios in a blender until fully blended.
3. Sift the cake flour, regular flour, salt, and baking powder in a bowl.
4. Using an electric mixer, beat the remaining sugar and butter together in a bowl until they are fluffy. Add each egg separately to the mixture and incorporate it entirely before adding the next.
5. Mix the vanilla extract and milk together in a bowl.
6. Add the flour mixture and milk mixture to the butter mixture in small amounts. Alternate and stir as you add each mixture. Start and end with the flour mixture and stir until fully mixed.
7. Add the ground pistachios to the mixture and distribute the mixture in the muffin cups.
8. Bake the cupcakes in the oven until they are slightly brown or until a tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
9. Place them on a wire rack to cool.
10. Garnish with buttercream and pistachio nuts and serve.

One of the most significant things on St. Patrick’s Day is the wearing of shamrocks or green attire. If you don’t want to wear green clothes but still want to celebrate the day, make this St. Patrick’s Day dessert.

It is absolutely perfect for lovers of pistachio nuts. Be sure to follow all the instructions to the latter and you’ll love the end result. You can also tweak the recipe by using different nuts every time.

For more St. Patrick’s Day ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Homemade Chocolate Pudding Recipe from Scratch

Image via: Food Network 

[ad#co-3]

Ingredients

• ¼ tsp of salt
• ½ tsp of pure vanilla extract
• 2 big eggs (white and yolk separated)
• 4 tbsp of sugar
• 4 tbsp of unsalted butter
• 4 ounces of bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (chopped)
• Ice cream for serving (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375⁰ Place 4 or 6 oven-proof bowls on a baking sheet.
2. Put some water in a saucepan and heat it over medium heat until the water boils.
3. Mix the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl and place it inside the saucepan. Stir the mixture occasionally until it melts (for about 4-5 minutes). Remove from the saucepan and add vanilla, egg yolks, and 2 tbsp of sugar.
4. Using an electric mixer, beat the salt and egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the remaining 2 tbsp of sugar and continue beating the mixture till it becomes stiff.
5. Put approximately ⅓ of the egg-white mixture into the chocolate mixture. Mix well. Fold in the remaining egg-white mixture. Divide it among the bowls. You can prepare the pudding in advance up to this point, cover it, and refrigerate it for a day.
6. Bake the pudding until the tops are cracked and puffed but the insides are soft (for approximately 25-30 minutes). If you insert a toothpick in the center, it should come out gooey.
7. Serve the pudding warm and top with ice cream.

Image via: The Healthy Foodie

Most people steer clear of chocolate because they’ve read it’s a major contributor to weight gain. Nothing could be further from the truth! Chocolate is only detrimental when taken in large quantities over a long period of time. In fact, you can take it even when you are on a diet. This light yet decadent chocolate recipe is all you need to satisfy your chocolate cravings!

Looking for more homemade pudding recipes? Stagetecture has them for you!

Easy Dessert: Strawberry Galette

Image via: The Crafter’s Cottage

[ad#co-3]

Ingredients

For the Pastry

• 2 tsp of sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• 2-4 tbsp of ice-cold water
• ⅔ cup of butter chopped into pieces (and 1 tbsp)
• 1⅔ cups of flour

For the Filling

• 1 tbsp of flour
• Flavored and sweetened whipped cream (for serving)
• 1½ pounds of strawberries (if large, chop them in half)
• ½ cup of ground almonds (slightly toasted)
• ¼ cup of sugar (and a little more for dusting the strawberries)

Instructions

For the Pastry

1. Combine the salt, flour, and sugar. Add the butter and mix with your fingers until the mixture becomes crumbly.
2. Add the water quickly to hold the dough together. Mould into a disk, wrap it, and refrigerate for half an hour

For the Filling

1. Heat your oven to 400⁰
2. Mix the flour, sugar, and almonds. Shape the chilled dough into a circle and place it on a baking sheet. Try to use a circular sheet if possible.
3. Place the almond mixture on top and toss the strawberries and extra sugar on top of the mixture. Arrange the strawberries well.
4. Fold the corners of the galette to cover the berries.
5. Bake until the crust becomes crisp and golden (for about 20 to 25 minutes).
6. Serve with whipped cream, flavored with cinnamon or vanilla.

Image via: One Vanilla Bean

Rustic yet refined, this easy dessert merges the recognizable flavor of strawberries with rich, buttery pastry. While the galette is tasty enough as it is, you can also embellish it with sugared leaves or cream with basil for a sophisticated touch. Needless to say, everyone will ask for seconds!

Have you tried strawberry galette this summer? For more summer desserts on Stagetecture, click here.

Summer Dessert: Chocolate Mousse Pie Recipe

Image via: Chow

[ad#co-3]

Ingredients

Mousse

• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• ¼ cup of sugar
• 3¾ cups of whipping cream (chilled)
• Chocolate shavings (optional)
• 12 ounces of finely chopped chocolate (semisweet)

Crust

• ½ stick of unsalted butter, chopped into pieces (room temperature)
• 21 pieces of chocolate sandwich cookies

Instructions

For the Crust

1. Preheat your oven to 350⁰ Apply butter to the base and sides of a circular springfoam pan.
2. Grind the cookies in a processor until there are no lumps.
3. Add butter and continue beating the mixture with the processor until it is moist.
4. Press the mixture onto the base and sides of the prepared pan.
5. Bake for 5 minutes then place the crust on a rack to cool.

For the Mousse

1. Mix the vanilla, chocolate, and salt in the processor.
2. Heat 1 cup of cream in a small saucepan until it boils.
3. With the processor still running, pour the hot cream through the feed tube and beat until the chocolate melts and becomes smooth.
4. Put the mixture in a large bowl and leave to cool, stirring occasionally.
5. In a large bowl, whisk the sugar and 2 cups of cream till the mixture forms stiff peaks. Add the blend to the chocolate mix.
6. Pour the mousse into the cooled crust. Freeze until the pie sets, for about 6 hours.
7. Put the remaining cream into a medium bowl and beat till stiff peaks form.
8. Apply it on top of the mousse and decorate with the chocolate shavings.

In this easy summer dessert, the ingredients merge beautifully to create a pie that is ideal for both casual potlucks and dinner parties. The chocolate cookie crust is deliciously crunchy while the chocolate mousse and whipped cream are packed with flavor and sweetness. For a great finishing touch, sprinkle some chocolate shavings on top.

For more summer desserts on Stagetecture, click here.

Summer Dessert – Milk Chocolate Banana Pudding

Image via: Food Network

[ad#co-3]

Ingredients

1 ounce of unsweetened chocolate (finely chopped)

½ cup of sugar

½ tsp of vanilla extract

2 cups of sweetened whipped cream

3 tbsp of cornstarch

3 cups of whole milk

3 ounces of milk chocolate (finely chopped)

12 ounces of chocolate wafer cookies (thin cookies)

6 big egg yolks

4 large bananas (peeled and sliced)

Milk chocolate shavings (for garnishing)

Directions

1. Heat a medium saucepan and pour the milk inside. Bring to a simmer.
2. Add both chocolates and continue heating until the mixture becomes smooth. Turn off the heat.
3. Mix the sugar, cornstarch and egg yolks in a bowl. Beat in the chocolate-milk mixture.
4. Put the mixture in the saucepan and cook over medium heat. Whisk until it thickens.
5. Remove the concoction from heat and add the vanilla. Transfer to a clean bowl.
6. Cover the bowl with a piece of plastic paper and leave the pastry cream to cool.
7. Put about a cup of the cream into a large glass dish.
8. Layer the bananas, cookies, and pastry cream in the bowl.
9. Cover the dish tightly and refrigerate the pudding until it’s chilled (for 4 hours or overnight).
10. Spread the whipped cream over the pudding and sprinkle the chocolate shavings then serve.

Image via: Dessert Mania

This summer dessert is the best way to end any summertime meal. Its layers of flavor create an exceptional pudding. It makes summer sweeter because it satisfies your cravings without weighing you down. Layer pastry cream, wafers, and bananas to give the classic dessert a fresh twist. For a sophisticated finish, top your layered dish with sliced strawberries .

For more dessert recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

Mothers Day Dessert: Strawberry Corn Cakes

Image via: Lite House Foods

[ad#co-3]

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves: 6

Ingredients

Cooking spray

¼ cup of all-purpose flour

¾ cup of heavy cream

1 cup of chopped strawberries

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1 package of corn muffin mix (8.5 ounces)

2 tbsp of confectioners’ sugar

2 tsp of lemon zest (finely grated)

2 tbsp of strawberry preserves

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375⁰ Spray the cooking spray on a 6-cup muffin pan. Prepare the corn muffin batter according to the instructions and add the flour, vanilla, and lemon zest.
2. Divide the mixture equally in the muffin cups. Bake the cakes until their centers are soft and their edges are set (for about 10-12 minutes). Make sure the centers are not wet.
3. Mix the strawberries and the preserves in a bowl and set aside.
4. Take the cakes out of the oven. Press a teaspoon gently on the middle of each cake to make a notch.
5. Put 2 tsp of the strawberry mixture into each cake and press lightly to fill.
6. Set aside the remaining mixture. You will use it for topping.
7. Put the cakes in the oven and bake them until they turn golden (for about 5 minutes).
8. Remove them from the oven and place them on a rack to cool.
9. Beat the confectioners’ sugar and cream with a mixer till soft peaks form.
10. Pour the remaining strawberry mixture on the cakes and serve them with the whipped cream.

Image via: Elizabeth Hall Event Design

Without a doubt, your mum will love this Mother’s Day dessert. It is everything a dessert should be and much more. It is the ultimate Mother’s Day indulgence and all your mum will remember about the day when it ends. Don’t be surprised if she tells you to make it for her afterwards.

Will you be making these lip smacking cakes for your mom on Mother’s Day?

How to Create the Top 5 Christmas Desserts

Image: The Girl Who Ate Everything

Today, let’s kickoff our holiday DIY Saturday’s with dessert… hey why save the best for last? Do it first! I found Southern Living’s – Top 5 Christmas Desserts. Watch a You Tube video on the top 5, and then get the recipes below them. Many of these desserts you can make now, freeze, and have ready for Christmas entertaining, enjoy, and happy baking!

[ad#co-1]

You Tube – Top 5 Christmas Desserts from Southern Living

1. Rudolph’s Christmas Sugar Cookies

Recruit your children or grandchildren to help you decorate these festive reindeer cookies. Break pretzels into antler shapes and add chocolate chips for eyes and a red cinnamon candy as a nose.

Start with refrigerated sugar cookie dough to make these adorable reindeer cookies. Kids can help place Rudolph’s eyes, mouth, and antlers.

Ingredients:

1 (16.5-oz.) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
36 pretzel twists
36 semisweet chocolate mini morsels# 18 red cinnamon candies

Preparation:

1. Freeze dough 15 minutes.
2. Roll dough to a 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut dough with a 3-inch round cutter, and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Using thumb and forefinger, pinch opposite sides of each slice about two-thirds of the way down to shape face.
3. Break curved sides away from center of each pretzel twist to form antlers. Press bottom of 1 set of antlers on each side at top of each reindeer face.
4. Bake at 350° according to package directions or until lightly browned. Remove from oven; press in 2 chocolate mini morsels for eyes and 1 red cinnamon candy for nose. Let cool 1 minute on baking sheets. Remove to wire racks; cool 20 minutes or until completely cool.
5. Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies: Omit pretzels, chocolate mini morsels, and cinnamon candies. Freeze dough 15 minutes. Roll dough to a 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface, and cut with a 3-inch Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° according to package directions or until lightly browned. Remove from oven, and cool as directed. Frost tops of cookies with ready-to-spread vanilla frosting, and sprinkle with red and green colored sugars and sprinkles.

2. Pecan Squares

Use salted butter and bring the filling to a rolling boil before pouring it over the crust.

If you like the taste of pecan pie, you’ll love this easy alternative. Serve the squares with vanilla ice cream for an over-the-top dessert.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2/3 cup butter

3 tablespoons whipping cream
3 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

Preparation:

1. Sift together 2 cups flour and 2/3 cup powdered sugar. Cut in 3/4 cup softened butter using a pastry blender or fork just until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pat mixture on bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
2. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool.
3. Bring brown sugar, honey, 2/3 cup butter, and whipping cream to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in pecans, and pour hot filling into prepared crust.
4. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Cool completely before cutting into 2-inch squares.

3. Caramel Cream Cake

Enjoy tender coconut-pecan cake layers filled with caramel pastry cream. The top and sides of the cake are spread with cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with toasted coconut and pecans for an impressive (but super-easy) finish.

Ingredients:

1 cup finely chopped sweetened flaked coconut
1 recipe Pecan Pie Cake Batter
1 recipe Pecan Pie Filling
1 recipe Cream Cheese Frosting
1 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted

1 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted

Garnishes: raspberries, fresh mint sprig

Preparation:

1. Stir 1 cup finely chopped coconut into Pecan Pie Cake Batter; spoon batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch cake pans.
2. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
3. Spread Pecan Pie Filling between layers. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting on top and sides of cake. Sprinkle top and sides with toasted pecans and toasted coconut. Garnish, if desired.

4. Chocolate-Mint Cake

This rich holiday cake is a show-stopper that will become a family holiday classic recipe.

Don’t be tempted to substitute peppermint extract for the peppermint oil used in this recipe. Peppermint oil, available from cake-supply stores, has an intense, highly concentrated flavor like that found in chocolate-covered peppermint patties.

Ingredients:

Chocolate Velvet Cake Batter
1/2 recipe Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
1/4 teaspoon peppermint oil
Chocolate Ganache

Preparation:

1. Spoon batter evenly into 2 greased and floured 10-inch round cakepans. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire rack.
2. Stir together Vanilla Buttercream Frosting and peppermint oil until well blended. Spread frosting mixture evenly between cake layers. Spread Chocolate Ganache evenly over top and sides of cake.

5. Chocolate-Citrus Cake with Candied Oranges

A rich whipped chocolate ganache filling is the happy surprise when you slice into this decadent chocolate layer cake. Frost with a 7-Minute Frosting and decorate with festive candied orange slices, citrus leaves and cranberries.

Ingredients:

Parchment paper
2 (4-oz.) bittersweet chocolate baking bars, chopped
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup hot brewed coffee

Whipped Ganache Filling
Seven-Minute Frosting
Candied Oranges

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round pans. Line bottoms of pans with parchment paper. Lightly grease parchment paper.
2. Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 1/2 minutes or until smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals.
3. Beat butter and sugars at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until well blended (about 3 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.
4. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to chocolate mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. (Mixture will be thick.)
5. Stir vanilla into hot coffee. Gradually add coffee mixture to batter in a slow, steady stream, beating at low speed just until blended. Pour batter into prepared pans.
6. Bake at 350° for 38 to 42 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire rack, and let cool completely (about 1 hour).
7. Spread Whipped Ganache Filling between layers, spreading to edges of cake and leveling with an offset spatula. Gently press top cake layer down, pressing out a small amount of Ganache Filling from between layers, and spread filling around sides of cake, filling in any gaps between layers. Spread Seven-Minute Frosting over top and sides of cake. Swirl frosting using back of a spoon, if desired. Top with Candied Oranges. Garnish, if desired.

Whichever Christmas desserts you plan on making this season, enjoy the time making, baking, giving and eating! Happy Holiday baking to you and your family!

For more holiday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.