There’s nothing better than eating a cool bowl of ice cream or sipping a cold milkshake on a hot summer day. I enjoy cold sweet treats year-round, like ice cream, custard, and popsicles, but relish them during the warm summer months. They’re also a family favorite in my household –– you can often find us snacking on fruit salads and milkshakes by the poolside or during a park picnic.
I prepare a lot of my summer treats with fruits. Not only are they healthy and are a source of natural sugars, they also are super flavorful to go with any dessert. Below, find 6 cool sweet treats to enjoy on a hot summer day. These recipes will be sure to please every palate. Bon Appétit!
Fruit Popsicles
(serves 6)
Ingredients:
– ¾ cup of plain vanilla yogurt
– 2 ½ cups of any fruit of your choice
– 4 ½ teaspoons of lemon juice
Instructions:
- Gather all the listed ingredients and combine them in a blender or food processor.
- Blend for approximately 1 minute or until the texture is liquid and smooth.
- Pour the popsicle mixture fairly in popsicle molds or disposable cups (if you will pour in a disposable cup, make sure to add a popsicle stick!).
- Place them in the freezer for about 7-8 hours or overnight.
- After your popsicles are frozen, place them in the popsicle molds or cups under warm water so they can pop out of the mold smoothly!
- Enjoy!
Frozen Yogurt Bark
(12 servings)
Ingredients:
– Two 32-ounce containers of Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)
– 8 tablespoons of light honey
– 1 cup of any fruit(s) you’d like to add (Berries work best!)
– ½ cup of flax seeds
– ½ cup of any nut(s) of your choice
Instructions:
- Gather a large bowl and add the Greek yogurt and honey.
- Fold in the yogurt and honey properly.
- Afterwards, combine your choice of fruit(s) and nuts.
- Prepare a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Add your combined mixture to the baking sheet and spread it using a large spoon.
- Carefully sprinkle your flax seeds on top of your yogurt.
- Place in the freezer for 4-5 hours until your yogurt bark turns solid.
- After removing your yogurt from the freezer, remove the parchment paper and use a knife or your hand to carefully break the bark into various pieces.
- Enjoy!
Homemade Ice Cream
(Serves 5)
Ingredients:
– 1 package of frozen fruit
– ⅔ cups of any milk of your choice
– ½ cup of sugar
– ½ teaspoon of lemon juice
Instructions:
- Combine your frozen fruit, milk of choice, sugar, and lemon juice in a large blender or food processor.
- Carefully blend until the mixture turns into a consistent liquid texture.
- Pour the mixture in an airtight container with the lid on.
- Freeze for about 7-8 hours or overnight until the mixture turns into a solid.
- Remove from the freezer, open the lid, and scoop the ice cream out. Enjoy!
Fruit and Nut Custard
(Serves 5-7)
Ingredients:
– 2 liters of heavy cream
– 6 teaspoons of custard powder
– 4 teaspoons of sugar
– ½ cup of combined fruits and nuts of your choice
Instructions:
- Combine the heavy cream and custard powder in a large bowl and mix accordingly. Make sure there are no lumps in the mixture.
- Pour the combined mixture in a pot and bring to a boil. Then simmer for about 15 minutes. (Remember to stir the mixture so it does not burn!)
- Turn off the stove. Then, slowly add the sugar and mix. After mixing, leave on the stove for a bit for the mixture to cool down on its own.
- Place the mixture in a large bowl with a lid then refrigerate for about 45-60 minutes until it is fully cooled.
- Lastly, add the fruits and nuts of your choice and mix accordingly.
- Serve and enjoy!
Cookies and Cream Milkshake
(Serves 2)
Ingredients:
– 5 chocolate sandwich cookies
– 1 ½ cups of vanilla ice cream
– ¼ cup of whole milk
– Whipped cream
Instructions:
1. Add your 5 chocolate sandwich cookies in a bowl and crush them into smaller pieces using a fork.
2. Then, add the vanilla ice cream, whole milk, and most of the crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, in a blender. (Save some of the crushed chocolate sandwich cookies for garnish!)
3. Blend until smooth and consistent.
4. Pour the milkshake into 2 cups.
5. Top with whipped cream and some of the saved crushed chocolate sandwich cookies.
6. Enjoy!
Fruit Salad
(Serves 8-10)
Ingredients:
– 3 cups of mixed berries (sliced strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries)
– 2 sliced and peeled navel oranges
– 2 cups of cubed pineapple
– 2 cups of sliced kiwi
– 2 cups of sliced apples
– 2 teaspoons of honey
Instructions:
- Combine all your cut fruit in a large bowl and run it under water making sure it’s all clean.
- Then drain the water and grab a dry paper towel to gently dry the fruit, making sure it’s not too wet.
- Take your honey and pour it on top of your fruit. Then, gently stir your fruit around using a large spoon.
- Serve and enjoy! Feel free to refrigerate to save for later.
