No Oven, No Fuss: These Are 12 Easy and Tasty No-Bake Desserts You’ll Want to Enjoy All Summer Long
These desserts can be prepped in minutes and chilled ahead of time for stress-free baking
Let’s be honest, firing up the oven in summer sounds about as appealing as wearing a wool sweater to the beach. That’s why these 12 no-bake desserts are my saving grace for any party or event! Think pie, ice cream, cookie dough and more. They’re ridiculously easy—think minutes, not hours—and use ingredients you probably already have on hand. Plus, you can prep them ahead of time and enjoy them as soon as everyone’s hungry. So, ditch the oven, grab a spoon, and get ready to cool down: these are the best no-bake desserts to make today.
The best no-bake desserts for summer
I took the time to scour through the Woman’s World and FIRST archives for our tastiest and easiest no-bake desserts. And while all of them don’t need the oven, some do involve hands-on prep as well as minor heating in the microwave and on the stove. But don’t worry, you can still stay cool in the kitchen and satisfy your sweet tooth.
1. No-bake coconut cream pie
Featuring sweet coconut custard nestled into a crust and topped with mounds of fluffy whipped cream or meringue, this beloved dessert is summertime bliss. This 15-minute recipe utilizes a homemade graham cracker crust that hardens in the fridge instead of the oven.
2. Shaved ice
For an instant frozen treat, shaved ice is the way to go. And you don’t need a fancy shaved ice machine or a laundry list of ingredients. Your favorite frozen fruit and a grater is all that’s required to make this speedy 1-ingredient summertime treat. Even better, you can dress up your DIY shaved ice with a variety of toppings.
3. Strawberry chocolate fudge
While you may not have access to your local candy shop, making fudge at home is the next best thing. Plus, it’s simple with just three ingredients. Adding fresh fruit like strawberries adds a sweet twist. Even better, you can microwave the frosting with chocolate chips to whip up a smooth, fridge-ready fudge base in five minutes.
4. Chocolate pudding
A healthy chocolate pudding? Yes please. Cottage cheese is the secret ingredient to creamy, decadent flavor with some great health benefits. You can even use protein powder for an extra boost! This pudding is also make-ahead friendly for a grab-and-go snack.
5. Layered Jell-O
This dessert contains layers of flavored gelatin and sometimes additional ingredients such as whipped cream or fruit. It’s a sweet and wobbly treat you can customize with your favorite gelatin flavors and/or pantry staples. You’ll find three easy recipes with five ingredients or less.
6. Edible cookie dough
Sometimes the cookie dough is better than the cookie. And now you can eat it guilt-free. Cottage cheese cookie dough is a delicious and nutritious twist on traditional cookie dough. And you won’t find any eggs or butter, making it safe to eat raw.
7. Honey lemon popsicles
Store-bought popsicles come with a list of ingredients you should indulge in every now and then. But good news: you don’t have to settle if you make them at home. You only need three ingredients and they take just five minutes. And if you haven’t tried honey and lemon together—you need to.
8. Banana pudding cups
Also known as banana cream pudding, this classic Southern dessert features layers of vanilla custard, vanilla wafers, sliced fresh bananas and a meringue or whipped cream topping. This is the best no-bake banana pudding cups recipe that looks bakery-level but with a little extra love—and it takes 10 minutes to make into single servings.
9. Homemade gelato
Gelato, the Italian word for “ice cream,” has evolved into a beloved part of Italian culture. But the best part? You can create that rich, creamy flavor at home with just 6 ingredients and no machine. You can also customize the simple base recipe with all sorts of fun flavor variations.
10. Ice box cake
An ice box cake is a classic no-bake dessert that consists of layers of cookies (or graham crackers) and whipped cream. These two recipes are refreshing, crowd-pleasing and ridiculously easy to prep in 15 minutes. There’s a classic red, white and blue version plus a chocoholic’s dream bursting with Oreo cookie flavor.
11. Triple berry trifle
A trifle has to be one of the easiest no-bake desserts around. And it’s refreshing, fruity flavor is perfect for summer. Our recipe includes layers of fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, angel food cake and white chocolate-coconut cream. And the best part? It’s is as easy as it is elegant with store-bought cake.
12. White chocolate truffles
Chocolate truffles may seem like a fancy treat reserved for special occasions. But whipping up a batch at home couldn’t be easier with four ingredients. And while truffles usually use dark or milk chocolate, white chocolate adds a surprise twist and extra sweetness.
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