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20 Refreshing Summer Desserts To Keep You Cool

As the mercury rises, our favourite way to beat the heat is with an all-star roster of iced desserts.
Mocha ice cream cake on white cake stand. Photo, Roberto Caruso.

This summer has been a scorcher, so cool down with these sweet treats. Click through a bevy of ice pops, ice cream cakes and slushies that are perfect for this time of year.

Cool summer desserts

Grilled peach melba

Fresh summer raspberries, grilled peaches and crunchy amaretti top creamy vanilla ice cream for a fast dessert with style. Get this grilled peach melba recipe.

Two scoops vanilla ice cream topped with raspberries and a half a grilled peach.Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Mocha ice cream cake

It takes just five ingredients and 25 minutes to whip up this unforgettable, no-bake ice cream cake. Laced with espresso and topped with candy-shop chocolates, it’s the ultimate summertime treat! Get this mocha ice cream cake recipe.

Mocha dessert: Mocha ice cream cake on white cake stand.Photo, Roberto Caruso.

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Chilled tres leches coconut cake

We gave this Latin American cake, traditionally made with three types of milk, a delicious twist with rich coconut milk. It’s the perfect dessert for hot summer evenings. Get this tres leches cake recipe.

Torta de tres leches, three milks cakePhoto, Erik Putz.

Snow cones

Made with crushed ice and pink rhubarb syrup, these snow cones are a step up from your usual red and blue flavours. Get this snow cones recipe.

20 Refreshing Summer Desserts To Keep You CoolPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Frozen dessert crepes

Lemon crepes filled with ice cream are simple, stunning and incredibly easy to make. Get this frozen dessert crepes recipe.

20 Refreshing Summer Desserts To Keep You CoolPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

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Pomegranate granita

Sweet, tart and icy, this granita is as refreshing as dessert can be. Serve it in frozen dessert dishes to delay melting. Get this pomegranate granita recipe.

Pomegranate granitaPhoto, Erik Putz.

Paletas

This sweet Latin American treat can be made in many different flavours. We’ve created four: honeydew-lime, peach-ginger, pina-colada and raspberry-mango! Get these paletas recipes.

20 Refreshing Summer Desserts To Keep You CoolPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Cherry sorbet

Berry and cherry season is in full swing! This instant sorbet is all about the frozen black cherries, with a few special ingredients to give it some zip. Get this cherry sorbet recipe.

Cherry sorbetPhoto, Sian Richards.

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Strawberry-watermelon ice pops

Savour summer with one of our boozy ice pops! They’ll make the perfect welcome “cocktail” for your next backyard barbecue. Get this strawberry-watermelon ice pops recipes.

20 Refreshing Summer Desserts To Keep You CoolPhoto, Erik Putz.

Strawberry-vanilla yogurt pops

Sweetened strawberries are the perfect addition to any dessert. Freeze them with yogurt to make these cool and refreshing fruit pops. Get this strawberry-vanilla yogurt pops recipe.

Strawberry-vanilla-yogurt-pops-0-lPhoto, Angus Fergusson.

Dulce de leche pudding

Sweet and simple, this caramel pudding is the perfect dessert to make for a summer gathering. Made in advance and refrigerate, the individual portions make it easy to serve up at a weekend BBQ. Get this dulce de leche pudding recipe.

20 Refreshing Summer Desserts To Keep You CoolPhoto, Colin Faulkner.

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Frozen s’mores cake

We turned our favourite campfire dessert into a delectable frozen cake. Sneak a slice for yourself before you set it out — it disappears quickly! Get this frozen s’mores cake recipe.

20 Refreshing Summer Desserts To Keep You CoolPhoto, James Tse.

Vietnamese espresso affogato

If you like Vietnamese-style coffee, then you’ll love this espresso affogato. It’s like a hot fudge sundae, but for adults. Get this Vietnamese espresso affogato recipe.

20 Refreshing Summer Desserts To Keep You CoolPhoto, Ryan Szulc.

Peach ice pops

If you’re over slicing them, grilling them and preserving them — how about freezing them? These ice pops get a svaoury hit with fresh thyme, making them a perfect afternoon refresher. Get this peach ice pops recipe.

Peach ice popsPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

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Margarita and mojito ice pops

Remember sitting on a hot sidewalk with your besties, slurping up the icy sweetness of popsicles without a care in the world? Bring back that feeling with these decidedly adult versions.

Click below for the recipes:

Mojito ice pops

Margarita ice pops

20 Refreshing Summer Desserts To Keep You CoolPhoto, Erik Putz.

Cherry-cheesecake pops

Cheesecake popsicles!? Say no more. These sweet treats are an indulgent spin on the homemade popsicle, and are worth every extra step. Get this cherry-cheesecake pops recipe.

20 Refreshing Summer Desserts To Keep You CoolPhoto, James Tse.

Strawberry-rhubarb granita

From pretty parfaits to a light melon appetizer, this Mediterranean frozen-fruit dessert is an icy-cool refresher for the hot weather. Get this strawberry-rhubarb granita recipe.

Granita is a Mediterranean frozen-fruit dessert, like sorbet but with a crystalline texture.Photo, Michael Graydon.

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Chilled watermelon soup

Minty and refreshing, this dessert soup is incredibly easy to make (it all goes in the blender!). If desired, add chilled melon balls and fresh berries for presentation. Get this chilled watermelon soup recipe

Chilled watermelon soupPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Three ingredient ice cream

This summer, eat ALL the ice cream. These recipes require just three key ingredients and — wait for it — no ice-cream maker. Get these three-ingredient ice cream recipes.

The difference between ice cream and gelato, explained. Image of nine ice cream scoops on marble tablePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Raspberry-margarita sorbet

A fresh take on the sorbet, packed with tart raspberries, tequila and lime.

Get the recipe.

Raspberry-margarita sorbet, drink, dessert, fruitsPhoto, Ryan Szulc.

How to hull strawberries

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