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In our experience, you’re either a chocolate dessert person or firmly on team fruit. And while we have nothing against a decadently fudgy treat, when the produce is in season, why not embrace it? When the weather’s warm, we crave fresh berries, juicy peaches, tart cherries (we wait all summer for the chance to make sour cherry pie), tender apricots and sweet corn. As things cool down, our sights turn to figs, blood oranges, grapefruit and alllll the apples. From skillet peach cobbler to Meyer lemon loaf cake, here are 68 easy fruit desserts to make in every season.
RELATED: 18 Summer Desserts That Don’t Require an Oven
Summer Fruit Desserts
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Time Commitment: 2 hours, 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
A slab pie is just like a regular pie, but made in a baking sheet. (And if you ask us, the crust-to-filling ratio makes it slightly superior.)
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Time Commitment: 50 minutes
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Why We Love It: less than 500 calories, special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly
Want to seem fancy without a ton of effort? Make this classic French dessert but tell no one it took you less than an hour.
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Time Commitment: 30 minuets
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Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
When summer berries are ripe for the picking, you don’t need to get complicated with dessert.
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Time Commitment: 3 hours, 45 minutes
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Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, special occasion–worthy
If the word “trifle” sounds totally stuffy, it’s because you’ve never tried our modernized, sheet-pan version.
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Time Commitment: 55 minutes
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Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly
Why bake a pie in a pan when you could go free-form? Plus, you can toss in any fruit your heart desires (we’re partial to juicy, sweet-tart plums).
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
On first bite, this upside-down cake might remind you of a PB&J. (That’s because the batter is made with whole-wheat flour for a hint of nutty flavor.)
If you don’t want to pit a bunch of cherries, pick up some blueberries from the farmers market instead.
Fluffy meringue is too tasty to be relegated to citrus desserts only. We’re making these cuties as soon as apricots are in season.
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Time Commitment: 8 hours, 20 minutes (includes freezing time)
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Why We Love It: no cook, make ahead, special occasion–worthy
Semifreddo is an Italian treat that’s similar to ice cream, but lucky for you, there’s no special equipment required to make it at home.
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Time Commitment: 2 hours, 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
When the weather is above 70 degrees, you can pretty much guarantee we’re craving (or eating) an ice pop. And while you could wait around for the ice cream truck, making your own is so much more fun.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
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Why We Love It: gluten free, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
This elegant cake calls for less than ten ingredients, and the almond meal base is naturally gluten-free.
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Time Commitment: 55 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
Behold, the ultimate “choose your own adventure” dessert—make raspberry, blueberry, blackberry or all three. (You can even use frozen fruit to make these beyond the summer months.)
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
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Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
This cast iron recipe calls for a few scoops of vanilla ice cream. Look for peaches that are firm with a little bit of give when pressed with your thumb, like a tennis ball.
RELATED: 35 Fresh Peach Recipes to Try This Summer
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
This simple, light summer dessert has alfresco written all over it. If you need us, we’ll be eating one outside.
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Time Commitment: 2 hours, 40 minutes (includes freezing time)
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Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, dairy free, gluten free, make ahead
Few things are more refreshing than a slice of ripe summer melon. This cantaloupe sorbet is one of the easiest desserts you can make.
RELATED: How to Pick a Cantaloupe That’s Sweet, Ripe and Ready to Eat
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Time Commitment: 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
This cake would make a mighty fine breakfast, too (you know, if you happen to have leftovers).
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Time Commitment: 55 minutes
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Why We Love It: gluten free, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
Why should gluten eaters have all the fun? This gluten-free pistachio apricot tart is just as sweet, tangy and satisfying as the real deal. (It’s really damn photogenic, too.)
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
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Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Any ripe berries will make this galette shine—we like to use a mix of blueberries, blackberries and raspberries to keep things interesting.
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Lightly sweet and bursting with almond flavor, these almond raspberry cake bites can be whipped up by hand using just a whisk and a single bowl.
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Time Commitment: 4 hours (includes freezing time)
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Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, dairy free, less than 500 calories, no cook
Just freeze a cubed watermelon until it’s solid, blend it into a smooth puree, pack the puree into a pan and then freeze again. Before you know it, the sorbet is ready to scoop and enjoy.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
When you’re on the hunt for a confection that’s bound to impress, look no further. These cake-like lemon cookies are filled with fresh raspberries and sweet-tart raspberry cream.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 32 minutes
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Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Instead of being stuffed with pastry cream, these tiny shortbread shells are filled with blackberry panna cotta, an Italian dessert made from sweetened cream and gelatin. That means you won’t have to fuss with your stand mixer to make them.
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Time Commitment: 4 hours
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Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Cool off with a creamy coconut pops that only requires five ingredients and a stint in the freezer. Go the extra mile by adding a layer of tangy fruit jam to the top of each mold for a colorful finishing touch. (We like raspberry.)
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 40 miinutes
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Why We Love It: no cook, make ahead, special occasion–worthy
This beauty looks like the Fourth of July. As if it wasn’t summery enough already, thanks to the fresh berries and raspberry jam, you won’t need to turn on the oven to pull it off.
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Time Commitment: 3 hours
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Why We Love It: make ahead, no cook, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
The only difficult step here is waiting for them to freeze before digging in. And they couldn’t be simpler to make, since they only call for fruit and sugar. (BTW, we have your back if you need help cubing the watermelon.)
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Time Commitment: 45 minutes
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Why We Love It: on pan, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Nostalgic, shareable and ready in 45 minutes—that’s a dessert after our own heart. These pie bars actually aren’t pie at all, though; they’re more like extra buttery pound cake stuffed with cherry pie filling.
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Time Commitment: 45 minutes
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Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Tell the burgers and dogs to take a seat—tonight, we’re tossing slabs of store-bought cake on the grill. No one will guess that the smoky, light-as-air treat wasn’t homemade, especially once it’s drenched in fresh blueberry sauce and whipped cream.
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Time Commitment: 3 hours
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Why We Love It: no cook, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
Press-in graham cracker crust? Check. Egg-free cheesecake filling? Check. The easiest two-ingredient raspberry sauce of all time? You bet.
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Time Commitment: 55 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
Did you know that corn is actually a vegetable, fruit and whole grain? Whatever you want to call it, its sweet flavor is synonymous with summer. See for yourself with these sugary doughnut holes filled to the brim with sweet corn cream.
Aka the best of both worlds. Picture a traditional pie crust filled with lemon-kissed blueberries, topped with a streusel-like topping made from oats, brown sugar and a whole stick of butter.
Fall Fruit Desserts
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Time Commitment: 55 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
It all comes together in a single skillet; the most work you’ll have to do is slice some figs and the results are sticky-sweet caramelized fruit cradled in a blanket of crisp pastry. You have nothing to lose.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, gluten free, dairy free
The dough gets mixed in one bowl and pressed into the tart pan by hand, so there’s no need to knead or roll—so simple.
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Time Commitment: 2 hours, 15 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly
OK, the pretzel-like crust on this beauty takes a little extra effort, but it will be worth it when you completely bowl over your dinner guests.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
You say “mini dessert” and we say “we’ll take the whole batch.” If you don’t have mini mason jars, you can use any small ramekin instead.
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Time Commitment: 50 minutes
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Why We Love It: gluten free, <10 ingredients, less than 500 calories
Whoever decided rosé season ends after Labor Day was so wrong, and these poached pears are proof.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
You can make the fruit glaze using any juice, but Concord grape has a beautiful color and a tart flavor that pairs wonderfully with the soft doughnuts.
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Time Commitment: 35 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, less than 500 calories
They’re easy and elegant, and they come together in just 35 minutes. (Psst: This one works with apples, too.)
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Time Commitment: 45 minutes
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Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
These pretty pastries make an excellent breakfast treat paired with a cup of coffee, but you can also turn them into a full-fledged dessert with a scoop of ice cream and drizzle of caramel sauce.
Winter Fruit Desserts
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 35 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Shortcake is just another word for dessert biscuits, so of course we’re on board. Use just one type of citrus, or go all out with a mélange.
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Time Commitment: 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, less than 500 calories
It’s part cake, part of work of art. We almost don’t want to take a slice, it’s so beautiful. Just kidding.
Never tasted a kumquat before? They’re tart and a little bitter on their own, but a little butter and sugar transform them into something magical.
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Time Commitment: 20 minutes
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Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Toast for dessert? Yes, especially if it’s brioche bread slathered in cinnamon-sugar butter and ricotta, then topped with honey-broiled citrus and sea salt. (Yum.)
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 35 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, less than 500 calories
The light-as-air topping gets its lilac hue from freeze-dried blueberries, which you can find at Trader Joe’s. (And yes, you can use another freeze-dried fruit in their place.)
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Time Commitment: 2 hours, 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
You only need six ingredients to pull off this citrusy showstopper. The toughest part? Not eating them all in one sitting.
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Time Commitment: 12 hours, 30 minutes (includes rising time)
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Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
According to recipe developer and pie queen Erin McDowell, anything that has a crust is a pie—hence these brioche babies.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
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Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
This is what we like to call sunshine in a cake. Meyer lemons are in season during the winter, but if you can’t find them, standard lemons work too.
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Time Commitment: 20 minutes
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Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, make ahead, ready in <30 minutes
This tart curd will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks and happens to be endlessly versatile. Pour it into a tart crust, spoon it onto pound cake or serve it solo with a dollop of freshly whipped cream.
These whimsical stacks only appear fussy and fancy. Once you’ve made the main components (meringue cookies and grapefruit curd), they’re actually very simple to master.
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Time Commitment: 50 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, less than 500 calories
If a lemon meringue pie and a sugar cookie had a (very delicious) baby, these cookies would be it.
As it turns out, your muffin tin can do more than, well, make muffins. These lil’ tarts look like something from a bakery, but you deserve all the credit.
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Time Commitment: 2 hours, 20 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, gluten free
What is it about blood oranges that’s so—dare we say it—sexy? These parfaits have all the right textures: soft, creamy, crunchy and melt-in-your-mouth.
Spring Fruit Desserts
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 45 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Fun fact: Pineapples might make you think of summer, but they’re actually in-season in spring.
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Time Commitment: 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
Take it from us: If you’ve already busted out the grill for dinner, it’s worth keeping those coals glowing a little longer.
RELATED: 20 Refreshing Fruit Pops to Make All Summer Long
In our humble opinion, a batch of cupcakes beats a bouquet of flowers every time.
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Time Commitment: 12 hours (includes freezing time)
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Why We Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, beginner-friendly
Whipped heavy cream provides the fluffy texture of homemade ice cream, while sweetened condensed milk keeps it from getting icy in the freezer while it sets. Use strawberries while they’re in season, or any other fruit you like.
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Time Commitment: 2 hours, 45 minutes
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Why We Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
The secret to this impressive, pretty-in-pink dessert is freeze-dried strawberries. (What can we say? We love baking with freeze-dried fruit.)
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, less than 500 calories
No frosting, no problem. This gorgeous cake relies on fresh fruit to decorate the top—it’s like a magic trick when you remove it from the pan.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
We’d eat that strawberry glaze by the spoonful, just saying. Plus, it only takes two ingredients to make.
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Time Commitment: 50 minutes
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Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
How many ready-in-less-than-an-hour treats can you make with a batch of store-bought puff pastry? The limit does not exist.
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Time Commitment: 3 hours, 25 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, gluten free
These tiny bites are spiced with a hint of cardamom for a je ne sais quoi factor that will have you going back for more.
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Time Commitment: 55 minutes
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Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
The addition of black pepper is unexpected, but so delicious paired with sweet berries.
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Time Commitment: 45 minutes
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Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Shhh , these mini rhubarb tarts start with store-bought puff pastry. (Genius, right?)
A cupcake a day keeps the—wait, you mean that’s not how the saying goes? News to us…
They’re just as fun to make as they are to eat, thanks to store-bought biscuit dough.
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Time Commitment: 5 hours, 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, no cook, <10 ingredients
It’s like a sophisticated snow cone (and you don’t need a special machine to make it).
RELATED: 36 Sweet and Savory Mango Recipes to Try This Summer
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: make ahead, ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
FYI, rhubarb is not just for pie. Here, sweet, creamy rice pudding complements the tart fruit compote quite nicely.
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Time Commitment: 35 minutes
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Why We Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, gluten free
Need dessert pronto? These cupcakes are ready in 35 minutes. (No one would ever guess that they actually start with vegan boxed cake mix.)
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Time Commitment: 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
If you don’t have mini pie pans (although you should consider getting a few, because they’re adorable), ramekins will work too. Roasting the strawberries concentrates their sweetness, so even if you make this with imperfect fruit, it will turn out delish.
RELATED: 89 Easy Summer Desserts to Devour from Now Until Labor Day
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.
