Our Favorite Summer Desserts & Treats

Today we’re sharing our favorite desserts and treats to keep you cool all summer long. From classics like our favorite melt-in-your-mouth ice cream flavors to fruity yogurt bowls for the health conscious, we’ve curated a list of goodies that is sure to get your mouth watering.

Check out the lists below and treat yourself to your favorite dessert today!

4. DIY Homemade Fruit Popsicles

First up, we have a tasty treat to keep you cool during the record-breaking temps this summer - a delicious homemade popsicle recipe! This recipe is super simple to make and is a healthier version than store bought popsicles because it uses real fruit with no added sugar. It’s a refreshing and healthy treat your kids will love! Check out the recipe and ingredient list below.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unsweetened, plain non-dairy yogurt
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup raspberries (or diced strawberries)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

• Blend fruit ingredients into a blender and leave a few large pieces of fruit out.
• Pour into popsicle mold.
• Add a few large pieces of fruit to each mold.
• Freeze for 24 hours. Pull out of the freezer and enjoy!

Photo by Jill Wellington from Pexels

3. Frozen Fruit & Yogurt Bowls

Looking for a sweet treat but want to skip the added sugar? Try using frozen fruit. Fruit is a natural sweetener, and while it does contain sugar, it has significant nutritional value like fibers, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Most fruits are loaded with water and have a natural chewing resistance. This means sugar from fruit is absorbed slowly in your body; much slower than the way sugar from a pastry or a soda is absorbed in your body. These processed sugary treats are absorbed much more quickly. It’s why you can get a sugar “high” and then a crash afterwards from eating foods with high amounts of added sugar. If you’re looking for a health conscious alternative, try the frozen fruit and yogurt bowl recipe below!

Photo by Kristina Paukshtite from Pexels

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unsweetened, plain non-dairy yogurt
• 1-2 cups fruit chopped
• Toppings (honey, sprinkles, granola, cereal, chocolate chips, etc)

Directions

• Add 1 cup of your favorite fruits. We recommend getting 3-4 different fruits to create a variety of tastes and textures.
• Add honey, sprinkles, and other toppings (granola, cereal, chocolate chips)
• Enjoy!

2. French Macarons

There’s something about French Macarons that make our hearts and taste buds sing. These colorful sandwich cookies are as tasty as they are beautiful and as light as they are flavorful. These cookies are delicious. We love the pairing of a handful of macarons and an iced coffee on a hot summer day; truly a perfect pair.

We added this recipe to our favorite summer list because these cookies are so light and tasty; great for summer. But, it’s important to note French Macarons are notoriously difficult to make. These cookies can be finicky and aren’t for the faint of heart. However, we love this beginning guide to making French Macarons from Sally’s Baking Addiction. Check out the ingredients and directions to make your own French Macarons there.

Photo by Dima Valkov from Pexels

1. Homemade Ice Cream

Last but not least, is a summer dessert list really a list if it doesn’t include homemade ice cream? We don’t think so; which is why we’ve included it! If you haven’t made homemade ice cream yet, this is the time to do it! It’s surprisingly easy and can double as a fun family activity. A win-win in our books. Check out the ingredients and recipe below.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of cream
• Chilled can of sweetened condensed milk
• Favorite flavorings or mix-ins
• Airtight container

Directions

• This method is really simple; you simply whip the 2 cups of cream by hand or with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
• Then slowly add a chilled can of sweet condensed milk.
• Stir in your favorite flavorings and mix-ins
• Freeze in an airtight container for 24 hours.
• Pull out of the freezer when you’re read to eat and enjoy!

Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

Ready for more lifestyle articles, product features and healthy living tips? Check out the other articles in our HAPARI blog. We include special product spotlights, healthy eating and fitness advice, and exclusive insider deals on our swimwear.

Header Photo by Rachel Claire from Pexels