Cool Summer Dessert Recipes Perfect for Making with Your Kids

Summertime is here! Summer brings picnics, BBQ's, and family get-togethers. Summer also brings sun and heat. What better way to complete all of your outdoor meals then with some cool and refreshing summer desserts? These are 4 of my favorite quick and easy cold desserts. All 4 desserts are also simple enough that your children can have a great time helping.

Key Lime Pie

What summer dessert list is complete without a cool and tart Key Lime Pie?

1 pre-made Graham Cracker Crust

½ Cup fresh squeezed Key Limes

1 tsp Key Lime Zest

4 Egg Yolks, beaten

1 Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk (14 oz)

Preheat oven to 350'. Combine all ingredients, except for the crust, thoroughly. Pour mixture into the shell. Bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours. Great served with whipped topping.

Vanilla Pudding and Wafer Cups

This recipe is one of my children's favorites. Both of my daughters love that they can make the pudding and create pretty dessert bowls. Try this recipe with your children and see how much fun they have helping out.

2 Boxes of Vanilla Jell-O Pudding, prepare according to directions (chocolate or your favorite pudding flavor would also work)

1 Box of Mini Nilla Wafers

1 Tub of Whipped topping

1 Dark Chocolate Bar

Prepare pudding according to directions. Line a dessert bowl with Nilla wafers. Pour pudding mix on top. Place 4 Nilla Wafers on top to make a pretty design. Put a dollop of whipped topping on top. Shave dark chocolate over top. Allow to refrigerate for at least 4 hours, to allow the cookies to soften (that is the best part). Enjoy!

Summer Berry Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

A perfect dessert to utilize the fresh summer berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.

1 Cup fresh Strawberries

1 Cup fresh Blueberries

1 Cup fresh Rasberries

1 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon

½ Cup sugar

½ Cup water

4 Tbsp Corn Starch

1 Cup of melted dark chocolate

1 Pre-made pie crust, including a top crust

1 Egg mixed with 1 Tbsp water

Your favorite Vanilla Ice Cream

Preheat oven to 350'. Combine all ingredients, except the pie crust and chocolate, into medium bowl. Mash the berries just slightly. "Paint" the inside of the crust with the dark chocolate. Pour the berries into the crust. Place the top on the pie. Seal edges. Cut steam slits in the top. Brush egg and water mixture over top of the pie. Bake for 30 minutes, or until berries are bubbling. Allow to cool before serving. Pie is delicious warm with ice cream or even cold.

Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

My husband loves pineapple upside down cake, but if it is not easily portable, cakes just sit on the dish until they dry out. I had to find a way to create one of his favorite cakes into an easier to handle version. This cupcake recipe works perfectly.

1 Boxed Vanilla Cake mix

1 Can of Pineapple Tidbits

1 Jar of Cherries, cut into pieces

1 Cup brown sugar

½ Cup of butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375'. Prepare cake mix according to box directions, but instead of the water, use the pineapple juice from the tidbits. Thoroughly grease cupcake pans, holding 24 cupcakes. Put about ½ - 1 Tbsp of brown sugar in the bottom of each cupcake slot. Add ½ - 1 Tbsp of melted butter. Put a couple pineapple bits and a couple cherry pieces in the bottom. Fill each cupcake ¾ full with cake batter. Bake according to cake mix directions. Allow to cool slightly. Using a cookie pan, flip the cupcakes out of the pan. Pan still needs to be slightly warm to ensure all of the gooey-goodness on the bottom comes out. Be sure to store covered. Simply delicious.

Try one or all of these desserts at your summer get together and to make them even more special, be sure to include your children in the preparation. Happy Summer!