Homemade Summertime Dessert Recipes

Summers are a time of pool parties, family reunions, picnics and camping trips. By late July and early August, the temperatures are soaring into triple digits in many parts of the country. Desserts are usually pushed to the wayside because you don't want anything heavy.

Wait! Why should your sweet tooth have to suffer, just because it's hot? The truth is, they don't have to! You just need some simple recipes to make for your family, that are light, airy and totally summer.

We can start with Banana Eclair Cake. The cake that requires no baking so you don't heat your house up! You may have seen a recipe for banana pudding before, but maybe not quite like this. It has a twist that your family will love, and will soon be begging you to make again! If you like Chocolate and Bananas together...this is the recipe for you!

Banana Eclair Cake

Line the bottom of a 9X13" glass baking dish with vanilla wafers.
Mix a small box of chocolate pudding according to package directions and layer this over the vanilla wafers.
Add a layer of sliced bananas. Allow this to set for 10 minutes then add a layer of whipped topping.
Start over with the vanilla wafers, only this time your pudding needs to be vanilla or banana.
Again, after the bananas, let it set before adding your whipped topping.
Finish with another layer of vanilla wafers
In the microwave, you're going to heat a tub of chocolate cake frosting until it's runny and will spread very smoothly.
Pour this on top of the last layer of vanilla wafers and smooth out to all the edges.
Refrigerate for one hour before serving to let all the layers set and chill.

Sit back and let the pats on the back begin.

I'm sure that there are cheesecake lovers reading this article, as well as those who like caramel and chocolate and pecans.
For those poolside parties where you need to blow your guests away with your culinary skills, allow me to share the most decadent Turtle Cheesecake that you'll ever put into your mouth!

Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake

1 (7 oz) package caramels
1/4 cup evaporated milk
3/4 cup chopped pecans, divided
1 (9 inch) chocolate crumb pie crust
2 (3 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1 & 1/4 cups milk
1 (3.9 oz) package chocolate instant pudding mix
1/2 cup fudge ice cream topping

Place caramels and evaporated milk in a heavy saucepan.
Heat over medium heat, stirring continually until smooth. (about 5 minutes)
Stir in 1/2 cup chopped pecans.
Pour into pie crust

Combine cream cheese, sour cream and milk in blender. Mix until smooth.
Add pudding mix and blend for 30 seconds longer.
Pour pudding mixture over caramel layer, covering evenly.
Chill, loosely covered until set, about 15 minutes.

Warm fudge topping in microwave for 30 seconds. Drizzle over top of pie.
Sprinkle with remaining pecans.
Chill, loosely covered until serving time.

Remember Grandma's fruit cake that was still around in May, because no body would eat it? Well, this isn't it. This one will leave them cleaning the crumbs out of the pan, and begging for the recipe! And the best part of it is that there is no baking required.

No Bake Fruit Cake

3 cups pecan halves
16 ounce candied cherries
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup dried apricots
1/2 cup dried peaches
1 small banana sliced thinly
1 small apple, peeled and chopped
11 ounce package vanilla wafers, crushed

Cut up fruit, add pecans and vanilla wafers and mix well. Add milk and mix until all are coated.

Line pan with wax paper and press cake mixture firmly down into pan.

Cover with wax paper and chill for 1 hour before serving.

Finally, the crown jewel of your party. It's light, it's delicious, it's beautiful...did I mention that it was so easy, that even your husband can make it?

Crown Jewel Cake

1 package (3 oz) orange jello
1 package (3 oz) cherry jello
1 package (3 oz) lemon jello
1 package (3 oz) lime jello
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1 large tup of cool whip

Prepare orange, cherry and lime jello seperately according to package directions.
Pour each in a seperate 8 inch square pan. Chill until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.
Cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
Dissolve lemon jello and sugar in 1 cup boiling water
Stir in pineapple juice and chill until slightly thickened
Blend in cool whip with lemon jello, then fold in orange, cherry and lime jello cubes.

Spoon all into a spring bottom pan and chill until firm.
Just before serving, run a spatula around sides of pan and gently remove sides
If you don't have a spring bottom pan, you can use a glass baking dish or pretty glass serving bowl, and just serve in it.

Summer is approaching fast. You've got your desserts taken care of. Let's get the party started!