Food and Recipes Desserts 50 Best Summer Cakes And Pies To Beat The Heat These summer pies and cakes are the desserts you need for a sweltering hot outdoor party. By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is a Digital Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 19, 2024 Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Summer cakes and pies should be made with all the fresh fruits that the season brings; even better if they keep you from breaking a sweat. Some of our favorite recipes include berries, peaches, plums, and other summery fruits you've picked up from the local fruit stand. Of course, a summer dessert menu wouldn't be complete without some lemon and Key lime options, which you'll find here as well. For those of you who aren't looking for a fruit pie, there are peanut butter, mocha, and chocolate options on this list, too. We've gathered our favorite and easiest summer cakes and pies recipes that will keep your sweet tooth satisfied without spending hours in the kitchen. Cool down on a hot summer day with an ice cream cake the kids will love, or throw together an easy no-bake cake or pie for a last-minute party or picnic with our best summer cake and pie recipes. 01 of 50 Ice Cream Cake Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Ice Cream Cake is an essential celebration cake, and it doesn't require any baking. Vanilla wafer cookies provide a fun and unexpected crust that holds up decadent, creamy layers of chocolate and vanilla. A fudgey Oreo crumble center and a fluffy top layer of whipped cream ties it all together. get the recipe 02 of 50 Frozen Lemonade Pie Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell No need to squeeze a bunch of lemons for this recipe. All you need for this Frozen Lemonade Pie is a can of frozen lemonade concentrate, condensed milk, and cream cheese! It's ice cold, tangy, sweet, and just the ticket for beating the heat. get the recipe 03 of 50 Cherry Nut Pie Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Everything you love about a light, airy icebox pie, the filling of this Cherry Nut Pie is creamy, lemony, and studded with cherries and pecans. This pie is a regional favorite in Arkansas, where it's a staple at the beloved Roy Fisher's Steak House—while that restaurant is now closed, this cool-as-ever pie lives on. get the recipe 04 of 50 Strawberry Ladyfinger Cake Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Ladyfinger cookies aren't just for tiramisu—this icebox cake layers store-bought ladyfingers with light and airy mascarpone whipped cream (the only part you'll need to make from scratch for this recipe) and lemony strawberries for an easy no-bake summertime cake. get the recipe 05 of 50 Millionaire Pie Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox A no-bake millionaire pie with a creamy, fruit filling that is about as Southern as desserts can be. Pineapple bits and chewy, sweet coconut are suspended throughout this creamy pie along with crunchy pecans, and it comes together in just 10 minutes. (It will need a bit of time in the refrigerator to allow the gelatin to set, but it's totally worth it.) get the recipe 06 of 50 Million Dollar Pie Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Costen King, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel Not to be confused with Millionaire Pie (above), this Million Dollar Pie is a little tangier from cream cheese, and it does require a baked crust to hold up the creamy filling. It's just as delicious and impressive, and perfect to serve in the summer months with a fluffy topping and festive, bright red maraschino cherries. get the recipe 07 of 50 Fresh Peach Cobbler Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman Peach cobbler is a classic all year round, but it's extra special with fresh summer peaches. Warm out of the oven with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream—it doesn't get better than that. We love that this recipe incorporates ground cinnamon and nutmeg for an extra comforting flavor that compliments sweet, tart, fresh peaches. get the recipe 08 of 50 Pineapple Upside-Down Dump Cake Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Any sort of "dump" cake is as easy a cake recipe comes—and it's great for involving little ones in the kitchen. This recipe requires just five ingredients and 15 minutes of active prep time. Plus, it's beautiful, cheerful, and get the recipe 09 of 50 Boozy Bushwacker Pie Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel Floridians know—noo trip to the Panhandle is complete without a bushwacker or two by the beach. This boozy, creamy, milkshake-like cocktail is captured immaculately in pie form, with all the flavors and textures of that dangerously potent drink. (This recipe uses both regular ice cream and gelato—yum!—for an unforgettable dessert.) get the recipe 10 of 50 Zucchini Cake Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Summers in the South mean zucchini squash—lots and lots and lots of zucchini squash. When you've got a bounty from the garden, this cake satisfies your sweet tooth. Just like in zucchini bread, zucchini cake is moist and unexpectedly tasty in a dessert form. Topped with easy-to-spread cream cheese frosting, it's reminiscent of carrot cake and extra special. get the recipe 11 of 50 Banana Pudding Pie Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox It's the classic Southern dessert in sliceable, pie form—what's not to love? A browned butter-vanilla wafer crust, a silky custard, and the vanilla bean whipped cream make this pie taste just like banana pudding, but with a little extra flair. get the recipe 12 of 50 Heaven On Earth Cake Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Heaven on Earth cake is a creamy, dreamy, delicious no-bake summer dessert. Like a trifle or pudding, but served in a shallow dish, it couldn't be easier to make—only the whipped cream is homemade (but if you swap that out for Cool Whip instead, we won’t tell). get the recipe 13 of 50 Strawberry Spoon Cake Molly Bolton Irresistible, sweet, tender, and moist, strawberry spoon cake is the perfect way to highlight the tender and juicy berries of late spring and early summer. Its name came from how you serve it—warm from the oven, spooned into bowls, and topped with vanilla ice cream. get the recipe 14 of 50 Berry Chantilly Cake Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Layers of tender vanilla cake, raspberry jam, and bright ripe fresh fruit, this berry Chantilly cake is the ideal summer cake, and it is way easier to make than it looks. It also looks impressive. You can have fun with it too, filling and topping the cake with any type or combination of berries you wish. get the recipe 15 of 50 Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Strawberry shortcake just got more interesting—and dare we say better? Cornmeal shortcake provides a sweet, textured base, while a yummy berry sorbet and strawberry ripple ice cream provides the finishing touches. It's cool and sweet and tart, and it could not be simpler to make! Serve with a dollop of whipped cream to make it extra pretty. get the recipe 16 of 50 Banana Split Cake Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox This Banana Split Cake is easy as ever in sheet cake form—a press-in graham cracker crust is filled with layers of cream cheese frosting, banana, and all the favorite banana split toppings and flavors. get the recipe 17 of 50 Lemon Meringue Cake Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines Tartness of smooth and creamy lemon curd is balanced with moist, fluffy vanilla cake and toasty, fluffy sweet meringue. This cake is a trifecta of goodness and perfect for serving to impress in the summer months to make—but it's also a blast to make and wonderfully rewarding. get the recipe 18 of 50 Atlantic Beach Pie CREDIT: GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: CHELSEA ZIMMER; PROP STYLING: AUDREY DAVIS With a Saltine cracker crust and lemon-lime filling, Bill Smith's Atlantic Beach Pie has been a Southern favorite since it splashed on the scene. Much like a basic Key lime pie, it's easy to prepare and requires only 15 minutes of bake time. This tart but silky sweet pie is well-suited to sweltering days at the beach. get the recipe 19 of 50 S'mores Pie Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Melissa Gray You don't need a fire to get the flavors of this summer camp treat. This no-bake pie lets you indulge in rich chocolate custard and clouds of marshmallow cream without breaking a sweat. get the recipe 20 of 50 Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake Jennifer Davick This summer dessert looks like a classic Southern pound cake on the outside but reveals a sweet surprise when you cut into it. With the flavorful swirls of strawberry glaze inside, you don't need a glaze or frosting on this one. Top with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. get the recipe 21 of 50 Key Lime Pound Cake Jen Causey Pound cake gets an infusion of tropical flavor in this recipe for our best-ever Key Lime Pound Cake that can be enjoyed on an island or at home. The airy cake is infused with lime zest and coated with a sweet citrus glaze. Close your eyes and transport yourself with each bite. get the recipe 22 of 50 Georgia Peanut Pie With Coca-Cola Glaze Southern Living Peanuts and Coca-Cola are a classic Southern combo that we're celebrating in this decadent pie. Even the crust in this recipe contains chopped peanuts and creamy peanut butter. Serve at room temperature with an ice-cold soda on the side. get the recipe 23 of 50 Pineapple-Ginger Upside-Down Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall We all know the layer of caramelized fruit is the best part of an upside-down cake. This recipe calls for twice the amount of pineapple than is typical and includes fresh ginger for added flavor. Of course, you'll want to bake it in a cast-iron skillet for the best results. get the recipe 24 of 50 Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake Johnny Autry; Food and Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry This recipe may just be the easiest way to make strawberry shortcake. By baking one big crumbly cake, you can skip the individual servings. Mascarpone makes an especially rich cream topping. get the recipe 25 of 50 Watermelon Pie Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox The Biscoff cookie crust and fresh melon filling in this pie require absolutely no baking or cooking. The topping, a mixture of heavy cream and mascarpone, is light and creamy without melting as easily in the summer heat. Use a 1-inch melon baller to decorate your pie. get the recipe 26 of 50 Peach-Bourbon Upside-Down Bundt Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This recipe unites all our Southern favorites into one summery bundt cake. A heavily greased pan prevents the caramelized peaches from sticking. Add a splash of bourbon to the glaze if you enjoy a stronger bourbon flavor. get the recipe 27 of 50 Peanut Butter Pie Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This pie is not too sweet and not too salty, but definitely hits the spot. With no baking required and 15 minutes of active time, it will be just as popular with the cook as it is with those who devour it. Our Peanut Butter Pie can also be frozen for serving later. get the recipe 28 of 50 Charlotte Russe Cake Micah Leal You don't have to turn the oven on to make this pastry-makers' favorite. Lined with lady fingers, brushed with lemon-thyme syrup, and filled with fresh blackberries and a zesty lemon custard, our Charlotte Russe Cake is elegant and refreshingly sweet. get the recipe 29 of 50 No-Bake Lemon Icebox Pie Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hilegas Forget the traditional graham cracker crust—this no-bake Lemon Icebox Pie uses for gingersnaps for more personality. Tangy, lemony, and gratifyingly simple, this recipe should be your next summer baking project. Dress it up with whipped cream and lemon twists. get the recipe 30 of 50 Lemon Raspberry Cake Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford This layer cake is full of seasonal summer flavor. Pureed and strained raspberries provide the delicate pink tint in the frosting. A layer of juicy berries in between layers adds freshness to every bite. get the recipe 31 of 50 Grasshopper Pie Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle If you love mint chip ice cream or "grasshopper" desserts, you'll think this pie is absolutely dreamy. But you won't find any peppermint extract here. This pie's filling is a creamy, chocolatey delight filled with crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and chocolate flourishes. get the recipe 32 of 50 Margarita Cake Southern Living Stretch happy hour to dessert with this cocktail-inspired cake. We used store-bought margarita mixer in the rich cream cheese frosting to spike it with additional boozy flavor. Add the finishing touch with a generous sprinkling of flake salt around the cake's edge. get the recipe 33 of 50 Strawberry-Lemonade Cake Jen Causey Here's just the recipe you need for a celebratory layer cake in summer. Tangy strawberry-lemonade jam is spread between tender lemon cake layers and topped with a strawberry frosting. This one is worth the time, and you can prepare it a day or two before your special occasion. get the recipe 34 of 50 Kool Aid Pie Micah A. Leal This vibrant pie was inspired by all those pitchers of ice-cold Kool-Aid we downed in summers past. Choose your favorite flavor and stir up this easy, five-ingredient recipe. Then relive your childhood with every bite. get the recipe 35 of 50 Mixed Stone Fruit Pie Alison Miksch Why limit yourself to peaches when there are so many wonderful fruits in season? You can use any stone fruit to add a refreshing topping to this creamy pie. Wait to add the fruit just before serving. get the recipe 36 of 50 Lemon Meringue Ice-Cream Pie Jennifer Davick This ice-cold pie will save the day at your next sweltering barbecue. Though it uses store-bought ice cream as an ingredient, the homemade vanilla wafer crust, homemade lemon curd filling, and homemade meringue topping will make this pie the furthest thing from store-bought at the potluck. Best of all, you can make it a week ahead of time. get the recipe 37 of 50 Key Lime Icebox Cake Photo: Hector M Sanchez; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Vanessa Rocchio This cake is so pretty, no one will have any idea it was a no-bake. Graham crackers and Key Lime custard create the lovely layers. A tip from our kitchen: Add the lime juice once you've fully cooked the custard to let the cornstarch thicken the mixture properly. get the recipe 38 of 50 Mint Chocolate Chip Ice-Cream Cake Jennifer Davick If you're craving minty chocolate chip ice cream, step it up to an ice-cream cake made with devil's food cake and topped with rich chocolate ganache. The simple, microwaveable ganache should be spread on just before serving. get the recipe 39 of 50 Peanut Butter-Banana Icebox Pie Photo: Jennifer Davick For the one who loves peanut butter-banana everything, this icebox pie is the best of both worlds. Eat a rich, airy, and refreshing slice and you won't even need a dip in the pool. Chill for eight hours before serving. get the recipe 40 of 50 Strawberry-Pretzel Icebox Pie Jennifer Davick Satisfy both your sweet tooth and salty cravings with this creamy summer pie. We folded whipped cream into the strawberry filling to make it extra light and airy. Freeze for one hour to set the pie. get the recipe 41 of 50 Blackberry Pie Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley If it ain't broke, don't fix it. You'll relish the jammy fruit in every bite of this old-fashioned blackberry pie. This recipe keeps things simple with just a touch of lemon zest and a sprinkle of sparkling sugar to dress up the dessert. get the recipe 42 of 50 Cherries-And-Cream Icebox Cake Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Layers of graham crackers, cool whipped filling, and cherry preserves compose this beautiful, no-bake dessert. The whipped cream, with a light pink hue and a hint of almond, complements the ribbons of pureed cherry preserves that run through the layers. After chilling, the graham crackers soften for easy slicing. get the recipe 43 of 50 Mascarpone Cheesecake Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas This creamy cake on a vanilla wafer crust is for when you're craving cheesecake but dread turning on a hot oven. Freeze the cheesecake for three hours, then top with fresh berries and raspberry jam. You can store it in the refrigerator after the cake has firmed up. get the recipe 44 of 50 Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Hadas Smirnoff Here's another take on banana pudding that adds a new dimension with tart, freshly picked strawberries. Line your baking pan with plastic wrap before assembling the layers so you can lift it neatly when it's time to serve. Then top it with whipped cream, graham cracker crumbs, and sliced berries. get the recipe 45 of 50 Peach Custard Pie Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox Prepare the homemade crust or buy a refrigerated pie dough to save time. After all, it's the rich, ginger-tinged custard and fresh peach slices that will shine here. Use firm peaches to prevent the custard from becoming too watery. get the recipe 46 of 50 Stone Fruit Lattice Slab Pie Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen Once you've made the dough, this pie is a cinch to pull together. It will both feed and impress a crowd, with a lattice top that looks anything but rustic. Peaches, Bing cherries, and nectarines compose the fruity filling. get the recipe 47 of 50 Peach Cake Stacy K. Allen; Props: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer This cake layers fruit, cinnamon sugar, and nuts with the batter to ensure you'll enjoy juicy peaches and crunchy pecans throughout. This cross-over dessert can easily star at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. get the recipe 48 of 50 McLeod Farms' Fresh Peach Pound Cake Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Chistina Daley Pound cake fans rejoice, because this recipe comes straight from a peach farm in South Carolina. This Peach Pound Cake packs a double dose of fruit, which is baked into the pound cake and stewed into a shiny, peach-hued glaze. The peaches keep the cake moist and add nice pops of fruity flavor. get the recipe 49 of 50 Blueberry Cornmeal Cake Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox This moist, berry-studded cake has a great texture from the medium-grind cornmeal in the batter. It uses a generous 1 1/2 cups of blueberries. Fresh blueberries are in abundance this time of year in the South, and this recipe is a great use of your surplus. get the recipe 50 of 50 Red, White, And Blue Poke Cake Jennifer Causey This cake has not one, but two syrupy, fruity fillings to soak into the tender crumb. If that's not enough, we slathered the cake with a lusciously rich mascarpone frosting. When frosting the cake, dollop and spread it carefully so the filling won't bleed through. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit