Let’s get outside! It’s that time again. We want to eat seasonal treats but we don’t want to be cooped up in the kitchen, working over a hot stove all day. There is a way to achieve the fresh flavors of summer without sweating for it. We have a few suggestions for a sped-up version of some of your favorite summer desserts. No point in wasting daylight—we’re diving right in!

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Margarita Pie

(Adapted from the Pink Adobe Cookbook – Rosalea Murphy)

First up… Margarita Pie. Yes, we love this flavor, especially in the heat. The drink, the food, the vibe—sign us up. Margaritas put us in a vacation state of mind. To achieve this quick trip to paradise without breaking the bank for airfare (yikes), you make your crust from graham crackers and butter. Pulse those crackers until fine, drop them in a tin, mix in the butter, then throw them in the fridge and forget about them for a while. Presto, change-o, you’ve got yourself a crust. Of course, you’ll need a filling and a topping, but those are easy enough for an expert baker like yourself. Oh, and don’t forget the garnish! ::quickly takes lime out of cocktail and throws it onto pie:: Tada!

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Right Side-Up Cake

(Adapted from Seasonal Fruit Desserts – Deborah Madison)

Strong start. Where do we even go from here? Well, our next move is toward seasonal fruit in a… Right Side-Up Cake. Up is down. Left is right. What is this madness? Don’t stress, you won’t have to take a trip to the Upside Down to make this right-side-up dessert. This cake keeps it easy breezy—none of that crossing-your-fingers-holding-your-breath type of step here. The Right Side-Up Cake lets you “pile” a half cup of chopped fruit of your choice right on top of the batter before you send it off into the oven. What more could you ask for? Powdered sugar dusted on top? You got it—enjoy!

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Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches

(Adapted from The Perfect Scoop – David Lebovitz)

This list wouldn’t be complete without some sort of ice cream, right?! Of course not! This one does require an ice cream maker, folks. But machines do take the task of churning from an unimaginable nightmare to the simplest of actions—flick a switch and walk away. When you come back, you have something mouth-watering waiting for you. The best part about this recipe is you can sandwich your ice cream between any cookie your heart desires. The possibilities are endless (or at least pretty close to endless—we haven’t counted). Don’t want to make the cookies? Shhh, say no more. Pick them up from your local bakery instead. Your secret is safe with us.

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Dessert Pizza

(From TasteOfHome.com)

You know what would really round this out? A dessert. Yes, these are all desserts, but, stay with me now, what about a dessert with a twist for the dessert. Do you follow? Maybe it’s better to just go ahead and write it out: Dessert Pizza. Pizza has got to be in almost everyone’s top three favorite comfort foods. Bread? Check. Flavorful sauce? Check. Cheese? Check. And as a bonus, you can add any toppings your heart desires. Nothing. Wrong. With. That. Imagine if you took this concept and made it sweet. Better yet, don’t imagine it, jump right in and make it. You’ve got to try!

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These delectable summer desserts are crowd pleasers to be sure, but if you really want to get the full scoop on how to perfect your pastry prowess, join us for a Recreational Cooking or Baking class. This summer we’re having a lot of fun in the kitchen! It might be hot outside, but learning in our kitchens is pretty cool. Yes, we went there.

Check out the class calendar for some summertime fun of your own!