Our compilation of best summer desserts includes recipes for seven sweet end of summer desserts to make right now, from Thai mango sticky rice and an Australian pavlova with tropical fruit to a British Eton mess with a tropical twist and beloved Southeast Asian desserts such as a mango sago pudding and a Thai tea no-churn ice cream recipe.
If you’re in the sultry northern hemisphere and finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that summer will soon be coming to an end, then make our best summer desserts recipes right now, from our summery Australian pavlova recipes (yes, we have two!) to our tropical take on a British Eton mess, and our favourite Southeast Asian desserts.
The Southeast Asian sweets are easy summer dessert recipes, too – a lot easier than they look in the case of David Thompson’s mango sticky rice recipe. They come together quickly and yet they’ll take you on a journey to another part of the world where the summers are endless – even our winters here in Southeast Asia are warm. And, yes, we make these summer desserts year-round…
Now before I tell you more about our best summer dessert recipes, I have a favour to ask. Grantourismo is reader-funded. If you’ve cooked our recipes and enjoyed them, please consider supporting Grantourismo by using our links to buy travel insurance, rent a car or campervan or motorhome, book accommodation, or book a tour on Klook or Get Your Guide. You could also browse our Grantourismo store for gifts for food lovers, including fun reusable cloth face masks designed with Terence’s images.
Another option is to support our epic Cambodian cuisine history and cookbook on Patreon; or buy us a coffee, although we’ll probably use our coffee money to buy cooking ingredients for recipe testing; or or buy something on Amazon, such as these cookbooks for culinary travellers, James Beard award-winning cookbooks, cookbooks by Australian chefs, classic cookbooks for serious cooks, travel books to inspire wanderlust, and gifts for Asian food lovers and picnic lovers. Now let me tell you all about our best summer desserts.
Best Summer Desserts Recipes – 7 Sweet End of Summer Desserts to Make Right Now
Thai Mango Sticky Rice Recipe by Chef David Thompson
This Thai mango sticky rice recipe adapted from chef David Thompson’s Thai Street Food cookbook makes the much-loved Thai dessert kao niaw mamuang, a jasmine scented sweet that will also take you back to eating on the streets of Thailand and it’s one of our best summer desserts recipes. While David Thompson’s recipe is so detailed it intimidated me at first, it’s actually very easy. I’ve only made a few tiny tweaks as those finicky directions for plunging knotted pandan leaves in water and perfuming rice with fresh jasmine flowers are there for a reason.
This Thai Mango Sticky Rice Recipe by Chef David Thompson Is Not As Intimidating As It Looks
Classic Pavlova Recipe with Kiwi Fruit by Matt Preston
This classic pavlova recipe with kiwi fruit is another of our best summer dessert recipes – or rather, Matt Preston’s recipe! And, bonus: it comes with a history of Australia’s signature dessert courtesy of the food writer whose World of Flavour is as much a cookbook as a myth-busting culinary history that finally sets the record straight: pavlova is Australian, not from New Zealand and it’s one of the best summer desserts to make right now. Whether you’re in the sunny northern hemisphere or chilly southern hemisphere, pavlova is hard to beat no matter what the time of year.
Classic Pavlova Recipe with Kiwi Fruit and the History of this Popular Australian Dessert
Passionfruit Pavlova Recipe by Chef Neil Perry
Although pavlova in the summertime is one of my most treasured childhood memories and those memories are so strong that just one look at a pavlova with its crunchy mountain of sugar and egg whites, smothered in freshly whipped cream, fruit piled on top, and passionfruit dripping over the edge, brings back a flood of faded images of food-driven holidays. So every summer I persuade Terence to make this passionfruit pavlova recipe. Terence tweaks Australian chef Neil Perry’s passionfruit pavlova recipe, which we publish with the chef’s permission.
Pavlova in the Summertime, Childhood Food Memories and a Passionfruit Pavlova Recipe
Tropical Eton Mess Recipe with Mango, Passionfruit and Dragonfruit
I love that the Eton Mess is an old dessert with a summery history, its first mention dating to an 1893 garden party attended by Queen Victoria, and it’s said to have originated from Eton College where it was served at their annual cricket match. My Eton Mess recipe with mango, passionfruit and dragonfruit is another of our best summer desserts recipes. It makes a tropical version of the traditional English dessert of broken meringue, fresh sweet strawberries and whipped double cream. I created the dessert to make use of the end of season mangoes but you could easily replace mango with another seasonal fruit. This Eton Mess is my next favourite dessert after a pavlova with mango and passionfruit.
Tropical Eton Mess Recipe with Mango, Passionfruit and Dragonfruit
Mango Sago Recipe for a Creamy Mango Sago Pudding
Our mango sago recipe makes an easy, healthy, creamy Southeast Asian mango sago pudding made with just five ingredients, making it one of our easiest Asian desserts recipes, and another of our best summer desserts recipes. It’s also made without cream – no coconut cream, no dairy cream, no condensed milk, nada. The secret to the creaminess is frozen mangos, just like with our mango smoothie – which makes this mango sago pudding healthier than most.
Our Best Mango Sago Recipe for an Easy Healthy Creamy Mango Sago Pudding
Pink Dragon Fruit Sago Pudding Recipe
This pink dragon fruit sago pudding recipe makes the prettiest tropical superfood dessert you’ll savour and another of our best summer desserts recipes. Not only is this tropical fruit pudding delightful to look at – who doesn’t love pink sweets? – it’s a healthy dessert too. Red dragon fruit is a superfood, rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, high in fibre, and low in calories. Loaded with antioxidants, red dragon fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals, it’s also high in fibre, low in calories, and is great for gut health. But most importantly, it’s incredibly delicious.
Pink Dragon Fruit Sago Pudding Recipe for the Prettiest Tropical Superfood Dessert
Thai Tea No Churn Ice Cream Recipe
Our Thai tea ice cream recipe makes an easy no churn ice cream using four ingredients: Thai tea mix, whipping cream, condensed milk, and salt, and it’s another of our best summer desserts recipes. It will take you right back to Thailand if you tasted the bright orange Thai iced tea there. If you didn’t, this is it: ChaTraMue Extra Gold Thai Tea Mix or Number One Brand Original Thai Tea Mix Red Label. No ice cream maker needed, just an electric hand beater to whip the cream until peaks form, then fold in the sweetened condensed milk. You’ll also need a teapot with stainless steel filter or a Thai tea filter or tea strainer and a large ice cream scoop.
Thai Tea Ice Cream Recipe and an Easy No Churn Ice Cream Recipe for Any Flavour
Please do let us know in the comments below if you make any of our best summer desserts recipes as we’d love to know how they turn out for you.
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