THE COOL CLUB
Summer is the perfect time to indulge in a scrumptious pud — whether you’re rounding off a garden BBQ, entertaining friends, or simply treating yourself on a warm evening. The good news? You absolutely don’t need to spend hours in a hot kitchen to pull off something truly impressive.
From a classic British Eton Mess to a show-stopping Chocolate Lava Cake, we’ve rounded up five of our favourite summer desserts that are quick to make, even quicker to devour, and guaranteed to get everyone asking for seconds. Let’s tuck in!
1. Eton Mess — The Ultimate British Summer Dessert
Is there anything more gloriously summery than an Eton Mess? It’s one of those puddings that looks like it took ages but takes about five minutes — and that’s exactly why we love it. Crunchy meringue, pillowy whipped cream, and sweet, jammy strawberries all tumbled together in one glorious, messy bowl. Perfection. And the best part? There’s no right or wrong way to make it — the messier, the better!
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 500g fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 1 tbsp icing sugar
- 300ml double cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 ready-made meringue nests
- A handful of fresh mint to garnish
Method
- Toss the strawberries with the icing sugar and leave to macerate for 10 minutes — they’ll turn beautifully syrupy.
- Whip the double cream and vanilla extract together until you have soft, billowy peaks. Don’t over-whip — you want it cloud-like!
- Roughly crush the meringue nests into chunky pieces and fold through the cream.
- Spoon in most of the strawberries and give it a gentle fold so everything comes together.
- Pile into glasses or bowls, top with the remaining strawberries and a sprig of fresh mint. Serve immediately and enjoy every glorious spoonful!
Top tip: Swap strawberries for raspberries or a mix of summer berries for a gorgeous twist. A drizzle of good quality strawberry jam through the cream takes it to the next level too!
2. Chocolate Lava Cake — Gooey, Indulgent & Totally Irresistible
Few things in life are as satisfying as cutting into a warm chocolate lava cake and watching that gorgeous, molten centre come flowing out. It looks seriously impressive, but the secret is that these little beauties are actually incredibly simple to make — and they can be prepared ahead of time, ready to pop in the oven just before you want to serve them. Your guests will think you’ve been slaving away all evening. Let them!
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 100g good quality dark chocolate
- 100g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
- 2 large eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 100g icing sugar
- 50g plain flour
- Cocoa powder for dusting
- Vanilla ice cream to serve
Method
- Preheat your oven to 200°C. Grease four individual ramekins generously with butter, then dust with cocoa powder and tip out any excess.
- Melt the chocolate and butter together in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
- Whisk the eggs, egg yolks and icing sugar together until the mixture is pale and slightly thickened.
- Fold the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, then sift in the flour and fold gently until just combined.
- Divide the batter between the ramekins and bake for 10–12 minutes, until the edges are set but the centre still has a slight wobble.
- Run a knife around the edge, turn out onto plates and serve immediately with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Scrumptious!
Top tip: You can make the batter up to 24 hours in advance and keep the filled ramekins in the fridge — just add 2 minutes to the baking time when cooking from chilled. Summer entertaining made easy!
3. Mango & Lime Posset — Light, Zesty & Totally Tropical
If you’ve never made a posset before, you’re in for a treat — it’s one of those wonderfully clever desserts that sets itself with just three ingredients and barely any effort at all. Creamy, tangy, and silky smooth, this mango and lime version is the taste of a proper summer holiday in a glass. It needs a few hours to set, so make it the night before and you’re sorted — dessert done before your guests even arrive!
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 600ml double cream
- 150g caster sugar
- Zest and juice of 3 limes
- 1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
- A few sprigs of fresh mint
Method
- Pour the double cream and sugar into a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Boil for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice and zest. Give it a taste — it should be deliciously tangy!
- Pour into four small glasses or ramekins and leave to cool before refrigerating for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
- When ready to serve, top each posset with a generous spoonful of fresh mango and a sprig of mint. Absolutely delish!
Top tip: Passion fruit makes a brilliant topping alternative — just scoop the seeds straight over the top for a gorgeous, jewel-like finish that looks seriously impressive with very little effort!
4. No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Pots — Fuss-Free & Fabulous
All the joy of a classic baked cheesecake with absolutely none of the stress — these no-bake strawberry cheesecake pots are a total crowd-pleaser and one of the easiest desserts you’ll ever make. They come together in minutes, look gorgeous in individual glasses, and can be made well ahead of time so you’ve got absolutely nothing to worry about on the day. What’s not to love?!
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 150g digestive biscuits, crushed
- 60g unsalted butter, melted
- 300g full-fat cream cheese
- 150ml double cream
- 3 tbsp icing sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 250g fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2 tbsp strawberry jam
Method
- Mix the crushed digestives and melted butter together until it resembles wet sand. Divide between four glasses and press down gently to form the base.
- Beat the cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla together until smooth and creamy.
- In a separate bowl, whip the double cream to soft peaks, then fold into the cream cheese mixture until combined.
- Spoon the cheesecake filling over the biscuit bases and smooth the tops. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Warm the strawberry jam slightly and toss with the sliced strawberries. Spoon generously over each pot and serve. Heaven in a glass!
Top tip: These keep beautifully in the fridge for up to 24 hours — just add the strawberry topping right before serving so everything stays wonderfully fresh. Perfect for preparing ahead when you’re hosting a crowd!
5. Griddled Peaches with Honey, Mascarpone & Pistachios — Summer on a Plate
This one is a little bit special — and you’re going to feel very fancy indeed when you serve it up. Warm, caramelised griddled peaches with cool, creamy mascarpone, a drizzle of honey and a scattering of crushed pistachios is the kind of dessert that tastes like it came from a lovely Italian restaurant. It takes about ten minutes from start to finish and uses just a handful of ingredients. Deliziosa!
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 4 ripe peaches, halved and stoned
- 1 tbsp olive oil or melted butter
- 250g mascarpone
- 1 tbsp icing sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tbsp runny honey
- A handful of shelled pistachios, roughly crushed
- Fresh thyme or mint to garnish
Method
- Heat a griddle pan over a high heat until really hot. Brush the cut sides of the peaches with olive oil or melted butter.
- Place the peaches cut-side down and griddle for 3–4 minutes without moving them, until you get gorgeous caramel char lines and the fruit softens beautifully.
- Meanwhile, beat the mascarpone with the icing sugar and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
- Place two peach halves on each plate. Add a generous dollop of the vanilla mascarpone alongside.
- Drizzle everything generously with honey, scatter over the crushed pistachios and finish with a sprig of fresh thyme or mint. Serve straight away and soak up the compliments!
Top tip: These work brilliantly on the BBQ too — just pop the peaches straight on the grill for an extra smoky flavour that pairs absolutely beautifully with the honey and mascarpone. Summer entertaining sorted!
Which one will you be trying first?
Whether you go straight for that gooey Chocolate Lava Cake or keep it gloriously simple with an Eton Mess piled high with strawberries, we hope one of these scrummy summer desserts makes it onto your table very soon!
We’d love to see your creations — share your photos with us over on Facebook and Instagram and let us know which one was the biggest hit. Happy eating!
