8 refreshing fruit dessert recipes for summer

Summer season is all about colourful and hydrating fruits that you really need to eat to get respite from heat. From juicy mangoes to sweet pineapples, the list of summer fruits is long. These fruits have high water content, making them a must-have during summer months. You can peel, cut and eat them, or you make delicious and healthy desserts with them. Check out this list of fruit dessert recipes that can you try at home.

If you are looking for hydrating fruits, keep watermelon in mind. A 100 grams of watermelon consists of 91.4 grams of water, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When it comes to high water content, pineapple is not too far. A 100 grams of pineapple has 86 grams of water, as per the USDA.

In addition to their high water content, hydrating summer fruits provide vitamins, and minerals. For instance, watermelon is rich in vitamins A and C, which support immune function and skin health, says nutritionist Shruti Keluskar. So, here are some fruit dessert recipes you may try!

Summer fruit dessert recipes

1. Yogurt-based orange popsicles

Ingredients

• 2 cups of fresh orange juice (about 4 to 5 oranges)
• 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Method

• Cut the oranges in half and juice them to get about 2 cups of fresh orange juice, and remove the seeds.
• In a medium bowl, combine the fresh orange juice, Greek yogurt, honey, and vanilla extract, and whisk them.
• Pour the mixture into popsicle molds, leaving some space at the top to allow for expansion when freezing.
• Place popsicle sticks into the molds. If your molds don’t have built-in sticks, you can wait until the mixture is partially frozen (about 1 hour) before inserting wooden sticks to ensure they stand up straight.
• Place the molds in the freezer and freeze for 4 to 6 hours or until completely solid.
• Gently pull the popsicles out of the molds and enjoy!

2. Watermelon mint ice cream

Ingredients

• 4 cups of seedless watermelon (cubed)
• 1 cup of coconut milk
• 2 teaspoons of dry dates powder
• 2 teaspoons of watermelon seeds (dried)
• 1 tablespoon of lime juice
• 1/4 cup of fresh mint leaves

Method

• Blend the watermelon cubes and seeds in a blender until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove pulp if desired.
• In a large bowl, combine the watermelon juice, coconut milk, dry dates powder, lime juice, and finely chopped mint leaves.
• Cover the bowl and put it in the fridge for at least 60 minutes.
• Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions, usually about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Transfer the churned ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for 3 to 4 hours for a firmer texture.
• Scoop and enjoy the homemade ice cream.

3. Cucumber blueberry sorbet

Ingredients

• 2 cups of cucumber (peeled and chopped)
• 1 cup of blueberry (peeled and chopped)
• 1 cup of water
• 1 tablespoon of lime zest

Method

• Blend cucumber pieces until smooth.
• In a small pan, combine water and blueberries. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the berries are dissolved. Remove from heat, and keep it aside to let it cool down
• In a large bowl, combine the cucumber juice, lime zest, and the cooled blueberry syrup, and mix well.
• Freeze it for 4 hours, but stir every hour.

4. Pineapple coconut ice cream

Ingredients

• 3 cups of fresh pineapple (chopped)
• 1 cup of coconut milk
• 2 teaspoons of sugar
• ¼ cup of almonds (soaked and peeled)
• ¼ cup of raisins
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Method

• Blend the pineapple chunks, almonds, and raisins until smooth.
• In a large bowl, combine the pineapple juice, coconut milk, sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk until the sugar gets dissolved.
• Cover it up and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and churn for atleast 20 minutes.
• Transfer the churned ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for about 4 hours to get a firmer texture.
• Once done, enjoy the frozen dessert.

5. Peach and yogurt parfait

Ingredients

• 2 ripe peaches (sliced)
• 2 cups of Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup of granola
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• Fresh mint for garnish

Method

• In serving glasses, layer 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt.
• Add a layer of sliced peaches.
• Add 2 tablespoons of granola.
• Repeat the layers, ending with yogurt and peaches.
• Drizzle a little bit of honey on top, and garnish with fresh mint.
• Put it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before serving.

6. Mango sorbet

Ingredients

• 3 ripe mangoes (peeled and diced)
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1/2 cup of water

Method

• In a blender, combine the diced mangoes, lime juice, and water, and blend until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into a shallow dish and freeze for 4 hours, stirring every hour to break up the ice crystals.

7. Strawberry banana popsicles

Ingredients

• 2 cups of strawberries (hulled and sliced)
• 2 bananas (sliced)
• 1 cup of Greek yogurt
• 2 teaspoons of honey
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Method

• In a blender, combine the strawberries, bananas, Greek yogurt, honey, and vanilla extract, and blend until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into popsicle molds.
• Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours, or wait for them to be completely frozen.
• Then enjoy this healthy summer dessert.

8. Blueberry chia pudding

Ingredients

• 1 cup of almond milk
• 1/4 cup of chia seeds
• 1/2 cup of blueberries
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Method

• In a bowl, mix the almond milk, chia seeds, honey, and vanilla extract.
• Stir well so that chia seeds get properly distributed.
• Cover it and refrigerate for about 4 hours.
• Before serving, top it up with fresh blueberries.

Enjoy the summer months with these hydrating and refreshing healthy desserts.

About the Author

Natalia Ningthoujam has written on various subjects – from music to films and fashion to lifestyle – as a journalist in her career that started in 2010. After getting stories from the crime scene, police headquarters, and conducting interviews with celebrities, she is now writing on health and wellness which has become her focus area. …Read More