Summer Recipes: Smoothies, Cold Drinks, Frozen Treats and Light Meals

When it is hot outside, nobody wants to spend hours at the stove. This guide gathers our favourite summer recipes in one place: smoothies and refreshing drinks, ice cream and frozen treats, no-bake desserts, light meals and picnic food, plus the fruits and foods that help you stay cool.

Smoothies

• Healthy summer ombre smoothies: tropical, choc-banana and coconut-mango layers
• Smoothies for hot summer days: mango, orange ginger detox, peach raspberry and triple berry kiwi
• Healthy breakfast smoothies: blueberry, mango chia and peach or strawberry smoothie bowls
• Healthy smoothies to start the day: green, banana-peanut butter, pineapple-citrus and pomegranate-berry
• Breakfast-in-a-glass vegetable smoothies
• Quick energizing morning smoothies: immunity boosting, spirulina, pineapple spinach and wild blueberry zucchini
• Vitamin-rich smoothies and breakfast bowls: chia bowls, mango berry smoothies and overnight oats

Cocktails, lemonade and cold drinks

• Easy summer cocktail recipes: mai tai, margarita, mojito, negroni, piña colada and sangria
• Summer cocktails to make at home: kiwi lemonade spritzer, mermaid lemonade and frosted lemonade
• Classic cocktail recipes for summer: mojito, margarita, cosmopolitan and piña colada
• Cocktails you can make at home: cranberry-basil spritzer, raspberry gin rickey and mint julep
• Cocktails to enjoy before summer ends: cherry-mint spritzer and nonalcoholic sangria
• Non-alcoholic summer drinks: virgin mojito, mocktails, ginger peach soda and watermelon limeade
• Lemonade recipes: blackberry, orange, strawberry watermelon and peach-basil lemonade
• Icy milkshake recipes: cherry-vanilla, s’mores, Oreo cheesecake and peanut butter-brownie

Ice cream, popsicles and frozen treats

• Homemade ice cream ideas: no-churn cookie dough, red velvet and toasted coconut lemon
• Healthier ice cream recipes: double-berry, melon-mango and blueberry-swirl buttermilk
• Homemade ice pops: cake batter, iced mocha fudge, mango lassi and peach melba pops
• Frozen treats on a stick: frozen yogurt, coconut, strawberry and kiwi-pineapple ice pops
• Frozen desserts for every taste: ice cream sandwich pops, cereal popsicles and chocolate-covered bananas

No-bake and fruity summer desserts

• Fruity summer dessert recipes: strawberry shortcake ice cream, banana split lasagna and lemon-blueberry cheesecakes
• Refreshing summer desserts: orange granita, peach-raspberry galette and mango sorbet pie
• No-bake cheesecake recipes: creamsicle, birthday and banana pudding cheesecakes
• Raw summer cakes: raw chocolate beet and raw peach cheesecakes
• Easy chocolate summer recipes: chocolate-covered pretzels, 3-ingredient mousse and icebox cake

Light summer meals and picnic food

• Healthy summer breakfast recipes: quinoa breakfast bowls, pistachio muesli and fruit salad
• Quick summer dinner recipes: no-cook tomato pasta, shrimp and zucchini scampi and grilled pizza
• Light and nutritious summer meals: vegan tacos, mango avocado salsa and stuffed zucchini boats
• Easy zucchini recipes: casseroles, gratins, roasted and grilled zucchini
• Picnic food recipes: pressed Italian sandwiches, chicken salad sandwiches and grilled chicken skewers
• How to plan a romantic picnic: what to prepare and where to go

Eating well in hot weather

• The best fruits for hot summer days: melons, watermelon, oranges and berries
• Foods that keep you healthy in summer: buttermilk, summer squash, corn, watermelon and mangoes
• Light foods to add this summer: bananas, cinnamon, green tea, kefir and lemon water
• Fun ways to cut a watermelon: cubes, zig-zag slices and a watermelon cake

Frequently asked questions

What are good summer desserts that don’t need an oven?

Ice pops, no-churn ice cream, no-bake cheesecakes, icebox cakes and granita all set in the fridge or freezer, so you can make them without turning on the oven.

How do you make a smoothie thicker without ice?

Use frozen fruit such as banana, mango or berries, and add a spoonful of yogurt, oats or chia seeds.

Planning a get-together? See our summer ideas for parties and DIY, and our 4th of July ideas for the holiday menu.