Alright it’s finally summer! Now that it’s here, what do you need to forget about that 100 degree oppressive heat outside? What is guaranteed to impress your family, friends, and most importantly, your tastebuds? What will be the cherry on top of any and every lazy summer day? Any one of these delicious indulgences. That’s what! Besides, what’s more perfect for the summertime than dozens of decadent delights made from fresh citrus fruits? Maybe having said scrumptious sweets by a pool and pairing them with your favorite friends and cocktails. That’s the one and only thing I can think of!
Everyone knows how perfect it is to have their cool citrusy beverages in the summer, but you can be the one that thinks to cool off with the tastiest treats in town! I have tried many of these dazzling desserts, so can personally attest to their glories, and I for one absolutely cannot wait to try the rest! These make my mouth water and my tummy rumble so much that this list that started as a dozen, grew to 15, 22, 30 recipes! I know I’m not the only foodie out there. S, without further adieu: Eat your heart out, you summer citrus swains!
1. Lemon Ice Cream (No Churn)
Now that I’ve got you thinking about how ridiculously hot it is outside, let’s start off with something nice and cold. This lemon ice cream is bound to be the new summer classic! Made with only three ingredients, it is super easy; just be sure to start it the day before you need it.
Here's the recipe.
2. Key Lime Sorbet
However, if you’re anything like me and your stomach happens to not be a big fan of ice cream, here’s another option that might set a bit better. For this recipe also, you don’t need an ice cream maker. The best part about this recipe is that you can eat it as soon as you’re done making it! It sure doesn’t get a lot better than that, eh?
Try it out here.
3. Chocolate Dipped Orange Peel Cookies
Do you know what would taste great in either of the previous recipes? These dee-vicious cookies, of course! Not only do you have the perfect excuse to snack on candied orange peels, but you can also shape them however you please.
Let the kids in on this one!
4. Orange-Choco Brownie Bites
If you loved the idea of chocolate with candied orange peels, then I have another one for you. You know it’s going to be good when the recipe comes straight from Ghirardelli (Confession: I used a little extra butter of the regular sort to combat the bit o’ dryness)!
5. Coconut Key Lime Rum Cake
For another recipe that is meant to be “dry,” how about a cake with rum in it. Truly, though, the texture is anything but dry. In fact, this one is so good it has been featured on Cake Boss. That’s right, it’s famous!
6. Key Lime Cupcakes
My sister loves everything in it’s smaller form, because it’s cute? Maybe she dreams of making tiny objects her evil minions? I’ll never be able to explain her, but the villainous veg. (Gotta love her.) also really loves green so she would surely adore these tiny terrors.
If you're anything like Lex Luther.
(I swear I really do love my sister...)
7. Lemon Crumb Cake
If Lexy or anyone really did possess all the cute cupcakes to be his/her minions (imagine the "Despicable Me" cookie robots in cupcake version), then maybe at least the crumbling of the world might taste as delish as this cake! No kidding, “It’s so fluffy I’m gonna die!”
8. Lemon Lava Cakes
Speaking of potentially villainous foods, I’m surprised this one didn’t make "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" one or two! I mean, come on! Regardless of whether it made the movie cut or not, eating this will be an unforgettable experience.
End the world as you know it here.
9. Key Lime Creme Brulee
While you still have your ramekin out, this is the dessert that just really turns my inners into soup. Boy do I love crème brulee of any kind. Next time, instead of cheating with World Market’s little box I’ll have to splurge on this romantic recipe for two!
10. Pink Pomelo and Rose Tarts with Honey Meringue
Dudes, the French seriously know what they’re doing. This is totally another suave sweet. To schmooze your lover and romance your tastebuds simultaneously, this is your ticket! I mean, it’s even got the roses!
11. Marbled Orange Fudge
If your honey prefers something more simple or doesn’t prefer pastries, do not fret! You can still win his/her heart over with this rich recipe. You will probably even have some leftover to win over his/her family as well!
12. Lemon Meringue Pie
Or if you are like me and can be won over with anything lemon and anything meringue, we definitely can’t forget about this favorite! This was the closest recipe I could find to what looks like the amazing ambrosia my mother-in-law makes. It happens to be in Portuguese, but it gave me the option to swap it into English. Good luck!
Mine will never be as flawless as hers.
13. Margarita Bars
After stressing myself out because I can’t make my meringue with the perfect balance of sweet and light and knowing what my husband grew up with, I will definitely need these in my life. Calme! Oh yeah, and let’s add graham cracker crusts to our list of irresistible sugar foods.
14. Strawberry Limeade Cake
For a more kid-friendly, beverage-inspired indulgence, here’s a fun and naturally colorful confection they’re sure to be proud of.
Adult supervision still recommended.
15. Blackberry Lime Cake
Strawberries and limes are a classic pairing, but have you ever tried blackberries and limes? Do. It. Now. Unless you need to move your car, then do that first…
Fais attention!
16. Lime Creamsicles
Maybe the lady in the last recipe should have changed her mind and used her limes for this recipe instead. She surely had the other two common ingredients on hand. It obviously has much simpler instructions. Then, she could have used one to make her foot feel better too! Live and learn.
17. Orange Creamsicle Cake
If you adored the creamsicle, but would rather have the same flavor, but in a warmer form, then this cake will do the trick! It is beautiful and even if it comes out a little messier than in the pictures, will still fool everyone into thinking you’re a pro.
18. Orange Creamsicle Cookies
If you don’t think you have four or more hours to make that cake, then here it is in always delectable cookie form! Mmmm mmmm white chocolate!
If you can make it 10 more minutes.
19. Key Lime Pie Stuffed Strawberries
Maybe you’re on a diet and are merely looking for a “healthy” snack. First things first, you should probably stop torturing yourself with this list. Silly. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Feel free to attack these simply savory strawberries!
20. Grapefruit Poppyseed Cake
OK, those of you on that diet are surely sick of plain old grapefruit, am I right? This cake will satisfy your craving without making you feel too guilty. (Don’t hold me to that.) All jokes aside, I wouldn’t recommend driving like a lunatic after ingesting the many many poppy seeds this lady calls for.
21. Brown Derby White Grapefruit Cake
All right, now that we’re done saying the name of it, let’s get down to business. If you were seriously afraid of all of those poppy seeds, this option is still quite fantastic. Really, though, what is Disney that is not good? Having worked at Disney World, I can sincerely attest with my over-eaten bias that Disney food is the best amusement park food I’ve ever had. It’s the only amusement park whose dining options are actually worth what they cost.
Right out of Hollywood Studios!22. Grapefruit Ricotta Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
So, dieter, how about a recipe that sounds healthy, but probably really isn’t? All right, all right already! You’ve talked me into it. Here you go. One juicy, sugary pound cake coming up.
23. Lemon Bars
Finally, a recipe that sounds as simple as it is! Ina Garten (See what she did there?) presents this total timeless classic.
24. Key Lime Pudding
There’s no way you can pass up this win-win creation. If you can, who are you and why are you here? This can double as a snack or breakfast!
25. Crockpot Orange Sweet Rolls
Did somebody say breakfast? Can we wait that long? Praise the Lord this is a crockpot recipe; it seems to me everything made in crockpots take forever! However, that might be the only reason I could wait long enough before these are divulged to me. On a side note, what can you not use Pillsbury crescent rolls for? They are the bomb!
26. Chocolate Lemon Creams
While we’re waiting, we can make these baby making bon-bons. They just might be even better because you’re entitled to one or two at any time of day.
When you can’t resist it anymore:
27. Grapefruit Cupcakes
For something totally different, that’s still easy to grab, try these on for size! It’s easy to fill half a muffin pan with muffins for breakfast and the other half with cupcakes. Personally, I enjoy throwing in some poppy seeds.
28. Orange Pound Cake with Orange Everything
Remember that grapefruit pound cake earlier? Well, here’s an orange one. Healthy shmealthy.
29. Key Lime Pie Dip
Warning: This recipe is for cheaters!
While my favorite Edward’s Dessert is, quite surprisingly actually (I hate nuts on stuff), the Turtle Pie, it is and always will be a close competition. I promise you can’t imagine how excited I was to find this recipe and try every type of cookie and sweet cracker under the sun with it. Yeah, I enjoy my “me time.”
30. Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies
You better believe I saved the best for last! There is nothing I can say to describe this bliss—there are too many of them in my mouth. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they’re imaginary. Even so, these sublime blobs of heaven are positively indescribable. You better mentally prepare yourself for this one!
Better make six or seven batches!
Oh my freakin’ goodness! Phew! That was starting to become torture even not being on a diet! I bet reading these, unless you're outside, you even forgot that it’s summer.
Enjoy!
