Fruity summer dessert ideas

Strawberry bruschetta

Bruschetta is a classic appetizer, but glazed strawberries transform it into a sweet dessert.

Cut a loaf of French bread into thick slices. Brush each slice with olive oil and bake until toasted. Meanwhile, slice fresh strawberries. Melt butter and brown sugar in a pan, add strawberries and cook in melted sugar until warm and gooey. Spread cream cheese over the bread and top with berries. Serve while the berries are still warm.

Super health benefits of strawberries >>

Chocolate-drizzled fruit

Any combination of fruit works wonderfully with this recipe, so use all of your favorites or whatever looks good at the market.

Slice up bite-sized pieces of fruit. Melt chocolate chips over low heat and drizzle over fruit. Top with whipped cream and serve while the chocolate is still warm. For a healthier option, substitute fat-free plain yogurt for the whipped cream.

Grilled peaches

You already have the grill fired up, so why not use it for dessert as well?

Peel, halve and pit peaches. Oil the grill to prevent sticking, and place the halves, center side down, on it. Cook the peaches until they're warm all the way through and the grill side starts to caramelize. Cover the warm peaches with plain yogurt and eat immediately.

How to make a peach sangria >>

Grilled pineapple rings

Pineapple is super sweet and can serve as a dessert all on its own, but this warm, glazed version is always a hit. Throw it on the grill after dinner, and it'll be ready to eat in minutes.

Cut pineapple into rings and brush each ring with melted butter. Cover each buttered ring with brown sugar and place it on a warm, oiled grill. Grill until the pineapple is heated thoroughly and the brown sugar is caramelized, about five to 10 minutes. Serve warm.

Strawberry sliced pound cake

This dessert will look like you slaved over it in the kitchen, but using a frozen pound cake cuts prep time to just about 10 minutes.

Thaw a frozen pound cake and slice it horizontally into three layers. On the bottom layer, add whipped cream and sliced strawberries, then add the next layer of cake. Top the next layer with strawberries and whipped cream. Do the same with the last layer, adding an extra layer of strawberries on top. Mix in more than one type of berry to change it up.

Easy pound cake recipe >>

More fruit dessert recipes

Fresh fruits for summer desserts
Naturally sweetened dessert recipes
How to do dessert the healthy way