23 No-Bake Desserts for When It’s Too Hot to Cook

When it’s sweltering outside, the last thing you want is to turn on the oven. These 23 no-bake desserts are perfect for hot summer days when you still want something sweet but can’t bear the thought of heating up the kitchen. Most of these are actually better when made ahead, and many involve the freezer or fridge to help cool you down. They range from super simple to slightly fancy, but none require any actual cooking.

1. Classic Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

These have a peanut butter base with melted chocolate on top. You just mix peanut butter with powdered sugar and butter, press it into a pan, then pour melted chocolate over it. The hardest part is waiting for them to set in the fridge! Some recipes add Rice Krispies to the base for extra crunch. These taste like giant Reese’s cups but way easier to make. Perfect for potluck desserts when you don’t want to deal with baking. Get the recipe here.

2. Strawberry Icebox Cake

This old-fashioned dessert layers graham crackers or cookies with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. As it sits in the fridge overnight, the crackers soften and it becomes like cake layers. The best part is you can make it a day ahead and it actually gets better. Some people use vanilla wafers instead of graham crackers which is also good. This looks fancy when sliced but requires zero skill to make. Great for using up lots of summer strawberries. Get the recipe here.

3. No-Bake Cheesecake with Berry Topping

This uses cream cheese, powdered sugar, and whipped cream for the filling over a crushed cookie crust. No eggs or baking required! The texture is lighter and fluffier than baked cheesecake. Fresh berries on top add color and cut through the richness. Some recipes use gelatin to help it set firmer but it’s not necessary if you don’t mind a softer texture. Way easier than regular cheesecake and tastes just as good. Get the recipe here.

4. Chocolate Trifle with Whipped Cream

Trifles look impressive but are basically just layers of cake, pudding, and whipped cream in a glass bowl. You can use store-bought pound cake and instant pudding to make it super easy. The layers look pretty through the glass and everyone loves digging in with a spoon. Some recipes add berries or nuts between layers for extra texture. This feeds a crowd and can be made hours ahead. Perfect for parties when you want something that looks fancy but isn’t hard. Get the recipe here.

5. Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

These are like regular Rice Krispie treats but with peanut butter mixed into the marshmallow mixture and chocolate drizzled on top. The peanut butter makes them richer and the chocolate makes them feel more like a real dessert. Some recipes dip the whole squares in chocolate which is even better but messier. Kids go crazy for these and they’re so easy to make. Good for bake sales or when you need a lot of dessert without much effort. Get the recipe here.

6. Lemon Posset

This British dessert is just cream, sugar, and lemon juice but somehow becomes thick and creamy when chilled. You heat cream with sugar, add lemon juice, pour into cups, and wait for magic to happen in the fridge. It’s like pudding but tangier and more sophisticated. The acid in the lemon juice thickens the cream naturally – no eggs or gelatin needed. This is elegant enough for dinner parties but simple enough for weeknight dessert. My favorite because it seems so fancy but is actually foolproof. Get the recipe here.

7. Tiramisu Cups

Traditional tiramisu requires raw eggs which some people worry about, but this version uses mascarpone and whipped cream. You dip ladyfinger cookies in coffee, layer with the cream mixture, and dust with cocoa. Making individual cups instead of one big dish looks nicer and is easier to serve. The coffee flavor is strong so it’s definitely an adult dessert. This needs to chill overnight which makes it perfect for entertaining since it’s completely done ahead. Get the recipe here.

8. No-Bake Cookies and Cream Pie

This uses crushed Oreos for the crust and a filling made from cream cheese, whipped cream, and more crushed cookies. It’s like eating cookies and cream ice cream but in pie form. Some recipes add a chocolate ganache on top which makes it even more indulgent. Kids love this one because it tastes like their favorite cookies. Way easier than making actual pie and probably tastes better to most people anyway. Get the link here.

9. Frozen Yogurt Bark with Fresh Fruit

You just spread Greek yogurt on a sheet pan, sprinkle with fruit and maybe some honey or nuts, then freeze until solid. Break it into pieces like bark candy. It’s healthy enough to eat for breakfast but feels like a treat. You can use whatever fruit is in season – berries, chopped peaches, whatever. This is great for hot days when you want something cold and refreshing. Kids love helping make this and picking their own fruit combinations. Get the link here.

10. Chocolate Avocado Mousse

Before you say “eww,” trust me on this one. Ripe avocados blended with cocoa powder, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla taste like rich chocolate mousse but healthier. The avocado gives it that creamy texture without any dairy or eggs. You literally can’t taste the avocado, just smooth chocolate goodness. This is vegan and healthier than regular mousse but tastes just as rich. Great for people with dairy issues or when you want dessert that’s not totally bad for you. Get the recipe here.

11. Key Lime Pie Bars

These have a graham cracker crust and a tangy lime filling that sets in the fridge. They’re easier than making a whole pie since you don’t need to worry about the filling staying in a pie shell. The lime juice and sweetened condensed milk combo is so good and refreshing in hot weather. Some recipes add a bit of lime zest for extra flavour. These are perfect for summer parties since they’re served cold and cut into neat squares. Get the recipe here.

12. No-Bake Coconut Macaroons

These are just coconut flakes mixed with sweetened condensed milk and shaped into mounds. Some recipes dip the bottoms in melted chocolate once they’re set. They’re chewy and sweet and taste like vacation. You can add vanilla or almond extract for extra flavor. These are naturally gluten-free which is nice for people with dietary restrictions. They keep well in the fridge and are perfect for cookie exchanges when you don’t want to bake. Get the recipe here.

13. Banana Pudding Parfait

This Southern classic layers vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, and vanilla wafers in a glass dish. The cookies soften as it sits and create cake-like layers. Some recipes make homemade pudding but instant works fine for this. The bananas add freshness and the cookies give texture. This looks pretty in individual glasses and can be made hours ahead. Great for using up ripe bananas and everyone loves the nostalgic flavors. Get the recipe here.

14. Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

This is the easiest fudge ever – just chocolate chips, peanut butter, and sweetened condensed milk melted together and poured into a pan. No candy thermometer or complicated technique needed. It sets in the fridge in a couple hours. Some recipes swirl in extra peanut butter for a marbled effect. This is rich enough that small squares are satisfying. Perfect for gift-giving or when you need homemade candy without the fuss. Get the recipe here.

15. Watermelon Granita

This is like Italian ice but made with fresh watermelon. You just puree watermelon with a little sugar and lemon juice, freeze it in a shallow pan, and scrape it with a fork every hour to break up the ice crystals. The result is light and refreshing – perfect for brutally hot days. Some recipes add mint which is really good with watermelon. This is basically healthy since it’s mostly fruit but feels like a special treat. Get the recipe here.

16. No-Bake Lemon Bars

These have a shortbread-style crust made from crushed cookies and butter, with a lemony filling that sets without baking. They’re tangy and sweet and perfect for lemon lovers. Some recipes use cream cheese in the filling which makes them extra rich. The bright yellow color looks so pretty and summery. These need to chill for several hours to set properly but they’re worth the wait. Great for picnics since they’re served cold anyway. Get the recipe here.

17. Frozen Chocolate Banana Bites

These are just banana slices dipped in melted chocolate and frozen. Some recipes roll them in chopped nuts or coconut before freezing. They’re like healthy ice cream bites that satisfy chocolate and fruit cravings at once. Kids love these and they’re way better for you than most frozen treats. You can make a big batch and keep them in the freezer for whenever you need a quick cold snack. Perfect portion control too since each piece is small. Get the recipe here.

18. Strawberry Fool

This old-fashioned British dessert is just mashed strawberries folded into whipped cream. Some recipes cook the berries with sugar first but you can use them fresh too. It’s simple but elegant served in pretty glasses. The name sounds weird but it just means a light dessert made with fruit and cream. This highlights really good strawberries when they’re in season. Way easier than strawberry shortcake but just as satisfying. Get the recipe here.

19. No-Bake Nutella Cheesecake

This combines the ease of no-bake cheesecake with everyone’s favorite chocolate-hazelnut spread. The Nutella gets mixed into the cream cheese filling which gives it amazing flavor and a pretty tan color. Some recipes add a chocolate cookie crust which goes perfectly with the Nutella. This is rich and indulgent but so easy to make. Perfect for Nutella addicts or when you want something that feels fancy but isn’t complicated. Get the recipe here.

20. Peach Parfait with Graham Cracker Crumbs

Fresh peaches get layered with whipped cream or yogurt and crushed graham crackers for crunch. When peaches are in season, this is the perfect way to show them off. Some recipes add a drizzle of honey or sprinkle of cinnamon. The graham crackers give it that cheesecake-like flavor without making actual cheesecake. This is light and fresh but still feels like dessert. Great for using up lots of summer peaches. Get the recipe here.

21. Chocolate Truffles

These sound fancy but are really just chocolate and cream heated together (ganache) then rolled into balls and coated with cocoa powder or nuts. You can add flavoring like vanilla, rum, or coffee to the ganache. They need to chill to firm up before rolling but that’s the hardest part. These make great gifts and look way more impressive than the effort required. Perfect for when you want homemade candy without complicated techniques. Get the recipe here.

22. No-Bake S’mores Bars

These have all the flavors of campfire s’mores but made indoors without a fire. Usually there’s a graham cracker crust, a chocolate layer, and marshmallows on top. Some recipes torch the marshmallows for that authentic s’mores look. These satisfy that s’mores craving when you can’t have a campfire. Kids go crazy for these and they’re easier than trying to roast marshmallows indoors. Perfect for summer parties when you want s’mores but don’t have a fire pit. Get the recipe here.

23. Frozen Fruit Popsicles

These are just pureed fruit with a little honey or sugar frozen in popsicle molds. You can use any fruit – strawberries, mango, kiwi, whatever’s good. Some recipes layer different fruits for pretty striped popsicles. These are healthy enough to be a snack but feel like a treat. Way cheaper than store-bought popsicles and you control the sugar content. Perfect for hot days when you need something cold and refreshing that’s actually good for you. Get the recipe here.