Classic Summer Sweets, With a Twist

Daisy Martinez, cookbook author and celebrity chef, makes this fresh fruit panna cotta the night before for a refreshing cookout dessert.

Bake peaches in a biscuitlike crust; butterscotch sauce adds a touch of sweetness.

Customize these indoor s'mores by swapping the blackberries for your favorite summer fruits, such as strawberries, blueberries, or plum slices.

Fresh peaches cooked in peach nectar and brown sugar are topped with buttery pastry, fresh berries, and creamy vanilla ice cream. Sprigs of mint add a bright, fresh-from-the-garden touch.

Our simple to make glaze, coupled with lavender whipped cream, makes this fluffy butter cake stand above the rest. Fresh strawberries make a festive (and delicious) topper.

Beat the heat with this frozen dessert that's better than any store-bought sorbet or ice cream. They're so easy to make; simply layer fresh fruit and sherbets in paper cups and freeze overnight.

Serve this luscious, pastry-like pie with a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. A swatch of fabric tied at the rim transforms a paper cup into a cute dessert dish.

This summer spin on dipped apples can't be beat. A sugary cinnamon coating gives the fruit a touch of heat; serve it on a layer of fresh blueberries.

Sweet, juicy peaches star in this cooked-on-the-grill version of an all-time favorite dessert: fruit crisp. If you can't get ripe, fragrant fresh peaches, substitute frozen or canned.

Toasted slices of cake are topped with a mixture of raspberries, caramel sauce, and mint jelly. Sprigs of fresh mint add a garden-fresh touch. Serve it with a scoop of lemon or vanilla sorbet.

There's nothing like homemade ice cream on a hot summer day, and this recipe is so simple to make. The combination of sweet-tart lemon ice cream and fresh blueberry sauce is hard to beat.

Finely shredded lemon and orange peel stirred into the cookie dough gives these bite-sized treats fresh flavor. Serve them with our homemade lemon ice cream and blueberry sauce.

For a new take on classic sundaes, arrange slices of Neapolitan ice cream with crispy cinnamon-spiced crepes.

Lighter desserts can be delicious. In this recipe, light pastry takes the place of biscuits or cakes, and golden-toasted sweetened egg whites replace whipping cream.

This summer slant on vanilla cupcakes is irresistible. Stirring snipped marigold leaves and petals into white cake mix adds a lively citrus flavor to the cupcakes.

This refreshing dessert is just right for a bridal shower, or garden party. To make it, fill hollowed out melon halves with pureed cantaloupe and softened vanilla frozen yogurt.

Try this variation on classic creme brulee. Layer fresh raspberries and blueberries with creamy custard. Top with caramelized sugar.

Snipped tarragon from your garden punches up the flavor of lemon ice -- and adds a pretty, party-worthy twist that's just right for summer get togethers.

Two classic favorites -- ice cream and cupcakes -- combine to make the ultimate dessert. Pair chocolate chip ice cream with chocolate cupcakes; top it off with tangy raspberry jam and chopped pecans.