Recipes and Cooking Desserts & Baking Cakes 14 Must-Try Summer Cake Recipes to Celebrate the Season By Nik Pugmire Nik Pugmire Instagram Nik Pugmire is a food writer and professional pastry chef with over 15 years of baking and pastry experience. Specialties and expertise include recipe and menu development, wedding cake design, specialty cake decorating, and creating unique, seasonal desserts for restaurant and catering events.Nik works as the executive pastry chef of the Port of Des Moines Event Group and Doré Bakery, located in Des Moines, Iowa. His expertise of desserts and baked items include a wide range from casual, grab-and-go style to elaborate plated desserts, as well as wedding and celebration cakes, and a vast retail operation within the Des Moines Metro area. He is constantly creating and customizing new recipes based on seasonality of ingredients, current culinary trends, and special dietary needs.Nik has also worked in pastry kitchens for major hotels, including The Four Seasons Chicago. He acquired experience in curating dessert items and menus for on-site restaurant, room service, weddings, and special events hosted by the hotel. He also designed banquet and wedding desserts, including custom wedding cakes, based off personal consultations with clients. In addition, he specialized in the creation and design of personalized amenities for celebrity and VIP guests. He trained at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Las Vegas. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on July 25, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Andy Lyons When it comes to summer, it's necessary to infuse every part of the meal with fresh, seasonal produce—especially dessert. In this collection of summer cake recipes, we're using fresh berries, stone fruit, citrus, and even squash and corn to make the most delicious final course for a meal. Keep these summer cakes in mind for a perfect way to use the season's fresh flavors at your gatherings. 01 of 14 Lavender-Thyme Fluted Cake View Recipe Jennifer Davick Using fresh thyme and lavender, this bright, herbal cake will be sure to excite your senses. Baking this cake in a decorative bundt pan and topping it with a sweet crème fraiche glaze will surely make it centerpiece worthy at your table this summer. Easy Summer Recipes to Get Dinner on the Table in 30 Minutes or Less 02 of 14 Blueberry Lemonade Poke Cake View Recipe Jacob Fox The flavors of lemonade and blueberries come together harmoniously in this delicious summer cake. With lemonade concentrate and a fresh blueberry sauce, the summer won't be the same after eating this deliciously tart poke cake. 03 of 14 Upside Down Almond Plum Cake View Recipe Jason Donnelly You'll have difficulty only having one slice of this attractive and delicious summer cake. Depending on the fruit availability in your area, an alternate option is to make this cake with other stone fruits like apricots or peaches. 04 of 14 Six-Layer Strawberry Cake View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul This unforgettable strawberry cake will be a definite showstopper. Stacked tall with six layers of delicious strawberry cake and alternating layers of cream cheese icing, this cake goes above and beyond with a coating of shredded coconut. 05 of 14 Mango-Carrot Cake View Recipe Andy Lyons What better way to use the carrots from your garden or local farmers market than to make a fabulous carrot cake? Level up with this tropical twist of incorporating mango juice for a fantastic summer cake. 06 of 14 Peaches and Cream Prosecco Cake View Recipe Andy Lyons If you think combining prosecco and peaches is a dream come true, this is the cake for you. Prosecco shines through in the dense sponge cake and the peach filling, with the entire cake accented by a topping of freshly whipped cream icing. 07 of 14 Zucchini-Olive Oil Cake View Recipe Con Poulos Zucchini is always abundant in the summer, and this layered cake is perfect for use in one of the sweetest ways possible. The accented flavor of olive oil adds an exceptional taste to this moist summer cake. 08 of 14 Upside-Down Apricot-Caramel Crunch Cake View Recipe Blaine Moats Everyone will love this simple summer version of a classic upside-down cake. Perfect for those last-minute gatherings, this recipe features a quick assembly using a spiced cake mix and canned apricots, making prep in the kitchen a breeze. 09 of 14 Lime-Infused Coconut Pound Cake View Recipe Scott Little Tart lime and sweet coconut flavors shine bright in this refreshing summer cake. One bite and you will feel like you are on the beach with this tropical-inspired pound cake. 10 of 14 Whole Wheat Chocolate-Blueberry Cake View Recipe Andy Lyons This cake combines the rich flavor of chocolate while adding the extra nutritional benefits of incorporating blueberries and whole wheat flour. While this might be one of the healthiest cake options on the list, it is a chocolate lover's dream for the summertime. 11 of 14 Lemon-Blueberry Corn Cake View Recipe Andy Lyons This quick bread-style summer cake highlights some of the greatest flavors of the season. Cornmeal in the recipe gives a distinctly wonderful coarse texture, while the blueberry and lemon evoke all the most fantastic memories of summer. Ideal for your next summer brunch gathering! 12 of 14 Dark Chocolate-Raspberry Cakes View Recipe Blaine Moats If you want to make desserts for a larger gathering, consider these individual cakes that combine a rich chocolate cake with tart raspberries. These summer cakes are easily assembled and baked in muffin pans, then topped with a chocolate truffle icing before serving. A definite hit for any chocolate fan! 13 of 14 Blueberry Bundt Cake View Recipe Carson Downing A unique combination of blueberries, cardamom, and rye flour makes this bundt cake a memorable experience to which you'll be returning throughout the summer. Topped with a berry-citrus glaze, this cake will be an excellent way to end your summer meal. 14 of 14 Cast-Iron Plum Polenta Cake View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul This cast-iron dream dessert is perfect for a summer night of grilling. The flavors combine the sweet taste of plums and the appealing texture of cornmeal, with the option of making one large cake or multiple smaller cakes. Surprising Muffin Tin Recipes for Every Meal of the Day Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit