Top Desserts To Make Before Summer Ends

Late September brings the end of summer and changing seasonal menus. While there are plenty of culinary possibilities to anticipate in the fall, any baking and pastry arts enthusiast will want to take advantage of one last chance to enjoy summer produce. Try making one of these fantastic desserts to celebrate the final days of the season:

Bake a classic crisp

Fruit crisps are an ideal way to showcase summer produce. Cookbook author Grace Parisi provided Today with a simple recipe that spotlights blueberries. With only five ingredients and fast preparation, this is a dish you can whip up any day of the week.

Mix a cup of self-rising flour and half a cup of brown sugar in a bowl. Place three tablespoons of the mixture in a baking dish. Toss with two pints of blueberries and two tablespoons of water.

Add softened butter to the bowl with the rest of the flour and sugar. Rub the ingredients together with your fingers, and then add a nutty cinnamon granola. Form clumps before placing them on top of the blueberry mixture.

Bake in an oven set to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for half an hour. To keep the crisp from becoming too browned, cover with foil after 15 minutes. When the filling is bubbling and the topping is golden, remove from the oven and serve with ice cream.

Craft a strawberry angel food treat

Harness the flavor of strawberries for an irresistible dish. The Country Contessa suggested a delicious strawberry angel food lush. First you’ll need the angel food cake, so you can either take an hour to bake your own or, if you’re pressed for time, pick one up at the local bakery.

Cut the cake into one-inch cubes, placing them in a baking dish. In a bowl, use a handheld mixer to combine whipped cream, cream cheese, powdered sugar and milk. Spread the mixture onto the cake with a spatula.

Add more whipped cream on top of the cream cheese mixture. In a separate bowl, mix sliced, fresh strawberries with a strawberry glaze. Then spread the fruit onto the whipped cream. Keep the dish refrigerated until you’re ready to serve a refreshing seasonal dessert.

Turn a fruity delight upside down

For a fun way to dig into ripe plums, make the upside down cake recipe from Food&Wine. Melt a tablespoon of butter in a skillet on medium-high heat before adding pieces of the fruit and sugar. After three or four minutes, move the plums into a cake pan, forming circles and pouring the juices on top.

In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Beat together butter and sugar with an egg, sour cream and vanilla. Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones while mixing.

Add the batter to the plums and bake at 350 degrees for up to 55 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan before inverting onto a plate.

Take your lemon pie to the next level

Finish out the summer with a dessert to remember by assembling a truly remarkable lemon pie. Popsugar featured directions offered by TV personality Joanna Gaines. With a comforting graham cracker crust, this pie will end the season on a high note.

Place crushed graham crackers in a bowl with sugar, and stir in melted butter. Then, transfer the mixture into a pie plate coated with a nonstick spray. Bake at 350 degrees for eight minutes.

While the crust is baking, combine three egg yolks with milk, lemon juice and salt. Beat at medium speed for four minutes, and then pour into the crust. Return to the oven to bake for 10 minutes.

Allow the pie to rest for half an hour before moving to the refrigerator. Keep chilled for an hour or until the filling sets. When ready to serve, mix whipping cream, sugar and vanilla, beating until the mixture becomes fluffy. Spread onto the pie with garnishes of mint, lemons slices and lemon zest.