2025 SUMMER BAKES

The variety of colorful, fresh and just beautiful-looking produce that summer brings is just mesmerizing to me! This season is my favorite time to wander the local farmers markets, enjoy meals under the sunshine, and of course BAKE! As always, I like to keep things interesting by choosing fruity recipes that have unique flavor combinations, or that require some (or a lot of) labor. And there are a few of the tried-and-true favorites that I couldn’t resist making. So enjoy this vibrant and mouthwatering compilation of sweet and savory bakes from my summer kitchen!…

Cakes

Lemon blueberry cake with lemon curd and lemon cream cheese frosting, topped with fresh blueberries, sprigs of thyme and dusted with freeze-dried blueberry powder. My sister’s favorite dessert flavor is lemon, so for her wedding cake I aimed to incorporate as much of this tart and bright citrus fruit as possible. As for the decoration, I wanted to create a non-traditional design that was eye-catching and super colorful! I’m proud to say this was a hit and the most special dessert I’ve ever made. :)

Vanilla cake with lemon curd and blueberry buttercream, topped with blueberries, blackberries, thyme and lemon zest—aka Fairy Cake! I made this as part of a vibrant summer lunch with the girls. Also on the menu was Tunisian couscous with beef and vegetables, fruit salad with honey and lime juice, as well as a stone fruit lemonade.

Classic cheesecake with a Biscoff cookie crust, lemon cream cheese frosting and fresh berries. To celebrate my friend’s 30th birthday, I whipped up a fruity and creamy dessert that nods to her sweet and sunny personality!

Lemon blueberry loaf cake with a simple lemon glaze, served with fresh blueberries. Can you tell there’s a theme for these summer bakes?

Crumbles & Crisps

Nectarine berry oat crumble, topped with vanilla ice cream. I love meal prepping an oat crumble for breakfast because it’s easy to prepare, filling and nourishing while still feeling like you’re eating dessert in the morning. Though instead of ice cream I’ll serve with plain Greek yogurt. ;) Also, strolling through the farmers market is a highlight during stone fruit season, aren’t these peaches beautiful?

Cherry crisp that I prepared for a poolside grill day with friends. Before devouring this dessert, we enjoyed steak, corn on the cob and veggie skewers.

Breads

Cherry tomato focaccia with dried herbs, topped with roasted garlic olive oil, crushed red pepper and flaky salt. We sliced this bread to make super hearty panini with pistachio mortadella, cacio di roma cheese, marinated artichoke, roasted red pepper, heirloom tomato and fresh arugula.

Raspberry chocolate chip brioche bread pudding, topped with pastry cream. This is the kind of dessert that is simple to whip up, uses up any leftover ingredients and easily turns out delicious!

Double chocolate zucchini bread drizzled with dark chocolate espresso ganache. Such a perfectly soft texture and rich flavor, would recommend drinking a glass of milk with this, or adding vanilla ice cream on top.

Cookies

Raspberry matcha pistachio chocolate chip cookies, with a sprinkle of flaky salt. I brought these to a lakefront picnic with the girls!

Roasted strawberry cornmeal cookies, which were incredibly soft and chewy! These were a late summer treat that I whipped up to bring in a packed lunch for my sister and me during one of our famous thrifting trips.

Tarts & Pastries

Pastry cream and lemon curd puff pastry tarts topped with fresh strawberries.

Herb ricotta puff pastry tart with Italian sausage, sautéed kale and marinated artichoke.