As summer ends and Labor Day approaches, I’ve compiled a list of 25 End Of Summer Labor Day Desserts that represent all of the sweetness we love about summer. The desserts in this recipe roundup feature sweet summer stone fruit, easy ice cream, refreshing beverages, no-bake sweets, and portable treats. All of the recipes are small batch, easy to make, and the perfect way to end the summer season!
small batch Pies, Cobblers, Tarts, and Crisps
Summer and pie go together like peanut butter and jelly. And as the days of summer wind down and Labor Day approaching, now is the time to enjoy these quintessential summer desserts!
features of the small batch labor day pies, cobblers, tarts, and crisps
- Summer Fruit – Sweet and juicy fruit that only comes around once a yea. Like cherries, peach, mango, and berries.
- Easy Flaky Crust – And the key to a delicious flaky crust is good, cold butter.
- Portable – Any time a dessert can easily be held in hand is a bonus! Not to mention, travels well!
- Small Batch – Which goes along with the portability – these small batch treats are inherently easy to hold and eat.
Helpful Small Batch Baking Essentials For These end of summer Labor Day Desserts
- Muffin Pan – The Mini Peach Pies are made using a standard muffin/cupcake pan.
- Ramekins – 8 ounce ramekins are great for the mini cobblers.
- Small Pie and Baking Dishes – I like to use these pie dishes and mini baking dishes for cobblers and crisps.
Below is just a sample of some of the pies and cobblers on the blog. Check out even more on the pies, tarts, cobblers, and crisps page.
Peaches and Cream Mini Pies
These Peaches and Cream Mini Pies are a delicious summer dessert! Bright and sweet peaches sit on a pillow of vanilla cream, and tender and buttery pie crust brings these mini pies together.
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Cherry Almond Galette For Two
This recipe for a Cherry Almond Galette For Two is easy to make and a perfect small batch dessert for summer. The fresh cherries are the star of the show, and have back-up support from a rich almond cream and superbly flaky crust!
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Small Batch Chocolate Stone Fruit Cobbler
This Small Batch Chocolate Stone Fruit Cobbler celebrates some of the juiciest fruit of summer! An easy small batch dessert featuring peaches, plums, and cherries – and topped with a sugar-studded chocolate biscuit.
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Caramel Corn Apple Galette
This small batch recipe for Caramel Corn Apple Galette is combines two delicious Fall desserts into one! Made with a creamy caramel and freeze dried sweet corn custard, and simple cinnamon sugar Honeycrisp apple filling. Then baked in a light and flaky pie crust for a pretty, yet rustic, pie for two!
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Pineapple Mango Gluten Free Crisp
This Pineapple Mango Gluten Free Crisp is a tropical fruit dessert that is easy, bright, and perfectly portioned for two. Coconut sugar provides caramel sweetness, and the gluten free crisp topping is made with almond flour and oats. A small batch dessert that is great for spring, Easter, or summer!
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Gluten Free White Peach Cobbler
This Gluten Free White Peach Cobbler recipe is an easy small batch and gluten free summer dessert! Sweet and juicy white peaches swim in a pool of refined sugar free caramel and are topped with a soft, caramelized cobbler. A summer – and peach season – must have dessert!
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No-Bake Puddings and Creams For Labor Day
Easy, creamy desserts may be the perfect way to end your Labor Day barbecue! I’ve gathered some of the lightest and brightest no-bake puddings to add to your weekend menu.
- Panna Cotta – Panna Cotta is an incredibly easy custard dessert made with cream, sweetener, and gelatin. The two recipes below feature a creamy custard flavored with peach and sweet corn.
- Chia Pudding – A healthier take on pudding, chia seed plumps to a pudding-like consistency when soaked with your favorite milk. And Black Forest Chia Pudding celebrates sweet summer cherries!
- Mousse – A lightened version of pudding, Rainier Cherry Mousse is luxuriously airy and creamy and flavored with super sweet rainier cherries.
Helpful Small Batch Baking Essentials For These end of summer Labor Day Desserts
- Small Saucepan – A heavy duty saucepan is a kitchen must-have when making puddings and creams – even candy and caramel. The small investment is worth it!
- Parfait Glasses – Really, any serving glass you have will work for these creamy desserts, but these classic parfait glasses will work for any of these recipes.
Below is just a sample of some of the pudding recipes on the blog. Check out even more on the pudding, mousse, and cream page.
Coconut Milk Peach Panna Cotta
Coconut Milk Peach Panna Cotta is a thick and creamy dessert flavored with freeze dried peaches, honey, and topped with fresh peach compote. This is an easy small batch recipe that is made dairy free by using canned coconut milk. A light and refreshing dessert, perfect to enjoy fresh summer peaches!
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Black Forest Chia Pudding
Black Forest Chia Pudding is a thick and creamy vegan pudding made with wholesome chia seeds, cocoa, fresh cherry compote, and topped with whipped coconut cream. An easy treat that can be enjoyed for breakfast, dessert, or any time in between!
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Sweet Corn Panna Cotta with Fresh Berry Sauce
This Sweet Corn Panna Cotta with Fresh Berry Sauce is a luxuriously creamy small batch dessert made with freeze-dried sweet corn and topped with a summer berry sauce and fresh fruit. The panna cotta is very easy to make and a light and refreshing treat perfect for summer!
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Rainier Cherry Mousse
Perfectly smooth and creamy Rainier Cherry Mousse – for two! Rainier cherries are light and sweet, and this small batch recipe highlights the freshness of these summer beauties. Best of all – the mousse is refined sugar free!
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Easy Portable Desserts For Labor Day
Chances are there is a barbecue in your Labor Day weekend plans. No need to stress about how to transport or serve these handheld desserts – serve them in small parfait glasses! And, whip up a batch of Whipped Coconut Cream to dollop on the top of these little beauties for an extra special touch!
What Makes These Portable Desserts Great For Summer
- Summer Flavors – S’mores. Need I say more?! 🙂
- Light and Bright – Let’s save the ultra-decadence for Fall and Christmas. These summer desserts are light and airy and summer fruit brightens the whole dish.
- No-Bake – With the exception of the cake in the Peach Mousse Trifle, every component of these desserts are no-bake. Though, you could go as far as using a store bought cake for the trifle … just saying!
Strawberry S’mores Parfait
This recipe for Gluten Free Strawberry S'mores Parfaits combines silky vegan chocolate pudding, gluten free graham cracker crumbs, and toasty marshmallows for a decadent no-bake summer dessert! The parfaits are easily portable and the small batch recipe can be adjusted to accommodate any serving size.
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Raspberry Peach Gluten Free Cheesecake Cups
Raspberry Peach Gluten Free Cheesecake Cups are a gluten free and refined sugar free summer dessert. Featuring gluten free graham crackers, velvety no-bake cheesecake filling, and honey sweetened raspberry and peach topping. An easy small batch recipe with everything you love about cheesecake, but served deconstructed in cute serving glasses!
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No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake Parfaits
Smooth and creamy No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake Parfaits are as easy as they are delicious. The cheesecake filling is lightly sweetened with maple syrup then topped with vibrant fresh cherry filling.
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Peach Mousse Trifle
Refreshing and creamy Peach Mousse Trifle is the perfect summer dessert! Creamy peach mousse is layered with vanilla whipped cream, light yellow cake, and fresh peach slices. This easy recipe makes 4 individual servings or one large trifle.
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No-Bake Cakes For Labor Day
There is a bit of a theme with these 25 End Of Summer Desserts for Labor Day – they are easy and a lot of them are no-bake. Winner winner, dessert for dinner!
And how exactly do you make a no-bake cake? Well, there is a the classic icebox cake where creamy filling is layered with crackers or cookies. Or, make a no-bake cheesecake. Obviously, I am a big fan of a no-bake cheesecake considering the number of cheesecake recipes that aren’t baked on the blog!
Helpful Small Batch Baking Essentials For These end of summer Labor Day Desserts
- 6-Inch Springform Pan – The springform pan is almost a must for a cheesecake because the pan releases from the cake easy. A 6-Inch springform is what I use for most recipes.
- 4-Inch Springform Pan – The same as above, but to make a smaller individual size cake, the 4-Inch springform is great!
- Parchment Paper – I’ve learned through trial and error that lining the bottom of the springform pan with parchment paper will save you much aggravation when trying to get the cakes crust off the removal springform pan bottom.
Neapolitan No-Bake Mini Cheesecake
This Neapolitan No-Bake Mini Cheesecake is set on a waffle cone crust to give you all of the flavors of an ice cream cone treat! The mini cheesecake is made in a 6-inch springform pan with layers of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry no-bake cheesecake filling. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings for your own version of an ice cream sundae!
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No-Bake Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake
This Mini No-Bake Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake is a delicious celebration cake for Valentine's Day, or any other special occasion. A fluffy and creamy chocolate cheesecake layer is set on a chocolate graham cracker crust, and topped with a sweet strawberry whipped cream.
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Mini Orange Creamsicle No-Bake Cheesecake
No-baking is required for this perfect summer dessert – Mini Orange Creamsicle No-Bake Cheesecake! Silky cheesecake is brightened with fresh orange juice and zest, then topped with orange whipped cream, and all on top of a buttery vanilla wafer crust.
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Ice Cream and Frozen Treats For Labor Day
So, the great thing about these delicious frozen treats is that you don’t need any special equipment. Translation – all of the ice cream is no-churn! And, if you want to see even more brain-freeze-because-I-ate-it-too-fast desserts, check out the ice cream and frozen treats page!
What’s in store with this roundup of frozen treats
- Easy – I said it before, but will say it again. All of the ice cream recipes on the blog are no-churn!
- Summer in a Sweet – Yes, you can eat ice cream in the fall and winter (and I recommend it), but walking around with popsicle dripping down your hand is a classic summer past-time! 🙂
- Versatile – The recipes lay a great foundation for trying out different flavors.
Dairy Free Strawberry Ice Cream
This is an easy no-churn recipe for Dairy-Free Strawberry Ice Cream. The creamy ice cream is made with only 5 ingredients including canned coconut milk, fresh (or frozen strawberries), and honey. Plus, a secret ingredient that makes this ice cream extra velvety and smooth!
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Peanut Butter Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Celebrate the festivities of summer with these Peanut Butter Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches. This is a small batch frozen dessert that combines no-churn chocolate chip ice cream sandwiched between two flourless peanut butter cookies, and finished with a chocolate shell and festive sprinkles.
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No-Churn Fresh Cherry Ice Cream
3-Ingredient No-Churn Fresh Cherry Ice Cream! This is an easy, small batch ice cream recipe that doesn't require an ice-cream machine or eggs. Sweetened condensed milk gives the ice cream its smooth and creamy texture, while fresh cherries give it its delicious flavor, and color!
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Creamy Watermelon Popsicles with Magic Shell
Enjoy the flavors of summer with these Creamy Watermelon Popsicles with Magic Shell! This is an easy recipe for a small batch of watermelon popsicles lightened with coconut cream, slightly sweetened with honey, and topped with your very own chocolate Magic Shell!
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Refreshing End of Summer Drinks For Labor Day
I am aware that a Labor Day barbecue may require an adult beverage. But to keep my recipes suitable for all ages, they are non-alcoholic. That is not to say that you can’t sneak a little rum or prosecco into any of them!
Features Of These Summer Beverage Recipes
- Lemonade – Flavoring lemonade with fruit like strawberry or blueberry may be a must for me going forward. And it all started with my Ginger Lemonade recipe. A reader favorite on the blog!
- Frozen – Hot summer days call for cool refreshing drinks. I love that these two refreshers feature frozen fruit in lieu of ice cubes. This means more undiluted flavor!
Peach and Citrus Refersher
Sipping on a Peach and Citrus Refresher is a great way to beat the summer heat! These frozen drinks are refreshing, easy to make, and provide a vibrant yet smooth sip that will have you making a double batch. Tajin Sugar lines the rim of the glass to amp up the citrus with a mild sweet and savory sip.
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Strawberry Lemonade
This refreshing Strawberry Lemonade recipe is made with fresh strawberry sauce that is lightly sweetened with honey. The bright strawberry sauce is combined with tart lemonade, then garnished with a strawberry sugar glass rim and a fresh strawberry slice for a stunning summer beverage!
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Watermelon Honey Lime Slushies
Simple and refreshing Watermelon Honey Lime Slushies are a delicious way to cool down on a hot day! Fresh frozen watermelon is combined with lime juice and honey for a tart and sweet frozen beverage. Top with whipped cream, and you have a frozen drink that is reminiscent of an ice cream float!
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Refreshing Blueberry Lemonade
Summertime and lemonade are the classic duo – and this Refreshing Blueberry Lemonade will make you wish it was summer all the time! This easy recipe starts with homemade blueberry simple syrup, then the perfect ratio of lemon juice and water is added for a truly refreshing drink. Make this adult-friendly by adding the spirit of your choice.
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Cheers to the end of summer! And hello to the wonderful and festive fall season!
