As we bid farewell to summer and eagerly anticipate the arrival of Labor Day, I’ve updated my curated collection of 25 End Of Summer Labor Day Desserts that capture the essence of all the sweetness summer has to offer.
The desserts in this recipe roundup feature the vibrant flavors of summer stone fruit, effortless ice cream, thirst-quenching beverages, fuss-free 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 Cobblers 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 cobblers and crisps
- Summer Fruit – Sweet and juicy fruit that only comes around once a year. Like cherries, peaches, and strawberries.
- Buttery Topping – The sweet and crunchy crown on these desserts are warm, buttery, and incredibly delicious.
- 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.
Gluten Free Strawberry Cobbler
This small batch gluten free strawberry cobbler is your answer to the best strawberry dessert! The easy recipe features fresh strawberries that bake into a luscious filling, and a buttery gluten free cobbler topping that is delicately sweet. Served in cute mini baking dishes, this sweet summer dessert is perfect for two!
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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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Gluten Free Mini Cherry Crisp Recipe
Savor summer with this gluten free cherry crisp recipe. Golden Rainier cherries, bubbling maple sauce, and a crisp almond-oat topping create this delightful dessert. A flavorful almond flour, oats, and almond paste streusel crowns the gluten-free crisp. And the cherry filling bakes to bubbly perfection, delivering the ultimate cherry treat!
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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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Labor Day Pies
These summer pies showcase the best summer fruits and flavors. The juices from the fruit add vibrant flavor to the pie, while a surprise creamy base brings in another layer of texture.
Everything To Love About These Small Batch Pie Recipes
- Abundance of Fruit – Juicy peaches, fresh apple, and sweet cherries shine in these recipes.
- Easy Flaky Crust – And the key to a delicious flaky crust is good, cold butter.
- Gluten Free Option – Any of these treats can be made gluten free with my flaky gluten free pie dough.
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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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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Small Batch Peach Kuchen (Peach and Custard Pies)
This Small Batch Peach Kuchen recipe makes 4 individual peach and custard pies. These mini fresh peach Kuchen are made with an enriched soft dough filled with creamy vanilla custard and finished with fresh peach slices.
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Cherry Almond Galette For Two
Indulge in the delicious flavors of this cherry almond galette for two, showcasing plump fresh cherries, velvety almond cream, and a delightfully flaky all-butter 6-inch pie crust. This delectable summer dessert is ideal for your backyard BBQ, picnic, or any festive summer celebration!
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No-Bake Pudding and mousse 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.
- Mousse – A lightened version of pudding, fruit mousse is luxuriously airy and creamy.
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.
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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Strawberry Pudding and Lemonade Granita Parfait
Experience the essence of summer with these strawberry pudding and lemonade granita parfaits. Enjoy layers of fresh strawberry pudding crowned with effervescent frozen lemonade. The creamy pudding perfectly complements the zesty granita, offering a refreshing delight ideal for hot days!
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Blackberry Mousse
Creamy, dairy free blackberry mousse is your answer to a beautiful summer dessert without all the effort! With only 6 ingredients needed – and that includes water! – the fruit mousse is incredibly easy to make, with no baking required. The mousse is bright, velvety, and a certain showstopper at your next summer event!
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Mango Mousse
Velvety and creamy mango mousse celebrates the pure flavor of the beautiful tropical fruit. Fresh mango puree is combined with dairy-free whipped coconut cream to yield a sinfully delicious dessert for two. The beautiful mousse is easy to make with only 7 ingredients – including the water! – and a little bit of patience to let the mousse reach optimal creaminess!
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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 – The components of (most) 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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Blackberry Mousse Gluten Free Trifle
A gluten free trifle with blackberry mousse, moist chocolate cake, and fluffy whipped cream is what summer dessert dreams are made of! The pretty dessert takes my blackberry mousse and layers it with gluten free chocolate cake, whipped coconut cream, and fresh berries to make a stunning dessert with minimal effort!
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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 an effortless no-bake cheesecake.
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 – Lining the bottom of the springform pan with parchment paper will save you much aggravation when removing the cakes from 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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Gluten Free Peanut Butter S’mores Icebox Cake
Enjoy campfire s'mores in this gluten free peanut butter s'mores icebox cake! The no-bake cake features a flavor surprise of peanut butter cream, along with layers of gluten free graham crackers, marshmallow cream, and rich chocolate ganache. Finish the summer icon with a toasty marshmallow topping for a tasty and pretty summer dessert!
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Ice Cream and Frozen Treats
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 labor day desserts
- Easy – 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
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 refreshing Beverage Recipes
- Nostalgic – I may age myself, but one of my favorite childhood memories was going to the local soda counter for a fruit flavor infused cream soda!
- Lemonade – Flavoring lemonade with fruit, like my blueberry lemonade, may be a must for me going forward. And it all started with my Ginger Lemonade recipe.
- Frozen – Hot summer days call for cool refreshing drinks. I love that these 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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Homemade Black Cherry Cream Soda (Dairy Free)
Elevate your summer sipping on a dairy-free black cherry cream soda that is homemade! Fresh cherry syrup meets coconut cream, then the soda-shop inspired drink is topped with black cherry sparkling water. Light, creamy, fruity, and totally refreshing, this fizzy beverage guarantees a delightful treat!
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