5 Cool Summer Desserts to get you out of the Kitchen!
Summer is always my favorite time of the year. Being the multi-tasking, have-to-fit-everything-in person I am, I am always late to bed and early to rise. That doesn’t leave a ton of time for baking! So, when we want a sweet treat, we turn to the pantry for one of our Halladays No Bake Cheesecake mixes. For busy families on the go, these are the perfect base to keep stocked in the pantry to ensure lots of deliciously light summer desserts - without all the chemicals!
Today, we’re sharing 5 fun and quick summer desserts to get you out of the kitchen fast, so you can enjoy all that summer has to offer.
WATERMELON PIZZA
For a fun and healthy summer dessert, try our version of a watermelon pizza. A little layer of Halladays Cheesecake Mix added to Greek Yogurt is just enough to hold everything together and to add a sweet but tart contrast to the fruit.
2 (1” round) slices cut from the center of a seedless watermelon
1 cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp. Halladay’s Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake Mix
⅔ cup sliced strawberries
½ cup blueberries
2 Tbsp. toasted coconut
Spread a thin layer of yogurt on each watermelon slice, then stack on top of each other. Sprinkle the top with strawberries, blueberries, and then the toasted coconut. Slice into 6 or 8 pie shaped wedges to serve.
LIGHT KEY LIME MOUSSE
This one is a treat to serve in parfait glasses and garnish with fresh fruit or a small wafer cookie. Can be served plain or layered with fresh fruit such as sliced strawberries and blueberries. Add some crushed graham crackers to the bottom of the glass for a little crunch.
1 package Halladay's Key Lime Cheesecake
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip, defrosted
Combine cheesecake and yogurt; fold in Cool Whip. Serve in parfait glasses and garnish with fresh fruit or a small wafer cookie. Can be served plain or layered with fresh fruit such as sliced strawberries and blueberries.
STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE PIE
Our local farmstand is the inspiration for this dessert. Local plump strawberries combined in a light sauce are the perfect topping for our Strawberry Cheesecake. The Creamy base is the perfect combination with the sweet strawberry sauce.
For Pie and Filling
1 Prepared Graham Cracker Pie Crust
1 pint cool whip
1 (8 oz.) block cream cheese
1 package of Halladay’s Strawberry Cheesecake Mix
Prepare according to package directions and chill.
For Topping
2 lbs strawberries, sliced
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup water
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
Crush or puree 1.5 cups of the strawberries. Whisk sugar, water and cornstarch in small saucepan until smooth. Heat until the sugar is dissolved, then add in the crushed strawberries. Bring to a boil over med heat, stirring until thickened. Let cool for 30 minutes, then add additional strawberries. Top prepared cheesecake with the strawberry sauce.
COCONUT PINEAPPLE CREAM PIE
This pie is a version of your favorite summer beach vacation. Crushed pineapple is added to our Pina Colada Cheesecake mix and then folded into a graham cracker pie shell. Toasted Coconut added to the top is amazing!
1 package Halladay's Pina Colada Cheesecake
1 (8 oz.) bar cream cheese, softened
1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip, defrosted
1 (15 oz.) can crushed pineapple, well drained
1 cup coconut, toasted
1 (9-inch) prepared graham cracker crust
Combine cheesecake, yogurt and pineapple; fold in Cool Whip and pour into pie shell. Garnish with coconut. Chill at least 1 hour before serving.
CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PARFAIT
Yes, summer is the best time for fruity creations, but for our chocolate lovers, we had to share this fan favorite!
1 package Halladay's Double Chocolate Cheesecake
1 (8 oz.) bar cream cheese, softened
1 cup peanut butter
1 (8 oz.) container of Cool Whip or 8 oz. whipped cream
12 Oreos, crushed
Blend cheesecake mix, cream cheese and peanut butter; fold in Cool Whip. Spoon small amount of Oreo mixture into the bottom of a dessert glass followed by a layer of cream cheese mixture. Add another layer of Oreo followed by another layer of cream cheese mixture. Let chill. Top with whipped cream, if desired.
Variation: pour cream cheese mixture into a prepared Oreo or chocolate pie shell; let chill.
Want to stock up on our cheesecake mixes? Our Eat Dessert First Box has a selection of some of our favorite Dessert Mixes. Keep a couple graham cracker crusts on hand, a couple blocks of cream cheese, and a couple tubs of whipped topping in the freezer and you can be the dessert hero in minutes!
If you try any of these recipes, we want to see your pictures! Post to Instagram or Facebook and tag us @halladaysharvestbarn and use the hashtag #halladaysathome so we can see them. Enjoy!
-Kathleen Govotski, Owner Halladays Harvest Barn