Food and Recipes Party Food and Drink 38 No-Cook Desserts Too Easy Not To Try By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 11, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Caitlin Bensel Although Southern cooks love to bake beautiful layer cakes, tricky meringues, and flavorful bread pudding recipes to show off their skills, there's not always time for an elaborate dessert. When you're in a last-minute rush (or if it's just too darn hot to cook during Southern summers!), turn to our favorite no-cook desserts. Not only are these delicious desserts no-bake, but they're also no-cook, which means you don't even have to turn the stovetop on. From classic icebox pies to fun milkshakes and multi-layer treats, there is a no-cook dessert for every event you can imagine. Give no-cook peanut brittle or bourbon balls as a Christmas hostess gift. End your child's birthday party on a memorable note with an ice cream sandwich cake. Or show off fresh summer produce at the Fourth of July cookout with a peach icebox cake or watermelon popsicles that both kids and adults will love. If you're short on time, don't preheat that oven—stick with our best no-cook desserts. 01 of 38 Blueberry-Cheesecake Ice-Cream Pie Recipe: Blueberry-Cheesecake Ice-Cream Pie This refreshing recipe is so much easier than its mouthful of a name lets off. The simple shortbread piecrust is filled to the brim with blueberry goodness and topped with whipped cream, blueberries, mint, and lemon twists, making it company-ready after a little time in the freezer. 02 of 38 Granitas Alison Miksch Recipe: Cucumber-Basil Granita Recipe: Raspberry Limeade Granita Recipe: Orange Cream Granita These flavorful fruity shaved ice desserts are a breeze to make. Throwing a party? Add your favorite spirit for slushy cocktails. 03 of 38 Lemon Meringue Ice-Cream Pie Jennifer Davick Recipe: Lemon Meringue Ice-Cream Pie Ice cream pies are fit for any occasion. Made with homemade lemon curd, this confection is bursting with citrusy flavor. The best part is it can be made a week in advance. 04 of 38 Homemade Ice Cream Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Avocado-Key Lime Pie Ice CreamRecipe: Sea Salt Ice CreamRecipe: Homemade Cookies-and-Cream Ice CreamRecipe: Blueberry Ripple No-Churn Ice Cream A new freezer favorite has arrived: An assortment of easy homemade ice creams to provide an endless array of sweet and creamy ideas for any occasion. The secret to these dreamy treats? A heaping spoonful of your ice cream of choice between soft-baked cookies from your bakery. Go large or small—just don't go with the crunchy kind. 05 of 38 Quick & Tasty Banana Pudding Van Chaplin Recipe: Quick & Tasty Banana Pudding This super easy banana pudding calls for just four ingredients: a banana, thawed whipping topping, prepared vanilla pudding, and vanilla wafers. 06 of 38 Orange Sherbet Punch Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck Recipe: Orange Sherbet Punch This old-school recipe has all the makings of a classic Southern punch. It is sweet, slightly creamy, fruity, and there is always an occasion for it. 07 of 38 Strawberry-Orange Trifle Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Strawberry-Orange Trifle Fresh fruit makes for a light dessert sure to satisfy everyone at your table, especially when it's layered with lemon curd whipping cream and topped with crumbled shortbread cookies. 08 of 38 Lemon Granita Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Lemon Granita Imagine a fresh glass of lemonade, but make it flaky and icy, like a snowflake. It's a summer-perfect, no-cook dessert that will make everyone ask for more. 09 of 38 Chocolate Parfaits Southern Living Recipe: Chocolate Parfaits Treat yourself with a dessert on the lighter side. We tried using both sugar-free instant and regular pudding mixes. To our surprise, we preferred the flavor of the sugar-free. 10 of 38 No-Cook Peach Ice Cream Southern Living Recipe: No-Cook Peach Ice Cream Many homemade ice cream recipes require cooking a custard base, but this easy peach ice cream is made from sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, and fresh peaches. 11 of 38 Lemon Tiramisu Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck Recipe: Lemon Tiramisu This refreshing, zesty spin on a classic tiramisu is the ideal treat to serve at your next summer gathering. (Be sure to use soft ladyfingers in this recipe.) 12 of 38 Classic Peanut Brittle Charles Walton Recipe: Classic Peanut Brittle No Southerner has ever been upset to see a candy tray full of homemade peanut brittle. 13 of 38 White Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Micah A. Leal Recipe: White Chocolate-Covered Strawberries These white-chocolate covered strawberries make an easy but elegant end to any meal. Or fill up a tin for easy gifting! 14 of 38 Icebox Cheesecake Recipe: Icebox Cheesecake This dreamy dessert combines all the cheesecake flavors you love with the ease of an icebox pie. 15 of 38 Rum Balls Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Rum Balls We brought back this recipe that has stood the test of time from our December 1993 issue. 16 of 38 Peach Milkshake Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Peach Milkshake Everything you love about a fruity and refreshing sundae, but drinkable—this milkshake is exploding with summertime peach flavor. 17 of 38 Ice Cream Sandwich Cake Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Ice Cream Sandwich Cake This nostalgic, crowd-favorite dessert will be the star of every summer party. 18 of 38 No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies Romulo Yanes Recipe: No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies If chocolate and mint are your favorite combo, these sweet cookies are your new favorite homemade version. Go a step further and use a creamy vanilla ice cream between two cookies for a delicious ice-cream sandwich. 19 of 38 Rainbow Sherbet Cake Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Rainbow Sherbet Cake This frozen treat is sure to be a show-stopper at birthday parties and backyard picnics alike. With a store-bought pound cake, this multi-layered cake couldn't get any easier. 20 of 38 Watermelon Slushies with Key Lime-Mint Sugar Recipe: Watermelon Slushies with Key Lime-Mint Sugar You won't be able to make these crisp slushies fast enough! 21 of 38 Blackberry-Buttermilk Sherbet Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist Audrey Davis Recipe: Blackberry-Buttermilk Sherbet A sweet-and-tangy sherbet that any Southerner can respect. 22 of 38 Chewy Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Chewy Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars You only need your microwave's help to throw together these easy, delectable bars. 23 of 38 Bourbon Ice Cream Float Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Karen Rankin; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Bourbon Ice Cream Float Add a little pizazz to your dinner party with a boozy dessert as your nightcap. 24 of 38 Peach Icebox Cake Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Peach Icebox Cake Let summer's finest be the star of this simple, delicious dessert. 25 of 38 Triple Chocolate Milkshake Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Triple Chocolate Milkshake For true chocolate lovers, only triple-chocolate shakes will do, and that's fine by us. This is a favorite no matter the season. Dress it up with sprinkles or crumbled cookies for an extra wow-factor. 26 of 38 No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie There's nothing better during a hot Southern summertime than a creamy, chilled pie. 27 of 38 Buttermilk-Peach Popsicles Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Buttermilk-Peach Popsicles Celebrate summer by the pool with these refreshing pops showcasing bright, juicy peaches. 28 of 38 Bourbon Balls Jennifer Davick Recipe: Bourbon Balls Every Southerner knows that sweet, boozy bourbon balls are a party must-have. 29 of 38 Turtle Trifle John O'Hagan; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey Recipe: Turtle Trifle This decadent trifle has all the flavor you love from the classic turtle candy. 30 of 38 Blackberry Floats Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Blackberry Floats This yummy float uses sweet, in-season blackberries for a treat that's as beautiful as it is delicious. We have a feeling everyone will be asking for more after one sip. 31 of 38 Key Lime Ice-Cream Pie Hector Sanchez Recipe: Key Lime Ice-Cream Pie It's hard to go wrong with key lime pie, especially when it involves indulgent avocado-key lime pie ice cream for the filling. 32 of 38 Chocolate Lasagna Southern Living Recipe: Chocolate Lasagna This vintage dessert was made to feed a crowd, so it's perfect for potlucks and big family gatherings year-round. 33 of 38 Banana Split Pops Southern Living Recipe: Banana Split Pops Everyone loves a traditional banana split, but have you had one in a popsicle? 34 of 38 Millionaire Pie Micah A. Leal Recipe: Millionaire Pie This tropical treat will make every guest feel like a million bucks. 35 of 38 Red, White, and Blue Popsicles Jennifer Causey Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Popsicles Don't chase the ice cream truck down—make these nostalgic goodies at home! 36 of 38 Kool Aid Pie Micah A. Leal Recipe: Kool Aid Pie We're taking you back to your days of running around the park with Kool Aid stains on your lips (and probably your T-shirt too). 37 of 38 Watermelon Daiquiri Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Watermelon Daiquiri Summer is the season for a cold, refreshing drink bursting with the best flavors of the season, so we're keeping it simple with a watermelon daiquiri. It's just as good with or without the booze. 38 of 38 S'mores Pie Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Melissa Gray Recipe: S'mores Pie No oven, no problem. We already know everyone will be wanting some more of this delicacy. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit