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Favorite Warm Weather Desserts

By , About.com Guide

Quick and easy, low-fat, and cooling: these are some of the traits of our favorite warm weather desserts. Puddings, kanten, sorbets, and quick baked desserts are all in the landscape of goodies we enjoy in the warmer months. Most of these are great for entertaining as well, and lend themselves to being dressed up as parfaits or with a dessert sauce for special presentations.

1. Strawberry Coconut Parfait

This creamy dessert is a wonderful way to serve ruby red strawberries. Sliced berries are layered with Vanilla Tofu Whip and crumbled macaroons (or amaretti cookies). You can prepare this in individual serving glasses or a pretty glass bowl; either way it's a lovely finish to a meal during strawberry season.

2. Roasted Plums with Ginger and Lemon

This simple and utterly delicious recipe for roasted plums with lemon and ginger is a quick and wonderful dessert for summer entertaining. Serve the plums with ice cream, mascarpone, Greek yogurt, Vanilla Tofu Whip or Walnut Cream, along with a sprig of mint, and you have a truly special dessert.

3. Fresh Fruits with Chocolate Sauce

This easy recipe for fresh fruits with chocolate sauce will become a staple in your entertaining repertoire; it’s fast, it’s easy, and it’s beautiful to look at. Best quality chocolate, vanilla, baby bananas, strawberries, raspberries and pineapple are all libido-enhancing ingredients for a delicious and sexy dessert.

4. Watermelon Granite Ice

This simple recipe for watermelon granite ice is a refreshing and delicious dessert when watermelon is in season. Watermelon is a Ph-neutral food and is a rich source of Vitamin C, lycopene (more than any other fruit or vegetable), and electrolytes. Watermelon is excellent for hydrating the body, which may be one of the reasons we like it so much on a hot day. You can also freeze this in ice cube trays with popsicle sticks for the kids.

5. Baked Figs with Walnut Cream

This easy whole foods recipe for baked figs and walnut cream is a delicious dessert when figs are in season. If you are not fond of nuts, try using Vanilla Tofu Whip, or a non-dairy ice cream instead. Either way, you are in for a wonderful treat.

6. Fresh Figs with Almond Cream

This easy, whole foods raw recipe for fresh figs with almond cream is a healthy alternative to the classic Italian dessert of figs stuffed with mascarpone. Just remember that the almonds need to soak overnight (or a minimum of 8-10 hours) before using. The lime juice adds a lively, fresh burst to the sweetness of the figs.

7. Summer Berry Parfait

Courtesy Timothy Hill Photography

This easy recipe for summer berry parfait can be made with either Vanilla Tofu Whip or, for a really rich treat, Walnut Cream. It is perfect layered with blueberries or raspberries, and makes an easy but impressive summer dessert.

8. Peach or Nectarine Kanten with Mint and Lime

Jen Hoy
Kanten is a cross between pudding and Jell-O, and this recipe for peach or nectarine kanten with mint and lime is perfect for summer, when stone fruits are at their best. Mint and lime give this kanten a lively boost, and the whole effect is cooling on a hot day.

9. Cherry Berry Kanten

Kanten is a cross between pudding and Jell-O, and this version is exceptional when made with sour cherry juice from the farmer's market. Fresh blackberries and raspberries (or sweet bing cherries) make this an exquisite summer dessert. If you cannot find tart cherry juice and are using sweet cherry instead, decrease agave to 3 tablespoons and add 2 tablespoons of lime juice with the fruit.

10. Raspberry Mint Kanten

Kanten is a cross between pudding and Jell-O, and this version is exceptional when made with raspberry apple juice from the farmer's market. A touch of lime and fresh mint along with fresh raspberries create a fresh, delightful summer dessert.

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