Make-ahead summer dessert recipes

These make-ahead dessert recipes are the secret to relaxed summer entertaining.

Spend more time with guests and less time stressing in the kitchen.  Each of these puds can be made ahead of time and then stashed in the fridge or freezer. Some can be made entirely in advance, some just need you to add the finishing touches, like fresh berries, icing or whipped cream.

Make the most of summer produce in your sweet creations. Bake a French strawberry tart, stay cool with raspberry cheesecake ice cream or impress with a gooseberry and elderflower pavlova.

Tropical desserts are always popular in summer. Chill mango mousse in the fridge. Bake easy pineapple puff pastry tarts, or a zesty nectarine and tahini layer cake. There’s a make-ahead pud for every summer celebration…

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Theo Randall’s torta sacripantina (cherry and raspberry genoise)

Italian desserts

Theo Randall’s torta sacripantina (cherry and raspberry genoise)

Torta sacripantina is a dessert from Liguria. Theo Randall shares his recipe for this genoise cake with cherries, raspberries and zabaione.

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Theo Randall’s torta della nonna (lemon custard tart with pine nut topping)

Italian desserts

Theo Randall’s torta della nonna (lemon custard tart with pine nut topping)

Torta della nonna is a lemony custard tart topped with pine nuts, popular across northern Italy. Chef Theo Randall shares his recipe.

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Almond granita ‘affogato’

Italian desserts

Almond granita ‘affogato’

Sicilian chef Alfio Laudani shares a make-ahead dessert perfect for hot summer days. Almond granita is topped with a gorgeous espresso foam.

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Fruit chaat

Summer fruits

Fruit chaat

Fruit chaat is a Mumbai summer special and the perfect way to lift the flavours of your favourite fruit. Maunika Gowardhan shares her recipe.

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Paul Ainsworth’s strawberry trifle

Make-ahead summer desserts

Paul Ainsworth’s strawberry trifle

Top chef Paul Ainsworth shares a recipe from his debut cookbook, upgrading his dad's classic trifle with fresh peak-season strawberries.

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Best-of-the-best summer swiss roll

Dinner party desserts

Best-of-the-best summer swiss roll

With a light but springy sponge, rich mascarpone cream and fresh seasonal fruit, our best swiss roll recipe makes the perfect summer dessert.

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Strawberry, black pepper and clotted cream tart

Strawberries

Strawberry, black pepper and clotted cream tart

This strawberry tart is one seriously impressive summer dessert. Strawberries macerated with black pepper top a rich clotted cream filling.

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Mango and peanut crumble custard bars

Mango desserts

Mango and peanut crumble custard bars

These crumble bars are bursting with the tropical flavours of mango, lime, cardamom and coconut. A showstopper bake for any occasion.

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Easy mango mousse

Mango desserts

Easy mango mousse

With just five ingredients and 15 minutes prep time, this mango mousse is a great recipe to have in your dessert repertoire.

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Balsamic-roasted strawberries with mascarpone

Strawberries

Balsamic-roasted strawberries with mascarpone

Balsamic strawberries with mascarpone make a seriously good grown-up pudding. Try this low-effort, six ingredient summer dessert today.

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Baklava ricotta semifreddo

Frozen dessert

Baklava ricotta semifreddo

Georgina Hayden's spectacular baklava semifreddo has a caramelised filo top and fragrant ricotta and rosewater base. Frozen dessert heaven.

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Michel Roux Jr’s almond and raspberry frangipane tart

Sweet tarts

Michel Roux Jr’s almond and raspberry frangipane tart

Devote an afternoon to making Michel Roux Jr’s classy frangipane tart. “This French version of a bakewell tart is one of my favourites,” he says.

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Mini baked alaskas

Frozen dessert

Mini baked alaskas

Introducing our failsafe mini baked alaskas: chocolate no-churn ice cream, sturdy sponge base, no-cook jam and silky torched swiss meringue.

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Gooseberry and toasted coconut pavlova

Pavlova

Gooseberry and toasted coconut pavlova

This showpiece pavlova from food writer Angela Clutton anticipates summer's arrival, combining elderflowers and early-season gooseberries.

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Galatopita (Greek filo custard pie)

Make-ahead desserts

Galatopita (Greek filo custard pie)

Galatopita is a sweet milk pie from Greece. Georgina Hayden shares her recipe for this classic Greek pud, using golden filo pastry.

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