I have an unrivaled sweet tooth. Dessert doesn’t require an occasion, nor does it have to be fancy—honestly, lightly sweetened whipped cream with berries does the trick for me in a pinch. But I have a rolodex of favorite recipes for when I want something a little more put together. And in summertime, many of them take advantage of fragrant, perfectly ripe fruit.

I always breathe a happy sigh when the berries at my supermarket start actually tasting like berries again instead of that unfortunate combination of bland and sour. It’s a sure sign of summer. The juicy morsels not only satisfy my sweet tooth after any old supper, they also serve as my go-to fruit when I need to put together a summer dessert for a crowd. Our Summer Berry Trifle is impressive without requiring any particular affinity for decorating, and every layer is in service to highlighting the flavor of summer berries.

Cherries are another favorite summer fruit and a stalwart beach snack. But they should definitely be a part of your summer dessert rotation too! Cherry Clafouti sounds fancy but is really simple to make and is refined enough that you could definitely serve it as the final course for a dinner party.

Ice cream is the ultimate casual dessert, right? I donated my ice cream maker last year in a purge (which I still regret). Fortunately, I’ve discovered Nik Sharma’s recipe for Toasted Coconut, Lychee, and Lime Granita. It’s as creamy, rich, and refreshing as homemade ice cream, but it takes just 20 minutes of prep before freezing and doesn’t use any special equipment. (And when the ice cream craving is really undeniable? There’s always Morgan Bolling’s method for a no-churn version, which employs just a blender, a loaf pan, and the freezer.)

Once nectarines and peaches start reaching peak ripeness, I heat up my grill to make Grilled Nectarines with Crisp Almond Topping and Ice Cream. There’s something about juicy stone fruit cooked on the grill that just works. Add a simple crumbly topping (and yes, some ice cream), and it’s like a crisp or crumble without having to turn on your oven. 

In the summer, I think we all strive to keep things simple, but it’s a season for special moments as well. With seasonal fruit at the forefront, summer desserts can be both.