Temperatures are becoming beastly in many parts of the country right now, so the last thing anyone wants is to fire up the oven and add extra heat to the inside of the home. Thus no-bake desserts are the perfect summertime rescue when dessert is a MUST. All you need is a refrigerator, a little time, and the right recipe.

Speaking of recipes, there are literally thousands on the internet for all sorts of no-bake bars, cookies, trifles, and puddings. You’re likely familiar with lots of them. But are you acquainted with yonanas? This is a gelato-like dessert made ONLY from frozen fruit, that you make in seconds using a Yonanas® machine. This is your ticket to a truly healthy dessert. I even make creamsicles using the yonanas. You might give this idea some consideration.

But if you want to go the more traditional path, then you’ll need some basic ingredients always on hand through the summer if you want to go the no-bake-dessert route. Typical no-bakes call for: graham crackers and chocolate wafer cookies (for crusts), or pre-baked pastry shells; dates; oats; sour cream and cream cheese; unflavored gelatin and flavored gelatins; whipping cream; instant pudding mixes; fresh or frozen berries; canned crushed pineapple; jams; lemon; yogurts; bread; nuts; chocolate and other flavored chips (such as cinnamon and caramel); canned mandarin oranges; and milk. If you’ve got even a few of these things around, you’re set.

As far as pre-baked pastry shells go, these are a good thing to make ahead and freeze during the colder parts of the year. I tend to do this when I’m making my pies for Christmas dinner. I’ll make a few extra pie shells, prick the bottoms, bake, and when thoroughly cooled, I gently place each one in a plastic zip-loc bag and freeze. They will keep for about six to seven months.

I also like to grind the graham crackers and chocolate wafer cookies ahead of time. When stored in air-tight containers, these crumbs keep well in the freezer for about a year—they’ve never been around long enough for me to know that for sure, though.

Here is one of our family’s favorite no-bake desserts that’s never failed. Don’t you appreciate how this idea allows you to have your dessert and keep your cool no matter what the temperature is outside?

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