It’s August, it’s hot and the last thing you ever want to do is turn on the oven. Sticking to no-cook meals like salads or options that can be made on the grill or in the microwave (such as corn on the cob or BBQ anything) is typically you’re best bet for reducing the sweat in summer meal prep.

But sometimes that craving for a homemade cookie or slice of birthday cake (especially if your birthday is in the summer) hits and turning on the oven seems like a necessary evil. But is it?

I don’t think so!

With a constant craving for chocolate, love of fruit and several summer birthdays amongst my family and friends I’ve set out to come up with a few no sweat summer sweets that utilize some of the best parts of the season.

🍍🍉🍌

1. Grilled Chocolate Covered Pineapple 🍍

This is a great dessert for pool party or large summertime gathering. It gives a sweet and tangy taste that can perfectly quench any summer sweet tooth without turning on the oven. It also works without grilling the pineapple if you’d rather keep it cool and firmer. This makes it slightly easier to eat.

2. Watermelon Cake 🍉

My mom’s birthday is the day after the Fourth of July, so we are typically partied out after a long day of hosting and with that, on top of the heat, nobody really wants to bake her a cake. D

This year, instead of baking, I decided to cut her one. I turned a small-medium sized watermelon into this hexagonal cake. Instead of decorating with frosting, I used blueberries and strawberries (some of her favorite fruits!) To add a little bit of classic birthday we served it with whipped cream on top of the watermelon birthday slices.

Try it at home and see what beautiful shapes and decorations you can come up with.

3. Banana-cream🍌

I originally started using this trick one year when I gave up ice cream for lent – but it turns out it is so delicious that I just kept eating it after Easter and for years to follow.

Step 1. If you have bananas like those in the photo and you know you won’t finish them all before they turn completely brown put a couple in the freezer.

Step 2. Once the bananas are completely frozen and you are experiencing a sweet tooth craving remove them, cut away the peel and place them in a food processor or blender.

Step 3. Blend until creamy, scoop into a bowl or mug and serve with chocolate sauce, chocolate chips or even fudge! It honestly tastes just like ice cream when in fact it is nothing but fruit.

If you have any go-to, no sweat sweets please share them below! Happy not-baking!