20 Easy Indian Summer Dessert Recipes to Keep You Cool

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When summer arrives with its scorching heat, there’s nothing quite like indulging in refreshing, chilled desserts that soothe your taste buds and help you beat the heat. India, known for its rich and diverse culinary traditions, offers a variety of summer dessert recipes that are light, flavourful, and cool treats.

Want to make something sweet but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen? From creamy mango treats to fruity delights and no-cook sweets, these easy summer dessert recipes are perfect for warm days when you crave something sweet to satisfy your sweet tooth but want to keep things simple. So, let’s dive into this delicious list of 20 Indian summer desserts that will keep you refreshed all season long!

1. Mango Kulfi

Nothing screams summer like mangoes, and mango kulfi is the ultimate frozen treat. Unlike regular ice cream, kulfi is denser and creamier, making it melt more slowly, perfect for hot days!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups full-fat milk
• ½ cup condensed milk
• ½ cup mango puree
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ tsp cardamom powder
• Chopped pistachios for garnish

Recipe:

1. In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat the full-fat milk and simmer until it reduces to about half.
2. Add condensed milk, sugar, and cardamom powder, stirring well. Let it cook for another 5 minutes.
3. Once slightly cooled, mix in the mango pulp or puree and blend everything together.
4. Pour the mixture into kulfi moulds, insert sticks, and keep in the freezer for at least 6 hours.
5. Run the moulds under warm water for a few seconds to release the kulfi. Garnish with chopped pistachios or walnuts.

Pro Tip:

Traditional kulfi has a slightly rough consistency. Not blending the mixture too much is the perfect way to achieve this consistency.

2. Rose Falooda

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Falooda is one of the most visually appealing Indian summer desserts, with its layers of rose syrup, basil seeds, vermicelli, and ice cream. This Persian-inspired treat is cooling, refreshing, and bursting with flavours—perfect for a scorching summer afternoon.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp basil seeds (sabja), soaked
• ½ cup falooda vermicelli (cooked)
• 2 tbsp rose syrup
• 1 cup chilled milk
• 1 scoop vanilla or rose ice cream
• Chopped almonds & pistachios for garnish

Recipe:

1. Soak basil seeds in water for 10 minutes until they swell. Cook the vermicelli and set aside.
2. In a tall glass, add a tablespoon of rose syrup at the bottom, followed by a layer of soaked basil seeds and vermicelli.
3. Gently pour in the chilled milk over the layers.
4. Add a scoop of ice cream and garnish with chopped nuts.
5. Serve chilled with a long spoon and straw!

Pro Tip:

• Use homemade rose syrup for a more natural, floral taste instead of store-bought ones with artificial flavours.

3. Aamras

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Aamras is pure mango bliss in a bowl! This simple yet delicious dessert is nothing more than fresh mango puree, but its rich sweetness and smooth texture make it an iconic summer favourite in India. Aamras is often served as a side dish with hot puris, making for a sweet-and-savoury summer treat. It’s quick, easy, and naturally cooling.

Ingredients:

• 2 large ripe mangoes
• 1 tbsp brown sugar (optional)
• ¼ tsp cardamom powder
• A splash of milk or water (for consistency)

Recipe:

1. Peel and puree the mangoes in a blender until smooth. Add a little milk or water if needed to adjust consistency.
2. Sweeten if necessary; if your mangoes are naturally sweet, you can skip the sugar.
3. Add flavour by mixing in cardamom powder for a slight aromatic touch.
4. Keep in the fridge and serve chilled.

Pro Tip:

Aamras tastes best when served chilled with hot, crispy puris. You can also drizzle some ghee over it for extra indulgence.

4. Mishti Doi

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Mishti Doi is a creamy, caramelised sweet yoghurt from Bengal that is rich, cooling, and mildly tangy—perfect for summer! It’s naturally probiotic, aiding digestion and cooling the body instantly.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups full-fat milk
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ cup thick yoghurt (curd)
• 1 tbsp warm milk (to dissolve sugar)

Recipe:

1. Heat sugar in a pan until it melts and turns golden brown. Add a tbsp of warm milk to mix.
2. Add this caramel to milk and simmer until slightly thickened.
3. Once lukewarm, mix in yoghurt and transfer to an earthen pot.
4. Set for 6-8 hours in a warm place, then chill before serving.

Pro Tip:

• Top with chopped nuts or a drizzle of honey for extra sweetness.
• Use earthen pots for setting the yoghurt—it enhances the flavour!

5. Mango Shrikhand (Aamrakhand)

Shrikhand is a smooth, creamy, and tangy yoghurt. When infused with mangoes, it transforms into Aamrakhand, a refreshing summer delight that’s sweet, thick, and full of tropical flavour.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups hung curd
• ½ cup mango puree
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• ½ tsp cardamom powder
• A few saffron strands soaked in warm milk
• Chopped pistachios for garnish

Recipe:

1. Whisk the hung curd until smooth and creamy.
2. Add mango puree, powdered sugar, cardamom, and saffron milk, and mix well.
3. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
4. Garnish with chopped pistachios and serve cold.

Pro Tip:

• Serve with hot puris for a classic Maharashtrian-style treat or enjoy it on its own as a cooling dessert.
• For extra creaminess, add a spoonful of fresh malai (cream) before mixing.
  

6. Watermelon Granita

When the summer heat is unbearable, nothing feels more refreshing than icy, fruity granita. This Italian-style frozen dessert is like a flavoured ice slush, and in India, watermelon granita is one of the most hydrating and perfect easy dessert treats you can enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups watermelon puree
• 1 tbsp honey or sugar (optional)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• A pinch of black salt (for extra flavour)
• Fresh mint leaves for garnish

Recipe:

1. Puree watermelon with honey, lemon juice, and black salt.
2. Pour into a shallow dish and freeze for 2 hours.
3. Use a fork to scrape the mixture into flaky ice crystals.
4. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and serve immediately.

Pro Tip:

Pair it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a fun twist!

Also Read: 10 Healthy Fruit Juices for Summer Hydration

7. Coconut Ladoo

Coconut ladoos are bite-sized delights that are easy to prepare and require just three ingredients. No baking, no long cooking process—just a quick mix-and-shape treat that tastes incredible! Plus, they stay fresh for days, making them perfect for meal prep.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups desiccated coconut
• 1 cup condensed milk
• ½ tsp cardamom powder

Recipe:

1. In a pan, heat condensed milk and stir in desiccated coconut. Mix well.
2. Sprinkle cardamom powder and cook for a minute until the mixture thickens.
3. Let it cool slightly, then roll into small balls.
4. Roll each ladoo in extra desiccated coconut for a pretty finish.

Pro Tip:

For added flavour, mix in a little crushed jaggery instead of sugar for a caramel-like richness.

8. Chilled Phirni

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Phirni is a rich, creamy rice pudding that is thicker and smoother than regular kheer. Made with ground rice, milk, and cardamom, this Mughlai dessert is traditionally served chilled in clay pots.

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp basmati rice (soaked and ground to a coarse paste)
• 3 cups full-fat milk
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ tsp cardamom powder
• A few strands of saffron (optional)
• Chopped almonds and pistachios for garnish

Recipe:

1. Soak basmati rice for 30 minutes, then grind it into a coarse paste with a little water.
2. Heat milk in a pan, then slowly add the rice paste, stirring continuously.
3. Once thickened, add sugar, cardamom, and saffron. Cook for 5 more minutes.
4. Pour into earthen pots or bowls and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
5. Serve cold, garnished with chopped nuts.

Pro Tip:

For a fruity twist, add mango puree to make Mango Phirni or use rose water for Rose Phirni!

9. Gajar Ka Halwa with Ice Cream

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A winter favourite gets a summer makeover in this delightful fusion dessert! The rich, caramelised gajar ka halwa with its deep flavours of ghee and cardamom pairs beautifully with a cold, velvety scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups grated carrots
• 2 tbsp ghee
• ½ cup milk
• ¼ cup sugar (adjust to taste)
• ¼ tsp cardamom powder
• 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
• Slivered almonds and pistachios for garnish

Recipe:

1. Sauté grated carrots in ghee until soft and fragrant.
2. Add milk and cook until it thickens.
3. Stir in sugar and cardamom powder, cooking until slightly sticky.
4. Plate the halwa and top with vanilla ice cream.
5. Sprinkle slivered almonds and pistachios for crunch.

Pro Tip:

Try pairing it with kesar pista, butterscotch or chocolate ice cream for a unique flavour twist!

10. Jaljeera Popsicles

Jaljeera popsicles are a tangy, spicy, and incredibly refreshing twist on traditional Indian popsicles. Jaljeera, a cumin-flavoured spiced water, is a popular summer drink in India, and turning it into popsicles makes it even more fun! The cooling effects of cumin, mint, and black salt help beat the summer heat like nothing else.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp jaljeera powder (available in stores)
• ½ tsp roasted cumin powder
• ½ tsp black salt
• Mint leaves

Recipe:

1. Mix all ingredients together in a pitcher and stir well.
2. Pour into popsicle moulds and freeze for 4-6 hours.
3. Unmould and enjoy!

Pro Tip:

Dip the popsicle in chat masala for an extra zing!

11. Fruit Cream

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Fruit cream is one of the easiest no-cook Indian summer desserts. It’s a delightful mix of fresh fruits, whipped cream, and nuts, making it light yet indulgent. Plus, it is a no bake summer dessert and requires zero cooking and can be prepared in few minutes.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup heavy cream (or chilled fresh cream)
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup chopped mixed fruits (mango, banana, grapes, apple, peaches, pomegranate)
• 1 tbsp chopped nuts

Recipe:

1. Whip the cream and sugar until fluffy.
2. Fold in the fruits and nuts gently.
3. Chill for 1 hour and serve cold.

Pro Tip:

Use coconut cream instead of dairy for a vegan version. To add variety you can also add fresh berries like fresh strawberries, blueberries or raspberries.

12. Nungu (Ice Apple) Sherbet

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Nungu, or Ice Apple, is a hydrating, jelly-like fruit found in tropical regions of India. Nungu Sherbet is a simple, cooling drink made with chilled coconut water, ice apples, and lemon juice—perfect for hot summer afternoons!

Ingredients:

• 4 ice apples (nungu), peeled and chopped
• 2 cups chilled coconut water
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp honey (optional)

Recipe:

1. Blend half the ice apples with coconut water and lemon juice.
2. Add the remaining chopped ice apples for a mix of textures.
3. Serve chilled.

Pro Tip:

Freeze into sorbet cups for a perfect summertime icy, spoonable version!

13. Chilled Kesar Badam Milk

This saffron-almond-infused milk is a rich, cooling summer beverage that’s both nourishing and delicious. The combination of almonds and saffron helps in cooling the body while providing a creamy, luxurious taste.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chilled milk
• 10 almonds (soaked and blended)
• 1 tbsp sugar
• A few strands of saffron (soaked in warm milk)
• ¼ tsp cardamom powder

Recipe:

1. Peel and grind them into a smooth paste.
2. Add the paste to chilled milk along with sugar and saffron milk.
3. Stir in cardamom powder and mix well.
4. Chill for 2 hours and serve cold.

Pro Tip:

Use cashews along with almonds for an even richer taste!

14. Pineapple Kesari

Pineapple Kesari is a South Indian-style semolina pudding flavoured with fresh pineapple, ghee, and saffron. The tangy pineapple balances the sweetness perfectly, making it a light yet indulgent summer treat.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup semolina (rava)
• ¼ cup ghee
• 1 cup pineapple (chopped)
• ½ cup sugar
• 1½ cups water
• ¼ tsp saffron strands
• ¼ tsp cardamom powder
• Chopped cashews for garnish

Recipe:

1. Heat ghee in a pan and roast semolina until fragrant.
2. In another pan, boil water, sugar, and pineapple.
3. Slowly add the syrup to the roasted semolina while stirring.
4. Mix in saffron and cardamom powder.
5. Garnish with cashews and serve warm or chilled.

Pro Tip:

Use pineapple juice instead of water for a stronger pineapple flavour.

Also Read: Top 15 Healthiest Foods in the World

15. Nimbu Malpua

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Malpua, a deep-fried pancake soaked in syrup, gets a refreshing twist with lemon zest for a light, citrusy flavour.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• ¼ cup semolina
• ½ cup milk
• ¼ tsp fennel seeds
• ½ tsp lemon zest
• ½ cup sugar syrup (with a dash of lemon juice)
• Ghee for frying

Recipe:

1. Mix flour, semolina, milk, fennel seeds, and lemon zest. Let it rest for 30 minutes.
2. Heat ghee and pour small ladlefuls of batter. Fry until golden brown.
3. Dip the hot malpuas in sugar syrup for 30 seconds.
4. Serve warm!

Pro Tip:

Pair with chilled rabri for extra indulgence.

16. Papaya Halwa

Papaya Halwa is a unique, healthy, and naturally sweet dessert made with ripe papaya, ghee, and jaggery. It’s a great way to use overripe papayas and requires no refined sugar!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mashed ripe papaya
• 2 tbsp ghee
• ¼ cup jaggery
• ½ tsp cardamom powder
• Chopped nuts for garnish

Recipe:

1. In a pan, heat ghee and sauté the mashed papaya for 5 minutes.
2. Add jaggery and stir until melted.
3. Sprinkle cardamom powder and mix well.
4. Garnish and serve warm.

Pro Tip:

• Top with toasted coconut flakes for a tropical touch!
• Use honey instead of jaggery for a lighter taste.

17. Tender Coconut Payasam

Imagine sipping on something light, creamy, and naturally sweet—Tender Coconut Payasam is just that! This South Indian delicacy is a cooling, mildly sweet dessert made with fresh coconut milk, jaggery, and tender coconut flesh. Unlike heavier kheer varieties, this payasam has a silky, tropical flavour that makes it perfect for summer.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups coconut milk (fresh or canned)
• ½ cup jaggery (or sugar, if preferred)
• ½ cup tender coconut flesh (chopped)
• 1 tsp cardamom powder
• Chopped cashews for garnish

Recipe:

1. Heat coconut milk in a pan over low heat. Add jaggery and stir continuously until it fully dissolves. Avoid boiling, as coconut milk can separate.
2. Add the chopped tender coconut flesh and let it simmer gently for 2–3 minutes, allowing the flavours to meld.
3. Sprinkle in cardamom powder for a warm, floral aroma.
4. Remove from heat, let it cool, and refrigerate for at least an hour. Garnish with chopped cashews before serving..

Pro Tip:

For extra texture, add soaked sabudana (sago pearls) or a handful of toasted coconut flakes before serving. If you prefer a thicker consistency, simmer for a few more minutes until it reduces slightly.

18. Chilled Mango Cheesecake

This creamy mango no-bake cheesecake is a slice of summer on a plate! This smooth, fruity, and slightly tangy dessert is perfect for warm days and picnics when you want something decadent yet refreshing.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup crushed digestive biscuits
• ¼ cup melted butter
• 1 cup cream cheese
• ½ cup mango puree
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup whipped cream

Recipe:

1. Mix crushed biscuits with melted butter and press into a pan. Refrigerate.
2. Blend cream cheese, sugar, mango puree, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Fold in whipped cream for a light texture.
4. Spread the filling over the crust and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Pro Tip:

For a vegan version, use coconut cream instead of dairy.

19. Sabudana Kheer

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This pearls of tapioca pudding is a silky, comforting, and lightly spiced dessert that’s perfect for summer fasting or festive occasions. The gentle sweetness, hint of cardamom, and chewy pearls create an unique texture!

Ingredients:

• ½ cup sabudana (sago pearls)
• 2 cups milk
• ¼ cup sugar
• ¼ tsp cardamom powder
• A few saffron strands (optional)
• Chopped nuts for garnish

Recipe:

1. Rinse and soak for 30 minutes.
2. Bring milk to a simmer, add sabudana, and cook until pearls turn translucent.
3. Add sugar, cardamom, and saffron, and stir well.
4. Cool and serve chilled!

Pro Tip:

• For a vegan version, use coconut milk instead of dairy milk!

20. Jamun Sorbet

If you love fruity and refreshing summer desserts, Jamun Sorbet is a must-try! This vibrant purple sorbet is made from juicy black plums (jamun), sugar, and lemon juice, creating a perfectly balanced sweet-tart treat. This sorbet is not only dairy-free and naturally refreshing but also helps with digestion and hydration.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups jamun (black plums)
• ¼ cup sugar (adjust as per taste)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ¼ cup water

Recipe:

1. Wash and deseed the jamun. Blend them with sugar and water.
2. Pass the mixture through a sieve to remove the pulp and fibers.
3. Add lemon juice and mix well.
4. Pour into an airtight container and freeze for 4-5 hours, stirring every 30 minutes for a smooth texture.
5. Scoop and serve chilled!

Pro Tips:

• For an extra smooth sorbet, blend it once more after partially freezing and refreeze.
  

  Conclusion

Beat the summer heat with these refreshing, vibrant, and irresistibly delicious Indian desserts! This collection brings you everything from fruity delights to quick no-bake treats, along with traditional Indian sweets and fusion creations inspired by global flavours.

Whether you enjoy a sweet indulgence after every meal or prefer an occasional treat, these recipes offer something for everyone. They go beyond store-bought ice creams, allowing you to savour the joy of homemade desserts made with fresh, wholesome ingredients. Try these easy summer dessert recipes and let your taste buds take a delightful journey through India’s sweetest traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these summer dessert recipes ahead of time?

Yes! Many of these easy summer dessert recipes can be made in advance. Mango Cheesecake, Mishti Doi, and Jamun Sorbet taste even better after chilling, making them a huge hit at gatherings. For Gajar Ka Halwa with Ice Cream, warm the halwa just before serving for the best contrast.

Can I add frosting and glaze to these desserts?

While traditional Indian desserts don’t usually have frosting and glaze, you can experiment! A mango glaze over Mango Cheesecake or a rose-flavoured drizzle on Almond Rose Phirni can add extra flavour. Love baked desserts? Try a Mango Cake with cream cheese frosting or freeze Rasmalai milk into ice cream recipes for a fun twist!