19 Sunny Summer Treats You Can Enjoy All Year Long

Some treats are just too good to save for summer, especially when they bring instant sunshine to your day. These bright, refreshing recipes are easy to make, full of feel-good flavors, and guaranteed to lift your mood even in the middle of any season. When the weather or the week needs a pick-me-up, these sunny favorites are the simple joy worth keeping on repeat.

Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie

Bursting with juicy berries and tropical fruit, this Bahama Mama smoothie delivers summer-in-a-glass vibes any time of year. Its vibrant flavor and creamy texture instantly bring beachside energy to your kitchen, even when it’s gloomy outside. Whether you’re cooling off in July or chasing sunshine in January, this refreshing drink is always a good idea.
Get the Recipe: Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie

Apricot Tart

Bright, sun-ripened apricots meet a buttery graham crust and cloud-like cream cheese filling in this dreamy apricot tart. It’s everything wonderful about summer desserts, fruity, creamy, and fresh, but so easy to whip up anytime you need a sunny pick-me-up. Chilled and topped with fresh slices, this treat feels like warm weather on a plate no matter the season.
Get the Recipe: Apricot Tart

Electric Lemonade

With its bold blue color and fizzy tropical flavor, electric lemonade brings the party all year long. Made with just four ingredients, it’s a fun and vibrant cocktail that tastes like sunshine in a glass. Whether it’s a summer BBQ or a dreary winter night, this drink turns every sip into a mini vacation.
Get the Recipe: Electric Lemonade

Peach Cobbler

Warm, juicy peaches bubbling under a golden crust make this peach cobbler a nostalgic favorite that never goes out of season. Even in cooler months, it captures that sweet, sun-soaked feeling of long summer days. With only four ingredients and big comfort in every bite, it’s the dessert that brings summer straight to the table.
Get the Recipe: Peach Cobbler

Pineapple and Banana Smoothie

Creamy, tropical, and ready in five minutes, this pineapple banana smoothie is the ultimate sunshine boost. It blends warm-weather flavors like mango, banana, and pineapple with a splash of lime for the kind of treat you’ll crave in any season. Whether it’s January or July, this glass of goodness brings summer vibes with every sip.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple and Banana Smoothie

Strawberry Lemonade

Sweet, tangy, and irresistibly pink, strawberry lemonade is the cheerful drink that makes every day feel like a summer picnic. Just five ingredients and ten minutes are all it takes to whip up a pitcher of this sunshine-filled sipper. It’s a refreshing treat that belongs on your table year-round, no pool required.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Lemonade

Lemon Loaf Cake

Bright lemon flavor and a tender, buttery crumb make this loaf cake a slice of summer that lasts all year. The glaze is sweet and tangy, the texture is moist and perfect, and the whole thing is pure citrus joy in every bite. Whether it’s a sunny brunch or a gray morning, this easy loaf brings the sunshine back to your plate.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Loaf Cake

Frozen Cranberry Margarita

Frozen cranberry margaritas might sound seasonal, but the frosty, tart-sweet combo is a year-round crowd-pleaser. It’s got the festive sparkle of a holiday drink and the cooling chill of a summer cocktail all in one slushy glass. With five-minute prep and party-ready flavor, it brings major sunshine energy to every season.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Cranberry Margarita

Orange Carrot Juice

Bright and bursting with goodness, this orange carrot juice is a glass of pure sunshine that fits into any time of year. Fresh orange, crisp carrot, spicy ginger, and lemon make it feel like morning in a tropical garden, even if you’re sipping in the dead of winter. Make a quick pitcher and enjoy an instant boost of feel-good summer energy.
Get the Recipe: Orange Carrot Juice

White Chocolate Mousse with Raspberries

Light, creamy, and ready in minutes, this white chocolate mousse is a simple treat that feels like summer elegance in a cup. The juicy raspberries add a refreshing pop that balances the richness just right, giving it that warm-weather brightness. Whether served on a cozy night in or a breezy patio brunch, it’s a dessert that brings sunshine to the table year-round.
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Mousse with Raspberries

Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie

This chocolate raspberry smoothie brings that sweet summer combo of berries and cocoa to life in the quickest, dreamiest way. It’s cool, creamy, and satisfying without feeling heavy, making it a year-round pick-me-up that tastes like sunshine in a glass. With just a few ingredients, it’s a refreshing option that works just as well in February as it does in July.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie

Cranberry Margarita

Tart, vibrant, and effortlessly festive, this cranberry margarita turns any moment into a reason to celebrate. It’s a bold, fruity cocktail that tastes like summer with every sip, no matter what the calendar says. In just five minutes, you can shake up this fresh take on a classic and bring that warm-weather energy into any season.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Margarita

Dairy-Free Green Smoothie

Blending up this green smoothie means instant refreshment with a vibrant lemon-mint twist that’s as bright as a summer morning. Thanks to the spinach, it’s light and nourishing, but still creamy and craveable, perfect for sipping anytime, anywhere. Whether it’s July or January, this drink delivers a clean, cool boost that feels like a sunny reset.
Get the Recipe: Dairy-Free Green Smoothie

Vodka Cranberry

A vodka cranberry is one of those easy, go-to cocktails that work in every season, but always brings a splash of summer flair. Tart cranberry juice and crisp vodka make it light and refreshing, and a few fresh cranberries on top add that extra pop. Whether you’re celebrating a holiday or just chilling after work, this drink delivers sunny cocktail vibes all year.
Get the Recipe: Vodka Cranberry

Mini Strawberry Shortcake

These mini strawberry shortcakes are soft, fluffy, and bursting with bright, juicy berries that scream summer sweetness. Even when fresh strawberries aren’t in season, you can whip these up with frozen fruit and still capture that sun-kissed flavor. With whipped cream tucked inside and a light, tender crumb, they’re a dessert that brings the picnic energy indoors anytime.
Get the Recipe: Mini Strawberry Shortcake

Key Lime Chia Pudding

Creamy, citrusy, and packed with feel-good ingredients, this key lime chia pudding is a cool treat that channels sunny beach mornings. It’s light enough for a snack but delicious enough for breakfast, and those juicy lime notes bring summer freshness to every spoonful. Whether it’s hot outside or not, this pudding adds a tropical twist to the day.
Get the Recipe: Key Lime Chia Pudding

Mixed Berry Smoothie

Loaded with berries and just the right amount of creaminess, this smoothie brings the taste of summer straight to your glass in five minutes flat. It’s bright, fruity, and refreshing enough to feel like a warm morning even if it’s gray outside. Simple, nourishing, and totally delicious, it’s a year-round favorite that never feels out of season.
Get the Recipe: Mixed Berry Smoothie

Lemon Drop Martini

This lemon drop martini is tangy, sweet, and chilled to perfection, basically summer in a cocktail glass. It’s a refreshing sip that cools you down in a flash and pairs just as well with backyard barbecues as it does with cozy winter evenings. No matter when you serve it, this sunny cocktail brings instant brightness to the party.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Drop Martini

Healthy Mint Julep

Classic, crisp, and full of fresh minty flavor, this healthier spin on a mint julep is a refreshing nod to summer with every icy sip. It’s got the bourbon warmth, a subtle sweetness, and the cool herbal finish that makes it feel like porch weather no matter the forecast. Whether lounging under the sun or just wishing you were, this cocktail fits the mood.
Get the Recipe: Healthy Mint Julep