Welcome to August, the month that marks the end of summer with beach trips and laid-back vibes. Embrace the season with lots of fruit favorites — especially blueberries and peaches — plus some no-bake treats for the triple-digit weather. And if you're currently chowing down on garden-grown zucchini? We also have recipes for you.
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
1) Light peach shoe
The best peach cobbler has a perfectly thick filling – juicy but not runny – with a soft, flavorful top. And that's exactly what this recipe delivers. A cookie-style cobbler, it's flexible enough to accommodate other stone fruits, berries, and even apples, all of which go beautifully with a crunchy, sugar-crusted topping lightly flavored with almond extract.
Get the recipe: Light peach shoe
Buy the recipe: Pure almond extract AND Carbonated sugar
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Southern style peach shoe, Spiced Peach Cake
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
2) No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Pie
This pie is suitable for vegan bakers, but everyone will find it delicious. A pie brain creation Nicole Rucker, the rich chocolate filling is made with coconut cream and evaporated coconut milk and hidden under a cooling cloud of whipped cream. It's the kind of light and delicious pudding pie we crave in this summer heat.
Get the recipe: No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Pie
Buy the recipe: Guittard Bittersweet Onyx Chocolate Wafers
If you like this recipe, you may also like: No-Bake French Silk Pie, Light Chocolate Pudding
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
3) Chocolate Zucchini Cake
When you've baked enough zucchini bread but are still looking for creative ways to use up a surplus of this green vegetable, switch things up with this cake. It uses three whole cups of zucchini, but you'd never know there was anything but chocolate in this ultra-moist and fluffy cake. Zucchini provides a soft crumb—think banana bread meets carrot cake—while cocoa powder and espresso powder guarantee strong chocolate taste.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Buy the recipe: Triple Cocoa Blend AND Callebaut Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Chocolate Zucchini Double Bread, Zucchini Brownies
Photography by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Sheila Jarnes
4) Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins
If you need a breakfast on the go, try these Blueberry Oat Muffins, which retain a nice soft texture from the oatmeal. More nutritionally dense than most muffins, they're a great way to start the day while still enjoying a freshly baked treat, and the subtle flavor of the oatmeal pairs well with the blueberries.
Get the recipe: Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins
Buy the recipe: King Arthur Oatmeal AND King Arthur Rolled Oats
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Scotch Oatmeal Miso, Morning glory Breakfast bread
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
5) Mojito Scones
Fancy a cold cocktail by the pool? The next best thing are these tropical berries, which take the bright lime and mint combination of the mojito and infuse it into a salty, buttery snack. From the bottom up!
Get the recipe: Mojito Scones
Buy the recipe: Standard grill pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Blueberry Lemon Scones, Strawberries & Cream Scones
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
6) No-bake cheesecake with raspberry sauce
This easy-to-make dessert combines the creamy richness of cheesecake with the bright acidity of raspberry. Because it doesn't bake, it's perfect for those hot and cold August afternoons when you want to stay cool. Whether you're enjoying it at a backyard cookout or a picnic in the park, this cheesecake is a hassle-free way to bake without turning on your oven.
Get the recipe:No-bake cheesecake with raspberry sauce
Buy the recipe: Organic lemon emulsion
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Pie with fresh strawberries without baking, Light cheesecake
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
7) Delicious spicy corn cake
This quick cheesy bread, inspired by the French pastry shop, has the softness of a muffin but the savory saltiness of a sweet appetizer or savory snack. Use fresh late summer corn and high quality sharp cheddar for the best flavor.
Get the recipe: Delicious spicy corn cake
Buy the recipe: Massa Harina organic AND Boyajian Garlic Oil
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Corn and Onion Sourdough Pancakes, Triple cornbread
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
8) Hot Summer Spoon Cake
This fruit-filled dessert is unlike any cake you've ever eaten: it has a luscious and delicious interior with almost caramelized edges, all topped with juicy fresh fruit. It is best served with a spoon rather than sliced (hence the name) and enjoyed together fresh whipped cream or a large scoop of vanilla ice cream. Looking for lighter, summer fruit desserts? Find them here.
Get the recipe: Hot Summer Spoon Cake
Buy the recipe: Almond flour
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Super easy strawberry shortcake, Fresh fruit cobbler
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
9) Only peach muffins
Use your summer-ripe peaches in these sugar-crusted muffins, which pair the fruit with warm spices like cloves. cinnamon AND nutmeg. Mix entirely by hand, these muffins require just two bowls, a whisk and 20 minutes of prep time. This is what summer baking is all about.
Get the recipe: Just peach muffins
Buy the recipe: Vietnamese cinnamon, cannulaAND Nutmeg
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Peachberry bunch, Peach Caramel Upside Down Cake
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
10) Sweet Corn and Blueberry Coffee Cake
This variation of our 2023 recipe features masa harina for its roasted corn flavor, plus sweet juicy blueberries, building on the classic combination of blueberries and corn. If you close your eyes, you might just enjoy a bowl of conflakes frosted with fresh blueberries.
Get the recipe:Blueberry Corn Coffee Cake
Buy the recipe:Massa Harina organic
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Masa Harina pancakes with cranberry sauce, Blueberry Breakfast Cake
Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
11) Zucchini Praline Tahini Cake
This fresh take on zucchini cake will add a “wow” factor to your summer. The walnut praline filling adds so much texture and flavor that Recipe Tester Lydia Fournier calls it “the best cake ever” and says “everyone should make it.” This recipe may be the best way to bake with zucchini this season – try it and find out for yourself.
Get the recipe:Zucchini Praline Tahini Cake
Buy the recipe:Golden wheat flour AND Cloud Forest Ground Cardamom
If you like this recipe, you may also like: 100% Whole Wheat Zucchini Chocolate Bread, Plain Zucchini Bread
12) Grandma's pizza
Baked in a large square pan at high heat after a relatively short proofing time, this Grandma Pizza is extremely crispy, even denser and thinner than the traditional Sicilian style. Reversing the order of the toppings—the cheese is added first, then the sauce—provides frico-like crunch and deep-fried edges. Watch Martin do it above, then get baking!
Master to make pizza with ours Pizza class on requestwhich teaches you the many doughs and methods in videos that you can watch anywhere, anytime.
Get the recipe: Grandma's pizza
Buy the recipe: Grandma's Style Pizza Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Sicilian style pizza, South Shore Bar Pizza
Rick Holbrook
13) Fresh blueberry pie
This pie preserves the flavor of fresh blueberries by gently cooking some of them in cranberry sauce on the stovetop, then folding in the fresh berries. The filling is then spooned into a pre-baked crust for a fresh twist on the classic blueberry pie.
Get the recipe: Fresh blueberry pie
Buy the recipe: King Arthur Pie Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Blue Ribbon Blueberry Pie, Blueberry Pie with a Twist
If your August plans include dreams of traveling abroad (just us?!) take a virtual trip to France with our French Macarons live online class.
Cover photo by Rick Holbrook.
