If Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, then it’s a good time to make some of your favorite summer recipes. The weather is still warm, so you may not be ready for fall favorites yet, and it’s a great time to use up some berries before freezing them for the fall and winter. Or to make one more ice cream treat before the weather gets too cold. Whatever you’re going for, these are some great Labor Day desserts to wrap up your summer and get ready for fall.
Apple Pie
So many people think of apples as a cool weather fruit, but prime apple season starts in mid-to-late August. Plus, apple pie is among the best Labor Day desserts because it is just about perfect any time of year. This pie is jammed packed with super thin slices of apples, so that it is dense. If you take the time to stack them, you’ll see the clean lines of apple when you cut into it. This pie takes a little longer to make, but the results are worth every second. Get the recipe.
Ice Cream Cake
This ice cream cake features a honey saffron chocolate chip ice cream and a meringue sweetened with honey and vanilla bean. If you want to make one last ice cream dessert before Labor Day, this cake is definitely a delicious choice. Get the recipe.
Fig, Champagne Grapes and Raspberry Cake
This time of year brings with it all of the sensual fruits. They seem more decadent, rich and sweet and just a little bit adult. This cake features a trio of late summer fruits that are perfect for the season, and create a cake that is gorgeous to look at. If you are serving Labor Day desserts to a crowd, big or small, they will be in awe of this cake before they even take a bite. Get the recipe.
Raspberry Cheesecake Streusel Bars
The hidden secret of bars is that they’re rustic in their beauty, but magnificent in flavor. And super simple to make. If you you need to serve a group, these bars are a great option for the end of raspberry season. This has became a favorite recipe in my home, and I think it will in yours, too, so be prepared to make these throughout the year. Get the recipe.
Plum Cupcakes with Sweet-Corn Ice Cream
Sweet corn is synonymous with late-summer in Minnesota. Who doesn’t love a freshly grown cob of corn? Paired with plums, another late-summer to early-fall treat, and you have a combination that perfectly straddles the line between summer and fall. The tart plums and the milky, honey-like corn are great companions for a plum cupcake recipe with a hit of ice cream. Get the recipe.
Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
Is there a bad time of year for peanut butter cookies? This recipe features two cookies with peanut butter mousse and chocolate ganache, but you can also make these with jelly for the back-to-school season. No matter what flavor combination you choose, a nice peanut butter treat is sure to satisfy just about everyone. Get the recipe.
Banana Cream Pie
Don’t sleep on the classics. Banana cream pie is one of those desserts that brings back memories of grandmas and childhood. If you’ve been tasked with serving Labor Day dessert, it’s hard to go wrong with a banana cream pie. This pie looks beautiful and decadent, and the flavor doesn’t disappoint. It’s so good, I’ve had people clap at the sight of it. Get the recipe.
Rhubarb Berry Crumble
Rhubarb explodes at the beginning of summer, and that leads to an abundance of pies and crisps the first few weeks of warm weather. Luckily, rhubarb freezes really well, and I like to bring it out throughout the year. With Labor Day signaling the end of summer, you might as well get in one more summer rhubarb treat, right? Plus, if I had to pick ONE favorite dessert, I would say anything rhubarb and baked into a crumble is always a winner. Get the recipe.
My overstuffed freezer can often use a good clean-out, and a trifle is the perfect way to use up leftovers. If you’re like me, you still have summer berries around, and a few other bits from other recipes you made throughout the summer. When I first made this recipe it was before a long vacation and I had the goal of avoiding any waste. Well, mission accomplished. The results were delicious and hopefully this recipe can help you clean out before fall. Get the recipe.
Blueberry Cobbler
The berry seasons seem to come and go so quickly in Minnesota, and Labor Day offers a chance to hold on to the summer berry season a little bit longer. Fresh blueberries scream summer, but a cobbler is also a warm and inviting dish for fall and winter. The combination of the berries and the pastry seems like a great option for the holiday that blends two seasons, doesn’t it? Get the recipe.
