Summer is upon us ­— and so is that scorching Alabama heat. Whether you’re coping with it by lounging at the beach, lake or pool, or by staying inside in the air conditioning, no one wants to turn on the oven and generate more heat. I’ve collected a few of my favorite no-bake desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth without even looking at the oven, much less turning it on.

Potluck Banana Pudding Fluff is based on a banana pudding recipe my mom made when I was a kid using whipped topping rather than meringue. Plus, it added marshmallows. When I decided to turn the idea on its head and mix everything together, this delicious fluff was born. It’s got all the scrumptious flavors of banana pudding but without any work!

I found a recipe for Blueberry Yum Yum in an old cookbook someone gave me years ago and updated it. Since then, it’s been one of the most popular desserts on the blog. While it does require an oven, it’s only five minutes for a crispy crust. It’s easy, tasty, and there’s something fun about a layered dessert. Not a fan of blueberries? Nearly any canned pie filling works.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Pie takes one of my favorite treats and turns it into pie form. If you love peanut butter, you’re really going to enjoy this one. The pie uses a base made of cream cheese, peanut butter and whipped topping (like Cool Whip), and I top the pie with fresh whipped cream. That said, if you want to save yourself a few extra steps, you can top the pie with another 8-ounce container of whipped topping rather than the fresh whipped cream. I just happen to like the flavor of fresh whipped cream better on this one.

I created Milk and Cookies Icebox Cake as a fun treat for my son, Jack. He’s always been a huge lover of chocolate chip cookies, and this cake takes advantage of that. Store-bought chocolate chip cookies are layered with a delicious cream cheese whipped cream. While it might seem like this will end up a gloppy mess, whipped cream softens the cookies and creates a delicious layered dessert that cuts beautifully. Y’all will love it!    

Remember, you can read even more about these recipes and the stories behind them at SouthernBite.com.