Staff Picks: Quick and Easy Summer Dessert Recipes
As we all know Irish weather can be unpredictable at best. A great way to keep the summer vibe going even with bad weather is by making yummy summer deserts. We’ve asked the staff here at Zest for a few of their favourite quick and easy summer recipes, check them out below!
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Very easy to make, and extremely tasty, simply take a ½ pint of your favourite ice cream (we recommend strawberry!), and some slightly softened biscuits such as chocolate chip cookies or shortbread. Sandwich the ice cream between the biscuits and serve immediately. These scrumptious sandwiches can be frozen for up to 3 days.
Strawberry and Bread
Another quick and simple recipe, strawberry and bread is a perfect treat for hungry little ones. Take 2 cups of fresh strawberries and cut them crosswise. Place them in a medium sized bowl and sprinkle with a tablespoon of sugar. Butter 4 slices of firm bread like brioche or a baguette, sprinkle another tablespoon of sugar and spoon the strawberries on top.
Summer Fruit Salad
Fruit salads are a great tasting alternative to diary and flour-based desserts. For this salad you will need fresh strawberries, seedless green grapes, green apples, bananas, oranges plus natural yoghurt and honey. Slice all the aforementioned fruits into small pieces and add them to a bowl with a large portion of yoghurt and a healthy dollop of honey. You can also add include granola, muesli and other dry breakfasts.
Zest Granola
A delicious and healthy dessert option, the key ingredient here is orange oil but orange zest can be used as a substitute. Pre heat your oven to 180° and roast 150g flaked almonds until golden. Mix 700g porridge oats, 200g sunflower seeds, 200g wheat germ, 150g Demerara sugar, plus 200g honey and 150ml oil on a large baking tray. Bake for 30 – 40 minutes, stirring every few minutes and then leave the ingredients to cool. Stir in 80g dried apples chopped, 80g dried apricots chopped plus the roasted almonds. Add ½ cup orange oil and 30mil vanilla extract for your own full flavoured Zest granola. We highly recommend adding some natural yoghurt, fresh berries and chopped mint.
These are just a few of our favourite easy-to-make summer desserts. Of course we have a whole menu of delicious desserts for you to try out here at Zest. For more information, check out our online menu and book a table online or by calling 045 893 222.