Nothing says summer like tropical fruits and even better are desserts made with those fruits. Tropical fruits are any fruits produced by a tree native to the tropics. With the warm weather and abundance of rain, fruits grow in an array of beautiful, bright colors and have so much flavor, they are unlike other foods.
Some tropical fruits are well-known – mangos, papayas, avocado, bananas, pineapple, guava, kiwis, dates and pomegranates. Others, like baobab, breadfruit and durian, may be more exotic and less familiar to us.
Tropical fruits are also really healthy. Read Incredible Tropical Fruits to Eat for a Healthy Body and More to find out all the ways the different fruits are good for you. Tropical fruits are so refreshing and delicious and they are perfect for cooling us down in the hot summer months. They are also versatile and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. Just look at these 10 Tropical Fruity Dishes for Summer.
So sit back with a tropical drink and savor these 15 desserts, each made with a different tropical fruit as the star ingredient, that will transport you to paradise.
1. Açaí Berry Vegan Ice Cream
Acai berries are superfoods. This Acai Berry Vegan Ice Cream is made with cashews and coconut milk so it’s rich, creamy and delicious. Find out 5 Reasons to Eat Acai Every Day.
2. Naturally Delicious Key Lime Pie
This raw Key Lime Pie made with tropical avocado is just as decadently rich as its original version. It has the right amount of sweetness and tanginess. It even has the irresistible melt-in-your-mouth texture and a coconut-date pie crust! This healthy version is the ultimate winner.
3. Banana Split
This Banana Split is a recreation of a classic recipe, but much healthier. It contains no dairy or refined sugars, but it is super tasty, decadent, and totally delicious. It can be eaten as a dessert, snack, or even for breakfast on those hot days of summer.
4. Strawberry ‘Un-Fried’ Ice Cream With Cacao Crust
This Strawberry ‘Un-Fried’ Ice Cream is so much better than the traditional dessert. The strawberry lime ice cream is coated with a crunchy spiced cacao crust laced with chipotle and shredded coconut. If you’ve never thought of cacao as a fruit, start changing your mind with this dish.
5. 7 Ingredient Lemon Coconut Squares
So many traditional lemon bars have too much sugar and not enough lemon taste. These Lemon Coconut Squares, however, are deliciously creamy and have a zesty lemon touch.
6. Maple Sweetened Zucchini Doughnuts With Date Frosting
Do a little magic and turn zucchini bread into delectable desserts like these Maple Sweetened Zucchini Doughnuts. They’re topped with a delicious frosting made with tropical dates. These will disappear right before your eyes. Poof!
7. Raw Kiwi Tart with Ginger, Mint and Coconut
This Raw Kiwi Tart is delightful, refreshing and sweet like the summer sun. It has a creamy cashew filling with ginger, mint and coconut and then it’s topped with beautiful tropical kiwi and coconut.
8. Orange, Fig and Baobab Cheesecake
Baobab is not only a tropical fruit but it’s a super food! It has a wonderful zinging flavor, almost like sherbet! This Orange, Fig and Baobab Cheesecake is a delicious, creamy dessert that is made entirely of natural whole foods so you can enjoy every mouthful!
9. Lemon and Lavender Cake
Though we see them every day, we may not realize lemons are tropical fruits. This Lemon and Lavender Cake has a moist, delicious lemon cake with lavender scented buttercream and a bright lemon glaze.
10. Mango Lime Tartlet
These Mango Lime Tartlets contain tropical mangos, limes, and mulberries for a bit of summery sweetness in every bite. They’re also completely processed-free, grain-free, guilt-free, and taste so good! These will make the perfect dessert to reward yourself after a long, hot day.
11. Delectable Cashew Citrus Cream Cake with Pomegranate
This vegan Cashew Citrus Cream Cake with Pomegranate is not only beautiful, but it’s also delicious. The cashews create a rich, filling creaminess and, when paired with fresh lemon juice, oranges, tropical pomegranates, and sweetened naturally, the result is practically divine.
12. Banana Cheesecake With Mango Sauce
This tropical Banana Cheesecake is bursting with summer flavors. Once you pour the mango sauce over the banana creaminess and take a bite, you’ll see yourself lying on a beach surrounded by palm trees and sipping a Piña Colada.
13. Roasted Peaches, Puffed Quinoa and Papaya Cashew Cream Parfait
If you like the combination of fruits, yogurt and some crunchy granola then you will love this dairy-free vegan parfait made with tropical papaya. Super simple to make, this Roasted Peaches, Puffed Quinoa and Papaya Cashew Cream Parfait is a perfect summer dessert.
14. Passion Fruit Matcha Coconut Layered Cake
Imagine a tea-soaked cake with whipped cream and tropical fruits that’s super-moist and delicious. Then make it reality by making this beautiful Passion Fruit Matcha Coconut Layered Cake.
15. Malibu Rum Cupcakes with Pineapple and Jalapeno Filling
You may think the combination of pineapple and jalapeno is strange but one you try these Malibu Rum Cupcakes, you’ll be a believer. The jalapeno adds complexity to the pineapple for a light and fluffy cupcake that’s perfection.
Any one of these amazing desserts made with tropical fruits can bring you to sandy beaches and sunny skies. Make your summer healthy and sweet with these tropical delights.
Lead image source: Mango Lime Tartlets
