Spring’s sunny days are turning into summer, which means barbeques and picnics in the park. There are some classic summer flavors everyone probably knows, like watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon.
Whether you cut up seasonal produce and eat it fresh, or incorporate it into your next baking affair, one thing is for sure: these summer flavors are ripe, ready, and delicious.
What Foods Are in Season for Summer?
According to the USDA, here is some of summer’s best seasonal produce:
- Apricots
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Bell peppers
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
- Corn
- Green beans
- Honeydew melon
- Lemons and limes
- Mangos
- Peaches
- Peas
- Raspberries
- Rhubarb
- Strawberries
- Summer squash
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
- Zucchini
As far as spices and seasonings go, here are some of summer’s favorites:
- Basil
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Cumin
- Dill
- Garlic
- Lavender
- Lemon verbena
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Thyme
Summer Flavor Combinations
With so many flavors in season, there’s tons of room to get creative with flavor combinations. Here are some we recommend:
- Strawberry + basil
- Tomato + basil
- Blueberry + lemon
- Tomato + cilantro
- Peaches + basil
- Strawberry + lemon/lime
- Zucchini/summer squash + dill
- Strawberry + mint
- Corn + thyme
- Berries + lavender
- Cherries + lavender
Baking With Summer Flavors
Baking doesn’t always have to be sweet—it can be savory, too! With so many things ripe and ready during summer, there’s an endless amount of baking you can do. You could keep it classic with pies and tarts or try something new like a vegetable fritter.
Add a pinch of dill to your zucchini bread, give your strawberry pie a zing with some lemon juice—there are so many ways to get creative with your baking this summer.
Not sure where to begin? Check out some of our favorite summer baking recipes as a starting point.
4 Summer Baking Recipes
Lemon Bars
Not only are these lemon bars a cheery yellow color, but their tangy flavor is sure to brighten your day. They’re a favorite of Dayna Altman, the author behind the Bake It Until You Make It series.
Bonus: A portion of the proceeds from our Lemon Bars baking kit will also go to The Rare Impact Fund, founded by Selena Gomez, which raises money to help expand mental health services and education for young people.
Key Lime Pie
Like summer in every bite, key lime pie is perfect for the season. It’s tart, creamy, and classic. Actual key limes may be somewhat difficult to find depending on where you live, but the good news is, you can still make this pie with regular limes and it’ll still be delicious. Bonus points if you pair it with some other summer flavors like strawberries or mangoes.
Peach Crumble
Buttery, sweet, and comforting, peach crumble is a dish that everyone will gobble up ASAP. Essentially a crustless pie, peach crumble pairs wonderfully with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream. You can even mix up your fruits and add mangoes, strawberries, or apricots!
Lemon Blueberry Tart
Whether it’s with coffee in the morning or after dinner, a slice of lemon blueberry tart is sure to brighten your day. It’s refreshing, tangy, and buttery—perfect for any summer occasion. The best part is, you can swap out the fruit for some other summer classics like strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or even rhubarb.
What will you be baking this summer? Share your creations with us on social media! Be sure to read more on our blog, from recipe ideas to tips and tricks.
Want to expand your baking horizons or need to bring something to a gathering? Our baking kits make the process easy and fun. Check ‘em out!
