Cold chocolate desserts that are perfect for a summer dinner party

Just because it’s hot doesn’t mean you should discount chocolate from the dessert menu. Not convinced? Read on…

Whatever the season, we believe that chocolate desserts are the best kind. Can you think of anything more satisfying than tucking into some cool chocolate when the weather’s warm? We certainly can’t. If you’re planning a summer dinner party and would like to serve up a chocolate pudding of some sort, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together this guide full of chocolate desserts that are guaranteed to be the best part of the meal. 

Head to our Cooking Chocolate page to buy your ingredients and then read on to learn how to wow your guests… 

Summer chocolate desserts

No bake recipes

If you want to keep things super simple (and a lot less stressful) you could go for a dessert that doesn’t have to be baked. This is an especially good idea if your dinner party is taking place during a heat wave or on a particularly warm summer’s day…

Ice cream

Ice cream is the ultimate summer dessert and shouldn’t be overlooked when planning a summer dinner party. It may be a rather simple option but it’s guaranteed to be hit amongst guests of all ages.

If you’re pressed for time or just want to minimise the stress of being a host, you’ll find countless delicious tubs of chocolate ice cream in supermarket freezers. From Chocolate Fudge Brownie to Chocolate and Salted Caramel, you’ll probably be overwhelmed by choice. We recommend getting a variety and letting guests choose which one they’d like a scoop (or three) of.

If you agree that your guests would all enjoy an ice cream dessert but would like to give it an exciting twist, you could take inspiration from our friends across the pond and serve up some ice cream sandwiches. Simply get some round chocolate cookies and squish a generous scoop of ice cream between two for each guest. In fact, you could even get your guests to do this themselves for some DIY dessert fun.

Forgot to run to the shops? Always have a box of our chocolate Ice Cream Swirls in your cupboard. Emulating the perfect soft-serve shape with classic ice cream flavours, they’ll be a hit with everyone. 

Chocolate trifle

Desserts don’t get any more summery than the great British trifle and we think a chocolate version is the perfect indulgent treat for summer dinner parties.

By replacing the sponge fingers with brownies and sprinkling some shaved chocolate on top, it’s easy to put a cocoa-filled spin on a normal trifle. However, we like to go all out when making a chocolate trifle. Try replacing the jelly with chocolate mousse, topping it with lashings of gooey melted chocolate, and decorating it with some irresistible bite-sized chocolate treats, like any of our Chocolate Selectors.

The latter option is naughtier but oh so nice — chocolate heaven in a bowl.

Cold chocolate desserts

If you want to keep things classic and love to bake, you may want to go for a dessert that’s a little more complicated. If this sounds like you, we have some great ideas for summer-friendly chocolate bakes. Get your oven gloves ready and read on for inspiration…

Chocolate torte

Looking for something rich and summer-suitable? A chocolate torte will answer all your prayers. Originating in Austria, tortes are usually made with ground nuts or breadcrumbs instead of flour, making them heavier than a traditional sponge. However, they’re filled with mousse, fruits, or jam, giving them a burst of fruitiness that’s ideal for summer dinner parties.

If you think you’d like to serve this at your summer dinner party, we recommend keeping things classic and going for a traditional Austrian Sachertorte, which is made with chocolate and ground almonds, before being filled and topped with fruity apricot jam – sehr lecker. Tortes are at their tastiest when they’re made with high-quality chocolate, like our Chocolate Batons and fresh jam, so make sure you choose your ingredients carefully.

Fruit brownies

Do you fancy baking but think a torte sounds a little too rich for you and your guests? Well, baking some brownies is a great alternative. Simple to make and loved by everyone, we believe that you can’t go wrong with this type of dessert.

Classic brownie flavours like Peanut Butter and Salted Caramel may seem a little heavy for sunny days. We recommend going down the fruity route instead. From blueberries to bananas, piling fruit into brownies will make them deliciously juicy and summery.

Once you’ve baked them, you can decorate them with bright icing, chocolate shapes, and even more fruit. Your brownies will be a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. For an extra-cool touch, you could even serve them with a big dollop of ice cream — yum!

Summer desserts

We hope this guide has helped you decide on the perfect chocolate desserts for your summer dinner party. Whichever delight you make, we’re sure your guests will leave with full tummies and happy taste buds.

If pics of your dinner party make it to social media, remember to tag us on Instagram. We’d love to see your chocolate creations!