Decadent Grilled Summer Desserts

BBQ season is here! It was 80 degrees this weekend in Minnesota, and we celebrated accordingly. Saturday was all about both kids' dance recitals. Even though that ate up a large chunk of the day, we still grilled and dined al fresco (which is just the snooty way I like to think of our deck). I squeezed in some quality gab time with the neighbors while the kids played in the pool. Note: going down a slide in a wet swimsuit will basically turn a four year old into a rocket.

We also managed to squeeze in a bike ride on a trail near the house, which was a MAJOR advancement for the older kid. We've trying to get her confidently biking for three summers. It seems like every time we take a break over the winter, it's like starting from scratch again in spring. That saying about bikes and never forgetting is clearly false. I feel lied to. We did a little geocaching on the trail, which was awesome. I pretend we're on a family version of Amazing Race while we blindly follow the compass from one spot to the next. The kids hit the motherlode of goodies in a geocache hidden in the rotted out hollow of a tree in the woods. All in all, fun was had.

One of the yummiest moments was when we threw some chocolate, cookie, marshmallow, butterscotch-filled ice cream cones on the grill for dessert. Yeah, it's exactly as sticky and delish as it sounds. Swing by my 15 Summer Desserts for the Grill post on Momtastic for the how-to on those cones and so many more summer-y sweets.

(image & recipe: Brit & Co.)

Sweet Idea: DIY Color Blocked Cocktail Popsicles

I love, and I mean L-O-V-E, coconut rum mixed with lemon-lime soda and pineapple juice. I figured, what better concoction to add to a popsicle than a little splash of the good stuff? I whipped up these beauties last week for Confetti Pop, and they turned out lovely. They're look like a mix between watercolor and color blocking trends. Be still my heart!

Check out the tutorial on Confetti Pop!

Dessert Table: Sunny Days Will Come Again

This weekend will probably be the last warm one in Minnesota. As it is, I'm shocked we've made it to November with nearly 60 degree days. This Bloom Designs dessert table is like the embodiment of summer, and will be perfect to come back to when the drab days of impending winter seem endless. A little cake, some candy, and layered popsicles? Mmmm, just perfect.

Styling and printables Bloom Designs Online via HWTM

Sweet Idea: Summer Cookies

I love these festive, iced cookies. How could you turn down a grill, hot dog, or popsicle cookie? Maybe a little sunblock and beach ball are more your thing.

images via Eleni's