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The best summer desserts everyone will be serving in 2026, from punch panna cotta to Jaffa Cake cheesecake
The shop-bought puds to finish off your feast in style
Tested by JoJo AnastasiouFood and Drinks Tester
Whether you’re slow cooking pork or mixing spicy margaritas, there’s plenty to keep you busy this BBQ season, without having to make dessert from scratch, too. So, to take the pressure off while still ending your meal on a high, the Good Housekeeping Institute has found the best desserts for summer 2026 as part of its annual BBQ Taste Test.
Best summer desserts to buy 2026
Whether you’re looking for a fruity panna cotta or a Biscoff cheesecake for pud, we’ve found the most spectacular sweet centrepieces to impress your guests.
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How we test summer desserts
The Good Housekeeping Institute tested 14 dessert centrepieces for summer. To avoid brand bias, all were presented without packaging and evaluated on their aroma and flavour. And to ease the strain on our bank balance this year, these Taste Approved treats start from just £2.
Tesco Finest Fruit 'Punch' Panna Cotta 400g
Tesco Finest Fruit 'Punch' Panna Cotta 400g
Score: 81/100
Round off your meal with this ultra-summery dessert. Fresh and light, the creamy vanilla panna cotta base is topped with a refreshing strawberry, raspberry and mint jelly. Testers loved the contrasting textures. We were also impressed by how well each slice held its shape, making it a doddle to serve.
Waitrose Alphonso Mango Desserts 147g
Waitrose Alphonso Mango Desserts 147g
Score: 77/100
Almost too pretty to eat, this is the show-stopping dessert of the season. The realistic-looking white chocolate mangoes contain a creamy mango purée mousse and zippy passionfruit and mango curd, all layered on a white chocolate biscuit base. Crunchy and creamy in every bite.
Available 20 May 2026
Sainsbury's Loaded Caramelised Biscuit Cookie Dough 335g
Sainsbury's Loaded Caramelised Biscuit Cookie Dough 335g
Score: 76/100
When the sun goes down, warm yourself up with this indulgent dessert. Gooey cookie dough is topped with rich salted caramel sauce and chunky triple chocolate pieces – and, trust us, a little goes a long way. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
ASDA Jaffa Cake Cheesecake 450g
ASDA Jaffa Cake Cheesecake 450g
Score: 76/100
Jaffa Cake fans rejoice! You can now get your fix in cheesecake form. The soft cake base is soaked with orange juice for a fluffy texture, followed by a creamy vanilla filling, fruity orange jelly layer and chocolate top. It's bound to be a family favourite.
Available TBC
Picard Lemon Meringue Tart 480g
Picard Lemon Meringue Tart 480g
Score: 76/100
It’s always wise to have a stellar frozen pudding on standby for last-minute guests, and this well-made lemon meringue tart is perfect for sunny evenings. Light and zesty, our panel enjoyed the crisp meringue topping, rich lemon curd filling and crunchy shortbread base. A fresh, feel-good finish to any meal.
Morrisons The Best Key Lime Meringue Stack 497g
Morrisons The Best Key Lime Meringue Stack 497g
Score: 75/100
With World Cup fever set to dominate this summer, expect plates piled high with all things Americana. Inspired by Florida’s iconic key lime pie, this modern take is a delicious contrast of caramelised meringue, white chocolate shavings, zesty lime curd and plenty of cream. A deliciously light dessert that still feels sweet and satisfying – and the stack was a dream to slice and serve.
Score: 74/100
Thanks to the resurgence of 80s-style dinner parties, both tiramisu and trifles are having a moment. Lidl’s clever shop-bought shortcut delivers everything you’d want from the nostalgic Italian dessert: sweet cream, coffee-soaked layers and a hint of alcohol.
They come in individual pots too, making it easy to share at a BBQ or simply grab and go.
Score: 73/100
Co-op has given our favourite Italian dessert a glow-up with the addition of decadent pistachio. Described as “the ideal dessert” by our panel, it combines vanilla, chocolate and coffee beautifully, with the nuts adding a vibrant pop of colour.
English Cheesecake Company Biscoff Cheesecake 484g
English Cheesecake Company Biscoff Cheesecake 484g
Score: 70/100
Looking for a crowd-pleasing pud? You can’t go wrong with anything Biscoff-flavoured, in our opinion. This cheesecake starts with a crunchy biscuit base, layered with creamy vanilla soft cheese and topped with Biscoff spread and crumbs. Well-balanced, it’s rich but not too heavy, with enough finesse to warrant a repeat purchase.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Joanna Anastasiou is our Food and Drinks Tester, and has completed certifications in Sensory Foundation and WSET Wine Level 2 training. Prior to this she studied geography with conservation biology at the University of Exeter and trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Through this she has developed a passion for sustainability within the food and agricultural sectors. Joanna also volunteers in kitchens with FoodCycle, as well as on multiple wildlife conservation projects, where she formed a particular love for bees!
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