Grand Prize: Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars
These cheesecake bars layer a buttery pecan shortbread crust with a rich and creamy filling and sweet-tart strawberry rhubarb jam. For larger squares, cut bars into nine pieces instead of 16. —Amanda Scarlati, Sandy, Utah
1st Place: Lemon Rhubarb Bundt Cake
This dessert practically screams summer. The fresh lemon flavor in the cake and the tart rhubarb topping are just so refreshing. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
2nd Place: Blackberry Daiquiri Sherbet
This summer I decided to try making sherbet, which is one of my favorites. Blackberries were in season in my mom's garden, and I love the flavor of daiquiris. The two blend together beautifully! —Shelly L. Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
3rd Place: Lemon Blueberry Whoopie Pies
These whoopie pies are soft, cakey cookies studded with tart, juicy blueberries and filled with tangy cream cheese frosting. I bring them to family and school events and they are always the first thing gone! Make sure to continually scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula while making the batter and frosting. —Kathy Martino, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Runner-Up: No-Bake Mango Strawberry Cheesecake
Cheesecake is my mom's favorite dessert. I made this especially for her on Mother's Day to thank her for being such an awesome mom. Decorate to your own taste! —Elizabeth Ding, El Cerrito, California
Runner-Up: Peach Panna Cotta
This no-bake dessert is guaranteed to cool you off in the summer heat. I really enjoy the texture—rich and creamy Panna Cotta balanced by the sweet and pulpy texture of the peach puree. —Andrea Campbell, Los Angeles, California
Runner-Up: Dirty Banana Trifle
What could be better than bananas, cookies and Kahlua? You can adjust this to suit your taste, depending on whether you like a stronger or weaker Kahlua flavor. —Laurie Handlin, Ocean View, Delaware
Runner-Up: No-Churn Blueberry Graham Cracker Ice Cream
This sweet and creamy no-churn ice cream features a fresh blueberry jam swirl and graham cracker pieces. You can use raspberries in place of the blueberries for a different berry flavor. —Heather King, Frostburg, Maryland
Runner-Up: Roasted Strawberry Sheet Cake
My Grandma Gigi loved summer berry cakes. Almost any time I’d call her during the warmer months, she’d invite me over to taste her latest masterpiece. This cake is an ode to her. —Kristin Bowers, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Runner-Up: Mango Glace with Pineapple Pomegranate Salsa
I’d like to say this dish was a brilliant idea that came from expert planning. But the truth is that between the quickly ripening fruit on my counter and the 100-degree heat, it pretty much invented itself! Very ripe fruit eliminates the need for extra sugar. —Jodi Taffel, Altadena, California
Runner-Up: Lemon Mango Kanafeh
Several years ago I came upon a little neighborhood restaurant making the most incredible Turkish food I'd ever seen or tasted. I was completely blown away by the dessert and had to learn how to make it. —Jodi Taffel, Altadena, California
Runner-Up: Mango Tiramisu
I love tiramisu and I wanted to make one with summer flaovors. I swapped the usual coffee liqueur for Grand Marnier and Malibu rum for a tropical twist. —Carla Mendres, Winnipeg, Manitoba
The post 12 Contest-Winning Summer Fruit Desserts appeared first on Taste of Home.
Caroline Stanko