10 Desserts That Are Sure To Blow Everyone Away This Canada Day

One cannot think of a Canada day picnic or potluck without the traditional red and white desserts featuring seasonal fresh berries, a golden sponge cake and fluffy whipped cream. Instead, try shaking things up this year with something new and fun or a classic with a twist! Here are 10 desserts that are sure to blow everyone away this Canada Day (and keep them raving all summer long).

1. Best Maple Butter Tarts

How do you make most desserts more Canadian you ask? Why add some maple syrup, that’s how! These delectable tarts are a twist on the quintessential Canadian treat omitting the standard corn syrup for the maple variety and adding pecans and chocolate instead of raisins.

These treats can be made ahead of time and stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours. They truly are the Best Maple Butter Tarts!

2. No Churn Rhubarb Ginger Ice Cream

Nothing says summer desserts quite like ice cream. For most, a simple vanilla, chocolate or even strawberry will suffice. But prepare to put all those basic ideas behind you and feast on this No Churn Rhubarb Ginger Ice Cream.

With it’s lovely pink hue, red swirls and packed with bursts of fresh and slightly spicy (thanks ginger) flavors, your guests will definitely be asking for seconds, thirds and the recipe to boot. A useful tip would be to use frozen rhubarb since this is mainly a spring vegetable.

3. Roasted Strawberry Shortcakes With Basil Cream

There are some desserts that are seasonal staples and obvious crowd pleasers. Most believe they should never be omitted from any summer holiday feast and that they should not be tampered with. I strongly disagree.

This shortcake recipe calls for the basil to be steeped into the cream and for the strawberries to be roasted in the oven with sugar and a splash of balsamic vinaigrette. Assembled with flakey buttermilk biscuits, this sweet, slightly tangy herbaceous treat is sure to wow any guests and may just become your new go to recipe.

4. Blueberry Almond And Lemon Cake

Loaded with antioxidants and a welcome addition to many desserts, blueberries are the perfect summer berry. Add in a beautiful citrus twist and some ground almonds and you have one of the tastiest cakes for any outdoor party.

Perfectly dense and moist, this timeless and easy loaf can also make a perfect addition to any coffee breaks or tea times. It can be stored for up to 3 days at room temperature in an airtight container.

5. Frozen Nanaimo Pie

Another take on of one of Canada’s quintessential desserts, this easy three-step pie version of the famous Nanaimo bars is sure to have everyone glued to their seats.

Made with vanilla ice cream, semisweet chocolate and a graham cracker crust, this dessert can be whipped up in 20 minutes and chilled in the freezer for a few hours or left overnight.

6. Plum Crumble

A great way to get original with your desserts this year would be to go for the unexpected underdog of sweet treats; the crumble. This Plum-Cardamom Crumble With Pistachios is super flavourful and has that homey look that fits right in at any family gathering.

This recipe combines an assortment of plums tossed with lemon juice, brown sugar and cardamom. Add to that the buttery, sugary, nutty clumps sprinkled on top and you have a surefire winner that’s bound to be a hit.

7. Canada Day Celebration Cake

Clearly these desserts are about steering away from the classic cream, berries and golden sponge cake concoctions we see every Canada Day.

However, the look of this three-tiered Canada Day Celebration Cake With Fresh Berries alone will impress anyone who dares to roll their eyes at you or your fluffy, fruity masterpiece.

8. Inflammation Busting Pineapple Slushy

Nothing says summer quite like a frozen sugary slushy. Not necessarily a dessert one would find at most holiday gatherings, this more “grown up” slushy is an anti-inflammatory triple-threat.

It contains tart yet sweet Pineapple, spicy turmeric and zesty ginger. Blend all the ingredients together with some coconut water and you get a not too sweet, tropical taste with some subtle notes of nostalgia.

9. Fresh Fruit Tart With Almond Press-In Crust

Here is a second recipe that utilizes the wonderful summer fruit that is the blueberry.

Paired with blackberries and topped over a sweet custard filling, most of the components of this tart, like the crust or the filling, can be made a few days in advance and put together in less than 15 minutes when you are ready to serve.

10. Deep Dish Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

A nod to classic desserts is always a fun way of taking something old and making it new again. In this case, inspiration was taken from the beloved chocolate peanut butter cups and turned into this decadent chilled pie.

Composed of a chocolate cookie crust, a layer of ganache and topped with a peanut butter mousse, these familiar flavors may find themselves in new surroundings but never fail to satisfy our deepest of cravings!