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It’s summertime, ladies and gents – and what better way to kick back than with a few delicious treats for you and the kids?
Ahh, the summertime. The sun is shining, the kids come out to play, Mom and Dad get to rest more… It’s just great on the overall. Even better is all that, coupled with having nice summertime snacks to enjoy, perhaps for long afternoons out by the pool, or after a good ol’ neighborhood barbecue? But while, of course, you could pop by the supermarket or a bakery to get some treats, there’s something about homemade treats… The feeling of accomplishment of having made them yourself, getting the family together to help… All of that seems to pour into the flavor somehow, making for delicious treats!
So, in the spirit of aiding that lovely activity, here at Casa de Campo Living we’ve compiled a list of ten of our favorite recipes from around the internet that we think make for absolutely lovely treats for the whole family!
1. Popsicles made from your juice of choice!
Our friends over at WikiHow demonstrate through easy pictures and directions how to create one of the most timeless summer treats known to man – the juice popsicle. The article uses orange juice as an example, but any juice, heck, pretty much any beverage can work with this method, and will have you all enjoying nice cold treats that will be sure to cool you down on the hottest of summer days. Recipe here.
2. Brownies
Look at that picture and tell me that doesn’t look absolutely mouth-watering. Done? Okay, sorry for making you lie like that. BBC Good Food’s Best-Ever Brownie recipe is absolutely delicious, going into exquisite detail on how to make this fantastic treat. The website’s users gave the recipe 5 out of 5 stars, and, having given it a try, every single star was absolutely earned! Recipe here.
3. S’more Pops
Now, some might argue summer is far too hot of a time to be lighting a campfire and hunkering down for some s’mores. But no worry, the folks over at The Decorated Cookie have got you covered – these scrumptious little treats make for all the fantastic taste in s’mores without all the mess in preparing and eating them! Recipe here.
4. Monster Cookies
Just… oh wow. That masterpiece above is the Monster Cookie, found at Cooking With My Kid, a great website for parent-child recipes to prepare together and enjoy. Now, I know what you’re thinking, parents – you can’t make that for your kids, that looks incredibly fattening! Here’s the catch, it’s not – Cooking With My Kid user April the Gluten Free Girl found this fantastic recipe in an Amish cookbook, an amazing cookie that has no flour, but instead uses delicious oats, peanut butter, and M&M’s! Recipe here.
5. Watermelon Lemonade
An extremely refreshing delight for this summer season, watermelon lemonade makes for a delicious solution to getting the kids hydrated as they run around sweating under the intense sun. A delicious combination of sweet and tangy flavors and a simple recipe – what more can you ask for? Get a big glass ready, set it down next to you and lounge in the sun and breeze – there’s nothing better. Recipe here.
6. Popsicles for Mom and Dad
Well, sure, these treats are all fantastic, but it’s not just the kids getting to have all the fun! Mashable.com has prepared a list of 10 fantastic unique popsicle treats, some mixed in with something stronger, like their Champagne Raspberry Pop or the Bourbon-Spiked Peaches n’ Cream Pop, but others are just plain delicious, such as their Coconut Ice Pop or Concord Grape Pop that more fussy kids might not be up for trying. Recipes here.
7. Best-Ever Banana Splits 
After a quick perusing of fantastic recipe website delish.com we found two perfect recipes for this list, the first of which is these Best-Ever Banana Splits that look absolutely scrumptious and are sure to taste just as amazingly. Using a much simpler recipe than usual for banana splits, delicious almonds give the entire ensemble a fantastic crunch that just makes it all perfect. Recipe here.
8. Double-crust Apple Pie
Also found on Delish is this fantastic recipe, originally by Food & Wine’s Grace Parisi, who uses a mix of various types of apples to create a scrumptious apple pie that is sure to delight after any meal! Recipe here.
9. Energy Bars
Now, all those treats are fine and dandy, sure, but if you’re looking to give your children something healthy to keep their strength up as they run around and swim in the summer sun, this fantastic recipe from Eating Well magazine shows how to make a delicious energy bar from various nuts, dried fruits and oats to get the whole family moving this summer. Recipe here.
10. Fresh Blueberry Cobbler
Last, but not least is this delicious blueberry cobbler, with a recipe courtesy of Betty Crocker that seems absolutely perfect for having company over on a hot summer day, or perhaps for a party out by the pool! The recipe is simple, delicious and classy – what are you waiting for? Recipe here.
So there you have it folks, Casa de Campo Living’s Top Ten (in no particular order) of fantastic treats to sweeten up your taste buds this summer! Enjoy, and, when you prepare any of these, feel free to let us know through social media on #TopTenTuesdays!