The 12 best recipes to bake in July
Here’s what you should bake (or in some cases, freeze!) this month.
Date
July 1, 2026
People don’t talk about it, but July is actually one of the best months to bake. The market is overflowing with fruit that shines in everything from pies to Bundt cakes, plus there are opportunities to bake something for the beach or enjoy childhood favorites outdoors. Here’s what you should bake (or in some cases, freeze!) this month.
1) Creamy Key Lime Pie Bars
Unlike classic Key lime pie — which is made with a baked filling containing egg yolks, lime juice, and sweetened condensed milk — these light, creamy bars are made with a posset-like filling. What’s that, you might ask? Possets are made by cooking dairy (in this case heavy cream) with an acid (typically citrus juice, in this case, Key lime juice), which causes a chemical reaction that naturally sets the mixture without the use of gelatin (or eggs).
Get the recipe: Creamy Key Lime Pie Bars
To make this recipe, you'll need: Floribbean Key Lime Juice
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Key Lime Coconut Squares, Classic Key Lime Pie
2) Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich Bars
Making your own ice cream sandwiches has never been easier, thanks to no-churn ice cream (yes, that means no ice cream maker is required!) and a giant slab cookie. Bake a half-sheet pan-sized cookie, cut it in half, then sandwich the creamy ice cream between the layers. After an overnight freeze, you’ll be able to slice these into your very own, way-better-than-store-bought ice cream sandwiches.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich Bars
To make this recipe, you'll need: Half-Sheet Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches, Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches
3) S'more Rice Krispies Treats
A mashup so perfect, we can’t believe we didn’t create this recipe sooner. Every bite of these S’more Rice Krispies Treats delivers the familiar trio of toasty graham crackers, rich chocolate, and gooey marshmallows, just like a freshly made s’more — with enough to share and no campfire required.
Get the recipe: S'more Rice Krispies Treats
To make this recipe, you'll need: Callebaut Semisweet Chocolate Chips
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Ultimate Brown Butter Rice Krispies Treats, S'mores Icebox Cake
4) BLT Pizza
This pizza takes everything you love about summer’s favorite sandwich and turns it into a craveable, unique pizza. Start with the our Recipe of the Year Flaky Puff Crust Pizza dough, then add cheese, bacon, and tomatoes before it’s baked. Finish it off with fresh, crisp Romaine dressed in garlic-basil oil once it’s out of the oven. A final drizzle of mayonnaise hits the BLT idea home while also adding savory richness and creamy contrast to every bite.
Get the recipe: BLT Pizza
To make this recipe, you'll need: Crispiest Crust Pizza Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Tomato Pie with Parmesan and Basil, Rhode Island Pizza Strip
5) Caprese New York-Style Pizza
Caprese salad is exactly what you want to eat during peak tomato season. Made with tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, it already has the key ingredients to turn it into pizza (another perfect summer food). Instead of tomato sauce, we swap in pesto, and use fresh tomatoes as a topping instead. As for the mozzarella, adding a touch of cream gives it a silkier, richer texture akin to burrata.
Get the recipe: Caprese New York-Style Pizza
To make this recipe, you'll need: Brod & Taylor Bread Steel
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Margherita Pizza, South Shore Bar Pizza
6) Whole Wheat Oatmeal Cookie
Serve these cookies to your guests and we guarantee no one will guess they’re 100% whole grain. Made with Golden Wheat Flour, these cookies have a flavor that’s mildly nutty but not overtly wheat-y and a texture that’s soft and chewy in the middle with crispy edges.
Get the recipe: Whole Wheat Oatmeal Cookie
To make this recipe, you'll need: Golden Wheat Flour
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Oatmeal-Date Smash Cookies, Oatmeal Cream Pies
7) Berry Bliss Bundt Cake
The beauty of a Bundt cake is that it’s impressive enough to be the centerpiece of your party but requires no decoration skills — the pan itself does all the heavy lifting. A lemon-sugar glaze adds tang and crunch, then a berry icing brings bright fruit flavor and a jolt of color.
Get the recipe: Berry Bliss Bundt Cake
To make this recipe, you'll need: Original Classic Bundt Pan
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Sunken Berry Cake, Late Summer Berry Cake
8) French Onion Scones
Filled with fragrant caramelized onions and nutty Gruyère cheese, these tender scones have all the cozy appeal of the classic soup baked right in. They’re great alongside eggs, spread with butter, or eaten straight from the plate for breakfast or snack time.
Get the recipe: French Onion Scones
To make this recipe, you'll need: Bench Knife
If you like this recipe, you may also like: French Onion Rolls, Cheddar Cheese and Scallion Scones
9) Dubai Chocolate Cookies
Thick and fudgy, these chocolate cookies have a crunchy-creamy surprise inside. Inspired by the flavors and textures of Dubai chocolate, the cookies are stuffed with a blend of pistachio paste and toasted kataifi.
Get the recipe: Dubai Chocolate Cookies
To make this recipe, you'll need: 2 Tablespoon Scoop
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Dubai Chocolate Brownies, Sparkling Pistachio Cookies
10) Fast Summer Berry Pie
Melted Butter Pie Crust is your secret weapon in the thick of hot summer baking. Instead of rolling out dough (or worrying about butter softening too quickly), you simply mix melted butter with the dry ingredients and press it straight into the pan. Simmer down your berries for the filling, and in just two hours you’ll be rewarded with a buttery, streusel-topped pie with a sweet, jammy filling.
Get the recipe: Fast Summer Berry Pie
To make this recipe, you'll need: Adjustable Pie Crust Shield
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Berry Easy Jam Bars, Blueberry-Peach Cobbler
11) Beautiful Burger Buns
Show up to a cookout with a batch of homemade burger buns, and you may just outshine the grill master. Soft, mildly sweet, and golden-yellow from the butter and egg, these simple buns are easily better than storebought.
Get the recipe: Beautiful Burger Buns
To make this recipe, you'll need: Offset Bread Knife
If you like this recipe, you may also like: New England Hot Dog Buns, 100% Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns
12) Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
We'd argue that few things are more crowd-pleasing than an oversized chocolate chip cookie. In summer, take it one step further by baking the cookie supreme not in the oven but on your grill. This super-sized version is baked in a skillet for extra-crispy edges and a pleasingly gooey center. To serve, cut into wedges and top with vanilla ice cream, or simply add a few scoops of ice cream to the center of the skillet, hand out spoons, and let everyone dig in.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
To make this recipe, you'll need: Callebaut Semisweet Chocolate Chips
If you like this recipe, you may also like: Maple Tahini Chocolate Skillet Cake, Skillet Cornbread
Cover photo by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne.
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