summer treats to beat the heat

It’s summer, time for lazy days and easy treats. Nothing too fancy, just tasty food that’s simply prepared and will satisfy a sweet tooth or a salty craving. No-cook cooking is a bonus when it’s hot outside, so we looked to Dash’s suite of cute, compact—and very well priced—kitchen appliances for inspiration. Here’s what we came up with.

When it’s so hot you’re dreaming of snow drifts, Dash’s shaved ice maker dispenses fluffy mounds of finely shaved ice, perfect for custom snow cones and other chilled delights. Top your shaved ice with a flavored syrup or get a little more ambitious and try a fruity shaved ice dessert like the papaya lime pleaser pictured here.

Since Dash’s little MyPint ice cream maker churns out only a cup and a half of ice cream a pop (that’s anywhere from one to three servings, depending on your appetite), you’ll have plenty of chances to experiment with new flavors. It comes with a recipe booklet, and, of course, the internet abounds with recipes for everything from the classics to more curious confections: anyone for vegan Thai iced tea ice cream?

Tip: if you’re working with a recipe for a standard-size ice-cream maker, you’ll need to freeze it in batches with the pint-size Dash machine. Typical recipes require advance cooking. If you’re not up for that, search for no-cook versions.

With the push of a button, you can have 16 cups of hot fresh popcorn in minutes. In just a few more minutes you can turn ordinary popcorn into a taste sensation. The internet is full of ideas for quick sweet and savory treatments for popcorn—cinnamon sugar, sriracha, and even sushi-flavored varieties—but these days we’re partial to lemon-pepper sea salt topping. Make it by combining 2 tablespoons of flaky sea salt (like Maldon) with 1 tablespoon of coarsely ground black pepper and the finely grated zest of 2 lemons and tossing the mixture with about 8 cups of popped popcorn. Garnish with parsley leaves, if desired.

A waffle iron lets you serve something that feels special with very little effort. We are big fans of mini waffles made with sweet potatoes, but any waffle—sweet or savory—will do. Dash’s little waffle iron is also perfect for pressing panini or quesadillas. For an easy brunch or afternoon snack, set up a create-your-own waffle, panini, or quesadilla station with an assortment of delicious fixings.