When the weather heats up, no one wants to slave in the kitchen baking all day. Here are some terrific no-bake desserts that will keep you cool and please your family too. Most of them require very few ingredients or preparation time. So you can just mix them up and pop them in the refrigerator. They'll be ready in no time!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 packages chocolate instant pudding
• 8 ounces Cool Whip
• 1 prepared graham cracker pie crust (nine inch)
• Chocolate chips for garnish

Pour cold milk into a large bowl.

Add powdered pudding mix.

Beat with a wire whisk or fork until well blended.

Stir in Cool Whip.

Spoon pudding mixture into pie crust.

Chill six hours.

Garnish with chocolate chips, if desired.

Serves six.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces condensed milk
• 8 ounces Cool Whip
• 10 ounces crushed pineapple (drained)
• 1/4 cup walnuts (chopped)
• 1 prepared graham cracker pie crust (nine inch)

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.

Mix together with a wooden spoon until thoroughly mixed.

Pour into pie shell.

Refrigerate overnight.

Garnish with more pineapple, if desired.

Serves six.

Ingredients:

• 1 store-bought pound cake
• 8 ounces whipped cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 16 ounces Cool Whip
• 1 (30 ounce) can cherry or blueberry pie filling

Cut pound cake into one inch squares.

Place the cake pieces into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.

Beat together cream cheese, vanilla and powdered sugar.

Fold Cool Whip into cream cheese mixture.

Spread mixture over cake.

Top with pie filling.

Refrigerate overnight.

Serves 10.

Ingredients:

• 4 large bananas (sliced)
• 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple (drained)
• 1 prepared graham cracker pie crust (nine inch)
• Whipped Cream
• 12 Maraschino cherries
• Walnuts (finely chopped)
• Chocolate syrup

Line bottom of pie crust with sliced bananas.

Top bananas with drained pineapple.

Cover the the pie completely with whipped cream or whipped topping.

Refrigerate four hours.

Garnish with cherries, walnuts and chocolate syrup, if desired.

Serves six.

Ingredients:

• 1 (12 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 (16 ounce) can sweet condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a glass, microwavable bowl, combine all ingredients.

Microwave on high for 90 seconds.

Stir until smooth.

Line a 9x9 square pan with wax paper.

Pour mixture into pan.

Let cool for one hour until set.

If you are in a hurry, just place pan in freezer for 20 minutes.

Cut into small squares and serve.

Ingredients:

• 1 box (six) ice cream sandwiches
• 16 ounces Cool Whip
• 8 ounces milk chocolate chocolate chips
• 4 tablespoons hot fudge topping
• 4 tablespoons caramel topping
• Walnuts (chopped)
• Maraschino cherries

In a 9x13 glass pan, place ice cream sandwiches in an even layer.

Top ice cream with entire container of Cool Whip.

Sprinkle chocolate chips over mixture.

Heat fudge and caramel toppings in microwave for 30 seconds or until smooth.

Pour toppings over mixture.

Freeze for four hours.

Serves 12.

I've also found that you can also find many more delicious no-bake recipes by logging on to the websites of some of your favorite ingredients or name brands, such as Jell-O, Cool Whip, Kraft and more.

So stay out of the heat this summer and prepare one of these delicious no-bake desserts for your family and friends!