Now that we've officially entered the time of year when backyard cookouts and picnics are practically a weekly thing, most of us are always on the lookout for something fun and delicious to bring to share with our family and friends.

And that's why I was so thrilled when I came across this strawberry shortcake cupcakes recipe from Food & Wine. Yes -- strawberry shortcake cupcakes, which has to be one of the greatest twists ever on the classic dessert we all remember devouring every summer as kids. (And as adults too. Busted.)

Hey everybody, it's National Chocolate Chip Day! Did you even know that was an important holiday? The more you know. No one gets this day off work or school (why?!?), but I think some celebrating is in order anyway. Here's an idea -- think beyond the chocolate chip cookie. Those little chocolate bits are about so much more than that. Here are 11 excellent ideas for chocolate chip treats.

Do you ever feel like your food could be, I don't know, just a little bit cuter? There's a lot of un-cute food out there. Big mountains of mashed potatoes, swamps of beef stew, beige casseroles. What the world -- and our tummies -- need is more cute food. Food that's small, friendly, and adorable, like fairy truffles and teddy bear-shaped pancakes and smiling pizza faces. Kids love it, but it's not just for kids! Here are 12 cute food ideas that'll make you squeee!

As temperatures heat up, cooler desserts are what we all crave. That means ice cream, and lots of it. This easy ice cream cake is a great way to serve it up.

From Virtually Homemade, it's gorgeous and flavorful when topped with a delicious raspberry sauce. But there's a secret -- you start with regular old ice cream sandwiches you buy at the grocery store, so it couldn't be any easier. I know people often say that, but in this case, it's true. Layered with the raspberry sauce (or a sauce of your choosing) and a homemade creamy filling, they all come together to make one delicious and impressive dessert in a snap.

As incredible as they are, cupcakes are a rather frou-frou dessert for the most part. These camouflage cupcakes, however, are as tough as they come. They're adorable (in a rugged sort of way), delicious, and perfect for any kind of military-themed party or to just say thank you to a soldier.

This recipe from Tablespoon is incredibly easy too as she suggests you just use pre-made frosting and cake mixes. It's the technique and coloring that make them cute, and you could even top them with little green Army men for an extra kick. Be ready to be saluted big time for these.

It's almost Mother's Day, and if you're looking for the perfect desert to surprise your favorite mom with, I've got a great one for you. This crunchy chocolate malt cupcake recipe has it all going on. It's rich and creamy, but with that sweet, crunchy malted surprise. It's almost a candy bar -- only it's been baked with love.

It's also made with malted milk powder and crispy rice cereal -- that's where the crunch comes in. Top with a few chocolate malt balls and some sprinkles to make it extra fun.

Something about spring puts me in the perfect mood for fruit desserts. Even if most of our fruit isn't quiiiiite in season yet, it's definitely time for some sweet and tart flavor only fresh fruit can delivery. So I've pulled together some positively ambrosial fruit dessert recipes -- some classic, others surprising but tempting. Here's eight fruit desserts I'd love to try this spring.

When it comes to finding the perfect dessert to complement any meal, you really can't go wrong with a simple American classic. But sometimes making an entire cake or pie seems like a bit too much, especially if you aren't catering to a huge group.

And that's why this recipe for mini apple pies from Food.com will make you grin from ear to ear.

Not only are these tiny versions of everyone's favorite dessert adorable -- they're also sweet to look at, and a lot of fun for the whole family to eat too!