21 Recipes Inspired By Iconic Summer Movies
Updated: Jan. 05, 2022From candy bars in the pool to watermelon carried to a party, good food and classic film scenes go hand-in-hand. We're sharing recipes inspired by classic summer movies we love to watch again and again.
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Stand by Me: Star-Studded Blueberry Pie
While huddled around the campfire one night, the adventurous boys in Stand By Me tell the tale of a local kid who enacts, well, sweet revenge on the town bullies during a blueberry pie-eating contest. We recommend taking your time with this one, though, to avoid the mess of the movie’s less-than-savory results.
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Dirty Dancing: Sonoran Sunset Watermelon Ice
Nobody puts Baby in the corner, but in Dirty Dancing, they do put her in charge of carrying an oversized watermelon to a late-night party. This frosty treat might be a bit easier to lug across the resort—and makes for a cooling treat after a long night of dancing.
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The Goonies: Warm Rocky Road Cake
One of the greatest friendships in movie history gets started when the insatiable Goonie, Chunk, is offered a tub of Rocky Road ice cream by his new pal, Sloth. We think they’d both love this warm cake version, topped with a scoop (or two) of any ice cream they can dream of.
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The Sandlot: Mini S'mores
Sandlot slugger Hamiltion “Ham” Porter offers up the recipe for s’more perfection: “First you take the graham, you stick the chocolate on the graham. Then you roast the ‘mallow. When the ‘mallow’s flaming, you stick it on the chocolate. Then cover with the other end. Then you scarf.” Our version’s a bit different, but we bet they’d still be pretty tasty after a few sun-soaked innings.
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Jaws: Zucchini Boats
These may not look like shark-hunter Quint’s famous fishing boat, Orca, but we bet Jaws would find them just a little more appetizing. Can’t get enough of the meaty, cheesy toppings? Well, “you’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
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Caddyshack: Candy Bar Fudge
This Baby Ruth-inspired fudge is just too delicious to drop into the pool. But if you do? Hey, “it’s no big deal!”
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Troop Beverly Hills: Easy Mint Thins
“It’s cookie time!” Troop 332 of Beverly Hills must prove they’re more than expert shoppers if they want to qualify for the Wilderness Girls annual Jamboree. To do so, they’re challenged to sell 1,000 boxes of cookies, like these homemade chocolate-mint versions.
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The Great Outdoors: Grilled Marinated Ribeyes
Ours may not be quite as large as the “Old ’96er,” but we’re betting it’d be a whole lot easier for Chet to finish off than the 96-ounce steak behemoth he tackles at the Paul Bunyan’s Cupboard restaurant.
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Now and Then: CokeCola Cake
In this classic coming of age flick, four friends gather as adults to remember a childhood summer. Flashbacks show their 12-year-old selves fighting with boys, riding bikes for hours, investigating a mystery, and drinking bottle after bottle of icy cola. This rich chocolate cake is something their adult and child selves could appreciate.
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Meatballs: Canadian Meatballs
What else would you choose to snack on during this Canadian comedy classic, which follows campers’ and counselors’ antics at Camp North Star?
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Grease: Spiked Pink Lady
Show some summer lovin’ to the coolest girls in school by sipping a rose-hued cocktail that shares their name.
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Field of Dreams: Hot Dogs
If you build the perfect dog, they will come. Pay homage to America’s pastime with a classic hot dog that’s best enjoyed in your own backyard—whether there’s a baseball field out there or not.
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The Parent Trap: S'Moreos
In the 1998 remake of the classic film, campers Hallie and Annie start to piece together that they’re actually separated-at-birth twins after they both reveal their love for peanut butter and Oreos. Put ’em in a s’more, and it’s the perfect pair.
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What About Bob?: Grilled Corn on the Cob
The titular character throws his psychiatrist into a fit after crashing his family’s vacation at Lake Winnipesaukee, but can’t help but rave about the “scrumptious” corn on the cob served at the family dinner table. “Fay, is this hand shucked?”
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Independence Day: Ranch Popcorn
A true summer blockbuster, this action-packed movie demands you keep plenty of popcorn on hand to scarf throughout. The ranch seasoning helps you keep your cool while America battles off an ultra-destructive alien invasion.
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Summer Rental: Citrus Cookies
An overworked air traffic controller takes his family on a beach vacation to Florida, where nothing seems to go right from the start. These sunny-day cookies may be just what Jack needs to calm down before setting sail in the Citrus Cove Regatta.
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American Graffiti: Hot Dog Speed Racer
This classic teen comedy-drama is all about diner hangouts and drag races, and this speedy little treat is a fun way to celebrate both.
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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: Gourmet Caramel Apples
In this sci-fi classic, Elliott uses Reese’s Pieces candy to lure E.T. to his home. We’re pretty sure the friendly alien would come pretty quickly if he caught sight of his favorite treat on these over-the-top caramel apples.
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National Lampoon's Vacation: JoJo's Ginger Cookies
Shaped like Marty Moose, the mascot of the Griswold family’s vacation destination of Walley World, these cookies would make the perfect road trip snacks—even if the journey hits a few road bumps along the way.
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The Endless Summer: Surf '& Turf Burgers
This seminal documentary follows two surfers around the world, in search of catching the perfect wave. With so much time spent on both land and sea, this movie goes great with a summertime classic burger topped with crab.
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Jurassic Park: Green Flop Jell-O
All it takes is the jiggle of some Jell-O to show how terrifying it is to come face-to-face with a raptor. This fluffy lime version may not tremble like it does in the classic scene from Jurassic Park, but it would definitely help calm the nerves of anyone escaping from an island filled with ravenous dinosaurs.
Originally Published: May 18, 2017
