50 Easy Red, White & Blue Star-Spangled Desserts To Celebrate The 4th
After fireworks, we dessert.
The desserts are coming! The desserts are coming! Okay, so Paul Revere definitely didn't say that, but we still think you should start a revolution of your own this 4th of July—against boring desserts! These patriotic, star-spangled sweets will add some festive red, white, and blue to your spread... at least until they're devoured. From fruity cookies to spectacular cakes, all-American pies to summery popsicles, we've got something here for everyone, for every occasion Independence Day could throw at you.
Okay, admittedly, some of these desserts aren’t red, white, AND blue all at once, but we believe in your ability to either make it happen by getting creative with additional ingredients, being content with a more subtle patriotic vibe, or, our favorite, serving multiple of them at once for that full flag effect (like we did with our flag cake).
What do we mean by additional ingredients? Fruit, of course! Cherries, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries are the easiest, tastiest way to add color to your desserts. Start with a white or red base—like our red velvet cake or ice cream, our no-bake whipped ricotta cheesecake, or our white cake—add a variety of fruit, top the whole thing with some whipped cream, and there you have it: the perfect creative interpretation of America's flag. Check out our red velvet whoopie pies with blueberries, our flag cake, or our berries & cream charcuterie board for inspiration, then get creative with it.
Speaking of fruit, no one would be mad if you served up a variety of classic summer desserts instead of adhering to a colorful theme. Our fruit popsicles, our blueberry surprise, our raspberry tiramisu, or our strawberry crisp are always crowd-pleasers. Looking for something a little more casual? Our strawberry shortcake Rice Krispie treats, our M&M cookie bars, or our cheesecake cupcakes are perfect for sharing at a 4th of July potluck or picnic.
Want to meet somewhere in the middle? A little food coloring, red and blue sanding sugars, and even edible glitter can go a long way in turning something subtle into a show-stopper—check out our lemon-blueberry firecracker Bundt cake to see what we mean. We also aren't above topping our treats with actual sparklers, so be safe and have fun with it! 🎆
Lemon-Berry Firecracker Cake
Nothing says Fourth of July quite like a patriotic red, white, and blue dessert, especially this eye-popping lemon-berry firecracker cake. For a blast of flavor, our spin on the classic firecracker cake upgrades itself from white cake to a tangy lemon batter with blueberry- and strawberry-flavored swirls.
Get the Lemon-Berry Firecracker Cake recipe.
Berry Crisp With Walnut-Pecan Topping
Inspired by the Greek version of baklava, this crisp is brimming with tart berries, warm spices, orange and lemon juice and zest, honey, and walnuts. It makes for a great make-ahead dessert with minimal prep that you can whip up at a moment's notice. Top with whipped cream for the ultimate summer treat.
Get the Berry Crisp With Walnut-Pecan Topping recipe.
July 4th Ice Cream Cake
This festive ice cream cake is more impressive than any fireworks display you’ll see this year! Vanilla ice cream dotted with red, white, and blue sprinkles is sandwiched between two layers of soft and fluffy vanilla cake, and the whole thing is topped with whipped cream frosting (like the patriotic ice cream sundae of your dreams). Ice cream cake, we salute you!
Get the July 4th Ice Cream Cake recipe.
Chantilly Cake
There are cakes, and then there’s Chantilly cake, an impressive dessert that marries the delicious simplicity of a classic yellow cake with the berries and cream combo that makes shortcakes shine. What’s even sweeter? The all-American dessert has a charming origin story that started in a grocery store bakery.
Get the Chantilly Cake recipe.
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies With Blueberries
These patriotic beauties were inspired by classic red velvet cake, whoopie pies, and the need for an easy and fun 4th of July dessert. Red velvet cookies with fluffy, white whipped cream and cream cheese frosting, and blueberries make for a fun twist on classic whoopie pies that we didn't even know we needed.
Angel Food Cake
Angel food cake is basically just whipped egg whites and sugar, but it tastes like heaven in every bite (pun intended). In our book, it’s the perfect dessert: light, fluffy, and a blank slate to be topped with sweet fresh fruits. It’s a classic summer dessert, especially for 4th of July, whether we're topping it with strawberries for a strawberry shortcake variation or enjoying it with plenty of blueberries and whipped cream as an anytime treat.
Get the Angel Food Cake recipe.
Flag Cake
Hot dogs, fireworks, and flag cake—if your 4th of July party doesn’t end with a red, white, and blue dessert, then you’re doing it wrong! With a simple frosting, boxed cake mix, and sweet fresh fruit, this cake is as easy to make as it is to devour.
Get the Flag Cake recipe.
Blueberry Cheesecake Icebox Cake
When it’s hot outside, a no-bake dessert like this blueberry cheesecake icebox cake is an ace up your sleeve. Layers of blueberry jam, whipped cream cheese, and graham crackers are stacked together for a no-fuss cool and creamy masterpiece that looks like you spent hours crafting it—when all you did was shove it in the refrigerator to chill for a few hours. No oven required.
Get the Blueberry Cheesecake Icebox Cake recipe.
Berries & Cream Charcuterie Board
The only thing better than fresh, sweet berries is piling them on angel food cake and shortbread cookies with sweet ricotta or whipped cream. This DIY "starcuterie" board is the ideal sweet treat to round out your 4th of July spread.
Red Velvet Ice Cream
This creamy homemade ice cream is made with a buttermilk base and cocoa powder for that iconic chocolatey, tangy flavor. A cream cheese frosting is crucial to red velvet, so we added a swirl of the frosting throughout and crumbled some red velvet cake in too so you get bits in every bite.
Get the Red Velvet Ice Cream recipe.
American Pie
It doesn't get any more American than pie, and this flag-inspired pie really takes it to the next level. Refrigerated store-bought pie crust makes whipping this up a total breeze. Just make sure to fulfill your civic duty by serving this with plenty of vanilla ice cream.
Get the American Pie recipe.
Cheesecake Pops
You only need 6 ingredients (and some Dixie cups and popsicle sticks) to make these adorable popsicles. They're everything you crave from a cheesecake, made frozen for summer!
Get the Cheesecake Pops recipe.
Fro-Yo Fruit Bites
Whether you're looking for an easy, on-the-go breakfast or an anytime sweet snack, these fro-yo bites are the answer. All you need are 4 ingredients (plus your chosen fruit!) to create these bites: plain yogurt, whole milk, honey, and pure vanilla extract. They come together in only 10 minutes—just make sure to give them plenty of time to chill in the freezer so that they set completely.
Get the Fro-Yo Fruit Bites recipe.
Freedom Bark
This stunning red, white, and blue chocolate bark tastes like freedom, and is so fun for the whole family to help decorate. We love adding in all our favorite festive sprinkles, like edible stars and plenty of edible glitter.
Get the Freedom Bark recipe.
No-Bake Whipped Ricotta Cheesecake
"No-bake" and "whipped" in the same recipe name as "cheesecake"? Sure! Trust us, the whipped ricotta and mascarpone combination lightened with whipped cream atop a Biscoff crust isn't traditional, but is still quite dreamy.
Sponge Cake
Having this cake in your recipe arsenal will have you ready for anything that gets thrown at you: You can cube it a trifle, crumble it over ice cream, or—our favorite—stack it with whipped cream and berries. The best part? You can also have this entire cake ready in just about an hour.
Get the Sponge Cake recipe.
Cheesecake Cupcakes
Who doesn't love an ultra-creamy slice of cheesecake? These mini versions are super-easy to make (no water bath!), but just as delicious as their full-size counterpart, and much easier to share with BBQ guests.
Get the Cheesecake Cupcakes recipe.
Strawberry Pop-Tart Skillet Pie
This strawberry Pop-Tart skillet is a playful twist on a nostalgic childhood favorite. It’s sharing size so you’ll never have to fight over the last Pop-Tart in the package again, and it’s perfect for any occasion. Want to replace your birthday cake with a Pop-Tart? Impress your guests at your 4th of July dinner party? We've got you. With a jammy strawberry filling, buttery pie crust, and sweet icing, this dessert is sure to be a fan favorite.
Get the Strawberry Pop-Tart Skillet Pie recipe.
M&M Cookie Bars
These have all the comfort of a chocolate chip cookie, with the added crunch of M&M's and the heft of a bar shape, making for a delicious treat that’s impossible to put down. Try them with red, white, & blue M&M's to switch them up for holiday too.
Get the M&M Cookie Bars recipe.
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