July 4th is just around the corner, and while we’re celebrating America’s independence, why not celebrate your natural gifts for making very impressive desserts? Oh, you’re not a naturally gifted dessert-maker? No matter.
We’ve rounded up dozens of over-the-top desserts that are both easy to execute and patriotically themed. While these are all stunners, you can always make any of them even more festive with accessories such as sparklers, American flag toothpicks, or by plating them on plates and stands with a patriotic theme.
Either way, use your imagination and be prepared for compliments about your stellar entertaining.
Fireworks Sugar Cookie Cake
Sugar cookies may not be the first things that come to mind when you think “impressive desserts,” but when this cake-sized version hits the celebration, it’ll be anything but boring — despite the familiar flavors, the bold presentation is worthy of your party. Just make sure there’s some cream of tartar and baking soda on hand for the baking to keep this giant cookie chewy and soft.
Recipe: Crazy for Crust
Flag Cake
Ina Garten may not have invited us all to the Hamptons for the holiday, but she did create this delicious sheet cake recipe, so we can probably forgive her. The cake can be served right from the pan and makes for as many as 24 servings.
Recipe: Ina Garten
Jell-O Pudding Pops
If you and your friends have ’80s nostalgia — and an ice pops mold — this recipe will delight your palates and soothe your ’80s-loving souls. The homemade magic shell is a tasty addition, but totally optional.
Recipe: No. 2 Pencil
Patriotic Panna Cotta Shooters
Panna cotta already sounds impressive, and would be lovely for any Independence Day party, but why not make it patriotic while you’re at it? Layer red grenadine syrup, a coconut panna cotta, and blue curaçao — the edible glitter is optional, but a lot of fun.
Recipe: Sprinkle Bakes
Watermelon Pizza
Trust an almost 135-year-old American magazine to give us a recipe that’s festive, scrumptious, and not terrible for the waistline: just berries and honey-ricotta topping on watermelon.
Recipe: Good Housekeeping
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Mixed Berry Trifle
This decadent red, white, and blue trifle is elegant and patriotic. It layers berries and pound cake with strawberry jam and vanilla pudding or, if you’re feeling ambitious, cream custard.
Recipe: Saving Room for Dessert
Red Velvet-Blueberry Ice Cream Pie
When you hear the name of this dessert, you probably first think, “Yum!” and then, “Oh, but that’s probably hard to make.” Fear not — it’s only five ingredients, and comes together quickly and beautifully, with a big head start from one of the ingredients being store-bought red velvet cupcakes.
Recipe: Food Network
Vodka-Soaked ‘Firecracker’ Berries
For the grownups, these boozy firecracker strawberries will be the perfect way to get the celebration going. The recipe requires only 10 minutes, leaving you time to work on other parts of the meal or maybe even make another dessert. The spirit-inspired recipe calls for vodka, but if you prefer tequila or rum, use that instead. Whatever you soak the strawberries in, they’re dunked in marshmallow fluff, then sprinkles.
Recipe: Delish
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Strawberry Shortcake Grilled Doughnuts
Even the word “doughnut” makes people light up. We don’t know what saying the name of this recipe for brioche doughnuts will do, but be prepared for some elation. Mention that you made the doughnuts yourself — it takes just about an hour for everything — and brace yourself to get an award on the spot.
Recipe: Half-Baked Harvest
Fourth of July Cake Roll
Your friends who binged “The Great British Baking Show” on Netflix will be so impressed by this cake. You should be finished making it in less than an hour, too. The trick is to spread the red- and blue-dyed batters in the pan in alternating stripes.
Recipe: Taste and Tell
No Bake Patriotic Cheesecake
Don’t feel like spending more time in a hot kitchen? This dessert using cream cheese and whipped cream — no eggs or flour — is here for you. After setting up in the freezer, it’s the perfect refreshing end to a backyard celebration.
Recipe: Down Redbud Drive
Red, White, and Blue Meringues
We can just hear guests exclaim, “You made us meringues?!” No one has to clue them in that meringues are actually quite easy to make, though you’ll need to know how to use piping bag and have a piping tip and small paint brush on hand. (Why? To make the lines of red and blue food coloring that’ll come out on the meringues.)
Recipe: Farmgirl Gourmet
Berry Tart With Brown Butter Shortbread Crust
Chefs everywhere are obsessed with nutty, toasty brown butter (another thing that sounds much harder to make than it is). This recipe uses that lovely flavor, which becomes ethereal when paired with fresh summer berries.
Recipe: Bakerita
Buzzed Cherry Bombs
Whether you serve these at the end of the meal for dessert or as a welcome nibble to start things off on the right foot, guests will love them. Feel free to sub in another flavor of vodka for the vanilla version, but don’t skip their dip in white chocolate and blue sprinkles.
Recipe: Funny Is Family
Red, White, and Blue Stained Glass Jell-O Stars
These little bite-sized stars are a delightful and refreshing treat. The gelatin is the color in the white of sweetened condensed milk, and you’ll ned to pick up a star-shaped cookie-cutter unless you plan to carve each out by hand.
Recipe: Brown Eyed Baker
Red, White, and Blue Candy Raspberry Bars
People may not serve candy bars as dessert very often, but most people also don’t make their own patriotic versions for July 4th parties — including homemade nougat. These are a great option if you don’t want to serve a huge dessert but still want to make a confectionary impression suitable for our country’s birthday.
Recipe: Cherry Tea Cakes via PopSugar
White Chocolate Mousse with Fresh Berries
Mousse is another dessert that sounds much trickier to make than it actually is — this one by Sarah Jampel is a no-bake, no-freeze dessert with three ingredients that takes only 20 minutes to make. But it’s elegant and holiday-appropriate.
Recipe: Food52
Layered Fruit Flag Salad
Need an over-the-top Fourth of July dessert that leans to the healthier side? Try this treat in which the fruit is supplemented by lemon yogurt and marshmallows. No one will miss the extra carbs or calories.
Recipe: Betty Crocker
Ice Cream Flag Cake
We would be thrilled to be served an ice cream cake — and a homemade one, at that — on one of the hottest holidays of the year. But this recipe takes it above and beyond.
Recipe: Food52
Goat Cheese Cake with Mixed Berries
Goat cheese sounds (and is) fancy and elegant, so why not make this rustic, not-too-sweet recipe for the Fourth? Use a high-quality, American-made goat cheese for maximum USA pride.
Recipe: Food & Wine
Ice Cream Cone Cupcake
Want an ice cream cone? Or do you want a cupcake? Why settle for just one? Make this recipe for the best of both, in which the trick is pouring cake batter into the cones to bake, then giving them a festive topping.
Recipe: Our Family of Seven
Patriotic Popcorn
Enjoying dessert while watching the fireworks? Make this tasty popcorn with dripped chocolate and your guests will be dazzled.
Recipe: JaMonkey
Patriotic Parfaits
There’s nothing like serving dessert in a mason jar to say, “This dessert tastes and looks beautiful, but will be neither fussy nor overdone.” These overdeliver on flavor and feel fresh, yet decadent. One is just 270 calories, even with angel food cake.
Recipe: Woman’s Day
Cake Ball Flag Cake
This deconstructed cake is another one calling for candy melts. It’s easy to make but is a real stunner, especially if you insert sparklers for extra pizzazz.
Recipe: Betty Crocker
Simply the Best Blueberry Pie
Sometimes, the old staple desserts with just a bit extra are the best way to wow a crowd. This pie with Fourth of July stars will impress your guests, especially with a dollop of whipped cream on top. But just because it’s easy to make doesn’t mean it’s fast: From prep time through cooling to serving, it’ll take about seven hours.
Recipe: Sally’s Baking Addiction
Hot Dog Pull Apart Cupcake Cake
This recipe isn’t quite America-themed, but also isn’t quite not America-themed. What’s more American than hot dogs? Or even cupcakes? They were invented in the U.S., and this one uses 16 of them (along with a few food colorings and pastry bags with medium tips). Maybe the cleverest element is using green gummy bears for relish.
Recipe: Food Network
Patriotic Glazed Funfetti Donuts
Here’s a recipe for doughnuts guaranteed to put a smile on the face of anyone who eats them.
Recipe: Inside Bru Crew Life
Red White and Blue Berry Coconut Slushies
Perfect for a hot summer day, this recipe offers a refreshing Fourth of July-themed treat. Add some booze if you want — tequila, vodka, or rum would work well. Just start by picking up some lemonade, frozen strawberries or raspberries, blueberries, coconut milk, and agave nectar.
Recipe: Kitchen Confidante
Blue and Red Berry Ricotta Galette
Blogger Deb Perelman is known for delicious, everyday-friendly recipes, and this gorgeous galette is no exception. There’s no need to tell your guests that “galette” is more or less French for “pie, but way easier to make”: about 15 minutes of prep time and twice that to bake.
Recipe: Smitten Kitchen
Patriotic Ice Cream Sandwiches
It’s ice cream! It’s a sandwich! It’s July 4th-appropriate! Wins all around for this recipe pairing chocolate flavor with patriotic candies.
Recipe: Pip and Ebby
Jell-O Shots
Hosting an all-adult celebration this year? Why not start out the festivities with these Jell-O shots? They’re 100% guaranteed to get the fun (and patriotism) going.
Recipe: Hoosier Homemade
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