Fourth 4th of July Desserts: Easy Patriotic Recipes

Rose is a full-time freelance writer who frequently writes about education, special education, DIY projects, food, Milwaukee, and more.

Fun Options for Patriotic Desserts

• Cut them into star shapes with cookie cutters
• Create individual serving sizes in cups or small jars
• Top desserts with miniature American flags
• If you don't want to use strawberries for the classic red touch, substitute raspberries.

Whether you are having a small family get together at home or you are attending a large party, a patriotic dessert will add a festive touch to any Fourth of July celebration. Almost all of these recipes contain easy to acquire ingredients and can be made in two hours or less. All of these recipes are kid friendly and contain a number of steps that kids can complete on their own or with minimal adult assistance. Happy cooking and happy celebrating!

You can but you don't have to make cake pops on sticks.

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Cake Pops and Cookie Pops

Get in on one of the most popular baking trends from Bakerella and whip up a batch of your own cake pops for the Fourth of July. You can customize your pops with any kind of cake that you like. There are so many fun possibilities for decorating them. Make colorful random red and blue designs or arrange your cake pops in the shape of the American flag. Cookie pops are also a fun option. You can use store bought or homemade cookies.

• MyJuiceCup: 4th of July Cake Pops
  
• Cake Pop Cake Recipe from Betty Crocker
  
• Patriotic Oreo Lollipops | MISS CANDIQUIK
  

Cake Pops by Bakerella

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Cake

Creating a multicolored layer cake for the Fourth of July is one of the more time intensive dessert projects in this article, but the effect is sure to wow all of your family and friends. Keep in mind that if you are using red food coloring, it takes a lot of dye to get a rich red color. Alternatively, you can create a Fourth of July color scheme/decoration with the frosting and/or topping, such as creating a flag design on top of a flat cake.

• Glorious Treats: 4th of July Flag Cake
  
• A Little Taste of Independence: 17 and Baking
  
• The High Heeled Hostess: Fourth of July Cake
  

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Jello

Jello is always a classic and is so easy to put together. Make sure that you allow enough time for it to set before your celebration. There are some clever ideas out there for creating individual Jello servings, such as using baby food jars, or you can make a large pan of Jello and slice it up ahead of time to show off the pretty patriotic layers. Add some strawberries and/or blueberries for an extra boost of vitamins and flavor. For those who are feeling ambitious, check out the Jello flag.

• Greene Acres Hobby Farm: Patriotic Party Jello Snacks
  
• Stained Glass Jello: Red, White & Blue for the 4th of July
  
• Patriotic Layered Jello
  
• Glorious Treats: Festive 4th of July Treats
  There are several great Fourth of July recipes here, including the Jello flag.

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Cheesecake

Add a few swirls of food coloring to your favorite classic cheesecake recipe to create an instant Fourth of July favorite. For those of you who enjoy brownie cheesecake desserts, there is a recipe from Sun Scholars for that. There are also some great options out there for mini cheesecakes/individual serving cheesecakes.

• Sun Scholars: Brownie Cheesecake
  
• Stars & Stripes Cheesecake Shots (non-alcoholic)
  
• Cheesecake in a Jar Recipe | My Baking Addiction
  
• Mini 4th of July Cheesecake Bites: The Craving Chronicles
  
• eat.drink.and be merry.: Star-Spangled Berry Lemon Cheesecake
  

Great Fourth of July Resources

• Fabulous Features by Anders Ruff Custom Designs: Anders Ruff 4th of July Pinwheels Party
  
• 4th of July Crafts: How to Make a Fabulous Faux Firecracker
  
• 4th of July Crafts: 5 Fun Patriotic Craft Ideas for Kids
  

Four Major Factors of Cultural Diffusion in German Ethnology

Fifteen Years: A Story of Hope

Snowflakes Were Falling Silently - Response to Word Challenge

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Dipped or Stuffed Strawberries

It is wonderful that both strawberries and blueberries are easy to find in abundance in most areas of the country at the beginning of July. You don't have to look any further than the farmers market for your Fourth of July dessert. Fresh fruit in season doesn't even need anything with it, but a little chocolate and sugar can't hurt anything, right? If you want to take it to the next level, check out the stuffed strawberries.

• Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries | MISS CANDIQUIK
  
• The Foley Fam - Unedited: Strawberry Flags
  
• 4th of July Creme Filled Strawberries | Bakers Royale
  
• Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe - Allrecipes.com
  

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Cupcakes

There are a couple different popular options for Fourth of July cupcakes. Some people choose to create multiple frosting colors while other people choose to create multiple cake layers with different colors, similar to the patriotic cake ideas out there. You can also go nuts and try both.

• Patriotic Cupcakes Recipe
  
• Snow Cones: bakerella.com
  
• {Cupcake Monday} 4th of July Cupcakes in a Jar! | The TomKat Studio
  
• Fourth of July Cupcakes: Baking Bites
  

How to Make 4th of July Cupcakes | Howcast.com

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Dipped Pretzels

Who else is always a fan of the salty/sweet desserts? I haven't figured out how often I'd have to eat them to get tired of them. As pictured, the long pretzels work well if you want to make an American flag design.

• poca cosa: Pretzel Americana
  
• Memorial Day Festive Snacks for Kids: Pretzel Sparklers! « Le Top blog
  

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Cookies

This is another dessert option where you can create striped or swirled layers or you can decorate them with colored frosting. If you aren't too worried about the aesthetics of the decoration, let your kids go to town with the frosting.

• The Cooking Photographer: Berry Raspberry Icebox Cookies
  
• Crazy for Crust: Recipes
  
• Double Dip Sugar Cookies Recipe from Betty Crocker
  
• Cheesecake Cookies ~ Heat Oven to 350
  

Sugar Cookie Recipes...Dye and Decorate Them Any Way You Like

• Best Easy Homemade Sugar Cookies Recipes
  

You can customize this concept for the Fourth of July.

Fruit Pizza

Take your favorite cookie recipe and top it with your favorite frosting and fresh fruit. I love the wide mix of fruits and the inclusion of marshmallows in the pictured fruit pizza. There is something here for everyone.

• plumpudding: 4th of July cookie-cake
  

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Trifle

Presenting any type of layered recipe in a clear glass or plastic bowls makes a beautiful presentation for a party. Of course you can change up the layers to suit your own tastes, such as using a different cake recipe or a different combination of fruits.

• Patriotic Berry Trifle Recipe : Sunny Anderson : Recipes : Food Network
  
• Patriotic Trifle Recipe | Taste of Home Recipes
  
• Fourth of July Berry Trifle: Vivian Grant Farrell
  
• How to Make a 4th of July Strawberry Angel Cake Trifle
  

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• Star-Spangled Pie | Snackpicks - Ideas to Snack On
  
• Fourth of July Buttermilk Pie Recipe | Simply Recipes
  
• Stars and Stripes Pie - Woman's Day
  

Pie

There are not a lot of pie recipes specifically for the Fourth of July, but there are a number of fun pie decorating/topping ideas, including a handful of options with fruit.

More Fourth of July resources from the author.

• Fourth of July Drink Recipes: Non Alcoholic and Alcoholic
  This article is about Fourth of July drink recipes. It includes a variety of non alcoholic and alcoholic recipes, including layered drinks. There are lots of photos as well as party resources.
• 4th Fourth of July Patriotic Craft Project Ideas With Buttons
  Are you looking for 4th of July arts and crafts ideas? There are lots of easy patriotic projects for both kids and adults.
• Fourth of July Greeting Cards: Handmade Ideas
  This article is about how to make Fourth of July greeting cards. It includes ideas for a wide variety of Fourth of July themes including flags, stars, freedom, and fireworks.

Comments

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on July 06, 2019:

O wow. Decisions decisions. Tomorrow is our Sunday breakfast at church and we will have a Fourth theme. My only problem is which one of these yummy delicious looking delites I will take Thank you for sharing Angels are headed your way ps

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on June 18, 2015:

Rose, I love all of these desserts you have here, especially the strawberries. Voted up for awesome!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 30, 2014:

Thanks, Sharkye11! I hope that you get a chance to try them. :)

Jayme Kinsey from Oklahoma on May 29, 2014:

Awesome collection and ideas. I think the cake pops would go over really well in our house. :)

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 28, 2014:

Thanks, Vicki! :) Glad you enjoyed the ideas here.

Victoria Lynn from Arkansas, USA on May 28, 2014:

I read this a long time ago. I'm glad it came around again. These are great ideas. I've made a similar cake before. I really like the cupcake idea. I'm pinning this time!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 08, 2013:

I appreciate the link. Thanks!

Flagandbanner on July 08, 2013:

Awesome recipes, I love cake pops and that trifle looks so yummy! Would love to share a few on recipe page at http://www.flagandbanner.com we publish free recipes on our site for holidays and patriotic events since we sell American Flags. If that's cool, I'll add your link to our recipe newsletter.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 03, 2013:

Thanks so much, lesliebyars!

lesliebyars on July 02, 2013:

Great ideas and I love the pictures. Great hub. Voted up, useful and all of that.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 26, 2012:

That's great! Thanks!

Pollyannalana from US on July 26, 2012:

Mm yum, have to tuck this away, thanks!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 05, 2012:

Thanks, Chen Suen! You'll have to bookmark this for next year. Many of them will work throughout the rest of the summer, too.

Chen Suen from Arcadia, California on July 04, 2012:

Great recipes! Too bad I saw this after all the festivities already passed. Thanks for the hub!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 04, 2012:

Thanks so much!

Lola Oyedotun-Balogun from Calgary on July 04, 2012:

Lovely and colorful

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 04, 2012:

Thanks, Christy!

Christy Birmingham from British Columbia, Canada on July 04, 2012:

Yummy, and great for the holiday today! Have a great July 4 :)

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 03, 2012:

Thanks, Edi! It's so hard to pick, isn't it? I'd send one over if I could. :)

Edi on July 03, 2012:

Oh my goodness! Did I just land in heaven! The cake pops have my vote, but feel free to deliver any of these to my house :)

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 02, 2012:

Thanks!

eatforcheaper from London on July 02, 2012:

That looks fantastic!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 01, 2012:

That's great! You're very welcome.

RonnaPennington from Arkansas on July 01, 2012:

I'm making the Bundt cake! Thanks for the idea!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 29, 2012:

Thanks, Moon Daisy! You'll have to celebrate on your own so that you have an excuse to try some of these ideas. :)

Moon Daisy from London on June 29, 2012:

Wow, what beautiful cakes! I especially like the look of the bundt cake and the little pop cakes making up the flag. We don't celebrate 4th July here, but I'm beginning to wish that we did now...

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 29, 2012:

Thanks, cashmere!

stayingalivemoma, thanks for the shares!

nmdonders, thanks! I get tired of finding articles with 4-5 good ideas and then having to hunt for more elsewhere. It's nice to have a lot of great resources in one spot.

Global-Chica, thanks for the share! Good luck deciding which recipes you'd like to use for the 4th. :)

Jade, haha thanks! There's nothing wrong with tomato soup!

Jade Coleman from Birmingham, UK on June 29, 2012:

This Hub is beautiful!! My mouth is watering! You've made my tomato soup hub look boring! haha!

Anna from New York, NY on June 29, 2012:

I love every single one of these ideas. I'm going to have a hard time choosing which one (or two to make) for the 4th! Totally sharing this on pinterest.

Nira Perkins on June 29, 2012:

Those all look so good. They're really creative. A lot more so than what I typically see. I have a craving for sweets now. The pretzels looked good too :D

Valerie Washington from Tempe, Arizona on June 28, 2012:

Oh my, I am quite hungry now!!! Voted up and "liked" + pinterest+ twitter!!

cashmere from India on June 28, 2012:

This is so creative! And looks great.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 28, 2012:

Thanks much, jennzie!

Jenn from Pennsylvania on June 28, 2012:

All of them look so fun and delicious! Great hub- voted up and shared.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 28, 2012:

Thanks so much, Jlava and fjohn!

fjohn from india on June 28, 2012:

very good hub ..

beautifully written...

Jennifer Vasconcelos from Cyberspace and My Own World on June 28, 2012:

Awesome Hub! All of these treats look amazing!

Janine Huldie from New York, New York on June 28, 2012:

No problem and you welcome randomcreative..

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 28, 2012:

Thanks, Better Yourself! That's the tough part. :)

Thanks, Victoria! That means so much to me! I appreciate the votes and shares. :)

Thanks, Janine! I appreciate the pin.

Emily, I'm glad that I'm not the only one. :) Thanks!

emilybee on June 28, 2012:

I love using my bundt pan, too! Great ideas! They all look great!

Janine Huldie from New York, New York on June 28, 2012:

Wow, so many great recipes in one place. Thank you for the awesome hub. Pinned, shared and voted up!

Victoria Lynn from Arkansas, USA on June 28, 2012:

My gosh, you must be the most creative hubber around. This hub is gorgeous!!! Beautifully laid out. Great ideas. Awesome. Many, many votes, and sharing!

Better Yourself from North Carolina on June 28, 2012:

What awesome and yummy looking treats! Now just have to decide which ones to test out for the 4th! :) Thanks for sharing!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 27, 2012:

Thanks so much, Angela and thebakingapprentice!

thebakingapprentice on June 27, 2012:

Ahhhhh!

I love all these ideas, thanks so much for posting!

Angela Brummer from Lincoln, Nebraska on June 27, 2012:

I think I read this before and possibly commented but had to come back to it now that the holiday is closer. Such really great presentations.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 20, 2012:

Thanks Carly!

Carly Sullens from St. Louis, Missouri on June 20, 2012:

All looks so yummy! I love the fruit pizza idea.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 19, 2012:

Thanks cityalice!

cityalice on June 18, 2012:

Great recipes for the fourth. Just in time to find these.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 11, 2012:

Thanks so much, Laura!

LauraGT from MA on June 11, 2012:

Wow, fantastic ideas. I want to try them all! Votes up and beautiful!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 11, 2012:

Thanks!

earth angel Susan from Central Flordia on June 11, 2012:

How fun and playful!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 07, 2012:

Thanks Laci! I don't mind at all! I hope that you are able to use some of these recipes.

Laci Ledbetter from Fayetteville, Arkansas on June 07, 2012:

So cute! I added a pin to Pinterest, hopefully you don't mind. That's where I keep all of the recipes I hope to use one day!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 31, 2012:

Thanks so much ytsenoh!

Cathy from Louisiana, Idaho, Kauai, Nebraska, South Dakota, Missouri on May 31, 2012:

Once again, you have another excellent hub! Very, very awesome! Have to vote this one up. Thanks for all the great ideas for the July 4th picnic!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 31, 2012:

Thanks Julie! :)

Blurter of Indiscretions from Clinton CT on May 31, 2012:

stunning photos and recipes. voting up!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 30, 2012:

Thanks! Sounds good!

Debbie Carey from Riverton, KS, USA on May 30, 2012:

Great ideas! Definitely going to make some of these for our fourth of July! Thanks for the ideas!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 29, 2012:

Very nice! I hope that your son has a great birthday.

Angela Brummer from Lincoln, Nebraska on May 29, 2012:

Here are some wonderful additions to my families holiday. We have a son that we celebrate his birthday with the 4th. Yeah! Thank you!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 29, 2012:

Thanks Cara! So many of these desserts are perfect for July birthdays.

CrisSp, thanks! You definitely don't have to wait until the 4th of July to give these a try.

CrisSp from Sky Is The Limit Adventure on May 29, 2012:

Goodness! All these cakes and sweets are overpowering me! I'll try the cheesecake and maybe the blueberry cupcakes and will not wait for the 4th of July! Love your hub and will be sharing it!

cardelean from Michigan on May 29, 2012:

Love these ideas! My son's birthday is the 4th of July so I'm always on the lookout for some cool ideas for that day. Thanks for the great ideas!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 29, 2012:

Thanks so much, Om!

Om Paramapoonya on May 29, 2012:

All these Fourth of July desserts look AWESOME! I love the stuffed strawberries and patriotic cupcakes. How cute!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 29, 2012:

Thanks Susan!

greatstuff, it is really easy to make those dot borders in any word processing program with the drawing tools. See you in the program!

RTalloni, you are definitely right about the other opportunities to serve patriotic food. I know that some people took ideas for Memorial Day, too.

RTalloni on May 29, 2012:

All of these are neat ideas! Great patriotic food post for 4th of July, Flag Day (June 14), and the others, too.

Mazlan A from Malaysia on May 29, 2012:

The trifle looks good! Very creative and well research hub..with good selection. Also like your 'smarties' in between topics. Well done. See you soon on the Apprenticeship Program

susanm23b on May 29, 2012:

What a great collection! You have done such a great job of getting all of these creative ideas together! Voted up! Awesome!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 28, 2012:

Thanks so much John!

John Sarkis from Winter Haven, FL on May 28, 2012:

What a wonderful and creative hub. You have some wonderful ideas for the 4th, which is just around the corner.

Great hub. Voted up and away

John

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 28, 2012:

truthfornow, thanks! You can customize a lot of these desserts with different decorations for any time during the summer.

Thanks so much, snowdrops!

snowdrops from The Second Star to the Right on May 28, 2012:

WOW and WOW and Wow!!!

i love this so much ohhh soo yummy!!!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 28, 2012:

Thanks so much, Cyndi, and thank you for sharing this! Maybe you can send her a non-perishable flag item!

Thanks Tammy! Have fun with your desserts.

Levertis, yes, for sure. :)

Marie Hurt from New Orleans, LA on May 28, 2012:

Wow, that picture got my attention. Such cool ideas. Makes me excited of the 4th to hurry up and get here!

Levertis Steele from Southern Clime on May 28, 2012:

Apparently, these creative desserts are fun to make and delicious!

Tammy from North Carolina on May 28, 2012:

These are gorgeous, especially the first one. I never dreamed of decorating my deserts but I will this year. This is gorgeous and useful!

Cynthia Calhoun from Western NC on May 28, 2012:

Wow!! So coool! I LOVE this! I wish I could bake a batch for my mom and send it to her...maybe I can. She LOVES flag stuff, but she's older, and it's hard for her to see this. In any case, AWESOME pictures and AWESOME hub!! Way to go!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 28, 2012:

Thank you Jamie, Elderberry, and Shasta! I appreciate the feedback and the votes! I'm glad that you found some favorites here.

Shasta Matova from USA on May 28, 2012:

What great ideas for a festive Fourth of July. Thanks for compiling them for us. The strawberries are my favorite.

Claire from Lincolnshire, UK on May 28, 2012:

The cakes look amazing! Great hub with loads of ideas. Thank you for sharing :)

Jamie Jensen from Chicago on May 28, 2012:

WOW! This is FILLED with so many amazing and delicious looking recipes!!! Awesome hub - voted up for sure!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 28, 2012:

Thank you Dianna and meditatio!

meditatio from North Vancouver on May 28, 2012:

I have learnt a lot of stuff here ! Thank you !

Dianna Mendez on May 27, 2012:

Ooooh, those strawberries and blueberry cupcakes look so scrumptious. Great ideas for the upcoming holiday celebration.

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 27, 2012:

Linda, good luck with your pretzels!

Jamie, you are right about pudding! I love that you can mix and match so many of the dessert ideas here with other foods.

Thanks northlandws!

Jamie Brock from Texas on May 27, 2012:

I love all of these red, white and blue yummy things! The red, white and blue jello in the baby food jars is super cute.. I bet the same thing could be done with pudding, too!

Linda Bilyeu from Orlando, FL on May 27, 2012:

The pretzels are too cool! I am going to attempt that trick! Great ideas for the 4th!

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 27, 2012:

Kelley, that's awesome! Have fun with your cake pops. Even if you can't use the recipes here, you can use the decorating ideas.

theclevercat, thanks! Don't cheesecake stuffed strawberries sound out of this world?

Alissa, thanks! Have fun putting together a fun dessert for your Memorial Day cookout.

Alissa Roberts from Normandy, TN on May 27, 2012:

Oh I love all these dessert ideas! Those snow cone cupcakes are adorable. I am about to make something sweet for our Memorial Day cookout tomorrow so you publishing this hub was perfect timing. Thanks for gathering all these up and sharing them with us - voted up!

Rachel Vega from Massachusetts on May 27, 2012:

So pretty! I've always wanted to make a cake like this. And the cheesecake stuffed strawberries look to die for!!! Voted UP!

kelleyward on May 27, 2012:

I just bought a cake pop stand! I look forward to making patriotic cake pops gluten-free soon! Thanks for sharing this! Take care, Kelley

Rose Clearfield (author) from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 27, 2012:

Thanks so much! I'm glad that I'm not the only one. :)

moonlake from America on May 27, 2012:

This all looks very good. I love using my glass bundt pan so the cake on top is one I would like to make. Enjoyed your hub.