Independence Day is *just* around the corner, which means it's time to start thinking about the menu for your patriotic celebration – including 4th of July desserts. When it comes to the 4th, we love to get creative. You've got your all-American recipes, festive decorations and other Fourth of July must-haves, so make sure you don't forget sweets! These red, white and blue treats are just the thing to help you add a little flair to the table, and cap off a great July 4th celebration.
No-Bake 4th of July Pies
No time in the oven means more time for you to relax and celebrate the 4th! (via Brit + Co.)
Epic 9-Layer Red, White, and Blue Cake
Meet the most extraordinary 4th of July cake ever. It’s worth the time and energy to build nine whole cake layers to create the most patriotic cake ever made. (via Brit + Co.)
Fourth of July FrankenPie
This crazy creation consists of a blueberry pie, an apple pie, and a cherry pie baked into a monstrous three-layer cake covered with flags, sparklers and a healthy dusting of Pop Rocks. ‘Nuff said. (via Brit + Co.)
Red, White, and Blue Donuts
What’s the only thing better than homemade donuts? Nothing. Except when they’re red, white, and blue all over. (via Brit + Co.)
Smashed Berry Shortcake
If you’re scrambling for a last minute treat to bring to the BBQ, scramble no more! This festive, patriotic treat is perfectly summery and simple to make. (via Brit + Co.)
Red, White, and Blue Ombré Funfetti Cake
Our own recipe, this festive cake may look intimidating to make, but we have super easy to follow steps that will make it a cinch! (via Brit + Co.)
Firecracker Cupcakes
Using Poprocks for sprinkles will really help these firecrackers light up the party! (via Brit + Co.)
Patriotic Pavlova
If you want to set off some serious fireworks with your 4th of July dessert, be sure to whip up a creamy, berry-filled treat like this pavlova! (via Brit + Co.)
Fourth of July Chia Pudding
This delish DIY pudding will satisfy your craving for something sweet, *and* it’s totally vegan, so it won’t fill you with empty calories. What’s more – it’s super-simple to prepare for your holiday picnic. (via Brit + Co.)
Ombré Independence Day Cake
Ombré is still on-trend this summer, which is why you should wow your guests with this impressive cake. The secret? Store-bought frosting and cake mixes! That way, you only have to focus on actually putting the cake together. (via Brit + Co.)
Red, White, and Blue Jell-o Shots
What's a 4th of July without Jell-o shots? No one we want to see! These colored treats will be a hit, we promise. (via Brit + Co.)
4th of July Poke Cake
If you’ve already got a couple of boxes of white cake mix at home, you’re well on your way to making this simple poke cake. Once you’ve poked holes in the cake, black cherry gelatin gets poured in, and left to form those signature red stripes. (via Brit + Co.)
Rainbow Sprinkle Ombré Cake
Indulge your inner child with this rainbow cake. If the colorful layers don’t get you, the sprinkle coating definitely will! (via Brit + Co.)
Star-Spangled Fruit Kabobs
You can never have too many flags! These healthy kabobs can be done in just minutes, and you can substitute bananas for the marshmallows if you want to keep them healthy. (via Simple Girl)
Tie-Dyed Fudge
This recipe is great for large parties, and the marbled effect makes these fudge squares look just as good as they taste. (via Taste and Tell)
Bourbon Pecan Cherry Hand Pies
The combination of bourbon, pecans, and cherries in these spirited hand pies reflects the traditional American flavors we love! (via Half Baked Harvest)
Red, White, and Blue Mini Mousse Cakes
Certain holidays call for *meticulously* layering pieces of blueberry, strawberry and vanilla mousse. Whether your celebration is small or large, these mini mousse cakes will be appreciated and gawked over all day. (via Eye Doc Bakes)
4th of July Popsicles
The blueberries hiding within the vanilla ice cream and fruit puree add a fun burst of flavor to these summertime popsicles. If you don’t have time to make the ice cream by hand, you can always use a carton of your fave. (via Itsy Bitsy Foodies)
Independence Cookie Pops
Let’s face it, food on a stick is always more fun to eat. Sugar, double dark chocolate, macadamia nuts — the cookie possibilities are endless. (via A Step In The Journey)
Frozen Yogurt Parfaits
This yummy dessert features frozen Greek yogurt, fresh berries, gluten-free clusters, and coconut whipped topping, all forming a healthier sweet treat! (via She Knows)
Healthy Strawberry Shortcake
This dessert recipe for is prime pickings for the 4th of July. A healthy shortcake is covered in refreshing and patriotic red and white colors, while being paleo and gluten-free, to accommodate various dietary preferences. (via Rachel Mansfield)
Mixed Berry Pie with Lettered Top
You can customize the pie crust lettering that tops this *berry* delicious pie to tailor your 4th of July message the way you'd like! (via Amanda Wilens)
Patriotic Dipped Strawberries
These strawbs are a great last-minute treat if you don’t have the time (or will) for more elaborate desserts. Plus, they’re a fun culinary project to do with kids! (via The Girl Who Ate Everything)
Nutella Cookie Dough Dipped Pretzels
Can’t decide between sweet or salty, chocolate or cookies? With these delicious balanced bites, you won’t have to choose. (via Crazy For Crust)
Red, White, and Blue Fruit Cookie Cake
Prepared sugar cookie dough forms the crust of this cookie cake creation. You can use whatever combination of fruits strikes your fancy, but red strawberries and blueberries bring the patriotic vibes forward. (via Jimmy's Dressing)
Pinwheel Icebox Cookies
These cookies require *a little* planning, since the dough needs to be colored, rolled out and refrigerated, but the pretty swirls in the resulting cookies are well worth the effort. (via Just A Taste)
Patriotic Marshmallow Popcorn
You get the best of both worlds in this salty popcorn snack that gets sprinkled with America-colored candies! (via Salt & Lavender)
Red Velvet Pancakes With Coconut Syrup and Blueberries
There’s no law that says you can’t have breakfast for dessert. Which is good, because that means you can have as many stacks of these deep red pancakes as you want! (via Eclectic Recipes)
Patriotic Mini Brownie Dessert Pizzas
The fam will love that they get their own personal brownie pizza bite, and you'll love how easy they are to make. To prepare the pizza base, you'll bake your brownie batter in a sheet pan and use a biscuit cutter to cut out each individual round. (via Whole And Heavenly Oven)
Triple Chocolate 4th of July Cake
On the outside, this cake projects a beautiful ombré paint job with white chocolate drizzle and picture-perfect macarons. On the inside is a triple-chocolate masterpiece that is *so* unexpectedly delicious, you won't mind cutting into the gorgeous exterior. (via B. Sweet)
For your Independence Day meal this year, there are so many sweets and treats to pick from. No matter what you choose to make and share, your meal will be a hit with a 4th of July dessert to follow. Consider one of these 4th of July dessert recipes to add some patriotic flavor to your evening!
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This article has been updated from a previous post.