A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

30 Picture-Perfect Desserts for the Fourth of July

It’s time to celebrate—and eat! Show off your patriotic spirit with these fun, festive, and colorful Independence Day treats.

1 / 31
fourth of july desserts patriotic desserts america food
SilverV/Getty Images

The stars (and stripes) of the show

Dessert is delicious, no matter how you slice it, but there’s something particularly wonderful about picture-perfect, Fourth of July–themed treats. Scrumptious, festive desserts are some of the best 4th of July ideas. Practically bursting with patriotism, these 4th of July desserts also have just the right amount of kitsch and whimsy with their reds, whites, and blues to match your 4th of July decorations. And while these desserts will be the stars of your Fourth of July celebration—sometimes quite literally!—don’t forget about the 4th of July appetizers! And learn the best 4th of July games to play while you indulge, too.

2 / 31
Patriotic Dessert
Taste of Home

Fruit flag cake

Is it really the Fourth of July if you don’t have a flag cake? The quintessential patriotic dessert, this Cool Whip–topped version has a pecan crust and layers of cream cheese and vanilla pudding hiding under its fruity stars and stripes. Assemble it in a 13×9-inch baking dish. Just be warned: This dessert will go fast, and your secret recipe probably won’t be a secret for long.

Get the Recipe

3 / 31
Sugar Cookie With Flag Icing
Taste of Home

Independence Day cookies

Stars and stripes forever—unless you’re talking about these delectable sugar cookies, which will disappear in minutes. The secret ingredients that make them irresistible? Cream cheese and a hint of lemon extract.

RELATED: Essential Fourth of July Side Dishes

Get the Recipe

4 / 31
Fudgy Patriotic Brownies
Taste of Home

Chocolate celebration

You can never go wrong with fudgy brownies. But for Independence Day, you can add a festive flair to this party favorite with chocolate frosting and red, white, and blue icing. To pipe the stars perfectly, use a pastry bag.

Get the Recipe

5 / 31
patriotic pops
Taste of Home

Patriotic ice pops

Fourth of July desserts don’t need to be baked goods! Nothing relieves the heat of midsummer like an ice pop. These healthy pops come together quickly by blending and freezing just a few good-for-you ingredients—vanilla yogurt, honey, and berries. (Yes, that’s it!) All you need is a blender and a set of popsicle molds. You can easily snack on them while watching your local fireworks display.

Get the Recipe

6 / 31
crispy star pops
Taste of Home

Crackling star pops

Regular old Rice Krispies treats get a patriotic makeover with this Crispy Star Pops recipe. For even heating and less of a chance of burning, use a Dutch oven to melt the butter and marshmallows. Mix in the cereal, press into a baking pan, and cut out star shapes with a cookie cutter. Top with melted white chocolate and red, white, and blue sprinkles.

Get the Recipe

7 / 31
Taste of Home

Star-spangled pie

No matter how much you love baking, sometimes you just don’t want to turn on the oven, especially on a hot summer day. This no-bake Star-Spangled Lemon Icebox Pie solves that problem. And it makes a delicious addition to your repertoire of 4th of July desserts, of course!

RELATED: American Flag Photos That Will Make You Feel Patriotic

Get the Recipe

8 / 31
Firecracker bomb pop cookies
Taste of Home

Firecracker cookies

Check out this clever and nostalgic recipe created by Darlene Brenden of Salem, Oregon. “Our neighborhood has a big potluck on the Fourth of July, so I decided to make cookies that resemble Bomb Pops. These were a big hit!” she says. Pro tip: You can turn these cookies into “pops” by putting frosting in the middle of two and inserting a popsicle stick.

Get the Recipe

9 / 31
easy berry cheesecake parfaits
Taste of Home

USA parfaits

“These sweet little parfaits take everything that’s good about cheesecake and make it way easier. You get the rich creaminess, graham cracker crunch, and bright berry flavor all in a fun individual portion,” notes the Taste of Home Test Kitchen. Plus, if you’re having a socially distanced get-together, individual portions are the way to go to reduce potential germ transmission.

Get the Recipe

10 / 31
Springtime Beignets with Berries
Taste of Home

Beignets and berries

While this Springtime Beignets and Berries recipe simply calls for a dusting of powdered sugar and an assortment of berries to arrange around your beignets, you can also make a quick berry whipped cream and pipe it inside for a fun surprise, says Kathi Hemmer of Grand Junction, Colorado.

Get the Recipe

11 / 31
berries and chocolate sauce for ice cream
Taste of Home

Spiked ice cream

“It’s about time someone created an ice cream sundae just for adults!” says Emory Doty of Jasper, Georgia. So, what makes this a grown-up recipe, exactly? Vodka-spiked strawberries and blueberries! The fancy dark chocolate sauce and slivered almonds don’t hurt, either. Serve in old-fashioned ice cream glasses for the perfect touch.

Get the Recipe

12 / 31
two berry fluff salad
Taste of Home

Sweet berry salad

Confectioners’ sugar, cream cheese, and heavy whipping cream put a decadent spin on a traditional fruit salad. Best of all, this Two-Berry Fluff Salad whips up quickly and you don’t have to wait for baking or chilling time to dig in. Just mix up the “fluff” and eat!

Get the Recipe

13 / 31
watermelon feta flag salad
Taste of Home

Flag salad

Featuring arugula, blueberries, feta cheese, watermelon, and a light vinaigrette, this savory fruit salad makes a pretty addition to any Fourth of July desserts table.

Get the Recipe

14 / 31
red, white, and blue frozen lemonade
Taste of Home

Frozen lemonade for the Fourth

This frozen lemonade is a drink and a dessert all in one! “This patriotic drink is as pretty as it is tasty,” notes Shawn Carleton of San Diego, who created this festive concoction. “Layering cherries, blueberries, and lemon juice, we created a striped lemonade that sings with Fourth of July pride.”

RELATED: 4th of July Jokes

Get the Recipe

15 / 31
red, white, and blue berry pie
Taste of Home

Beautifully layered berry pie

A variation on a classic, this Red, White, and Blue Berry Pie is bound to be your family’s new favorite. It’s made with blueberries and raspberries, as well as a sweetened cream cheese and Cool Whip layer, and reviewers rave that it has “amazing flavors” and comes together easily.

Get the Recipe

16 / 31
patriotic gelatin salad
Taste of Home

Red, white, and blue striped jello

Talk about a show-stopping centerpiece on your dessert table. “Almost as spectacular as the fireworks, this lovely [dish] makes quite a ‘bang’ at our July 4th meal,” says Sue Gronholz of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

RELATED: Best 4th of July Movies

Get the Recipe

17 / 31

Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Taste of Home

Oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwiches

You can’t go wrong with a good ice cream sandwich. This homemade treat, garnished with red, white, and blue sprinkles, will please your party guests of all ages.

Get the Recipe

18 / 31

Patriotic Ice Cream Cupcakes
Taste of Home

Patriotic ice cream cupcakes

Ice cream and cupcakes?! You better believe it—these Fourth of July desserts have it all. Blue moon ice cream forms the blue layer of these tasty treats, and the white is marshmallow. And the red is red velvet, of course! These are for when regular cupcakes just won’t cut it for your Fourth party!

Get the Recipe

19 / 31

Lemon Berry Shortcake
Taste of Home

Lemon-berry shortcake

This shortcake is as summery as it gets! Blackberries, strawberries, and more strawberries form the topping of this delicious cake.

Get the Recipe

20 / 31

Berry Patch Brownie Pizza
Taste of Home

Berry-patch brownie pizza

Brownies that look like a pizza?! Topped with festive fruits, this dessert mixes and matches favorite berries over delectable chocolate and cream cheese topping.

RELATED: 4th of July Quotes

Get the Recipe

21 / 31

Red White And Blueberry Poke Cake
Taste of Home

Red, white, and blueberry poke cake

Fourth of July desserts don’t get much prettier than this! The colorful filling is made by combining flavored gelatin with real fruit and drizzling over box-mix white cake.

Get the Recipe

22 / 31

Star Studded Blueberry Pie
Taste of Home

Star-studded blueberry pie

Your party guests will have stars in their eyes when you bring out this beauty! You start with a basic blueberry pie (with optional gooseberries!) and dress it up to perfection with stars made of the remaining pie dough. The Taste of Home Test Kitchen recommends baking the star cutouts in advance and making sure not to skip the 30-minute resting time before baking.

Get the Recipe

23 / 31

Patriotic Pizzas
Taste of Home

Patriotic pizzas

Dessert pizzas are quite the trend in red white and blue desserts! Like many of these easy 4th of July desserts, this one uses blueberries and strawberries for the colors of the flag. And the crust only takes three ingredients!

Get the Recipe

24 / 31

Cola Cake With Strawberries And Cream
Taste of Home

Cola cake with strawberries and cream

Want to fall in love with a new flavor this Fourth? (Or are you scoffing because you live in the South and are very familiar with cola cake?) Yes, you add cola to your cake batter (and marshmallows!) for this snazzy twist on a cake, garnished with sour cream frosting.

RELATED: Things You Never Knew About Independence Day

Get the Recipe

25 / 31

Berries N Cream Torte
Taste of Home

Berries & cream torte

This tasty dessert has a breakfasty flair. The sweet layers of cookie are delightfully offset by the fruit flavors.

Get the Recipe

26 / 31

Red White And Blueberry Ice Cream Pie With Granola Crust
Taste of Home

Red, white, and blueberry ice cream pie with granola crust

Here’s another tasty twist on pie. This time, ice cream forms the base of your pie, and homemade blueberry and raspberry sauces allow you to decorate it to your heart’s content. And it’s all wrapped in a granola crust.

Get the Recipe

27 / 31

Berry White Ice Pops
Taste of Home

Berry white ice pop

Another yummy frozen treat for your collection of red, white, and blue desserts! You make the base of this pop with milk, honey, and vanilla, and freeze the fruit inside.

Get the Recipe

28 / 31

Patriotic Cookie And Cream Cupcakes
Taste of Home

Patriotic cookie & cream cupcakes

Cookie crumbs are the not-so-secret ingredient of these scrumptious, easy 4th of July desserts. You fold them into your batter as you make these patriotic treats, frosting and all, from scratch! But whipping these up is simple, and they’re sure to be delicious.

RELATED: The History of Fourth of July and Why We Celebrate It

Get the Recipe

29 / 31

Juicy Cherry Pie
Taste of Home

Juicy cherry pie

Yes, we know, another red pie—but this one is cherry! And the star imprints in the crust, made with cookie cutters, make it perfect for showing off.

Get the Recipe

30 / 31

Berry Tartlets
Taste of Home

Berry tartlets

Introduce some bite-size red white and blue desserts to your party table. These tasty little tartlets contain different fruits and are just enough to satisfy hungry partygoers.

Get the Recipe

31 / 31

Red White N Blue Torte
Taste of Home

Red, white ‘n’ blue torte

Oh yes, another torte—but a very different take on one for sure! This is one of the simplest of these easy 4th of July desserts—it uses frozen pound cake and raspberry (or strawberry) and blueberry fillings to achieve its impressive striped look. Top it off with whip for a perfect light dessert. While you’re enjoying your 4th of July desserts, share mouth-watering photos with these picture-perfect 4th of July captions.

Get the Recipe

Meghan Jones
Meghan Jones is a word nerd who has been writing for RD.com since 2017. You can find her byline on pieces about grammar, fun facts, the meanings of various head-scratching words and phrases, and more. Meghan graduated from Marist College with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2017; her creative nonfiction piece “Anticipation” was published in the Spring 2017 issue of Angles literary magazine.