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Home · Recipes · Recipe Round-Ups · 25+ 4th of July Desserts Everyone Loves

25+ 4th of July Desserts Everyone Loves

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Author: Sally

Published: 06/28/2023

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Celebrate Independence Day in *delicious* style with these 25+ 4th of July desserts. Try easy handheld
cookies and bars, or impress with this American flag pie or cake (see end of this post for cake decorating
instructions). Whichever recipe you choose, the crowd will appreciate your sweet homemade addition to the
Fourth of July festivities.

collage of 4th of July dessert recipes including American flag pie and cake, no bake cheesecake jars,
fireworks cookies, ice cream sandwiches, and s'mores cake.

Favorite 4th of July Dessert Ideas

Be the star of your summer holiday gathering! Today I’m sharing 4th of July dessert inspiration—berry-laden
pies, s’mores-inspired cookies, ice cream treats, and more—in one spot. However you choose to celebrate,
any of these dessert recipes are sure to dazzle brighter than the fireworks and sparklers.

Lucky for us, the holiday falls in the middle of peak berry season. Blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries
make for simple, yet tasty options for decorating desserts in blue and red. I use a combination of blueberries
and strawberries to decorate this fresh fruit tart, plus some blackberries when assembling fresh berry cream
cake.

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4th of July fruit tart with strawberries and blueberries.

fresh berry and whipped cream layer cake.

Or skip the decorating completely and make a berry cobbler! 😉

If you’re up for a baking project, try your hand at an American flag pie using my homemade pie crust. I have a
detailed recipe, video tutorial, and lots of helpful photos for you in that post. Complete the celebration with
homemade whipped cream and/or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

4th of July American flag pie dessert with a slice removed and placed on a blue plate.

If you’re craving something handheld for ease of serving, I have you covered there, too. Everyone adores
these rice krispie treats and M&M cookie bars (use red, white, and blue M&Ms if you have them available to
you). And party-goers will love these fireworks celebration cookies or watermelon sugar cookies.

watermelon sugar cookies

Success Tip: Traveling With Your 4th of July Desserts

If you’re bringing along sheet cakes or bars, bake and transport them in a 9×13-inch pan with a lid. Transport
layer cakes in a cake carrier; and a cupcake carrier works great for transporting not only cupcakes, but also
cookies and pies.

25+ 4th of July Desserts

fruit pizza with berries

Fruit Pizza

Fruit pizza is a classic summertime dessert. The combination of a soft, buttery sugar cookie crust with
tangy-sweet cream cheese frosting and colorful fresh fruit is irresistible, not to mention beautiful.

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mixed berry cobbler with a serving spoon

Berry Cobbler Recipe

Carefree summer dessert at its finest! Seasonal berries are nestled below a lightly sweetened biscuit crust
and finished off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Prepare this easy dessert in a casserole dish, or try small
ramekins for individual servings.

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slice of red, white, and blue tie-dye cake topped with vanilla frosting and sprinkles on a white plate with a fork

4th of July Tie-Dye Cake (and Cupcakes)

Here’s everything you need to know about how to make festive, colorful tie-dyed vanilla cakes and cupcakes.
These are always a huge hit with kids!

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toasted s’more chocolate chip cookies

Toasted S’more Chocolate Chip Cookies

This toasty take on my favorite chewy chocolate chip cookies includes extra chocolate, graham crackers, and
marshmallows. The cookies are easy to make and you don’t need a mixer for the cookie dough—or a
campfire!

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stack of drop sugar cookies with sprinkles

Drop Sugar Cookies With Sprinkles

These are soft, chewy, sprinkle-loaded drop sugar cookies made from only 8 ingredients, with no rolling pin or
cookie cutters required. Use red, white, and blue sprinkles to mark the occasion!
View The Post

slice of berry icebox cake with vanilla whipped cream between the layers on white plate.

Easy Berry Icebox Cake

If there was one summer recipe that checked all the boxes, this would be it. My easy berry icebox cake is
simple to prepare, feeds a crowd, totally no-bake, and is made with fresh whipped cream and seasonal
berries.

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fresh berry and whipped cream cake

Fresh Berry Cream Cake

This minimally decorated naked-style cake is layered between fluffy whipped cream and piled high with juicy
seasonal berries. I typically make this with a vanilla cake, but feel free to use your favorite flavor.

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lemon berry trifle with a serving spoon and a serving of trifle on a white plate

Lemon Berry Trifle

This show-stopping lemon berry trifle recipe includes lemon pound cake, fresh berries, a lemon cheesecake
filling, plus fresh whipped cream on top. Everyone will love digging into this freeform dessert!

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sugar cookies decorated like fireworks and stars with blue, red, pink, and purple icing with shimmery sprinkles
on top.

Fireworks Cookies

I created these fun fireworks cookies using my base sugar cookie and royal icing recipes. I add a little lemon
extract and zest for flavor, and you can use all sorts of colors for the icing. Pretty easy to decorate, too!

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mini fruit galettes

Mini Fruit Galettes

These mini fruit galettes are everything you love about fruit-filled pies, but require half the work and a fraction
of the time. Grab your favorite summer fruits, and have fun preparing (and eating!) these kid-friendly mini
desserts.

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cheesecake pie in glass pan with slice taken out and blueberries and strawberries scattered next to the dish.

Easy Cheesecake Pie

This easy cheesecake pie is smooth, creamy and perfect for cheesecake lovers who want a quicker, easier
alternative to a classic cheesecake. It sits in a crunchy, crisp graham cracker crust and you can top it with
raspberry sauce and whipped cream for serving.

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individual no bake cheesecake jars with assorted toppings

No-Bake Cheesecake Jars

My no-bake cheesecake jars are fun to make because you can customize them with your favorite toppings
and add-ins. Made with just a few ingredients in only 30 minutes, this is a fabulously easy summer dessert!

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overhead photo of blueberry bars with crumble topping arranged on parchment paper.

Blueberry Pie Bars Recipe

This is blueberry pie without the hassle of making a homemade pie crust—win! A layer of buttery brown sugar
crust, jammy blueberry filling, and crumbly oat topping come together for an easy bar version of a favorite
summer pie.

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Fruit tart with strawberries and blueberries

Fresh Fruit Tart With Vanilla Mascarpone Cream

Homemade fresh fruit tart features a buttery pastry crust, mascarpone cream filling, and your favorite
seasonal berries—I like to use blueberries and strawberries when serving for the 4th of July. Save time and
prepare the crust and cream ahead of time.

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sliced M&M cookie bar squares on parchment with chocolate chips and Christmas M&Ms.

Soft-Baked M&M Cookie Bars

These extra soft and chewy M&M cookie bars are so easy to make—no mixer, no dough chilling, no individual
dough rolling required. Use red, white, and blue M&Ms for the 4th of July!
View The Post

stack of 3 chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches

Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Make your own cookie ice cream sandwiches at home using my quick no-chill cookie recipe and your favorite
ice cream. Dip the edges in even more mini chocolate chips for a classic look, or for a colorful variation, try
rainbow sprinkles.

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angel food cupcakes topped with berries

Angel Food Cupcakes

This recipe for light-as-air angel food cupcakes is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a delightful summer
dessert. Top with my homemade whipped cream and an assortment of summer berries.

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American flag pie after baking

American Flag Pie

The most festive summer pie! A stars-and-stripes pie crust sits on a fruity filling of blackberries, blueberries,
strawberries, and cherries. Tackle this impressive pie with help from step-by-step photos and a video tutorial
in the post.

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stack of 3 key lime pie bars on floral green plate.

Easy Key Lime Pie Bars

You’re going to love these key lime pie bars, a square version of my favorite key lime pie recipe. Cream
cheese adds the most delightful cheesecake flavor (and helps the bars set!), and a buttery graham cracker
crust is a wonderful base for the tangy filling.

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Rice krispie treats cut into squares

Our Favorite Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

For extra gooey and buttery rice krispie treats, use this recipe. Adding a little extra butter and marshmallow,
plus a splash of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt makes all the difference!

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strawberry shortcake on a silver plate

Homemade Strawberry Shortcake

Fresh summer strawberries take center stage in this simple homemade strawberry shortcake recipe. The
lightly sweetened, slightly crumbly biscuits pair perfectly with the soft whipped cream and juicy strawberries.

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two homemade brownie ice cream sandwiches

Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Homemade brownie ice cream sandwiches are fun, kid-friendly frozen treats that are perfect when the
weather heats up. Use your favorite ice cream flavor sandwiched between two dense and deeply rich
brownies.
View The Post

slice of no-bake s'mores cake

No-Bake S’mores Icebox Cake

This 7-ingredient no-bake s’mores cake has 14 delicious layers of marshmallow meringue, chocolate
ganache, and graham crackers. It needs to chill overnight, so it’s a perfect make-ahead dessert option.

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blueberry yogurt swirl popsicles

Blueberry Yogurt Swirl Popsicles

These super simple, protein-packed 3-ingredient blueberry yogurt swirl popsicles are naturally gluten free and
hit the spot when the weather heats up. Kids love them!

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slice of ice cream cake on a white plate with a fork

Easy 5 Layer Ice Cream Cake

This easy make-ahead summertime treat combines two of your favorite ice cream flavors, hot fudge,
homemade whipped cream, and sprinkles—all on top of a buttery, crunchy Oreo cookie crust. The ultimate
celebratory treat!

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How to Decorate an American Flag Cake (Vanilla Sheet Cake)

Before I finish up, let me show you how to turn a 9×13-inch quarter sheet cake into a Fourth of July cake.
Have you tried my vanilla sheet cake recipe before? That’s the cake you see pictured here. It uses the
reverse creaming method for a pristinely soft and springy crumb, and the whipped frosting is out of this world.
(Truly, taste testers go crazy for it! So much so that I decided to use it in my cream-filled chocolate cupcakes
recipe, too.)

spreading frosting onto vanilla sheet cake with vanilla buttercream

Make the cake: Follow my vanilla sheet cake recipe for the cake, or use your favorite 9×13-inch sheet cake
recipe.

Make the frosting & decorate: Using the directions in the recipe card below, make the whipped frosting.
Spread 2/3 of the frosting all over the cake, saving the remaining 1/3 for piping detail. Grab some fresh
blueberries and halved strawberries and line them up to (mostly) mimic the stars and stripes on an American
flag. I used Ateco 32 piping tip for the piping between the “stars” and Ateco 844 piping tip for the piping
between the “stripes.”

vanilla sheet cake decorated like an American flag with berries and frosting

square slice of American flag cake on white plate with blueberries and strawberries on top.

This American flag cake would also make a lovely addition to your menu of Memorial Day recipes.

vanilla sheet cake decorated like an American flag with berries and frosting

4th of July Desserts: Decorate an American Flag Cake

★
★

5 from 1 review

Author: Sally Prep Time: 25 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes Yield: 1 9×13 inch cake

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Description

Decorate a 9×13-inch quarter sheet cake with homemade whipped frosting, blueberries, and strawberries to
resemble an American flag.

Ingredients

Cake

1 baked and cooled quarter sheet cake (such as vanilla sheet cake)

Whipped Vanilla Buttercream

1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

4 and 1/2 cups (540g) confectioners’ sugar

1/3 cup (80ml) heavy cream

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

salt, to taste

Topping

1/2 cup (70g) fresh blueberries

2–3 cups (380–560g) halved fresh strawberries

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Cake: Bake and cool any 9×13-inch quarter sheet cake, whatever flavor you enjoy with vanilla frosting and
berries. You can follow steps 1–4 for making my vanilla sheet cake, which is the cake pictured. Cool cake
completely before decorating.

Make the buttercream: With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on
medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract.
Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to medium-high speed and beat for 4 full minutes. Add up to
1/4 cup more confectioners’ sugar if frosting is too thin or another Tablespoon of cream if frosting is too thick.
Add a pinch of salt if frosting is too sweet. (I add 1/8 teaspoon salt.) Frosting should be extra fluffy.

Spread 2/3 of the frosting all over the cake (I use and recommend an offset spatula), reserving the remaining
1/3 for piping detail. Place whole fresh blueberries and halved fresh strawberries to mimic the stars and
stripes on an American flag. Using a piping bag (disposable or reusable) and piping tips, fill in the space
between the stars and stripes. I used Ateco 32 piping tip for the piping between the blueberry “stars” and
Ateco 844 piping tip for the piping between the strawberry “stripes.”

Slice and serve. Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes
Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: The frosting can be prepared and then covered and refrigerated
overnight. Let the refrigerated frosting sit at room temperature for 10 minutes, then beat with a mixer for 1
minute to bring it back to a spreadable consistency. Add a splash of heavy cream if needed to thin out.
Frosted cake (without berries) can be frozen up to 2–3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to
room temperature before decorating with berries and serving.

Special Tools (affiliate links): Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Offset Spatula | Piping Bag (Reusable or
Disposable) | Ateco 32 Piping Tip | Ateco 844 Piping Tip

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Reader Comments & Reviews

KO says:

June 28, 2023

I make this sheet cake every year since the recipe went up! And I decorated it like this last summer for the
Fourth. Everyone loves it.

★
★

Reply

Sally McKenney

about the author:

Sally McKenney

Sally McKenney is a professional food photographer, cookbook author, and baker. Her kitchen-tested recipes
and thorough step-by-step tutorials give readers the knowledge and confidence to bake from scratch. Sally
has been featured on Good Morning America, HuffPost, Taste of Home, People and more.

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