29 Fourth of July Desserts (Even If You’re Not a “Baker”)

The last thing I want to see is my dessert turn into a puddle of mush before the fireworks show, so I’ll choose something other than dessert. From what I know, the best approach is creating a theme – so you could do berries + cream, chocolate + berries, or “frozen stuff that forgives you” and so on.

As for the examples given, there are many styles ranging from the very simple “I did this with one eye closed” to the more theatrical “Alright, I guess I brought the fancy one”, with a lot of styles in between. I can certainly say that acquiring a few elements is permissible; your secret will remain just that.

1) Flag Fruit Pizza

I take this to potlucks because it looks like it could be a homemade dessert even though the cookie dough is store-bought. The ‘sauce’ is just sweetened cream cheese spread over the dessert and the base is just a giant sugar cookie. The “topping” is supposed to represent a flag made out of mixed berries. When I came into the kitchen, I heard someone yell, “Do we have parchment?” Just cut it like a pizza and let’s see if it goes faster than the sparklers.

2) Berry Trifle

Though trifles can become a bit messy, this can contribute to the fun! Create your own national themed geological dessert by layering whipped cream and berries together with pieces of cake, including pound and angel food cakes. To keep it from getting mushy, don’t add the rest of the cake until just before you are ready to serve it.

The best part is pretending that you have no stress while you are multi-tasking and assembling everything with one hand, while on the other hand, you have your phone.

3) No-Bake Cheesecake Jars

Using separate jars for each portion is a bit more refined and also tackles the question, “how do we serve this?”. For the filling, mix together cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and whipped cream (or whipped topping). Next, graham crumbs will be layered on the bottom. When transporting, add the berries right before leaving so they stay fresh. I have handled them as if they were delicate little treasures, and they have certainly proved to be just that.

4) Berry Shortcakes

Shortcake is a dessert that captures the spirit of summer.

For this recipe, you can either purchase or prepare biscuits. Capture some macerated strawberries and a few splashed blueberries for added color and mix all of the components. The cream doesn’t have to be sweet since the berries will handle that. I say I will arrange them often, but that never actually happens. It’s charming, don’t you think?

5) Angel Food Cake

They say that angel food cake is extremely light and fluffy, like eating a cloud! To make the sauce, mix together the berries, sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Heat this mixture over medium heat stirring continuously, until the berries release their juices, and the sauce thickens to attain a syrup-like consistency. This sauce can be drizzled over slices of the cake, and can be topped with whipped cream. It’s a great choice for someone wanting something warm that is not too heavy.

6) Red, White & Blue Pavlova

Pavlova may give the impression that you are referring to fancy cookbooks but it’s really just sugar misbehaving in the oven. The result is crunchy on the outside, but the inside is soft and marshmallowy. Whipped cream and berries round it out, and definitely makes it a crowd pleaser.

You will also want to keep in mind that the humidity will impact the drink. There’s really no need to try and battle the hot and sticky weather. Just serve it. People will think you’ve done some kind of sorcery.

7) Patriotic Eton Mess

Eton mess is the perfect dessert for me as I dislike overly fussy desserts. It’s simply shop bought meringues, whipped cream and berries. It’s like a posh version of strawberry and cream sweets. Just throw it all in a big bowl and let everyone help themselves. It certainly doesn’t have to look perfect.

8) Berry Cream Cake

Frosting can be used sparingly to not make the cake too sweet. The frosting can even be soft and creamy. An example of this would be chantilly cream which consists of whipped cream and some sort of structuring cream like mascarpone or cream cheese. I have a soft spot for plain vanilla sponge cake even if it’s the bakery version. This is the kind of cake where people try to sneak a piece and say “I’m just taking a little bit,” and before you know it have taken an entire slice.

9) Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

The fusion of strawberries and lemons captures the feeling of summer. Bake cupcakes with lemon flavoring and frost them with strawberry lemon frosting and add a blueberry on top. You likely know how frosting can be very unpleasant when it melts in a hot car. Because of this, they must be kept cool before transport. And do bring a napkin, because the citrus combined with the buttercream can get very sticky.

10) Hand Pies

Staying active and mobile is the name of the game for the 4th of July, and hand pies fit that description perfectly! All you need to do is make some pie dough (store-bought is okay) and fill it with blueberry pie filling. Once you fill the dough, crimp the edges and bake until golden brown.

No need to stress about messy clothes like you do when you eat a regular pie. If you want to do something a little fancier, a light sprinkle of powdered sugar looks great!

11) Strawberry Pie

The combination of fresh strawberries and a light glaze, along with the pie crust baked from scratch, whipped cream is an enticing complement to the pie. People say, “oh wow, my grandma used to make this,” referring to the pie. A few added blue berries on the top would also add a nice touch. Due to the lively, and the juicy nature of the pie, we suggest you also provide forks and maybe some paper towels.

12) Crumble Bar

Smuldrekake is, in fact, one of my favorite “bake-course-energy” desserts, even if I rarely request for some. The base is buttery while the filling is jammy with blueberries. The topping is crumbly and sand-like but unevenly distributed. If they are stored in the fridge, they actually keep longer and are easier to slice. It used to seem smart to me to hide the last bar in the fridge under the lettuce.

13) Pretzel Salad

Though odd, this dessert was probably the biggest success of the social event. It features gelatin, strawberries, cream cheese, and a pretzel crust. Blueberries on the top add to the theme. People might say, “I don’t even like this!” and then go back for seconds.

14) Red, White & Blue Treats

Your goal is to avoid an abyss of unwashed plates, and to be complimented, right? Why not make some classic rice treats? Afterwards, you can dip them in red and blue candy melts. If you want to be a bit more creative, you can add some sprinkles! Just an empty shell can for some people create a glitter vacuum situation. The child likes this activity, because the process of making it is not complicated.

15) Yogurt Popsicles

Yogurt, strawberry puree, and whole blueberries can be layered in popsicle molds. Once you fill each mold, put them in the freezer. The popsicles are lighter than ice cream which is nice after eating something smoky from the grill. I have previously made the mistake of taking them out of the molds too early. I learned that in this case one must be patient.

16) Icebox Cake

An icebox cake is created by mixing together the components and leaving them to cool in an icebox. This cake is made with several layers of graham crackers (or wafer cookies), whipped cream, and berries.

For best results, refrigerate the mixture overnight so that the ingredients soften and meld into a cake that can be sliced. The icebox cake best embodies the flavors of carefree summer holidays. When your guests relish in the icebox cake, you should feel smug about making it the day before.

17) Mini Galettes

Galettes can be thought of as pies that are more fun. The dough can be shaped into all sorts of different shapes. Scatter a handful of berries in each circle, fold the edges over, and bake until golden brown.

As far as the amount of juice that gets secreted, we do not care if it will be less, more, or somewhere in the middle. If you would like to have the ’white’ part and do not want to make a frosting, you can have some vanilla ice cream with it.

18) Berry Cobbler

Cobbler is the dessert I prepare when I want to demonstrate how incredible my home smells.

Depending on your choice of berries, they will bubble under either a cake-y or a biscuit-y (I’m honestly torn) topping. Add some vanilla ice cream, and you will have your red, white, and blue, in spirit, even if the blue is mainly in the center. I enjoy both sweet treats and the act of forgiving.

19) Berry Sorbet

This option seems more like a non-choice and makes me think of the “I can’t do dairy today” option. The quick and easy blueberry compote goes great with the refreshing strawberry sorbet. I would prefer that the sorbet were for sale and the compote were made in 10 mins. If possible, use cold bowls: frozen things deserve a fighting chance.

20) Red Velvet Cupcakes

The red color in red velvet cake is not obtained from any fruit, which is useful in case of expensive or unappealing berries. You will have the white with the addition of cream cheese frosting and with a few blueberries on top you will complete the rest. There is a slight taste of cocoa that balances the sweetness. Even with a paper plate, they still feel a bit formal.

21) Dipped Strawberries

Like all kitchen projects, it is calming to dip strawberries, at least for the first few. It’s nice to use white chocolate with a blue splash. It is visually appealing and nice with either dried chopped blueberries or crushed freeze-dried blueberries. To prevent smudging, make sure to keep them in the fridge. I always try to make plenty, as it can get a little crazy with the ’quality control’ problem.

22) Berry Tart

Those who value precise knife work will value the craftsmanship on this tart. Start by adding vanilla pastry cream to your pre-baked tart shell. Then arrange the berries in an unexpectedly zen manner. If you’re feeling quite adventurous, some warm jam brushed on the top will create a nice shine on the fruit, and the jam will pair with the grocery bouquet quite nicely and helps the presentation.

23) Lemon Bars

Lemon bars are already a summer staple, and blueberries just make them more festive.

For streaks, add whole blueberries or blueberry puree to the lemon filling before baking. I appreciate how the powdered sugar adds a nice touch and conceals minor flaws. Otherwise, a lighter dessert option is also available, offering a nice alternative.

24) Thumbprint Cookies

It seems that thumbprint cookies are a product of a happy accident. You make a dough and shape it into a ball, then with your thumb, you make an indentation to fill with jam. To make it a little more exciting you can alternate between strawberry and blueberry jams. These also work great if you have to omit something for a while. Now please wait for them to cool before you grab a jar, because hot jam is as dangerous as napalm.

25) Berry Parfaits

One could argue that trifles are less refined than parfaits. Parfaits are less chaotic and brunch appropriate. To achieve a crunch I like to layer yogurt (or whipped cream if you are feeling wild) with berries and granola. To avoid a sugar crash before the lawn games, a cookout during the day parfaits are the perfect option. I serve them very cold so it is more refreshing and less sweet.

26) Red, White & Blue Sheet Cake

Everyone can enjoy the excitement of eating sheet cake! No one has arguments about sheet cake corner pieces like they do about corner pieces of round cakes, and they are just as easy to cut, serve, and clean up after. Just bake a vanilla cake, frost it with easy white buttercream, and add berries right before serving.

And yes, you can use the pan lid to transport it, and no, it’s not as temperamental as a tiered cake. If the top shifts a little, just think of it as ’rustic’ and move on.

27) Brownie Flag

If a participant in the scenario were to state that the dessert is chocolate based, the concession would be saying that a dessert with chocolate would be fine. “American flag brownies” are a multi-step dessert that first involves the baking and cooling of brownies.

Once the brownies have cooled, you are able to cut them into whatever shapes aligned with your vision of a dessert. A portion of the top of the brownies can be coated with powdered sugar to create an empty space of the American flag.

Because some, find it rather important to have the American flag fully designed with strawberries and have the blueberries left whole, that can be seen as part of the design rather than a flaw in the design. Brownies are great for the chaos of dessert eating outside.

28) Ice Cream Sandwiches

While they may seem a bit childish, they are more than suitable to present to adults. For a decorative touch to the edges, use a light blue sprinkle. Fill the cookies with strawberry ice cream. Remember to allow for a freeze and chill before serving. Otherwise, you’ll be serving a soup that will be hard to resist. I find enjoyment in making them the night before because I appreciate a calm kitchen, and I can do it without any “help” from other people.

29) Red, White & Blue Jell-O Cups

While layered Jell-O cups may be seen as a little goofy, they have a certain charm about them. To start, you will need to prepare red gelatin and allow it to set. The next layer consists of sweetened condensed milk and gelatin to create a milky layer. For your last layer, use blue gelatin. Each layer takes some time to set, but the end result looks great! When babysitting, be prepared for dessert bouncing to commence and kids to line up in front of the fridge!