Fourth of July is a festive holiday in the U.S. commemorating the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
The holiday falls in the midst of summer and calls for family gatherings with picnics, barbecues, fruity cocktails, fireworks, and relaxed outdoor fun.
So, gather the family . . . get out the grill . . . sit back . . . and celebrate your freedom with some sweet treats in patriotic red, white, and blue.
All-American red, white, and blue
Watermelon, Feta, and Blueberry Flag is a healthy snack . . . and it looks good on the table, too. The soft, creamy cheese is perfect with the sweet, juicy melon and berries. Use star-shaped melon for an even sweeter presentation. (Photo: Home is Where the Boat Is)
[above] To create Melon Stars, slice watermelon and use a cookie cutter to shape the stars. Super easy! (Photo: Hip Hip Hooray!)
[left] Pair melon with blueberries and sliced strawberries for a colorful Cookie Cutter Fruit Salad. (Photo: Wit and Whistle)
Have fun with cupcakes and fondant by adding patriotic stars and stripes; then arrange your Independence Day Cupcakes to form a flag. (Photo: Diary of a Ladybird)
Create Star-Spangled Pound Cake by giving ordinary pound cake the star treatment for any patriotic celebration. (Photo: Better Homes and Gardens)
These colorful Pretzel Sparklers will dazzle your guests; and, like the real thing, will disappear quickly . . . in a few bites. (Photo: Martha Stewart).
[above left to right] 1. Stuffed strawberries—filled with Mascarpone cheese and topped with a blueberry—are a delightful little treat that WILL disappear fast. (Photo: Gina Marie’s Kitchen); 2. Strawberries, dipped in chocolate and drizzled with patriotic color or coated in star sprinkles, are wonderfully decadent. (Photo: Bright Bold Beautiful); 3. For an awesome variation and red-white-blue perfection, dip two-thirds of the strawberry in white chocolate and
the bottom with blue sparkles. (Photo: All Recipes)
Add a few red and blue sprinkles (or jimmies) to vanilla cake batter and frosting, and you have a festive Fourth of July Cupcake that could not be easier to make. (Photo: Bakerella)
Stars and Stripes Cake Pops
Ingredients
1 box of your favorite cake mix
1 can prepared vanilla frosting
Wilton Candy Melts (Blue)
Wilton Candy Melts (Red)
Wilton Candy Melts (White)
White nonpareils/sprinkles
Waxed paper
Lollipop sticks
Instructions
- Bake cake as directed on package.
- When cake is finished, break it into crumbs by hand in a large bowl. Mix in a full can of frosting until well-blended.
- Roll cake mixture into 1-inch balls and place on waxed paper.
- Melt candy melts as directed.
- Dip a lollipop stick about 1/2 inch into white melted candy, and insert the stick into rounded part of cake ball. Repeat for remaining cake balls.
- Place cake pops in freezer for about 10 minutes, or in refrigerator for 20 minutes, to firm.
- Once cake pops are firm, remove from frig-freezer and dip each into melted chocolate, tapping excess chocolate off. For 15 stars, use blue . . . for stripes, red.
- Prop up pops, cake end down on waxed paper while chocolate is still slightly warm, so candy hardens into a flat surface at the top (to help pops stand for serving).
- Finish blue pops with white nonpareils before chocolate hardens.
- Drizzle melted white candy melts over red pops after chocolate has hardened.
- Line pops up on a tray to create the flag.
Makes 50 pops.
(Recipe and photo: Party City)
A festive layered Vanilla Cake with Buttercream, Berries, and Jam is great for presentation at any Fourth of July party. (Photo: Better Homes and Gardens)
This pretty patriotic Independence Day Cake sure gets your attention! Red, white, and blue layers of cake are slathered with marshmallow butter cream frosting and decorated with summer-fresh blueberries and strawberries. (Photo: Unusual 2 Tasty)
Opt for simple decorating on the outside, knowing the “wow factor” will be on the inside.
[above] Red, White, and Blueberry Poke Cake (Photo: Taste of Home), and [left] 4th of July Flag Cake (Photo: Glorious Treats)
Red, White, and Blueberry Ice Cream Cake, three layers of strawberry and blueberry soaked cake topped with ice cream and fresh fruit, is truly a red, white, and blue masterpiece. (Photo: Jenny Steffens)
Welcome the 4th of July with colorful pre-cut Flag Shape Cookies. (Photo: Pillsbury)
[above] These 4th of July Fabulous Flag Treats take
classic Rice Krispie treats to a whole new level. (Photo: Class Brain)
[right] Red, White, and Blue Cookie Bark, a combination of white chocolate, pretzels, Oreos, and M&Ms is a colorful, festive, sweet and salty treat. (Photo: Love Stitched)
Patriotic Berry Trifle—a mix of blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries with creamy vanilla and cubed pound cake—makes a simple and delicious dessert. (Photo: Better Homes and Gardens)
[above left to right] 1. For a sweet treat that doesn’t pack on the pounds, try this Red, White, and Blue Parfait with layered blueberries, low-fat vanilla yogurt, and strawberries. (Photo: Better Homes and Gardens); 2. Two kinds of smooth gelatin—red currant and panna cotta, which is made with cream—are topped with currants and blueberries in these Patriotic Parfaits. (Photo: Martha Stewart); 3. Show your pride with these Red, White, and Blueberry Sundaes. You can prep the gelatin in advance and finish them off with the whipped cream, meringue, and fresh berries right before serving. (Photo: Disney Family)
For a classic Jell-O Firecracker, two layers of bright, berry-flavored gelatin enclose a center layer of creamy vanilla. (Photo: Delish)
Mini star-shape sugar cookies sit atop this Fourth of July Fruit Tart with festive raspberries and blueberries for the ultimate patriotic dessert.
(Photo: Better Homes and Gardens)
Salute Old Glory while putting a new spin on classic summer fare with this fruity, cream-filled
Star-Spangled Shortcake. (Photo: Martha Stewart)
What American celebration is complete without pie? All-American apple is great, but try this delicious deep-dish Raspberry-Lemon Pie for an awesome change of pace. (Photo: Traditional Home)
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