20 Best 4th of July Easy Desserts and Recipes for Kids
As fireworks light up the sky and patriotic tunes fill the air, the Fourth of July brings a wave of celebration across the nation. Among the BBQs, parades, and gatherings, the dessert table often takes center stage.
What makes a great Fourth of July or Memorial Day dessert? It's the perfect blend of vibrant colors, refreshing flavors, and ease of serving, all while embracing the spirit of this historic day. Let's explore some delightful options to elevate your Independence Day dessert game.
20 Best 4th of July Easy Desserts and Recipes for Kids
What Makes a Great Fourth of July Dessert:
A fantastic Fourth of July dessert embodies the essence of the holiday—bold reds, brilliant whites, and vivid blues. Think of strawberries, raspberries, and cherries for the red, whipped cream or vanilla for the white, and blueberries or blackberries for the blue. These colors not only pay homage to the American flag but also create a visually stunning display on your dessert table.
If you are planning drinks for your next memorial day or upcoming patriotic holidays, these patriotic shooters are a home run. I love having these ready for summer party options to take with me to a gathering or to prep if I am hosting. They are so easy to make and shop for as well which is perfect for the last minute party planner, like me! These Red White and Blue Jello Shots are a hit with the adults at our Fourth of July gatherings and you will want to make a ton, they run out quickly! USA Patriotic Easy 4th of July Jello Shots
This blog post has a round up of other red white and blue cocktail ideas as well.
Red, White, and Delicious: Fourth of July Dessert Options to Sweeten Your Celebration
When it comes to flavors, freshness is key. Opt for seasonal fruits bursting with flavor, like juicy watermelon, succulent peaches, or tangy blueberries. Incorporating these fruits into desserts offers a delightful contrast to the summer hot day and complements the classic tastes associated with the July 4th holiday and patriotic feast.
Patriotic Party - Best Fourth of July Desserts
Easy No Bake Desserts for 4th of July are such a hit for anyone hosting family gatherings, friends, or showing up to a potluck!I love a fun summer gathering to catch up with friends and 4th of July parties in our neighborhood. These no bake cherry desserts are also great for Memorial Day, cookouts to kick off summer, and Labor Day extravaganza's to signal back to school.
These USA themed cherry desserts are the perfect way to get out your red white and blue apparel and make the perfect dessert that is festive and delicious! This no bake cherry dessert cake pop is the perfect treat for a summer dessert and does not take much time at all to prepare!
2. Fourth of July Sugar Cookies
These light and fluffy 4ths of July Sugar Cookies are the ultimate celebratory treat! They're soft, chewy sugar cookies topped with rich buttercream frosting and decorated with festive red, white, and blue sprinkles. There’s no better way to honor the 4th of July than with these fun and festive patriotic sugar cookies. Cookies are a perfect family friendly recipe or could be a fun kid activity to bake or decorate these at a 4th of July patriotic theme party.
3. Red White and Blue Rice Krispie Treats
I’m sharing Red, White, and Blue Rice Krispies Treats! These are so easy, only require 3 ingredients, and you can have them made and ready to eat in under 20 minutes. They are the perfect dessert to take with you to your July 4th parties! All you need to do is make 3 separate batches of Rice Krispies Treats. Then you color one red, one blue, and leave the third white for this American classic patriotic recipe!
4. No Bake Caramel Pretzel Crack bars
If you’re looking for a quick and easy treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth, these Caramel Pretzel Crack Bars are the perfect recipe for you! Made with just a few simple ingredients, these bars can be thrown together in no time at all. Plus, they’re perfect for patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July or Memorial Day. They are also a big hit with kids! These are a great idea to make for guests to take home in a cellophane bag as well.
5. Red White Blue Fourth of July Cupcakes
These 4th of July cupcakes are made from my favorite vanilla cupcake recipe. Instead of making plain white cupcakes, we’ll use food coloring to create a swirled, tie-dye effect that’s perfect for the occasion to create the vibrant red and blue patriotic desserts. You can pick up miniature toothpick flags to add to the tops of your cupcakes, or use red, white, and blue M&Ms instead of sprinkles. If you want the kid guests to have something fun to do let them decorate these easy 4th of July dessert cupcakes.
6. Gluten Free Vegan Pound Cake
This gluten-free vegan pound cake has the best moist texture and buttery, vanilla flavor. It is so easy to make the recipe with healthy ingredients like applesauce and gluten-free flour, and believe it or not, this pound cake has no eggs, butter, or dairy. It tastes like vanilla cake heaven, and each bite melts in your mouth! Your 4th of July party guests will love this cake!
7. Red White and Blue Patriotic Fruit Pizza
red, white and blue patriotic fruit pizza is delicious, naturally sweetened, dairy free and gluten free! The perfect sweet treat to bring along to a fourth of July celebration, or to enjoy at home with your family. The fruit pizza cookie crust is made using almond flour, and the dairy-free cream cheese mixture tastes like lemon cashew frosting. The kids couldn’t stop licking the bowl after making the cashew frosting! Add this healthier fruit pizza to your next gathering for any patriotic holidays – it will become a crowd favorite!
8. Easy Patriotic Fruit Dip
This patriotic dessert is a crowd pleaser! My favorite thing about this fluffy fruit dip is dipping fresh strawberries and blueberries into a dip full of flavor. You can’t go wrong when you combine cool whip and fresh fruit with vanilla wafers together in a creative way. Some would call this a patriotic dunkaroo dip as it’s very similar to the popular dunkaroo dip that many kids love! It’s the perfect addition to family gatherings. The best part is it doesn’t take that much time to whip up!
9. Patriotic Meringue Cookies
Patriotic meringue cookies are fun, whimsical 4th of July desserts. Swirls of red, white and blue make these 4th of July cookies extra special. These tasty treats begin with a 3-ingredient Swiss meringue that’s quick to assemble!
10. Red White Blue Trifle
Not only is this 4th of July trifle gorgeous to look at, but the individual portions make it the perfect dessert for backyard BBQs, picnics, and potlucks. And the best part? There is absolutely no baking required. Yeap, no-bake desserts are what summertime is all about.
11. Red White and Blue Strawberries
Red, white, and blue strawberries are the best patriotic dessert to celebrate the 4th of July with. These white chocolate-dipped berries are fun and easy to make. A great recipe to make with your kids so everyone will get into the Independence Day spirit. With just a few ingredients like red, white, and blue sprinkles, white chocolate, and fresh big strawberries, the colors of the holiday come together beautifully.
12. 4th of July Fruit Kabobs
These colorful 4th Of July Fruit Kabobs are an easy to make and healthier dessert that is perfect for your patriotic celebrations, summer BBQs, and picnics. Suitable for vegan and gluten free diets and a refreshing alternative to other Fourth of July dessert options.
13. Strawberry Shortcake Cups Recipe
These Strawberry Shortcake Cups are the perfect way to serve fresh strawberries this summer. A layered dessert made with fresh strawberries, a whipped cream layer, and pound cake. Grab a spoon and dive in.
These strawberry shortcake trifle cups are a perfect no-bake dessert to prepare for a summer cookout, pool party, or a treat to end the evening. Whip these up and dive into a little piece of heaven with each bite. They are a great way to use up fresh strawberries after you go strawberry picking in the summer as well!
14. 4th of July Cookie Cake
A patriotic dessert that everyone will love!? This 4th of July Cookie Cake is it! It's a fantastic party dessert that will be gone in no time and it truly tastes as good as it looks. Bake this 4th of July Cookie Cake for your backyard barbecue, potluck, family get together, or kids party this summer. It'll be gone so fast, you might want to bake two.
15. Red White and Blue Cheesecake
What I love about most about this Red, White and Blue Cheesecake is that, because it's no bake, it isn't tricky to make but has perfectly defined color layers without sacrificing flavor.
16. Super Simple 4th of July Cookie Dough Dip
This 4th of July cookie dough dip is so good dip after dip. You’ll be hard pressed to find another patriotic dip recipe as good as this one! But when you have a winner, why even try?
The great part about this dessert dip is that it’s patriotic for that wonderful red white and blue. Plus, it’s a great way to have your dessert and dipping fun!
17. Easy 4th of July Cookie Bars
These Easy 4th of July Cookie Bars will feed a crowd for sure. They are soft, chewy, sweet and the icing really hits the spot. They are just perfect and easy to make.
18. Festive Red, White, and Blue Cakesicles
Get in the patriotic spirit and make tasty delicious red, white, and blue cakesicles for your Fourth of July party. Think of cakesicles as cake popsicles or a cake on a popsicle stick. They are so much fun to make and enjoy on a hot Summer day!
19. Red, White, And Blue Layered Jello Recipe -
A festive dessert made with layers of colorful jello and Cool Whip, these red, white, and blue Jello cups are perfect to cool off with on warm weather holidays.
20. Blueberry Strawberry Shortcake Trifle -
This refreshing easy recipe with fresh berries is a great way to make a healthier patriotic holiday. This blueberry strawberry shortcake is the perfect layered dessert for the summer! Taking inspiration from the classic English trifle, this family-sized dessert packs in fresh berries, cream and cake. Sure to be an epic accompaniment to a picnic, barbecue, or really any occasion!
Small Extras to have on hand for a festive Patriotic Treats
I love having these little American flags on hand to put into single serve patriotic recipes at your next Fourth of July party.
Patriotic Sprinkles - fun festive sprinkles like star sprinkles, red sprinkles, blue sprinkles,
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How to Serve Fourth of July Desserts in an Outdoor Setting Easily:
Serving desserts at an outdoor Fourth of July celebration requires practicality without compromising presentation. Here are some hassle-free ideas to ensure your sweet treats shine:
Portable Treats: Prepare individual servings of desserts like berry parfaits in mason jars or fruit skewers for easy grab-and-go options. Keeping it simple with hot dogs or burgers is a tried and true perfect kid friendly meal. This not only simplifies serving but also minimizes mess when serving kids!
Frozen Festive Dessert: Cool down the festivities with frozen desserts like homemade popsicles or ice cream sandwiches. Pre-scoop ice cream into festive bowls before the party for quick serving.
Dessert Bars: Set up a DIY dessert bar with various toppings, fruits, and sauces. Guests can customize their treats, allowing for an interactive and personalized experience.
Easy Cleanup: Use disposable plates, cups, and utensils to simplify cleanup. Opt for sturdy, eco-friendly options to reduce environmental impact.
I also really enjoy serving this chicken pasta salad recipe at summer gatherings This chicken pesto pasta salad recipe is super simple, quick, and family friendly. We love having this meal for lunch and dinner options. Chicken pesto pasta salad recipe is also an easy recipe to take to cookouts and gatherings that every guest will love and is so easy and cheap to make. Its nice and light to eat even on a hot day which is perfect for those summer gatherings by the pool with friends and family.
As you prepare to commemorate the Fourth of July with family and friends, your dessert choices can elevate the festive atmosphere. By embracing vibrant colors, fresh flavors, and convenient serving options, you can create an unforgettable dessert spread that captures the essence of this historic day. Whether it's a patriotic trifle, a berry-filled pie, or frozen delights, let your Fourth of July desserts ignite joy and sweeten the celebration for all. Cheers to a flavorful and festive Independence Day with these best desserts to combat the summer heat!