15 Red, White & Blue Desserts For The Fourth Of July
Every heart beats true for it, after all.
Is it even Independence Day if you’re not eating a bunch of red, white and blue desserts? We don’t think so, so we rounded up 15 of our favorites so no matter what your Fourth of July looks like—BBQ, picnic, beach day…—you can end it with something sweet.
We’ve got a few options here for turning your food red, white and blue. The first is to look toward the bounty of summer and utilize all the great fresh fruits available. Check out our flag cake, our American pie, and our red, white and blue tiramisu to see all the different ways you can transform them into Old Glory. You can also keep it simple, like we did in our Chantilly cake or our angel food cake, and just give a nod to the colors of the Stars & Stripes (without your dessert actually having any of either).
The next options is, of course, food coloring. Our July Fourth ice cream cake, our lemon-berry firecracker cake, and our freedom bark all use it to great effect and are guaranteed to wow your crowd.
Want even more Fourth of July dessert ideas (red, white and blue optional?) Check out our top no-bake desserts, our best summer pies, and our best summer desserts for all occasions too.
July 4th Ice Cream Cake
This festive ice cream cake is more impressive than any fireworks display you’ll see this year! Vanilla ice cream dotted with red, white, and blue sprinkles is sandwiched between two layers of soft and fluffy vanilla cake, and the whole thing is topped with whipped cream frosting (like the patriotic ice cream sundae of your dreams).
Get the July 4th Ice Cream Cake recipe.
Angel Food Cake
Angel food cake is basically just whipped egg whites and sugar, but it tastes like heaven in every bite (pun intended). It’s a classic summer dessert, especially for 4th of July, whether we're topping it with strawberries for a strawberry shortcake variation or enjoying it with plenty of blueberries and whipped cream as an anytime treat.
Get the Angel Food Cake recipe.
Flag Cake
Hot dogs, fireworks, and flag cake—if your 4th of July party doesn’t end with a red, white, and blue dessert, then you’re doing it wrong! With a simple frosting, boxed cake mix, and sweet fresh fruit, this cake is as easy to make as it is to devour.
Get the Flag Cake recipe.
Red, White & Blue Tiramisu
Tiramisu is the beloved Italian-American dessert that’s synonymous with the holidays. Next up: this red, white & blue tiramisu made up of blueberry- and strawberry-studded layers. It’s perfect for 4th of July, of course, but one bite, and I know you’ll be making it again and again, all summer long.
Get the Red, White & Blue Tiramisu recipe.
Berries & Cream Charcuterie Board
The only thing better than fresh, sweet berries is piling them on angel food cake and shortbread cookies with sweet ricotta or whipped cream. This DIY "starcuterie" board is the ideal sweet treat to round out your 4th of July spread.
Lemon-Berry Firecracker Cake
Nothing says Fourth of July quite like a patriotic red, white, and blue dessert, especially this eye-popping lemon-berry firecracker bundt cake. For a blast of flavor, our spin on the classic firecracker cake upgrades itself from white cake to a tangy lemon batter with blueberry- and strawberry-flavored swirls.
Get the Lemon-Berry Firecracker Cake recipe.
Chantilly Cake
There are cakes, and then there’s Chantilly cake, an impressive dessert that marries the delicious simplicity of a classic yellow cake with the berries and cream combo that makes shortcakes shine. What’s even sweeter? The all-American dessert has a charming origin story that started in a grocery store bakery.
Get the Chantilly Cake recipe.
American Pie
If you're looking for the perfect Fourth of July recipe, then stop at this easy American pie, filled with strawberries and blueberries. Don't be intimidated by the design either—refrigerated store-bought pie crust makes whipping this up a total breeze.
Get the American Pie recipe.
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies with Blueberries
These patriotic beauties were inspired by classic red velvet cake, whoopie pies, and the need for an easy and fun 4th of July dessert. Red velvet cookies with fluffy, white whipped cream and cream cheese frosting, and blueberries make for a fun twist on classic whoopie pies that we didn't even know we needed.
Fro-Yo Fruit Bites
Whether you're looking for an easy, on-the-go breakfast or an anytime sweet snack this Fourth of July, these fro-yo bites are the answer. They come together in only 10 minutes—just make sure to give them plenty of time to chill in the freezer so that they set completely.
Get the Fro-Yo Fruit Bites recipe.
Cheesecake Cupcakes
Who doesn't love an ultra-creamy slice of cheesecake? This mini version is super-easy to make (no water bath!), but just as delicious as its full-size counterpart, and much easier to share with BBQ guests.
Get the Cheesecake Cupcakes recipe.
Fruit Tart
If you’re one of the many who are stunned by the shiny fruit tarts in bakery windows, then this recipe is for you. Good news: It’s surprisingly easy to make a stunning fruit tart right at home! Make it as the star of your Fourth of July party, or as an easy, warm-weather treat to indulge in anytime.
Get the Fruit Tart recipe.
Freedom Bark
This stunning red, white and blue chocolate bark tastes like freedom, and is a perfect dessert for your Fourth of July cookout. Check out your local craft store for fun sprinkles!
Get the Freedom Bark recipe.
No-Bake Berry Cheesecakes
Serving these in little dishes means everyone gets their own, and who doesn't love to dig their spoon into their own cute mini cheesecake? Use red and blue food dye for the layers if you want, but the blueberry and strawberry jam will subtly color them on their own if you want to skip it.
Get the No-Bake Berry Cheesecakes recipe.
