Looking for sweet treats to make and share on Independence Day? We’ve got 40+ 4th of July Desserts that are excellent for sharing! Whether you’re looking for no bake desserts, desserts that feature fruits (like fresh strawberries) or something red, white or blue, we’ve got ideas for you here!
Let’s get ready for this national holiday by planning out what we’re going to eat! After all, who doesn’t love a long weekend that’s all about the FOOD?
And today, we’re talking about patriotic desserts. Specifically, the best Fourth of July dessert ideas.
These include things like that are blatantly red, white and blue desserts, like an American flag cake, cupcakes, cookies and more… plus more subtle, but easy-to-share desserts that are great for the summertime.
We’ve got a LOT of frozen desserts, like ice pops, ice cream sandwiches and ice cream, too, because those are ALWAYS a good idea and a decadent dessert.
Whether you’re serving these patriotic recipes for Memorial Day, Labor Day, the Fourth of July or anytime during the summer, you’re sure to find a winner here! These desserts are wonderful for summer holidays, a backyard BBQ and any other special occasion.
These are some of the BEST 4th of July desserts around!
What do I need to make these easy desserts for 4th of July?
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Well, that all depends on what dessert you’re making.
If you’re making a frozen dessert, like an ice cream, or a popsicle, you’ll need specific equipment.
Here are some of our go-to baked good tools for a hot summer day to make festive desserts:
What are some popular ingredients for an Independence Day party?
Again, this depends on the dessert you’re making!
Some ingredients you might find include…
Homemade ice cream calls for heavy whipping cream, sugar and more.
Cream cheese, for frosting, as well as an ingredient in the filling of desserts
Fresh fruit and fresh summer berries, be they for a cobbler, a berry trifle or something different
Sprinkles. Adding red, white or blue sprinkles to any dessert is a fun way to give them some patriotic flair.
Marshmallow… for delicious s’mores and more!
Graham crackers… for a graham cracker crust or as an actual ingredient!
Whipped cream… homemade or the store-bought kind. Heck, even Cool Whip is a go-to for an July celebration or patriotic party.
Regular chocolate and white chocolate
Food coloring… if you’re planning on coloring a dessert, like an angel food cake, you’ll need this. Gel food coloring is more potent than the oil-based kind.
Quick tips and tricks to sharing desserts at a party
If you’re hosting a larger gathering, make a dessert table where people can set down their desserts! This way, everyone knows where the sweet treats are and can choose the perfect dessert for themselves.
Offer individual servings. This makes it easier on guests, as well as prevents people from sticking their hands directly into the serving bowl.
Label the tasty treats. Some guests might have allergies and intolerances, so it’s always important that guests know what’s in their desserts, especially if they are homemade.
Add bowls of fresh berries or fresh fruit, like fresh blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, watermelon and more, to any dessert table to add a pop of color. This is a great option to serve over homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, too!
Curious to see our favorite 4th of July dessert recipes? Keep on scrolling to see 40+ of them that are perfect for any July party!
Red, White and Blue Desserts
If you're looking for something that SCREAMS July 4th, you're in the right place! Here are some of our favorite red, white and blue treats to make and share.
1
Red White and Blue Popsicles
Red White and Blue Popsicles are a colorful, naturally sweet dessert to make for the hot months ahead. This healthier ice pop recipe is made with fresh fruit, Greek yogurt and sweetened with maple syrup. Perfect for any patriotic gathering or a backyard barbecue!
Marshmallowy, crispy and colorful, these patriotic July 4 Rice Krispie Treats will make your summer holidays even sweeter. Cheer on the red, white and blue with these chewy, childhood-favorite treats decorated with drizzles of tri-colored icing.
Strawberry and Blueberry Hand Pies make the PERFECT summer dessert. Bursting with fresh blueberries and strawberries, these naturally sweet, handheld pies sing of seasonal flavors. Not only do they taste of the season, but they're wrapped in a decadent buttery crust and perfect for sharing.
Celebrate the summertime with Patriotic Strawberry Bruschetta. This dessert bruschetta features a homemade almond pudding, lemon curd, macerated strawberries and blueberries, too! Red, white and blue, these Patriotic Strawberry Bruschetta are the perfect dessert to serve to a crowd.
Finish your July 4th feast on the lighter side with Berry Pound Cake, full of blueberries and strawberry puree, then topped with homemade whipped cream and fresh berries. The perfect dessert for a warm summer’s day.
Soft sugar cookies are the best thing to make for any holiday celebration. These traditional Southern Tea Cakes are the perfect not-too-sweet-but-so-delicious cookies. The lightly sweetened dough puffs up in the oven and holds its shape beautifully, so these cookies are perfect to pair with sweet Easy Sugar Cookie Icing.
Berry Sugar Cookie Bars are the perfect summer treat! Light cookie bars topped with homemade icing and fresh strawberries and blueberries are a fun and festive dessert in the summer or you can top them with candy or sprinkles for an anytime treat.
This strawberry blueberry shortcake is made with fluffy vegan biscuits, topped with fresh, summer berries and dairy free whipped cream. This beautiful twist on a classic American dessert is literally made for summer.
A Raspberry Blueberry and Strawberry Galette is the ideal rustic, patriotic dessert recipe for summer. The simple homemade pie crust and berry filling is perfect for topping with vanilla ice cream.
This no bake fruit tart recipe is one of the best fruity desserts! With a graham cracker crust and filled with a subtly sweet and tangy cream cheese filling, this sweet treat is finished with fresh berries. Isn't it just gorgeous?
Boozy and patriotic Prosecco Popsicles are the cutest way to show your colors this holiday weekend! Berries and frozen champagne make for a darling red, white and blue treat you can enjoy anytime!
Love a sweet and salty dessert? This red, white and blue Chex Mix is a festive treat that will help you celebrate the 4th of July, or any patriotic holiday!
Easy to make and requiring just FOUR ingredients, this Patriotic Trifle is chock full of vanilla pound cake, fresh strawberries, fresh blueberries and decadent whipped cream. Come see how easy it is to make and share this treat!
These festive No-Bake Fireworks Oreo Cheesecake Bars add a little color to lusciously creamy Oreo Cheesecake Bars. All you need are a handful of ingredients to make these colorful cheesecake bars for sharing!
Gorgeous, colorful 4th of July Cupcakes with swirl frosting are easy to make and share! These cupcakes are the perfect treat for any Independence Day gathering!
This American Flag Pie is the perfect dessert to serve for July 4th, as well as Memorial Day, Flag Day, Labor Day and more. Filled with blueberry and cherry pie filling, this homemade pie is gorgeous AND festive for any patriotic gathering.
These colorful M&M Brownies are the perfect treat for the 4th of July! Made with boxed brownie mix, then topped with red, white and blue mini M&M’s, these brownies could not be easier to make.
In case you don't mind turning on the oven, here are a few ideas of excellent cookies and baked goods for sharing!
23
Bugga’s Apple Pie
Apple Pie is a well-loved dessert, and Bugga’s Apple Pie is a family favorite. The pie is filled with tart Granny Smith apples that are tossed in lemon juice, flour, sugar, cinnamon and butter, then bakes until golden brown and delicious. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and this pie is perfection.
Festive Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars are perfect for any kind of celebration! Elevated with colorful sprinkles, these gooey, buttery cookie bars are beloved by kids and adults and perfect for July 4th if you use red, white and blue sprinkles.
These no bake peanut butter cookies with a butterscotch-chocolate drizzle on top are reminiscent of classic Scotcheroo Bars. Made without corn syrup, this easy chocolate peanut butter no bake cookie recipe is a sweet treat!
Soft and fluffy Snickerdoodle Cookies are full of comfort and deliciousness. Covered in cinnamon sugar, no one can resist these sweet, flavorful cookies.
Studded with dark and bittersweet chocolate chips, these light and fluffy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are the perfect chewy consistency and so easy to eat. Inspired by a birthday cookie cake, these easy chocolate chip bar cookies are perfect for sharing.
Looking for a cookie recipe that’s got it all? These Kitchen Sink Cookies include, well, everything but the kitchen sink—chocolate chips, nuts, pretzels, potato chips and more! Mix and match the add-ins to capture what you’ve got in your pantry make the most decadent cookie around!
Chocolate Ooey Gooey Bars are chocolate cheesecake dessert perfection. These brownie cheesecake bars make an amazing treat and are excellent for sharing. Baked to ooey gooey perfection, these decadent cheesecake brownies are ready to enjoy in less than an hour.
Oreo Rice Krispie Treats are the best no bake dessert for any occasion. Chunks of the beloved chocolate sandwich cookie are nestled into the crispy rice cereal, and the combination is scrumptious. Made with just 5 ingredients, these homemade rice krispie treats are easy to make, share and enjoy!
Homemade Lemon Bars are a crowd-pleasing dessert and perfect for sharing! This easy lemon bar recipe is bright, tart-sweet and perfectly balanced with a crisp shortbread crust. They’re a quick recipe to bake, too, and are ready in less than an hour!
These light, dreamy no bake strawberries and cream mini desserts are served in mason jars and oh-so-cute. They're always a hit for picnics, potlucks and other summertime gatherings!
If you don't want to turn on the oven this July, I get it! Here are some ideas for desserts that are frozen and totally delightful!
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Funfetti Ice Cream Sandwiches
Funfetti Ice Cream Sandwiches are the ultimate celebratory treat. Colorful Homemade Funfetti Cookies serve as the base of this classic ice cream sandwich, providing a crunchy exterior that pairs beautifully with the creamy vanilla ice cream used as the sandwich filling. Use red, white and blue sprinkles to make these truly festive!
No Churn Peanut Butter Ice Cream with Pecans and Chocolate Chips
Creamy, rich peanut butter ice cream, studded with pecans and dark chocolate chips, makes the perfect dessert. Even better? This No Churn Peanut Butter Ice Cream requires no ice cream maker, so anyone can make it at home!
This rich No Churn Guinness Brownie Ice Cream is sure to become a new favorite! Studded with homemade brownie chunks, this easy ice cream that doesn't require an ice cream maker is perfect for sharing.
Cool down on a hot day with Spiced Rum Horchata Popsicles! Dairy free and refined sugar free, these vegan popsicles are creamy, flavorful and simple to make. A twist on a paleta, this Horchata Popsicle recipe is the perfect summertime treat for adults.
Pimm's Cups are refreshing summertime cocktails that go down easy on hot days. Why not take a classic Pimm's Cup… and transform it into a popsicle? All you need are a handful of ingredients to make these boozy ice pops.
Beat the heat with these tart and slightly sweet Blackberry and Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles. Naturally sweetened popsicles are the perfect summertime treat!
Blackberry chip ice cream is creamy, rich and decadent. This no churn ice cream is a little sweet, a little tart, and has a gorgeous purple color! A perfect summer treat made with coconut milk, fresh blackberries and chopped dark chocolate.
Step up your summertime dessert game by making Blueberry Cheesecake Popsicles! These creamy popsicles are dipped in wafer crumbles to create the perfect summertime sweet! The whole family is going to love these popsicles.
Step up your adult popsicle game this summer by making Peach Julep Popsicles! These bourbon-y, peachy, minty and oh-so-refreshing pops are what you'll want to enjoy on a hot summer day!
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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