Whip Up a Grand Finale-Worthy 4th of July Dessert!
Whether you're planning a picnic before watching the fireworks, grilling your favorite 4th of July recipes in the backyard, or doing fun July 4th activities and July 4th crafts with the kids, you'll need some kind of dessert to cap off the evening's celebrations.
From easy cookies and individual, hand held treats to impressive cakes, trifles, and fruity pies, here are some of our favorite dessert recipes for your 4th of July festivities!
Patriotic Cupcakes
Honestly, sometimes the best desserts are straightforward. Like this one: moist vanilla cake, sweet frosting, patriotic sprinkles, and little American flags. And your dessert plans are done.
Get the recipe for Cupcakes Americana.
Wacky Cake
This chocolaty cake is about as simple and straightforward as it gets! It's made without butter, eggs, or milk, and somehow turns out moist and delicious. Your 4th of July crowd will love it!
Get the recipe for Wacky Cake.
Brown Butter Apple Pie
With browned butter in the filling and the crust, we took the most American of pies and made it into a caramel-apple flavored masterpiece.
Get the recipe for Brown Butter Apple Pie.
Puff Pastry Star Cookies
Serve these simple-but-impressive patriotic stars at your July 4th party! They couldn't be any easier!
Get the recipe for Puff Pastry Star Cookies.
Rainbow Waffle Sandwiches
Want a 4th of July dessert that'll fly off the plate? Use homemade (or store-bought if you want to go the no-cook route) waffles to make ice cream sandwiches. Slice and roll in colorful sprinkles.
Get the recipe for Rainbow Waffle Sandwiches.
RELATED: 45+ Delicious Homemade Ice Cream Recipes
Strawberry-Almond Crumble Pie
July 4 is right at the tail end of strawberry season—the perfect time to turn those almost overripe berries into a sumptuous pie!
Get the recipe for Strawberry-Almond Crumble Pie.
RELATED: 52 Best Strawberry Recipes for the Spring and Summer Season
Salty Peanut Banana Pudding
An all-American classic, this banana pudding benefits from the addition of just a hint of salt.
Get the recipe for Salty Peanut Banana Pudding.
Blackberry Tart
It's peak blackberry season, so quick: Make this elegant, delicious tart! All you need are pre-made pie crusts and some mascarpone.
Get the recipe for Blackberry Tart.
RELATED: 50 Blackberry Recipes to Make Summer So Much Sweeter
Campfire-Grilled Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Pineapple upside down cake just screams summer, which makes it a great dessert option for the 4th of July. Especially this version, which takes a few already prepared ingredients and roasted them over a campfire or grill until caramelized and extra-delicious.
Get the recipe for Campfire-Grilled Pineapple Upside Down Cake.
Brandied Strawberry Shortcakes with Malted Whipped Cream
We took this classic summer dessert and used a few ingredient upgrades to make it even more amazing.
Get the recipe for Brandied Strawberry Shortcakes.
Fruit and Nut Trifle
This classic trifle is inspired by Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, with hot milk sponge cake, homemade custard, marmalade, and plenty of fruit, nuts, and whipped cream. It's as American as Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy!
Get the recipe for Fruit and Nut Trifle.
Key Lime Slab Pie with Candied Lime Zest
We took the always-popular warm-weather dessert and made it big enough to feed your whole Independence Day crew.
Get the recipe for Key Lime Slab Pie with Candied Lime Zest.
Strawberry-Lemonade Angel Pie
This classic mid-century American dessert is similar to a lemon meringue pie. Instead of a traditional crust, the sweet meringue, baked until crispy, takes its place. This makes it exceedingly light and sweet—and also gluten-free!
Get the recipe for Strawberry-Lemonade Angel Pie.
Mini Stars Berry Pies
These individual patriotic pies, bursting with fresh berries, are best enjoyed with ice cream.
Get the recipe for Mini Stars Berry Pies.
Vanilla Yogurt and Berry Trifle
This impressive red, white, and blue dessert is easy to make (there's no baking), beautiful, and—most importantly—delicious. And because you use yogurt in place of custard, it's also a little healthier!
Get the recipe for Vanilla Yogurt and Berry Trifle.
Homemade Cherries Jubilee Ice Cream
Fresh pitted cherries and a generous portion of brandy give this summery scoop all the flavor of its namesake dish.
Get the recipe for Cherries Jubilee Ice Cream.
RELATED: 45+ Delicious Homemade Ice Cream Recipes
Any Fruit Crisp
This easy-to-remember "recipe" by Tia Mowry can be used with practically any fruit you desire.
Get the recipe for Any Fruit Crisp.
Pecan-Brownie Pie
Want a chocolate 4th of July dessert that's over the top? Take Texas's favorite pie to the next level, brownie-style.
Get the recipe for Pecan-Brownie Pie.
Cucumber-Key Lime Pie
Hear us out: Your average key lime pie is delicious, but it can be a tad straightforward. Adding cucumber gives it a mildly refreshing counterpoint flavor. Guests will wonder what you did to make it taste so good.
Get the recipe for Cucumber-Key Lime Pie.
Rocky Road Pie
Who doesn't love this American classic? Keep it cold in the fridge, and do your best to make it last until your 4th of July festivities start!
Get the recipe for Rocky Road Pie.
Blue Bell Ice Cream Bombe
This ice cream bombe features four different flavors—and sparklers! Because America only celebrates its birthday once a year. This dessert is no-bake, fun to make with the kids, and you can use your favorite flavors!
Get the recipe for Blue Bell Ice Cream Bombe.
RELATED: 45+ Delicious Homemade Ice Cream Recipes
Cast-Iron Apple-Blackberry Crumble with Sour Cream Whip
Instead of ice cream, this recipe uses a homemade sour cream whipped topping for an irresistible flavor combination.
Get the recipe for Apple-Blackberry Crumble.
Coconut Angel Cake
It's never a bad time for cake! This airy version is as light as can be, but the toasted almonds ensure it's big on flavor.
Get the recipe for Coconut Angel Cake.
Swirled Meringues with Blueberry Sauce
If you're looking for a lighter and healthier dessert, look no further! Soft in the middle and crunchy on the outside, these meringues are the bomb when topped with sweetened whipped cream and homemade blueberry sauce.
Get the recipe for Swirled Meringues.
RELATED: 31 Delicious Blueberry Recipes to Enjoy All Summer Long
Spiced Peach Hand Pies
What could be better in the summer than delicious peach pies? These individual hand-held pies are perfect for your 4th of July festivities!
Get the recipe for Spiced Peach Hand Pies.
S'mores, 3 Ways
Your favorite summer dessert just got even sweeter with these three takes on the traditional. Whether you choose Strawberry S'mores, Chocolate S'mores 2.0, or Peanut Butter S'mores, they're all absolutely delicious.
Get the recipe for S'mores, 3 Ways.
Blackberry Lime Cream Puffs
Fill store-bought profiterole shells with whipped cream cheese and blackberries and then enjoy. Simple and sweet!
Get the recipe for Blackberry Lime Cream Puffs.
RELATED: 50 Blackberry Recipes to Make Summer So Much Sweeter
Raspberry Crumb Bars
Soft and crunchy, these bars are loaded with almonds and oats.
Get the recipe for Raspberry Crumb Bars.
Raspberry-Buttermilk Ice Pops
Sweetened with honey but with a tangy kick from sour cream and buttermilk, these cool pops are sure to become a summer favorite.
Get the recipe for Raspberry-Buttermilk Ice Pops.
Chamomile-Mascarpone Tart with Fresh Strawberries
A garnish of chamomile flowers adds a little something special to this tart. (Don't worry—the beautiful blooms are completely safe to eat.)
Get the recipe for Chamomile-Mascarpone Tart.
Raspberry and Pistachio Semifreddo
Meaning semi-frozen, this chilled dessert is chock full of fresh raspberries and savory pistachios.
Get the recipe for Raspberry and Pistachio Semifreddo.
Mini Strawberry-Rhubarb Galettes
End your celebration in the sweetest way with these personal-size individual galettes, loaded with fresh seasonal fruits.
Get the recipe for Mini Strawberry-Rhubarb Galettes.
Hot Fudge Golden Grahams Parfait
Cereal takes center stage in this gooey, chocolate-y ice cream parfait.
Get the recipe for Hot Fudge Golden Grahams Parfait.
Meyer Lemon-Blueberry Cake
Treat your guests to their own individual cake with this recipe bursting with fresh fruit. We recommend baking this dessert in mini Bundt pans for an absolutely adorable addition to your brunch spread.
Get the recipe for Meyer Lemon-Blueberry Cake.
Jiffy Mixed Berry Cornmeal Cobbler
Everyone will love digging into individual and personal-size cobblers bursting with fresh berries and topped with chopped pecans.
Get the recipe for Jiffy Mixed Berry Cornmeal Cobbler.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Feast your eyes on this towering beauty. Homemade, oversize cookies get layered with your favorite ice cream flavor and a ton of gooey chocolate sauce. Over the top? Yep, just the way we like it
Get the recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake.
Pickled Gingery Plums
Tart and sweet, this dessert is for the fruit lover in your group. Toss ripe plums with a little vinegar and honey and serve over vanilla ice cream.
Get the recipe for Pickled Gingery Plums.
Cheddar Apple Pie
What could be more American than apple pie? The rich combination of sharp cheddar cheese and ripe apples is so good it's hard to describe.
Get the recipe for Cheddar Apple Pie.
Blueberry Whoopie Pies
Soft cookies filled with the seasons ripest blueberries get sandwiched with a tangy mascarpone filling.
Get the recipe for Blueberry Whoopie Pies.
Brown-Sugar Balsamic Strawberry Sauce
Quick-cooking strawberry sauce gets a tangy pop from dark and rich balsamic vinegar. Serve over your favorite ice cream along with a few slices of fresh berries.
Get the recipe for Brown-Sugar Balsamic Strawberry Sauce.
Blackberry Coconut Tart
Coconut cookies get crushed in the food processor to make the base for this simple press-in crust. Top with whipped cream cheese, coconut cream, and loads of fresh blackberries.
Get the recipe for Blackberry Coconut Tart.
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