These Desserts Will Be the Grand Finale to Your 4th of July Party
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If you thought Ladd Drummond's fireworks show was dazzling, just wait until you see this list of 4th of July desserts! It’s filled with sweet treats and patriotic goodies like a spectacular flag cake, fruity summer pies, and red, white, and blue desserts. In fact, every recipe on this list will get you excited for the holiday feast. But we've also made sure to keep things easy. It's summer, after all. Ahead, you'll find no-bake recipes, easy 4th of July cookies, and make-ahead ideas that will allow you to have more time for fun in the sun. Looking for the grand finale to your patriotic party? Try any one of these 4th of July desserts!
Of course, it wouldn't be the 4th of July without ice cream! It's one of Ree Drummond's favorite 4th of July desserts. "I've been making my own ice cream every summer for years and I always serve it for the 4th of July," she says. Try an easy twist on Neapolitan ice cream with dessert bars or homemade blueberry ice cream—it's one of the most refreshing blueberry desserts. And speaking of summer fruits, this list also includes tons of fruit pies, crisps, and cobblers—all of which are practically mandatory for a sunny day. Let's just say there's no shortage of sweetness on the 4th of July!
Blueberry Upside-Down Cake
When you have an abundance of fresh blueberries on your hands, this easy cake is a no-brainer! It's just as delicious topped with a big dollop of lemon whipped cream as it is when served with vanilla ice cream.
Get Ree's Blueberry Upside-Down Cake recipe.
Copycat Drumstick Ice Cream Cone
Remember this ice cream truck favorite? The nostalgic treat is actually so easy to make at home. You can even use store-bought ice cream and store-bought cones!
Get the Copycat Drumstick Ice Cream Cone recipe.
Strawberry Pie
Fresh seasonal strawberries are the star of this fruity pie. The filling is sweet and thick and easy to make ahead.
Get the Strawberry Pie recipe.
Ice Cream Icebox Cake
There's no baking required for this pretty summer dessert. The layers are made up of ice cream, ginger snaps, and fresh fruit. Oh, and a lemon whipped cream topping, of course!
Get the Ice Cream Icebox Cake recipe.
No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake
This bright lemon cheesecake is much lighter and fluffier than your typical baked cheesecake, which means it's perfectly refreshing for a hot summer day. You'll be glad you thought to make it in advance!
Get the No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake recipe.
Blueberry Bars
These summer fruit bars are great for grabbing on the go. Pack them up for the beach, the park, or wherever your 4th of July might take you.
Get the Blueberry Bars recipe.
Brownie Sundae Ice Cream Pie
Doctor up a box of store-bought brownie mix to make this fun twist on an ice cream sundae. It's big enough to share so long as you have plenty of cherries on top!
Get the Brownie Sundae Ice Cream Pie recipe.
Peach Cobbler
This cobbler has a bubbling peach filling and a biscuit-style topping that makes it a hit at any summer party. The only thing that could make it better would be a scoop of ice cream on top!
Get the Peach Cobbler recipe.
Blondie Ice Cream Sandwich
Stash these treats in the freezer to snack on all holiday weekend long. They're a fun twist on two childhood favorites: ice cream sandwiches and blondies!
Get the Blondie Ice Cream Sandwich recipe.
Cherry Sherbet
Sherbet is cool and creamy on a hot summer day. It's even better when made with fresh seasonal cherries and a bit of cherry booze for added flavor.
Get Ree's Cherry Sherbet recipe.
Oreo Icebox Cake
If you've never made an icebox cake before, you're in for a treat! This no-bake cake will amp up the classic combo of cookies and cream with the addition of juicy raspberries. It's creamy, refreshing, and easy to prep ahead.
Get the Oreo Icebox Cake recipe.
Key Lime Pie Cereal Treats
Sweet cereal treats are always a party favorite. Ree's key lime pie version derives its delicious flavor from fresh lime for an extra tasty summer twist!
Get Ree's Key Lime Pie Cereal Treats recipe.
Grilled Peaches
Easy desserts are key on summer holidays. Luckily, all you have to do to make this one is toss some peaches on the grill for a few minutes to yield glossy, caramelized goodness! They pair perfectly with a cold scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent option.
Get Ree's Grilled Peaches recipe.
July 4th Ice Cream Sandwiches
These red, white, and blue sprinkle-covered cookies are festive and tasty on their own, but when you fill them with your favorite ice cream flavor, they're truly hard to resist.
Get Ree's July 4th Ice Cream Sandwiches recipe.
Blackberry Pie
A juicy blackberry filling and crispy bottom are the secret to preventing this sweet-tart pie from having a soggy crust. This foolproof version of the summer classic lets the blackberries shine with just a hint of lemon.
Get the Blackberry Pie recipe.
No-Bake Orange-Vanilla Cheesecake Bars
You won't need to turn on the oven for this summer treat. These no-bake orange-creamsicle-inspired cheesecake bars are perfect for hot summer weekends when you're craving something refreshing and sweet.
Get Ree's Orange-Vanilla Cheesecake Bars recipe.
Strawberry Cupcakes
These crowd-pleasing cupcakes are pleasantly sweet, thanks to fresh berries and scrumptious strawberry cream cheese frosting! It's the perfect way to use up all those summer strawberries.
Get the Strawberry Cupcakes recipe.
Chocolate Doughnut Ice Cream Sandwiches
Pick up store-bought chocolate cake doughnuts and turn them into this fun and frozen treat. Don't forget to roll the sides in mini chocolate chips for an extra chocolatey crunch!
Get Ree's Chocolate Doughnut Ice Cream Sandwich recipe.
S'mores Bars
Enjoy all the delightful tastes and textures of s'mores without the hassle of building a campfire! Indulge in these bars filled with ooey-gooey chocolate goodness, perfect for kids of all ages!
Get the S'mores Bars recipe.
American Flag Cake
Not only is this festive sheet cake red velvet, but thanks to the addition of patriotic sprinkles, it's red, white and blue, too! To make things even easier, cut out pieces of parchment paper for the design.
Get the American Flag Cake recipe.
Fruit Pizza
Watch out, Ladd! This fruity dessert is almost as colorful as his annual fireworks show! For extra patriotic flair, top the sugar cookie crust with all red and blue berries for an American flag-themed look.
Get Ree's Fruit Pizza recipe.
White Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding
White chocolate custard and fresh berries not only make this dessert red, white, and blue, but they also add to the scrumptious flavor! It has powdered sugar and whipped cream on top for a sweet finishing touch.
Get the White Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding recipe.
Jello Cake
Jello cake is an all-American dessert if we ever did see one! It was actually invented in the 1970's by the company behind Jell-O. The raspberry flavor makes beautiful red streaks that are perfect for the 4th.
Get the Jello Cake recipe.
Atlantic Beach Pie
Inspired by trips to the beach, this old-fashioned pie is bright and zesty, but it also has a cracker crust that's salty just like the ocean (hence, the recipe's name). We can practically taste it right now!
Get the Atlantic Beach Pie recipe.
Cookie Cake
Making cookies for a crowd has never been easy thanks to this giant, homemade cookie cake! Swap the rainbow sprinkles for red, white, and blue sprinkles instead.
Get the Cookie Cake recipe.
Lemon Crinkle Cookies
These cookies are like little bursts of sunshine with every bite! You can make them for a picnic in the park, a holiday potluck, or just a sunny afternoon to celebrate the 4th!
Get the Lemon Crinkle Cookies recipe.
Oreo Pie
No-bake desserts, like this Oreo pie, make holidays so much easier. The cool, creamy pie filling needs some time to chill and set up, but it's totally worth it!
Get the Oreo Pie recipe.
Strawberry Cobbler
Seasonal strawberries add a pop of color and sweet flavor to this golden-crusted cobbler. The only thing that could make it better would be a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
Get the Strawberry Cobbler recipe.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
This retro dessert is all-American and perfectly refreshing. Plus, this variation on the cake is made in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan so it's fit for a crowd.
Get the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake recipe.
Dole Whip
Cool down from the summer heat with a homemade version of this classic Disney treat. It's like a tropical soft serve packed with pineapple flavor.
Get the Dole Whip recipe.
Blueberry Pie
A slice of homemade blueberry pie is the perfect way to celebrate the 4th of July while indulging in the juicy sweetness of summer.
Get the Blueberry Pie recipe.
Neapolitan Ice Cream Bars
This fun, no-bake treat layers a chocolate cookie base with vanilla ice cream and fresh strawberries for a twist on the classic Neapolitan flavor.
Get the Neapolitan Ice Cream Bars recipe.
Birthday Cake
It's America's birthday so why not make birthday cake?! Swap the rainbow sprinkles for red, white, and blue sprinkles, then top it off with sparklers for candles.
Get the Birthday Cake recipe.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Don't let the name confuse you— this is definitely a dessert! It has a creamy filling, strawberry jello topping and a salty pretzel-crumb crust.
Get the Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe.
Peach Crumble
The combination of warm, tender peaches and the irresistible texture of a buttery crumble makes for a heavenly summer treat that's perfect served with a scoop (or two or three) of vanilla ice cream.
Get the Peach Crumble recipe.
Lemon Blueberry Cake
This super-quick dessert is bursting with flavor thanks to fresh, sweet blueberries and bright, zesty lemon. You can decorate the frosting with all blueberries or add some strawberries for a red, white, and blue mix.
Get the Lemon Blueberry Cake recipe.
No-Bake Key Lime Pie
You don't even need to turn on the oven for this simple twist on key lime pie. It's perfect for when you'd rather be outside enjoying the warm summer weather.
Get the No-Bake Key Lime Pie recipe.
Piña Colada Cake
Whether you're going to a pool party or a neighborhood potluck, this refreshing summer cake is a great way to celebrate summer. It's light and tropical with plenty of coconut and pineapple flavor.
Get the Piña Colada Cake recipe.
Peach Raspberry Crisp
Making dessert for a crowd has never been easier thanks to this trick which uses a sheet pan for the summer fruit crisp. It comes out warm, bubbling, and ready to be served!
Get the Peach Raspberry Crisp recipe.
Funnel Cake
Bring this state fair favorite to your own home! It's surprisingly easy to make and it's so much fun to eat.
Get the Funnel Cake recipe.
Blueberry Cheesecake
Not only is this creamy cheesecake studded with fresh blueberries, but there's a gorgeous layer of syrupy blueberries poured right over the top. It's so dang good!
Get the Blueberry Cheesecake recipe.
Lemon Icebox Pie
You can make this citrusy pie up to a day in advance and serve it cold right from the fridge, so it's perfect for summer entertaining. Be sure to top it with whipped cream just before serving.
Get the Lemon Icebox Pie recipe.
Peach Galette
Easier than pie but just as delicious—a summer galette doesn't need to be perfect. It's actually meant to be rustic and un-fussy. Which also happens to be the way we like all our desserts!
Get the Peach Galette recipe.
Red, White, and Blue Trifle
Looking for an easy way to incorporate red, white, and blue into your holiday dessert spread? You can make this trifle recipe with store-bought pound cake, fresh berries, and whipped cream.
Get the Red, White, and Blue Trifle recipe.
Blueberry Ice Cream
If blueberry ice cream doesn't scream summer, we don't know what does! It's a great way to use up your farmers' market haul of fresh blueberries.
Get the Blueberry Ice Cream recipe.
Fruit Tart
For a dessert that's as festive and colorful as a fireworks show, this fruit tart is sure to shine! If you want to keep the red, white, and blue theme, simply use a combination of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
Get the Fruit Tart recipe.
4th of July Flag Cake
A flag cake is always a good idea on the 4th of July. But if you don't want to fuss with making perfect stripes, Ree suggests just decorating the cake with scattered berries for a rustic presentation.
Get the 4th of July Flag Cake recipe.
Red, White and Blue Strawberries
Get your kids to help make these patriotic treats. They're super simple and perfect for a summer activity.
Get the Red, White and Blue Strawberries recipe.
Blueberry Cobbler
In the summer, when fresh blueberries are in abundance, this cobbler is the perfect dessert to make. It's topped with a biscuit-like topping that's even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream over the top.
Get Ree's Blueberry Cobbler recipe.
Rhubarb Crisp
Rhubarb is the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Plus, it's only in season for a short time so you'll want to make it while you can!
Get Ree's Rhubarb Crisp recipe.
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