37 Festive, Easy Fourth of July Desserts for 2024
After a busy day full of family, friends and fireworks, Fourth of July desserts are the cherry on top of the summer’s hottest holiday celebration.
After all, what better way is there to celebrate America’s birthday than with delicious ice creams, cupcakes or cobblers — unless, of course you can’t decide which delicious desserts to make.
If you’re hosting a big family gathering or a casual night in, you might wonder, what kind of treats make good Fourth of July desserts? What should you serve after a hot holiday pool party or family barbecue?
Whether you’re looking for unique frozen treats, fresh and fruity baked goods or easy no-bake Fourth of July desserts, explore these delicious ideas to ensure your celebration is the star of the summer season.
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- No-Bake Fourth of July Desserts
- Individual Fourth of July Desserts
- Fruit Fourth of July Desserts
- Fun Fourth of July Cake Ideas
No-Bake Fourth of July Desserts
1. Ice Cream Cones
Ice cream cones are classic summertime desserts that also make wonderful build-your-own Fourth of July desserts.
Set up a fun ice cream bar with cones and a few ice cream choices, like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and chocolate chip. Don’t forget the fun toppings like sprinkles, nuts and candies.
2. Dipped Strawberries
Dipped strawberries are one of the best no-bake Fourth of July desserts or charcuterie board ideas for parties or festive family occasions.
Simply melt white chocolate into three bowls and color two of the bowls with red and blue food coloring, then dip each strawberry into alternating colors and top with star sprinkles.
3. No-Bake Cheesecake Bars
Who doesn’t love a rich and creamy cheesecake? With no-bake cheesecake bars made from graham cracker crust and topped with a fruit of your choice, you can spare the heat in the kitchen and ensure there’s a pan big enough to satisfy everyone’s craving for Fourth of July desserts.
4. Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
Chocolate and peanut butter are a killer duo already, and they’re even better when chilled into delightful Fourth of July desserts. This easy chilled pie features an Oreo cookie crust, chocolate pudding whipped with peanut butter for filling, a layer of Cool Whip and a generous topping of crumbled Reese’s cups.
5. Layered Jello Cups
Jello is one of the best easy Fourth of July desserts for hot summer days. In each cup, layer red Jello, unflavored gelatin with sweetened condensed milk and blue Jello, allowing the Jello to cool and firm completely between layers.
For adult party desserts, you can even add a little vodka to make Jello shots!
6. Candied Popcorn
Making sweet candy-coated popcorn is easier than you might think, and baggies can also be great take-home Fourth of July treats.
Pop a bowl full of fresh popcorn kernels, then toss them in a mixture of hot corn syrup and sugar colored with a dash of food coloring. For fun Fourth of July desserts, use red and blue food coloring and mix the popcorn together once cooled.
7. Rice Krispie Treats
One of the best crowd-pleasing Fourth of July desserts that’s free from common allergens, rice krispie treats are easy to make by mixing rice krispie cereal with melted marshmallows and butter, then spread and cooled in a pan.
For some extra flair, mix in red or blue food coloring or top with patriotic sprinkles.
8. Tie-Dye White Fudge
Delightfully sweet and indulgent, fudge cubes will always be one of the best finger foods for parties and other celebrations, and with the right colors, they can be eye-catching Fourth of July desserts too.
Make a batch of white chocolate fudge and swirl in a few drops of red and blue food coloring before setting to create beautiful patriotic marble patterns.
9. Southern Hoecakes
A favorite of George Washington himself, southern Hoecakes aren’t your typical cake, but these Fourth of July desserts can still delight your family and they also make brilliant brunch food ideas.
Hoecakes are made on a griddle similar to pancakes, but are made with cornmeal, buttermilk and sometimes bacon drippings. To make them more dessert-friendly, serve with a side of rich maple cream sauce, fresh berries and vanilla ice cream.
10. No-Bake Banana Split
This simple recipe takes one of the best all-American Fourth of July desserts and transforms it into an easy dish that’s perfect for parties.
To make this crowd-pleasing dessert, layer graham cracker crumb crust with cheesecake mousse, banana slices, a drizzle of chocolate syrup and any other toppings you’d like, such as cherries, whipped cream or chopped nuts.
11. Hot Fudge Sundaes
A hot fudge sundae is a special treat that should be enjoyed more often, so why not set up a hot fudge bar for Fourth of July desserts?
Offer a few ice cream choices and a fondue pot with warm hot fudge, then decorate your dessert with sprinkles and a bright cherry on top.
12. Oreo Icebox Cake
Oreos and milk are already a dreamy match made in heaven, so creating a chilled Oreo icebox cake is sure to be a hit among Fourth of July desserts.
Most recipes for this easy dessert only need around four ingredients: Oreos, heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. You can even experiment with other Oreo flavors!
Individual Fourth of July Desserts
13. Mini Fruit Tarts
Bake mini tart shells and allow them to cool before piping in your favorite filling, such as lemon curd, chocolate mousse or vanilla pastry cream.
Top each tart with fresh fruit like sliced kiwis and strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or a dollop of whipped cream. Chill, then serve on a cute patriotic plate for single-serve Fourth of July desserts.
14. Fruit Kebabs
Fruit kebabs are easily one of the best picnic food ideas, and with the right ingredients, can be turned into a more dessert-friendly flavor palette.
For Fourth of July desserts, stack your skewers with blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, maraschino cherries and marshmallows. Give them a drizzle of white chocolate for added sweetness.
15. Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ice cream sandwiches make for easy grab-and-go individual 4th of July desserts. Either bake a few dozen fresh cookies or pick up some premade ones at the grocery bakery (we won’t tell!), then stuff sandwiches with ice cream and roll the edges in chocolate chips or sprinkles.
Enjoy the sandwiches immediately or place them in the freezer to help firm up their shape.
16. S’mores Bars
S’mores will forever be one of the best summer Fourth of July desserts, but with handy S’mores bars, you can skip the flames and the mess.
Loaded up with mini marshmallows and chocolate squares, bake these graham cracker cookie dough bars ahead of time, then slice like brownies before placing on a serving plate.
17. Donuts
Donuts can do so much more than just breakfast; they’re also awesome Fourth of July desserts! As detailed in Smithsonian Magazine, donuts have a surprisingly rich history in America, from the trenches of World War I to New York City’s first donut machine and the Krispy Kreme franchise.
Stop by your local donut shop to pick up a festively decorated dozen, or try your hand at making your own classic donuts at home.
18. Trifle Cups
One of the best easy Fourth of July desserts, trifle cups can either be made in large party-friendly batches or single-serves to delight a small gathering.
Layer small clear cups with angel food cake, vanilla pudding, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and whipped cream for a tasty dessert that’s an Independence Day classic.
19. Mini Funnel Cakes
A staple sweet of carnivals, rodeos and other all-American affairs, funnel cakes can also be surprisingly easy to make at home. Whip up a batch of funnel cake batter, then use a piping bag to pipe it into a vat of hot oil.
Scoop out the cooked cake with a skimmer, sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy hot and fresh for tasty Fourth of July desserts.
20. Blueberry Lemon Bars
When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with lemon bars for potluck ideas, but adding a touch of blueberry makes them a little more unique and perfect for Fourth of July desserts.
To add some patriotic flair, garnish each lemon bar with a powdered sugar stenciled star and a few fresh blueberries.
21. Cupcakes
Crowd-pleasing and effortlessly adorable, cupcakes are one of the best go-to party foods for a reason, and they’re also one of the easiest individual 4th of July desserts.
To excite everyone’s taste buds, bake cupcakes in a few different flavors like chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, then decorate with white icing and red, white and blue sprinkles.
Fruit Fourth of July Desserts
22. Peach Cobbler
Peach cobbler is wonderfully easy to mix, dump and bake into a hot and juicy Fourth of July dessert that satisfies everyone. To make this Fourth of July dessert even easier, scoop and serve straight out of the pan with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream.
23. Apple Pie
When it comes to iconic Fourth of July desserts, it doesn’t get more American than a warm slice of cinnamon apple pie. For the classic homestyle look, opt for a lattice crust design on the top of the pie and serve warm with a hefty scoop of vanilla ice cream.
24. Berry Flag Pie
This simple pie idea is perfect for on-theme Fourth of July desserts. Fill one half of your pie crust with blueberry filling and the other half with strawberry pie filling, then cut out dough stars to lay on top of the blueberry side and stripes for the strawberry side.
The result will look like an American flag and give guests the choice between two flavors!
25. Berry Popsicles
This Fourth of July berry dessert is perfect for a pool party or an especially hot summer evening. Puree blueberries and strawberries and pour into a popsicle mold between layers of vanilla yogurt.
Add a popsicle stick to each mold and pop them in the freezer overnight, then enjoy whenever you or your guests are ready for a refreshing treat.
26. Cherry Pie
A summertime staple, cherry pie is another classic fruity option for Fourth of July desserts. For a more unique flavor profile, consider adding a dash of vanilla, cinnamon, lemon or almond flavoring.
Place a lattice design on top so the bright cherries can peek through, and garnish this pie with a few blueberries to add a touch of blue to the red and white.
27. Fruit Pizza
Bake a supersized sugar cookie for the crust, then cover with white icing and lay sliced fruits on top in a radial pattern. Slice like a pizza for perfect grab-and-go Fourth of July desserts.
This perfect party dessert can also be made relatively low-calorie with a few recipe tweaks, such as using watermelon slices instead of a sugar cookie crust.
28. Parfait Cups
Parfait cups are an easy Fourth of July fruit dessert, and they can also be a great way to celebrate the holiday with breakfast or brunch.
In individual cups, layer vanilla yogurt, granola, blueberries and raspberries or chopped strawberries. For an extra touch of sweetness, serve with a drizzle of agave or honey.
29. Key Lime Pie
Key limes are actually native to Southeast Asia, but they became extremely popular in America after being introduced to the Florida Keys.
Key lime pie is now the official Florida state pie, but this sweet, chilled favorite can instantly transport you to a tropical vacation, no matter where you’re celebrating the Fourth of July.
30. Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
Looking for a Fourth of July fruit dessert that’s a little more unexpected? Very popular in the northern states, rhubarb is technically a vegetable, but it has a tart flavor profile that
When balanced with sweet strawberries, this tangy pie is sure to have guests begging for the recipe.
Fun Fourth of July Cake Ideas
31. Sheet Pan Strawberry Shortcake
Who said Fourth of July cakes had to be complicated? A delicious sheet pan angel food cake topped with whipped cream, strawberries and strawberry syrup is all you need to charm guests’ sweet tooths after a big barbecue dinner.
32. Berry Flag Cake
A go-to among Independence Day desserts for a good reason, this adorable Fourth of July berry dessert is easy to make and the refreshing fruit ensures it’s not too sweet.
Bake a simple rectangular white or yellow cake with white icing, then arrange blueberry “stars” and strawberry or raspberry “stripes” in the shape of an American flag.
33. 7Up Cake
It wouldn’t be a celebration without refreshing soft drinks, and the 7Up cake recipe turns one of America’s favorite sodas into a tempting bundt cake with sweet lemony drizzle.
To make this classic cake even more like a Fourth of July dessert, top it with a few blueberries and raspberries or colorful sprinkles. You can even try this recipe with other sodas, like Orange Fanta or Big Red.
34. Pineapple Upside Down Cake
A vintage classic that remains one of the best summer Fourth of July desserts to this day, pineapple upside down cake features juicy pineapple rings and cherries baked underneath super-moist vanilla sponge cake batter.
The true beauty of this classic cake can be seen when it’s flipped over to reveal the deliciously sweet, golden fruits.
35. Butter Rum Pound Cake
Rum was a very popular drink in America’s early days — colonists consumed about 3.7 gallons per person per year, according to Food & Wine.
With a tasty butter rum pound cake for Fourth of July Dessert, you can indulge in all the flavors of this complex spirit without the headache. For an extra American touch, garnish your rum cake with chopped or candied pecans.
36. Red, White and Blue Layered Cake
This semi-naked cake is made by baking two thin red cakes and two thin blue cakes, which are stacked in alternating colors and then bound with white icing in between each layer. Leave the outside exposed to show off the pretty cake layers, and add icing and sprinkles or sparkling candles on top for a gorgeous Fourth of July cake.
37. Patriotic Cake Pops
For adorable Fourth of July treats that also make great gifts, look no further than patriotic cake pops. To make these bite-sized sweets, bake a boxed cake mix as directed, then mash with cream cheese and form into bite-sized balls and freeze briefly to chill.
Insert a lollipop stick into each ball and dip into melted white chocolate, then decorate with colorful sprinkles.
As the glorious days of summer shine on, it’s easy to feel excited about Fourth of July parades, parties, concerts and more.
However you decide to celebrate this national holiday, we hope you’ll take time to savor some of these Fourth of July desserts this year, whether they be poolside popsicles, a cozy peach cobbler or a decadent slice of key lime pie.
For even more fun ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
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