4th of July dessert ideas

You can’t go wrong with these 17 simple but memorable Independence Day dessert recipes—all bound for unforgettable entertaining! 

Fourth of July is a special American Independence Day holiday filled with red, white, and blue, fireworks, and great picnic food! It’s the best time to be connected with your nearest and dearest while sharing a bounty of good food around the table. 

Indeed, American Independence Day wouldn’t be the same without certain classic dishes—huge burgers, juicy hotdogs, and succulent BBQ grilled chicken, to name a few. But the feast isn’t complete until the desserts hit the table.

1. Strawberry Jello flag poke cake

Strawberries are so sweet and juicy in desserts, and this patriotic cake is no exception! The recipe starts with a cake mix and concludes with whipped cream (or cream cheese!) and rows of fresh strawberries and blueberries on top. 

It’s worth adding to your red, white, and blue theme menu as the festive cake resembles the American flag. 

Make the cake the night before your big meal and leave it in the fridge overnight so you’ll have more time to spend with your family and friends. 

Get the recipe here.

2. Homemade blueberry pie

This homemade blueberry pie will be the star of your 4th of July holiday table. It’s overflowing with berry flavor coming from sugar, lemon zest, cinnamon, blueberries, and even allspice. 

You can serve this delicious pie with ice cream, whipped cream, or enjoy it plain, warm or cold. 

Can’t find any fresh blueberries in the grocery store? Use frozen blueberries instead. Just ensure that they’re thawed and drained before adding to the pie filling. 

Here’s the recipe.

3. Strawberry tart

This strawberry tart recipe starts with a sugary crust and then a creamy mixture of cream cheese, sugar, strawberries, and seedless red currant jelly is combined to create a tasty tart you’ll want to make again and again. 

This tart serves 8 but in case you’re having a hungry crowd, double the recipe to ensure that there’s enough for everyone.

Pro tip: Prevent the crust from breaking by leaving it in the pan while assembling and chilling the tart. 

Unlock this recipe here.

4. Lemon sorbet

The best thing about this smooth lemon sorbet recipe is that it doesn’t need an ice cream maker to pull together! Packed with intense lemon flavor, this 4th of July dessert only requires three staple ingredients: sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest!

To make one, simply create a simple syrup mixture out of sugar and water, then let it cool completely before mixing it with lemon juice and lemon zest. 

Once done, place the mixture in the freezer for 30 minutes. Stir up the ice crystals using a fork. Repeat the process until the sorbet is firm but scoopable. 

More details about this recipe here.

5. Strawberry compote

Your Independence Day table will look oh-so-festive when you add the pop of color from this strawberry compote! 

Made from strawberries, sugar, vanilla, lemon juice, salt, and cinnamon, this stewed fruit sauce is best served as a side, topping for rice pudding, or reduce the sugar and enjoy as a low-sweetness dessert on its own.

Pro tip: In case you use frozen strawberries instead of fresh ones, consider adding cornstarch to the mixture for a thicker consistency. 

Here’s the recipe.

6. Southern pineapple sunshine cake

Take a quick trip to the tropics with this southern pineapple sunshine cake. 

Perfect for BBQ get-togethers, this fruity dessert is incredibly easy to put together, calling on a store-bought box of yellow cake mix and only requiring an hour of total time. 

The decadent cake has a marvelous combination of sweet pineapple, cool whip, and coconut. And when topped with nutty pecans, this sweet treat won’t disappoint. 

If you’re looking for the definition of heaven, this is it!

Here’s the recipe.

7. Peach and almond galette

If you’re a big fan of peach and almond, then you will adore this baked peach and almond galette. This oh-so-good kind of a pie but not quite a tart treat combines a few familiar ingredients such as lemon zest, sugar, and eggs–all wrapped in a flaky and buttery crust blanket then baked to golden brown perfection. 

This peach and almond galette recipe is best served warm alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yum!

Here’s the recipe.

8. Moist lemon cake

If you’re looking for an impressive dessert for your 4th of July feast, you’ve found it! 

Complete with both lemon juice and lemon zest, this supremely fluffy cake is bursting with fresh flavor. It’s just as tasty as it is beautiful, and this sinfully sweet dessert is sure to wow the crowd with its luscious lemon syrup and icing. 

You can assemble this beautiful cake up to two days ahead and store it at room temperature for up to four days. And for the best flavor, it’s best to use freshly squeezed lemon juice in the mix.

Get the recipe here.

9. Patriotic marble cupcakes

Topped with red, white, and blue buttercream frosting and vibrant confections, these patriotic cupcakes can bring tasty fun to any dessert table. 

The recipe makes 24 cupcakes, which is also perfect for your 4th of July gathering. In case you’re having a huge crowd, bake a second batch as these festive goodies are sure to be gone in a flash. 

Unlock this recipe.

10. Candy-coated pretzel sticks

Who could guess these adorable sticks started with a bag of pretzel rods?

These candy-coated pretzel sticks are as delicious as they are adorable. And the best part is they’re so simple to put together.

Serve these fun and festive pretzel sticks at your 4th of July party–it’s a great finger food that is portable and fun.

Get the recipe here.

11. Red, white, and blue marshmallow pops

This 4th of July treat is your new go-to dessert because it takes a few minutes to whip up. Simple yet festive, these red, white, and blue marshmallow pops are sure to impress your guests at the Independence Day potluck or kid’s July birthday party.

The colorful sand sugar gets dusted on the marshmallows after being dipped in tap water, which then creates a nice, crunchy coating. 

Pro tip: Use butter or shortening on your pop sticks to keep the marshmallows from tearing.

More details about this recipe here.

12. No-bake cheesecake strawberry bites

With just five ingredients, these strawberry-based goodies are surprisingly simple to make and guests will be very impressed with the results. 

Decadent cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar, and vanilla extract are the secret to this all-time favorite takeaway dessert. 

The recipe starts by cutting the top (stem part) of the strawberries off so they sit up straight on their own. 

Then fill each strawberry with the cream cheese goo and sprinkle or gently roll the final product with cracker crumbs. 

Here’s the recipe.

13. Red, white, and blue fudge brownies

These ultra-tasty brownies have a scrumptious and vibrant layer of sweetness that comes from white chocolate fudge. 

They’re then adorned with a simple whipped topping and confections swirled on.

With granulated sugar, pure vanilla extract, and cocoa powder in the brownie batter, each square is rich enough to satisfy the sweet tooth of your 4th of July guests.

Get the recipe here.

14. Red, white, and blue trifle

No 4th of July party is complete without at least one trifle dish on the dessert table, and this recipe is sure to be the star of the show!

Loaded with layers of fresh strawberries, blueberries, angel food cake, pudding, and whipped cream, you can make this easy yet impressive patriotic dessert the day before or a few hours before your guests arrive. 

Here’s the recipe.

15. Patriotic ice cream sandwich

This irresistible patriotic ice cream sandwich might be your new summer obsession. It combines red, white, and blue chocolate cookies, vanilla ice cream, and colorful confections to create a fun-filled dessert that’s bound to excite everyone at the party. Just ensure to give your sandwiches plenty of time to chill as the longer they freeze, the longer they’re going to melt. 

Here’s the recipe.

16. Red, white, and blueberry crumb bars

Serve these red, white, and blueberry crumb bars to add a colorful and patriotic touch to your holiday table this Independence Day! 

Loaded with a double-delight of juicy berries and topped with lots of buttery oat streusel, you won’t believe that these little treats require less than an hour to prepare!

Get more details about this recipe here.

17. Berrylicious roll cake

This drool-worthy dessert is guaranteed to delight your Independence Day guests with its flavor and look. 

The homemade whipped cream gives the cake its airy crumb while the thin layer of jelly adds that nice sweetness. 

Meanwhile, the addition of fresh fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries offers a burst of freshness to the overall dish. 

Here’s the recipe.

The bottom line

It’s always good to have some luscious sweet treats to conclude your Fourth of July meal, especially those aligned with the holiday spirit and your red, white, and blue party theme.

If you’re undecided about what to serve (or take!) on the big day, you shouldn’t have a single recipe on this list. 

From strawberry Jello flag cake to berrylicious roll cake, these 4th of July desserts are sure to be crowd-pleasers and be the hit of the picnic table!