Delicious Desserts for the Fourth of July

Everyone enjoys a great picnic around the Fourth of July. Of course, no outdoor barbecue is complete without a delicious dessert to finish it off. Since no one wants to slave in a hot kitchen while everyone else is in the pool, here are some quick, simple, and festive dessert recipes that will become a holiday tradition.

Candy Bar Flags

A great and easy Fourth of July treat is a chocolate candy bar flag. Prep time is minimal and the results will be ultra-gratifying.

 

Ingredients:

12 oz Mercken’s Marquis Milk Chocolate

2/3 cups rice crispy cereal

Red, white, and blue candy pieces

Directions:

1. Prepare chocolate by melting it in the microwave at 30-second intervals, until it is smooth.
2. Add the crunchy cereal, and pour the mixture onto a covered baking sheet. Spread mixture to 10x8 inch dimensions and one-quarter inch thick.
3. With a knife, mark four equal rectangles. The mixture will be too soft to cut completely.
4. In the top one-quarter of each rectangle, place blue candy pieces where the stars of a flag would go. The rest of each rectangle is lined with white and red stripes. Work quickly before the chocolate hardens.
5. Refrigerate and cut. Nothing is cuter or easier.

Strawberry Ice Cream Cake

Strawberries are the perfect summer fruit, and there is no better or easier dessert than a strawberry ice cream cake.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Total time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients:

2 pints vanilla ice cream

2 1/2 cups strawberries (sliced into pieces)

1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions:

1. Use foil to line the bottom of a nine-inch springform pan. Chill in the freezer for 10 minutes.
2. Scoop ice cream into the bowl of an electric mixer, and beat until soft.
3. Add strawberries. Beat one minute longer.
4. Transfer mix to pan.
5. Freeze until firm. (2+ hours)
6. When ready to serve, whip the heavy cream, and spread it over the cake. Slice into wedges and serve for a refreshing end to any meal.

Red, White, and Blue Strawberry Shortcake

Another spectacular summer holiday dessert is a strawberry shortcake. In less than one hour, the family will be enjoying a simple and tasty dessert.

Ingredients:

1 package premium yellow cake mix

1 pint blueberries (sliced)

2 pints strawberries (sliced)

8 oz frozen whipped topping

Directions:

1. Prepare cake mix and bake in a 9x13 inch pan according to the package directions.
2. Cool cake, then apply the whipped topping.
3. Place blueberries in the top left corner, and arrange the strawberries into stripes like the American flag.
4. Slice and enjoy!

What’s your favorite dessert to make for Independence Day cookouts? Let us know in the comments below!