3 America-Themed Desserts for the Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is one of the best holidays of the year, and it’s no wonder. Other than the mere principle of the United States gaining its independence, July 4th brings bright fireworks, backyard barbecues and everything America-themed. Here are three fun and easy recipes to bring the red, white and blue to the dessert table at your upcoming Independence Day party!

July 4th Sprinkle Cookies

Sprinkle a little extra patriotism into your Fourth of July party with these super-easy vanilla cookies.

These treats are made from cake mix and should only take about an hour from start to finish, and they stay soft and fresh for up to three days!

Ingredients

• 1 box vanilla cake mix
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon imitation rum extract (or almond extract)
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon of each color of sprinkles/jimmies (red, white and blue)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large, microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Stir in the vanilla cake mix, then add the beaten egg and extract. Pour and stir in the white chocolate chips and the sprinkles.
• Roll the dough into small balls. Gently smash the balls with your palm on the baking sheet.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow the cookies to finish baking on the baking sheet for another 5-7 minutes after you take them out of the oven.
• Enjoy!

Patriotic Dipped Oreos

Take a dip in our country’s colors before you take a dip in the pool at your Independence Day party with these red, white, and blue Oreos! Besides, what better treat to eat on America’s favorite day than America’s favorite cookie?

Ingredients

• 24 Oreos
• 4 oz. white melting candy
• 2 oz. red melting candy
• 2 oz. blue melting candy

Directions

• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Melt white candy by heating in microwave for 30 seconds, then stirring and repeating until melted and smooth.
• Dip each cookie in white chocolate and flip to coat. Remove from chocolate, allowing excess to drip off, and place on lined sheet. Allow to set for 15 minutes. (You can take a knife and shave any excess off cookies to keep nice shape.)
• Melt red candy by heating in microwave for 30 seconds, then stirring and repeating until melted and smooth.
• Dip each cookie in red chocolate to coat one end. Allow excess to drip off, and place back on lined sheet. Allow to set for 15 minutes.
• Melt blue candy by heating in microwave for 30 seconds, then stirring and repeating until melted and smooth.
• Dip each cookie in blue chocolate to coat opposite end. Allow excess to drip off, and place back on lined sheet. Allow to set for 15 minutes.

Red, White and Blue Rice Krispies Treats

Is that snap, crackle and pop from the fireworks or from this delicious dessert? These patriotic Rice Ingredients

Krispies Treat Pops will be as much of a crowd pleaser as that Black Cat in the night sky.

• 6 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 10.5 oz. marshmallows
• red and blue food coloring
• 8-12 Popsicle sticks

Directions

• Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with nonstick spray.
• In a medium saucepan, melt 1 tbsp. butter on low heat. Add ⅓ of the marshmallows and enough red food coloring to make the mixture your desired shade of red.
• Add ⅓ of the Rice Krispies cereal and stir until cereal is well coated.
• Press the mixture into your pan with buttered hands.
• Repeat the melting process with one more tablespoon of butter and 1/3 of the marshmallows, then add cereal.
• Press this mixture on top of the red layer.
• Melt the remaining butter and marshmallows. Stir in blue food coloring until it reaches your desired shade of blue.
• Stir in cereal and press into the pan on top of the white layer.
• Insert Popsicle sticks at equal distances.
• Cool completely before cutting into individual pops.

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!