Mini S'Mores
You don't need to sit around a campfire to make these mini summer desserts -- just pop marshmallows sandwiched between graham cracker squares underneath the broiler for a few seconds, then dip them in melted chocolate. For a July 4th gathering, sprinkle with festive nonpareils and sprinkles.
Makes: 8 servings
Start to Finish: 15 mins
Berry Patchwork Tart
Refreshing summer berries are piled high atop this celebration-ready tart. Get your red, white, and blue from strawberries or raspberries, mascarpone cheese, and blueberries or blackberries.
Makes: 12 servings
Prep: 20 mins
Chill: 2 hrs
Bake: 12 mins
Red, White, and Blue Shake
Nothing tastes better on a hot summer day than a cool, refreshing milk shake. Make it say 4th of July with a festive layered mix of strawberry ice cream, vanilla ice cream, and blueberry smoothie mix.
Makes: 4 servings
Prep: 20 mins
Freeze: 30 mins to 1 hr
Apple, Rhubarb, and Raspberry Pie with Almond Star Crust
Crisp, tart fruit goes into this festive July 4th dessert that sports a nontraditional piecrust. Use different-size cookie cutters to create the topping, then cut out smaller stars to edge the pie.
Makes: 8 servings
Prep: 30 mins
Stand: 45 mins
Bake: 1 hr 15 mins 375°F
Striped Red Velvet Cake
Red velvet cake and whipped cream-cheese frosting are already a perfect pair, but fresh blueberries and raspberries add that perfect patriotic touch for July 4th.
Makes: 12 servings
Yield: 12 slices
Prep: 30 mins
Bake: 35 mins to 40 mins
Stand: 10 mins
Watch: How to Make Red Velvet Cake
Get a perfectly vibrant red-hue cake for the 4th of July with tips straight from our Test Kitchen .
Cherry Berry Shortcake Stars
What says 4th of July more than star-shape treats featuring fresh, seasonal berries? These cherry and blueberry shortcakes are best served with extra berries on the side, along with a dollop of whipped cream.
Makes: 6 servings
Yield: 6 to 7 large or 12 to 14 small star shortcakes
Prep: 20 mins
Bake: 12 mins to 15 mins 400°
Cool: 5 mins
Berry Slab Pie
For a fruity July 4th dessert without all the fuss, try our Berry Slab Pie . It's ready in less than an hour and can be made up to a day in advance -- perfect for patriotic potlucks.
Makes: 16 servings
Yield: 16 bars
Prep: 30 mins
Bake: 25 mins 400°F
Ginger-Pear Star Scones
These five-star pear-infused scones get a flavor boost from homemade spiced butter made with crystallized ginger . The star shape fits in perfectly with any patriotic celebration.
Makes: 30 servings
Prep: 30 mins
Bake: 8 mins 400°F per batch
Fresh Berry White Chocolate Bark
Add a low-cal dessert to your July 4th lineup: One serving of this tasty bark has fewer than 200 calories. White chocolate with fresh blueberries and strawberries adds a patriotic touch.
Makes: 16 servings
Yield: 1 pound 4 ounces
Prep: 20 mins
Cool: 5 mins
Chill: Up to 24 hrs
Sparkler Cupcakes
Dress up confetti cupcakes with festive, firework-inspired zigzags for July 4th presentation. The recipe comes together in less than an hour, which is perfect for a last-minute party dessert.
Makes: 12 servings
Yield: 12 (2-1/2 inch) cupcakes
Prep: 45 mins
Microwave: 1 min
Watch: How to Make Strawberry Pie
The secret to the best homemade strawberry pie ? It's all in the glaze. Learn how to make strawberry pie glaze from scratch in this short video.
Red, White, and Blue Parfaits
For a sweet treat that isn't packed with calories and fat, try this pretty parfait. Fresh blueberries and strawberries layered between low-fat vanilla yogurt add easy July 4th flair to this tasty dessert.
Makes: 6 servings
Start to Finish: 15 mins
Classic Blueberry Ice Cream Pie
This sensational seasonal dessert comes together with ripe blueberries, vanilla ice cream, and a few kitchen staples. For July 4th flair, add raspberries or strawberries to the topping.
Makes: 10 servings
Prep: 30 mins
Chill: 2 hrs
Freeze: 8 hrs to 24 hrs
Red, White, and Blueberry Ice Cream Dessert
This frozen dessert is festive, fun, and sure to be a hit. Frozen slices of vanilla ice cream and raspberry sorbet make the American flag-inspired dessert, which is topped with fresh blueberries and hibiscus syrup for a sweet summer treat.
Makes: 16 servings
Prep: 25 mins
Freeze: 5 hrs to 6 hrs
Stand: 30 mins
Chocolate-Berry Meringue
With billows of whipped cream, crunchy chocolate meringue, and juicy berries, this dessert looks elegant but is simple to make.
Makes: 10 servings
Prep: 5 mins
Banana-Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Brown sugar, toasted pecans, and sweet bananas give this velvety ice cream its homemade flavor. We bet you can't have just one scoop!
Makes: 24 servings
Yield: 3 quarts
Prep: 40 mins
Bake: 8 mins to 20 mins 350°F
Cool: 30 mins
Double-Almond and Raspberry Blossoms
Enjoy the double delight of almond flavor in both the filling and the pastry shell of these dainty tarts. Fresh raspberries add pretty presentation.
Makes: 24 servings
Prep: 35 mins
Chill: 30 mins
Cool: 5 mins
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