43 Fourth of July Desserts that Will Make Your Holiday Sparkle

4th of July Cookie Pizza

This kid-friendly Fourth of July dessert starts with purchased (or homemade) chocolate chip cookie dough. Dress it up with all the s'mores essentials—marshmallows, graham crackers, and melted chocolate. Add a touch of the stars and stripes with red, white, and blue sprinkles ($9, Walmart) and candies.

Star-Spangled Birthday Cake

America deserves an all-out birthday cake, and we're obsessed with the sparklers and confetti on this one. Make your own sparkler cake toppers by covering bamboo skewers in metallic washi tape and layering fringed tissue paper ($2, Target) at the top. We used edible confetti (made from cut-up sugar sheets) and a decorated sugar cookie in the shape of a 4 to finish off the look.

Boozy Patriotic Pop

Make a boozy, adults-only treat for your Fourth of July menu. Spike ice pop filling with vodka and blue curacao for extra holiday spirit, and use it to fill reusable ice pop molds ($12, Walmart). Everyone will be in awe of the gorgeous red, white, and blue drink layers.

Flag Cake

The Fourth of July just isn't complete without a flag cake! Show your pride on Independence Day by serving this patriotic dessert recipe loaded with fresh raspberries and blueberries—all arranged to look like an American flag, of course.

Apple-Berry Pie in a Jar

Not every dessert has to have red, white, and blue to be festive this holiday. With star cutouts in place of a traditional crust, these adorable Fourth of July canning jar pies are sure to outshine the parade candy. They are easy to create with a star cookie cutter ($7, Walmart) and you can substitute any summer fruit filling you like such as blueberry, blackberry, or strawberry-rhubarb.

Star Pound Cake

Salute our nation's independence with this effortless Fourth of July pound cake dessert recipe. Use star-shape cookie cutters—one 3-inch and one 1-inch—to cut slices of cake and strawberries. Then drizzle with our simple powdered sugar icing for a pretty red, white, and blue dessert.

Berry Flag Tart

Fresh, juicy raspberries and blueberries mean every bite of this red, white, and blue dessert is bursting with fruity flavor. Creatively cut and placed pastry bring the stars and stripes to life atop this Fourth of July tart treat. Serve with ice cream on the side so party guests can enjoy a la mode if they like.

Berry Trifle

Zero special equipment is required for this terrific Fourth of July trifle. Simply cube angel food cake and pile it into a glass trifle bowl with layers of fresh fruit and creamy Greek yogurt. Finish with sweet fresh fruit.

Sugar Cookie Bars

What's better than a delicious sugar cookie bar? A sugar cookie bar decorated with fireworks, of course! Frost the bars with white meringue icing, then use a piping bag ($9, Michaels) to pipe concentric circles of red and blue icing over the top. Work quickly to drag a toothpick from the center of the circles to the outside edge to form the firework shape. Let dry and then serve at your big Independence Day bash!

Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

If you're in a pinch and need a scrumptious dessert to feed a crowd, don't fret. This easy cheesecake-inspired recipe is here to save the day. These bars (with a yummy shortbread cookie crust and sour cream honey topper) are finished with slices of fresh strawberry, but you can also add fresh blueberries for a touch of red, white, and blue. Voila! A festive Fourth of July dessert that's ready in no time.

Patriotic Candy Bark

Who doesn't want something sweet to nibble on while they wait for fireworks? This patriotic pretzel and chocolate bark is perfect for grazing. The combo of sweet (from the colorful candies) and salty (from the pretzels) makes this treat tasty and festive—and easy to snag on your way past the dessert table.

Shooting Star Cookies

Make way for a star-spangled buffet with these Fourth of July cookies. The red, white, and blue sandwiches feature bold colors and two layers of tasty sugar cookies—and they burst with red or blue sugar sprinkles when broken.

Donut Hole Cake Pops

Searching for an easy semi-homemade Fourth of July dessert? Look no further. Declare your freedom from the oven and get creative with these no-bake cake pops. Dip donut holes in vanilla candy coating, then roll in red, white, and blue star-shape sprinkles for a decorative ode to the stars and stripes.

Editor's Tip: Try drizzling your finished cake pops with blue or red candy coating to create patriotic pops!

Sprinkle Stripe Cake

Get the fireworks started at your Independence Day party with a wow-worthy red, white, and blue cake recipe. Simply decorate your favorite layer cake with our easy design. To ensure your cake stripes are evenly placed, start on the front of the cake and place the next stripe directly across from it on the back side. Then work your way around.

Cornbread Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Hot summer days like the Fourth of July call for frozen treats to cool things down. So try our soft. sweet cornbread cookie ice cream sandwiches for your next patriotic get-together. They are showy (look at those star cut-outs!), scrumptious, and sure to wow your guests.

Berry Slab Pie

For a fuss-free Fourth of July pie recipe, look to frozen puff pastry. No one will guess you didn't make this completely from scratch. Bake it with summer's bounty of fresh berries, sprinkle with sparkling coarse sugar, and cut into bite-size bars (or stars!) that are perfect for potlucks.

Berry Tart with Lemon Cookie Crust

Indulge in a healthy Fourth of July dessert that doesn't sacrifice flavor or pretty presentation. Our pretty berry tart is made with a lemon-infused yogurt-base cream that nicely pillows a pile of colorful berries.

Editor's Tip: For single-serving treats (that will help guests steer clear of any battles over the largest slice), bake in eight 3 ½-inch tart pans instead of one 9-inch round.

Rocket Pops

For a dessert that will please kids and adults alike, try our homemade watermelon and pineapple ice pops. Fresh mint and simple syrup add refreshing flavor to the festive frozen treats that double as Fourth of July drinks.

Cherry Hand Pies

Tart summer cherries are the star of this Fourth of July dessert. Perfectly portable, these little pies are excellent on the dessert table or for packing in a picnic basket to take to a fireworks show. (For those intimidated by making homemade pie crust, take note: You can shortcut the process with store-bought dough.)

Firecracker Party Cake

Set aside your standard red velvet cake recipe. This unique, red-hot showstopper gets its color from spicy-sweet cinnamon candies. Paired with mild mascarpone frosting and star-shape sprinkles ($11, Walmart), it's sure to add a spark to your Fourth of July party.

Swirled Fourth of July Bundt Cake

While the outside of this bundt cake recipe is beautiful, the real show happens when you slice and serve. The batter is swirled with the colors of the American flag, so each serving can help you show off your patriotism! If you like cream cheese frosting on cinnamon rolls, then you'll love the decadent drizzle that tops this Independence Day cake.

S'more Cake

You don't need to sit around a campfire to make this delectable summer dessert! In fact, you don't even need to turn on the oven. Just dump your ingredients into a slow cooker and when it's finished, top your cake with marshmallow creme, milk chocolate pieces, and graham cracker bits before serving.

Cherry-Berry Shortcake Stars

Think outside the strawberry shortcake box. Decorate your Fourth of July table with these star-shape desserts filled with a blend of fresh seasonal berries. The cherry-blueberry shortcakes are best served with a dollop of whipped cream and extra berries on the side.

Berry-Yogurt Rocket Pops

You'll need just four ingredients to create these frozen Fourth of July pops. To create the summer dessert, layer Greek yogurt and homemade berry sauce in star-shape ice pop molds ($9, Target). Freeze overnight or until completely set.

Homemade Tres Leches Cake

Tres leches cake originates in Latin America, but this light, cream-based cinnamon cake can be an all-American addition to your Fourth of July dessert recipe lineup. Simply decorate with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. (Try our three Test Kitchen secrets for extending the life of your fresh fruit.)

Editor's Tip: Bake the cake up to a day ahead and chill, unfrosted, until just before party time.

Sparkler Cupcakes

The heat is on enough as it is outside, so keep your cool with a simple Fourth of July cupcake recipe. Dress up a confetti cake mix with festive firework-inspired zigzags (made by piping frosting onto wax paper) for a delicious July Fourth dessert. The recipe comes together in less than an hour—perfect for an impromptu patriotic party treat.

Apple, Rhubarb, and Raspberry Pie with Almond Star Crust

We're starry-eyed about this pretty piecrust, Crisp, tart fruit fills this festive Fourth of July dessert. Use different-size star cookie cutters ($3 for 5, Walmart) to create the topping, then cut out smaller stars to edge the pie.

Red, White, and Blue Shake

Little tastes better on a hot summer day than a cool, refreshing milkshake. Make this sweet Fourth of July ice cream dessert extra festive with layers of berries and vanilla. Craving crunch? Sprinkle with granola or add a straw-shaped pirouette cookie to each glass. Serve in milkshake glasses with festive paper straws.

Vanilla Cake with Buttercream, Berries, and Jam

Four layers are better than one when it comes to this sky-high dessert. Stuffed with red and blue berries and creamy white buttercream, classic white cake gets a final festive and fruity spin from strawberry jam.

Editor's Tip: Get a jump on party prep by baking and freezing the cake layers up to a month ahead.

Red, White, and Blue Parfaits

For a sweet Independence Day dessert that isn't packed with calories and fat, try these pretty parfaits. Just five ingredients are necessary to add a festive, fresh touch to your holiday menu.

Editor's Tip: If you prefer, try cherry or strawberry yogurt in place of the vanilla.

Vegan Ice Cream Base

Did you invite some vegan pals to the party? This party-ready vegan ice cream recipe ensures they can indulge, too. Just five ingredients are required for this frozen treat—but red- and blue-hued berries make delightful (and on-theme) mix-ins.

Ginger-Pear Star Scones

Berries aren't the only fruits fitting for the Fourth. These five-star, pear-infused homemade scones get a flavor boost from spiced butter made with crystallized ginger. The star shape fits right in at any patriotic celebration.

Red, White, and Blueberry Ice Cream Dessert

This frozen Fourth of July ice cream dessert is festive, fun, and sure to be a hit. Slices of vanilla ice cream and raspberry sorbet make up the American flag-inspired treat, which is topped with fresh blueberries and sweet hibiscus syrup.

Classic Blueberry Ice Cream Pie

Ice, ice, baby! This sensational July Fourth frozen dessert recipe comes together with ripe blueberries, vanilla ice cream, and a few kitchen staples. For patriotic pizzazz, add raspberries or strawberries to the topping.

Raspberry Sorbet

Prepare this simple sorbet the night before your Fourth of July party for sweet relief from the hot summer day. Sprinkle with blueberries or blackberries for an added touch of holiday color.

Editor's Tip: Try serving your finished sorbet in a carved watermelon bowl!

Chocolate-Berry Meringue

With billows of whipped cream, crunchy chocolate meringue, and juicy berries, this easy Fourth of July dessert looks elegant but is simple to make. A hidden layer of raspberry puree offers a pleasant bonus hint of sweetness and freshness.

Editor's Tip: Bake the meringues and blend up the berry puree a few hours before the Fourth of July party. Just before everyone arrives (or when you're ready to serve), whip the cream and assemble the components.

Red Velvet Cake Roll

Talk about a timeless dessert! Red velvet cake rolled into a pretty log with a fluffy sour cream filling is a showstopper for any occasion. To take it to the next party-worthy level, add a patriotic touch to this easy Fourth of July recipe by topping with fresh blueberries and raspberries and serving it on a white cake stand ($20, Crate & Barrel).

Berry Cheesecake Parfaits

There are a lot of layers to love in this Fourth of July dessert. Soft brie and cream cheese form a cheesecake-like layer that pairs perfectly with fresh strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries. Plus it takes just 30 minutes to whip up this protein-packed, vitamin-rich dessert recipe. To take the dish from fine to fabulous, finish each parfait with toffee-glazed almonds and a generous drizzle of honey.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

These cheesecake bars are stellar for sharing. (Each tray serves 32!) With not one, but two, sources of cocoa goodness, this vibrant red patriotic dessert bar recipe will be a hit with all the chocoholics.

Spiked Raspberry-Lemonade Cupcakes

It wouldn't be a Fourth of July party without a refreshing glass of lemonade. These sweet-tart cupcakes take the summer barbeque essential into fancy cocktail party territory with raspberry liqueur-spiked frosting. Crown each cupcake with a raspberry, blackberry, or blueberry—or a combo of all three—to create a pretty red and blue dessert.

Dipped 4th of July Fruit Cones

Top your cone with more than a scoop of ice cream! This no-bake Fourth of July recipe stars fresh fruit salad and white chocolate-dipped waffle cones. Finish each handheld treat with a drizzle of honey and vanilla whipped cream and serve in a short Mason jar ($11 for 12, Target).

Lemon Icebox Pie

The flavors of classic lemonade shine in this no-bake, make-ahead and serve straight from-the-fridge Fourth of July pie recipe. Top the finished dessert with candied lemon slices and fresh whipped cream.

Blackberry Icebox Cake

Dig into this creamy icebox cake at your outdoor Fourth of July party. It's made with just five simple ingredients and requires four hours of freezing time. Slice and garnish each piece with a fresh blackberry.