4th of July Dessert Recipe Roundup
This list is your go-to for 4th of July dessert ideas – from patriotic red, white & blue themed desserts to s’mores-inspired sweets and more!
Skip the sign-ups for hot dogs and potato salad and offer to bring the sweets to your 4th of July party. Desserts will earn you more compliments and you don’t have to worry if they sit out for a while! And even if the 4th of July isn’t one of your favorite holidays (same here!), these sweet treats will make it more fun (they have for me anyway!)! Here are some of my favorite original recipes for summer and each one is a crowd pleaser!
Click below to jump to a category:
Red, White & Blue
Here are some great options when you’re looking for a vibrant red, white and blue patriotic dessert for Independence Day! These 4th of July desserts are great options when you want something obvious for the holiday, eye-catching on the dessert table, or something fun for kids! No food coloring required and in recent years, I’ve been able to find many more sprinkle options that are free of fake dyes so, if that’s your thing too, you’re in luck! Even the star sprinkles on my American flag cookies are free of artificial dyes!
4th of July Sugar Cookies with Buttercream Frosting
These cookies are simple but so much fun and you can turn them into anything you like! For 4th of July, I used star cookie cutters and a mix of sprinkles in red, white and blue colors but use what you have! The homemade buttercream is an extra step that is so worth it because it will improve the taste and quality of these delicious cookies. And check out my American flag version below!
4th of July Red White and Blue Confetti Cookies
Nothing screams ‘celebrate!’ like confetti and both adults and children love these cookies so these are perfect for a 4th of July celebration! Kids love them because of the fun sprinkles and birthday cake flavor and adults enjoy the nostalgic funfetti vibes. This is not only one of my favorite 4th of July recipes, it’s one of my favorites for any party or holiday! I just swap out the sprinkles to match the occasion. The best part? This is the easiest and quickest recipe on this list!
How to Make 4th of July American Flag Sugar Cookies
This is a fun spin on my sugar cookies with buttercream frosting. No cookie cutters required but you will definitely need a piping bag, a small round piping tip and red and blue sprinkles! Bonus points for blue star sprinkles! These require a little attention to detail but they actually don’t take long to decorate and they are a huge hit with kids!
Fruit Flavors
On a hot summer day, fresh fruit flavors can taste light and refreshing and these dessert ideas are so much fun! Plus, they both work for gatherings and occasions well beyond July 4th!
Soft Strawberries and Cream Cookies with Frosting
I created this recipe for 4th of July one year because it reminded me of fireworks! These are so fun and although strawberries are in season in the summer, this recipe doesn’t even require fresh strawberries! The recipe calls for freeze-dried strawberries in the cookie dough and strawberry jam in the swirl on top. I had several requests to make these again after my neighborhood party where I shared them for the first time.
Soft Apple Pie Cookies with Crumble Topping
Celebrating your 4th with these cookies is as American as apple pie! The best part is that these are quicker and easier than pie! The sugar cookie base acts as a buttery crust and the homemade apple pie filling is surprisingly easy. Make these for any summer party then save the recipe for back to school and Thanksgiving! I know I plan to make these for the rest of the calendar year!
S’mores Inspired
If you’re looking for something chocolate for a summer party, skip the campfire and burnt marshmallows and make these s’mores-inspired treats instead. These easy recipes will work for your 4th of July festivities, family BBQ, camping trip or any other occasion this summer!
Summer S’mores Cookies with Marshmallow Creme
S’mores Cookies still contain that perfect combo of marshmallow, chocolate and graham crackers but in cookie form so they are less messy and taste better than traditional s’mores. I’ve found a vegetarian marshmallow creme that I love but use your favorite here! Full disclosure – this recipe does require you to individually fill each cookie with a scoop of marshmallow creme but you’ll freeze the filling to make it easier and one or two batches won’t take too long!
S’mores Brownie Bars Recipe with Marshmallow Creme
Similar to my S’mores Cookies, these S’mores Brownie Bars are more rich and chocolatey than the cookie version. They require a few steps but because you don’t have to individually fill each cookie, I think this recipe is actually quicker and easier than my S’mores Cookies yet presents as more impressive – win-win! Serve with a scoop of ice cream and these are almost guaranteed to be your new favorite thing this summer!
