Every year when the Fourth of July rolls around, I get way too excited about one thing: the desserts. I mean, yes, fireworks and BBQs are great… but the sweet stuff? That’s where I shine.
If you’re anything like me and love playing around with festive treats—especially red, white, and blue ones—here are a few crowd-pleasers I’ve either made in past years or have bookmarked for this time around. All of them are pretty simple to throw together, look amazing on the table, and taste even better.
1. Red, White & Blue Trifle (AKA The Star of the Table)
One of the most loved desserts I ever made was this layered trifle that looked just as good as it tasted. I baked a vanilla sponge cake, made a quick batch of pudding, and layered them up with fresh strawberries and blueberries. I finished it off with a thick layer of whipped cream and a sprinkle of extra fruit on top. Bonus points if you serve it in a clear glass bowl—everyone went wild over how pretty it looked!
2. Frozen S’mores Tart
Last summer, it was way too hot to even think about lighting a fire pit. So instead of the usual s’mores, I tried out a frozen s’mores tart with a graham cracker crust, a rich chocolate ganache, and a fluffy marshmallow topping. It felt fancy but was surprisingly easy to make. Heads up—this one leans toward the grown-up crowd with the dark chocolate flavor, but if you’re into that, you’re gonna love it.
3. Mini Angel Cupcakes with Cool Whip & Berries
Sometimes simple really is best. I made these adorable little angel food cupcakes, topped them with Cool Whip, and added sliced strawberries and blueberries on top. They were light, refreshing, and perfect for a hot July afternoon. I served them in cupcake liners with little flags, and they were the first to go!
4. Cornmeal Berry Cake
This is one I’ve made for both Memorial Day and July 4th—it’s that good. It’s a soft cornmeal cake that I fold fresh strawberries and blueberries into before baking. The texture is so nice, and the color combo gives you that patriotic look without even trying. Sometimes I’ll add a lemon glaze on top to give it a little extra zing.
5. No-Bake Mousse Tart with Berries
This one surprised me. I made a pomegranate mousse tart with a cookie crust, and topped it off with fresh blueberries. The result was a cool, light, and tart dessert that was perfect for a sunny day. It’s more of a pink/red tone than a bold red, but still fits the theme beautifully. I actually used frozen pomegranate seeds and it turned out just fine—don’t stress if you can’t find fresh!
6. S’mores Pie
If you’re not into the tart version, the s’mores pie is a classic that never fails. One year, I swapped out the campfire for a simple graham crust filled with a creamy chocolate layer, topped with toasted marshmallows under the broiler. It was gone within minutes.
7. Berry Custard Tart
I had leftover pastry cream from another recipe once and decided to throw it into a tart crust, then top it with sliced strawberries and blueberries in a spiral pattern. It looked fancy, tasted even better, and honestly felt like a patriotic work of art. I’ve made it twice since then and it’s now my go-to when I want something that looks impressive but doesn’t take all day.
8. Blueberry Slab Pie with a Flag Top (When You’re Feeling a Little Extra)
Okay, I’ll admit… I went a bit overboard one year and decided to get crafty with my blueberry slab pie. I used a basic buttery crust, filled it with a jammy blueberry mix, then arranged the top crust to look like an American flag—stars and stripes made from dough strips and carefully placed fruit. It was one of those “just for fun” bakes that ended up becoming a photo moment at the BBQ. If you’ve got the time (and patience), it’s totally worth the effort.
9. Strawberry Shortcake Skewers
I love a good handheld dessert, especially for outdoor gatherings. One year, I cut up cubes of pound cake and threaded them onto skewers with fresh strawberries and mini marshmallows. Right before serving, I drizzled a little melted white chocolate over the top. These were gone in 15 minutes. Super easy, no plates required, and kids loved them just as much as the adults.
10. Lemon Bars with a Berry Swirl
This one’s a sleeper hit. I made classic lemon bars but swirled in some blueberry compote before baking. The tangy lemon paired so well with the sweet berries, and I dusted them with powdered sugar to keep it festive. They’re not visibly red, white, and blue unless you really lean into the swirl design, but they totally fit the summer vibes. Plus, they’re make-ahead friendly and travel well.
So there you have it—10 tried-and-true Fourth of July desserts that I’ve either made, modified, or obsessed over. Whether you’re into no-bake treats, crowd-sized trifles, or a showstopper pie, there’s something here that’ll make your dessert table pop this year.
Still not sure which one to go with? Let me know the vibe you’re going for—casual cookout, backyard glam, kid-friendly—and I’ll help you pick a fave!