22 Patriotic Desserts For Every Star-Spangled Celebration

Our easiest red, white, and blue cakes, pies, and icebox treats.

By

and

Updated on May 29, 2024

Red White and Blue Trifle - Southern Living — Photo:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

During patriotic holidays, we honor the men and women who sacrificially serve, protect, and defend our country by celebrating with friends, family, fireworks, and great food. Cap off your Memorial Day and Fourth of July cookouts with one of these patriotic desserts that feed a crowd. Which festive dessert is for you?

01 of 22

Flag Cake

Southern Living Flag Cake decorated and ready to serve — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This sheet cake is a holiday classic and for good reason. Not only is it perfectly thematic, but it's easy to make and uses plenty of in-season summer berries.

02 of 22

Blueberry Galette

Blueberry Galette — Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

This fruit-filled dessert comes together in a pinch thanks to frozen puff pastry sheets. The puff pastry gets packed with blueberry filling that cooks down as it bakes. Serve with vanilla whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

03 of 22

Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake

Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake — Johnny Autry; Food and Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Enjoy a stress-free 4th of July with our easiest-ever strawberry shortcake recipe. Get a double-dose of strawberries, which are added to both the biscuit base and the topping. After the base is baked, a mascarpone-and-whipped cream mixture is spread on top with a final layer of soft and juicy macerated strawberries. This easy-to-prepare shortcake should be enjoyed the same day it’s made.

04 of 22

Berry Chantilly Cake

Berry Chantilly Cake — Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Three layers of fluffy cake, creamy frosting, and summer berries add up to a stunning patriotic dessert.

05 of 22

Red, White, And Blue Trifle

Red White and Blue Trifle - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

The secret to this easy peasy trifle? White chocolate instant pudding mix. It creates an effortless creamy filling that's bright white, rather than yellow-colored like vanilla pudding mixes.

06 of 22

Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Cherry-flavored soda creates a delectably sweet and airy cupcake. If you can find it, try Cheerwine, the cherry-flavored soda invented in North Carolina in 1917. These cheery cupcakes are piped with pink frosting and a maraschino cherry on top.

07 of 22

Strawberry Shortbread Cookies

Southern Living Strawberry Shortbread Cookies ready to serve — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

For a patriotic twist, sprinkle a combination of freeze-dried blueberries and strawberries over these beautiful iced cookies.

08 of 22

Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake

Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake — Jennifer Causey

There's nothing basic about this poke cake. This special recipe has not one, but two fresh fruit fillings—oh, and a deliciously creamy mascarpone frosting. The fun part of this recipe is poking holes in the cake and then spooning in the blueberry and strawberry fillings alternately to create the red, white, and blue effect.

09 of 22

Berry Upside Down Cake

Southern Living Berry Upside Down Cake sliced and ready to serve — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

No dessert garners more oohs and ahhs than an upside down cake. Serve slices of this beauty topped with a dollops of whipped cream.

10 of 22

Red, White, and Blue Popsicles

Red, White, and Blue Popsicles — Jennifer Causey

We all remember chasing down this nostalgic popsicle from the ice cream truck. Try your hand at the festive treat at home with this easy and super fresh recipe. Use ice-pop molds to recreate the Bomb Pops and Firecracker treats of our youth but updated with healthier ingredients of fresh blueberries and strawberries.

11 of 22

Watermelon Pie

Watermelon Pie — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Refreshing watermelon is a Fourth of July staple. Who knew you could make a pie out of watermelon? This chilled dessert has a tapioca and fresh watermelon base with a more melt-resistant topping of whipped cream and mascarpone cheese.

12 of 22

Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake

Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Cool off with a slice of ice cream cake, red velvet edition. This layer cake makes an impressive summer centerpiece. To prevent this frozen cake from melting down in the heat, unflavored gelatin added to the frosting will help it stabilize.

13 of 22

Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars

Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars — Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

We declare these cheesecake bars...potluck-perfect! Creating swirls in the cheesecake batter with strawberry and blueberry puree will impress. Make up to two days in advance to save you time before the summer barbecue.

14 of 22

Cherry Pie Bars

Cherry Pie Bars — Greg Dupree

Like cherry pie—but better for a party. This is the easiest and most delicious way to make cherry pie portable for the Fourth of July. Not only does this batch feed a crowd, but this recipe can be made up to three days ahead of time.

15 of 22

Strawberry-Lemonade Cake

Strawberry-Lemonade Cake — Jen Causey

Have you ever seen a happier slice of cake? We think not. Lemon cake layers spread with tangy strawberry-lemonade jam, and dressed with a fresh strawberry frosting pull together our favorite the summer flavors into one pretty, pink cake.

16 of 22

Mixed Berry Cheesecake Cupcakes

Cheesecake Cupcakes — Photographer: Alison Miksch Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee

Made-from-scratch cheesecake doesn’t seem so hard when made as cupcakes where there’s no water bath, springform pan, and long chilling time required. These 12 party-perfect portions can be made up to two days ahead of your Fourth of July celebration. For even more flexibility, use whatever berries you choose as your topper.

17 of 22

Berry Tiramisu

Southern Living Berry Tiramisu in a casserole dish to serve with a slice cut out — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Layers of ladyfingers, creamy mascarpone cheese, and summer berries add up to one showstopping dessert.

18 of 22

Apple-Blackberry Cobbler

Apple-Blackberry Cobbler — Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

Sweet, buttery, and crumbly, these adorable fruit cobblers are perfect for any summer gathering.

19 of 22

Strawberry Cream Cheese Cobbler

strawberry cream cheese cobbler in a pan — Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

This super-simple dessert performs a delicious magic trick in the oven—the berries sink and the topping rises, yielding a stunning summery treat.

20 of 22

Red, White, & Blue Donut Wands

Red, White & Blue Donut Wands — Southern Living

Store-bought donut holes make this recipe as easy as one, two, three! After dipping the donut holes in white chocolate, it’s time to have fun decorating with bold red, white, and blue sprinkles and sanding sugars. These turn into held-held treats, with three donut holes per straw, that are sharable and fun to pass out to kids on the go at your Fourth of July party.

21 of 22

Classic Strawberry Shortcake

Southern Living Classic Strawberry Shortcake on plates to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Buttery and flaky, these individual strawberry desserts are perfectly portioned for your next cookout.

22 of 22

Strawberry Galette

Strawberry Galette — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

So much easier than making a pie, this simple galette would look even more patriotic with a handful of fresh blueberries and blackberries scattered over the top.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!

Related Articles

atlantic beach pie in a blue pie plate

40 Last-Minute Desserts To Make For Your Memorial Day Cookout

Southern Living Strawberry Ladyfinger Cake assembled and ready to serve

35 Fourth Of July Cake Ideas For A Party Finale Better Than Fireworks

Southern Living Berry Upside Down Cake sliced and ready to serve

50 Labor Day Desserts So Tasty That Everyone Will Forget Summer Is Ending

Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake

Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake

Key Lime Sheet Cake

37 Party-Perfect Sheet Cake Recipes

Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

Krispy Kreme 4th of July

Celebrate The Fourth With A Free Doughnut At Krispy Kreme

Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars

Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars

Easter Egg Cake

Easter Egg Cake

Southern Living Peach Blueberry Pie with a slice cut out to serve

27 Peach Desserts To Delight This Summer

pistachio ice cream in two cups with spoon and chopped pistachios

Pistachio Ice Cream

Yellow Squash Bundt Cake

Yellow Squash Bundt Cake

Southern Living Red White and Blue Pops ready to serve in a bowl of ice

Red, White, And Blue Popsicles

Chocolate-Raspberry Cheesecake - Southern Living

41 Valentine's Desserts That Have Us Seeing Red

Southern Living Key Lime Pound Cake sliced to serve

Key Lime Pound Cake

Pecan Tassies - Southern Living