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

These cake ideas are the sweetest way to celebrate this holiday.

By

Kimberly Holland

Updated on May 10, 2024

Southern Living Strawberry Ladyfinger Cake assembled and ready to serve — Photo:
Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This Fourth of July, show your patriotic spirit with a stunning cake as the centerpiece of your party. After a day of outdoor festivities, with snacks, beverages, smoky barbecue, and side dishes galore, a sweet treat will be just what your party guests need to re-fuel for the final fireworks show.

Look at some of our favorite red, white, and blue cakes for your Fourth of July party, or make one of our favorite cake recipes that uses fresh summer fruit like berries and peaches. With so many cakes to choose from, these Independence Day dessert ideas are the sweetest way to celebrate this holiday.

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Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake

Southern Living Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake sliced and ready to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This ice cream cake combines a cornmeal shortcake, berry sorbet, and strawberry ripple ice cream to create a layered dessert bursting with summer flavor.

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Strawberry-Ginger Poke Cake With Toasted Vanilla Meringue

Southern Living Strawberry-Ginger Poke Cake with Toasted Vanilla Meringue on a serving plate — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

You'll wow guests with the gorgeous ribbons of toasted meringue on this sheet cake perfect for feeding a crowd.

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Banana Split Cake

Southern Living Banana Split Cake sprinkled with sprinkles — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This no-bake cake based on a classic sundae has an easy press-in graham cracker crust, layers of tangy cream cheese frosting, and all the ice cream toppings, including maraschino cherries, hot fudge, and sprinkles.

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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

Need to use up all the berries you bought at the farmers' market? This cake puts them to good use. Any of your favorite berries will work here; their varied colors and flavors make the dessert that much more pretty and tasty.

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Any-Berry No-Bake Cheesecake

Southern Living Any-Berry No-Bake Cheesecake sliced on a platter to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

If you won't dare turn on the oven in July, then this is the dessert for you. Although we give you three summery flavor options, the 'any-berry' flavor has a red, white, and blue color scheme perfect for the holiday.

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Strawberry Ladyfinger Cake

Southern Living Strawberry Ladyfinger Cake assembled and ready to serve — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This impressive-looking cake only requires 20 minutes of hands-on work. You'll just have to be patient while this no-bake treat sets, but that means at least one thing can be done in advance and checked off your long cooking to-do list.

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Strawberry Upside-Down Cake

Southern Living Strawberry Upside Down Cake sliced on a plate to serve — Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Costen King, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines

For a bright pop of red on your holiday table spread, this is your cake. For extra decadence, dollop it with soft whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

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Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Cream Cheese Pound Cake — Hector Sanchez; Styling: Karin Olsen

One of our favorite classic pound cake recipes gets festive for the Fourth with a topping of fresh berries and whipped cream. Baking pound cake with cream cheese will make for decadent bites and recipe requests from everyone at the party.

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Berry Chantilly Cake

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

If you're the prized family baker, impress everyone this year with a layered beauty full of fresh berries. Deceptively easy to make, this recipe will be your new secret weapon. It's the ideal cake for berry fans.

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Key Lime Icebox Cake

Key Lime Icebox Cake — Photo: Hector M Sanchez; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Vanessa Rocchio

Icebox cakes are a hallmark of Southern summers, and this one is perfectly refreshing for a hot Fourth of July celebration. It's like Key Lime pie just got a summery new twist. Let this recipe wow you for Independence Day, then keep it in your back pocket as a go-to for every summertime occasion.

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Coca-Cola Cake

Southern Living Coca Cola Cake on a cake plate with a slice taken out — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This Southern-favorite soft drink is the secret to the smoothest chocolate cake layers. The combination of cocoa and Coca-Cola is a match made in heaven, and pairs wonderfully with the cream cheese frosting. Use a spoon to make elegant swooshes in the frosting.

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Cherry Dump Cake

two bowls of cherry dump cake with ice cream — Emily Laurae/Southern Living

In a last-minute rush? This simple dessert requires just four ingredients and minimal effort. While we usually encourage ingredient substitutions for extra convenience, canned cherry pie filling cannot compete with this cake's dark, fresh cherries.

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Banana Pudding Cheesecake

CLOSEUP Banana Pudding Cheesecake — Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Try this twist if your family usually enjoys banana pudding on the Fourth of July. It'll become a new tradition. Plus, what Southerner says "no" to cheesecake?

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Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake

Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake — Jennifer Causey

This summery cake recipe is one of our favorite reasons to use a 9x13 pan. Not your average poke cake, this recipe forgoes the typical gelatin or pudding mix filling in favor of two fillings. Take advantage of fresh summer berries for this cake's filling.

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Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Southern Living Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake — Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss

Guests will love the beautiful and delicious touch of strawberry swirl when they cut into this moist pound cake. There's no need to worry about transporting a frosted cake since you add cream cheese directly to the cake's batter. Garnish with fresh whipping cream, strawberries, and a few blueberries.

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Red Velvet Cheesecake

Red Velvet Cheesecake — Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

Get festive with a silky red velvet cheesecake for the Fourth. If you thought classic cheesecake couldn't get any better, this summer is the perfect opportunity for us to prove you wrong. It's the perfect sweet-meets-rich-meets-creamy combination.

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Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake

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

With a secret ingredient to arm this cake against the July heat, this stunning layer cake will wow everyone at the party. Top with blueberries, then cut into the bright red cake and white frosting to show off this dessert's festive color palette. Remember to leave enough time to freeze the cake before serving.

18 of 35

Strawberry Dream Cake

Strawberry Dream Cake — Photo: Greg Dupree

Slice into this crowd-pleasing cake to reveal a row of inviting strawberries. This stunning layer cake will cement your spot as the best baker at the party. It looks almost too pretty to eat (almost).

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Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake

Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake — Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This simple, delightful blueberry cake will be delicious with homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Cornmeal gives this cake a unique texture. Add raspberries or strawberries for a patriotic twist.

20 of 35

Chocolate-Zucchini Cake

chocolate-zucchini cake on a plate with a fork — PHOTO: ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: KAY E. CLARKE; FOOD STYLING: TORIE COX

The kids will never know that this indulgent chocolate cake contains fresh summer veggies. This savory cake, topped with brown butter-pistachio frosting, is packed with zucchini. To help the cake's texture, shred the zucchini using the large holes of a box grater.

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Peach-Bourbon Upside-Down Bundt Cake

Peach-Bourbon Upside-Down Bundt Cake — ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: LINDSEY LOWER; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

Sweet, sticky, and a little boozy, this decadent cake has summertime party written all over it. Baked at the bottom of the pan, fresh peaches mix and mingle with butter and brown sugar. It's the ideal blend of a Bundt and an upside-down cake.

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Mississippi Mud Cake

Southern Living Mississippi Mud Cake sliced on plates to serve — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

There must always be an option for chocolate lovers at the party. This big-batch sheet cake will satisfy them all. Turn this marshmallow and pecan recipe into cupcakes, too.

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Petite Blueberry Cheesecakes

Petite Blueberry Cheesecake — Jennifer Davick

These two bite wonders ensure everyone gets an equal portion. The tasty twists on petits fours freeze great, so all you have to do on the Fourth is thaw and top them, then sit back and relax.

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Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake

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

This recipe makes strawberry shortcake easily portable for your cookout. With strawberries incorporated into the biscuit and the topping, each bite will be tangy, sweet, and crowd-pleasing.

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Sunflower Cupcakes

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

Add more sunshine to your summer celebration with these adorable cupcakes that the kids will love. Get your piping bags ready because these delightful little cakes don't skimp on the icing. These cupcakes might look complicated, but they start with a box of cake mix.

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Key Lime Sheet Cake

Key Lime Sheet Cake — Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Kay E Clarke

Would you believe this beautiful, big-batch dessert starts with a box of cake mix? You don't have to let anyone in on the secret, though. Garnish with lime slices and mint for the perfect finish.

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Blueberry-Lemon Cake

Blueberry-Lemon Cake — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

This dessert's fruity, tart, and sweet combination is a must-try. This layer cake will be quite the centerpiece for your food lineup on Independence Day. Pureed berries give the frosting a naturally tinted hue.

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Old-Fashioned Pound Cake

Old Fashioned Pound Cake — Southern Living

You can never go wrong with a classic pound cake topped with homemade whipped cream and fresh summer berries. Feel free to dress it up or down as you see fit.

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Mixed Berry Cheesecake Cupcakes

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

Individual treats make serving so much easier when it's time for dessert. For easy celebration preparations, these little cheesecakes stay fresh in the fridge for up to two days. Mixed berries are perfect for the summertime holiday, but switch up the toppings based on your preferences.

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White Chocolate Raspberry Loaf Cake

White Chocolate Raspberry Loaf Cake — Photo: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Styling: Kay Clarke, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

If there are any leftovers (and that's a big "if"), this pretty loaf cake will be delicious with your coffee the following day. This recipe calls for raspberries, but feel free to substitute or mix and match with strawberries and blueberries for festive coloring underneath a sweet, white glaze.

31 of 35

Dr Pepper Texas Sheet Cake

Dr Pepper Texas Sheet Cake — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

A tasty combination of soda, spices, and chocolate, this recipe is inspired by a dessert trend that took the South by storm in the early 20th century. No one will turn down a slice of Dr. Pepper cake. Top the chocolate frosting with pecans for an extra Southern touch.

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Strawberry Vanilla Cake

Southern Living Strawberry Vanilla Cake sliced on a cake plate to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

This recipe calls for as many strawberries as possible, resulting in a delightful pink hue. You can prepare the cake layers in advance, wrap them in plastic, and freeze or chill them until you're ready to assemble your final product.

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Strawberry-Lemonade Cake

Southern Living Strawberry Lemonade Cake sliced and ready to serve

Well-suited for summer, this recipe showcases fresh berries and everyone's favorite tangy beverage for a hot day. Plus, you can prepare this cake up to two days before your Fourth of July BBQ.

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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

These fluffy cupcakes, made with the sugary-sweet Southern soda, are inspired by a surge in Cheerwine desserts in the first decade of the 2000s. We refuse to let this carbonated cake trend die, and with one bite of these swirl-topped handhelds, you'll know why.

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Pig Pickin' Cake

Pig Pickin' Cake on a blue plate — Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Full of whipped topping, pineapple, instant vanilla pudding, and pecans, this classic recipe uses ingredients you probably already have and pays homage to a Southern tradition.

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