Home Recipes Meal Types Desserts
ByLisa Kaminski
Taste of Home's Editorial Process
Updated: Jun. 06, 2024
We know you're busy flipping burgers and lighting the grill. That's where these easy Fourth of July desserts come in. They're so simple and delightfully delicious.
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Berry Trifle
Patriotic desserts like this simple trifle are a must on the Fourth of July. This dessert can be made with homemade angel food cake, a packaged mix or even store-bought cakes. All versions will taste delicious when layered with plenty of berries.
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Icebox Cake
We’ve all had summer holidays where it’s just too hot to turn on the oven—especially after spending time in front of the grill. The delicious solution: icebox cakes! This no-bake cake uses chocolate wafers and whipped cream to create a cakey consistency. And it’s a cool treat no one will be able to resist on a warm day.
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Cherry Delight Dessert
This smooth and creamy cheesecake-like treat is light, sweet and pretty, too. Convenience products make it quick and easy to prepare. Feel free to swap in blueberry pie filling for the cherry.
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Peanut Butter Pudding Pie
Peanut butter is such a wonderfully American ingredient, so why not include it in your Fourth of July desserts? This easy pie gets topped with a drizzle of melted chocolate—for looks and flavor.
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Triple Berry No-Bake Cheesecake
When it comes to easy Fourth of July desserts, it’s hard to beat no-bake treats. A no-bake cheesecake like this one doesn’t require the time or fuss of baking. Instead, the cake is chilled in the fridge. The result is light, creamy and super festive when topped with bright berries.
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S’mores on a Stick
July is peak season for s’mores and all their variations. This fun twist is a little less messy than the original thanks to the stick. Plus, you can dress these up as a Fourth of July dessert with fun sprinkles.
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Strawberry Pretzel Salad
The combination of strawberry and pretzel sounds surprising, but it’s darn delicious. After all, who can resist a mix of sweet and salty? Be sure to check out more strawberry pretzel treats if you want to go beyond the classic recipe.
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Honey Berry Sheet Cake
This cake is the ideal recipe for showing off local honey and tasty summer berries. Transform it into a showstopping Fourth of July dessert by arranging the fruit into a flag design.
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Giant Buckeye Cookie
Buckeyes—a chocolate and peanut butter candy—are a favorite in Ohio. This recipe takes those same flavors and bakes them up in a cast iron skillet. And if you want to take things to the next level for your Fourth of July celebration, try more favorite midwestern desserts.
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Blueberry Upside-Down Cake
You’ve all heard of pineapple upside-down cake before, but we’ve flipped this recipe on its head and used blueberries! The result is extra summery and perfect to serve up at a Fourth of July barbecue.
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Cherry Cream Cheese Pie
This dessert is cheesecake and cherry pie all rolled into one. For that reason, it’s one of our favorite all-American Fourth of July desserts.
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Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
It’s time to break out that box of ice cream sandwiches you have in the freezer! You can use them to make this simple icebox cake. Don’t forget to top with a maraschino cherry or two.
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Take advantage of what’s in season in summer and make an easy galette. This treat has all the flavor of a great pie but without the fuss of crimping and complicated finishes.
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Creamy Layered Blueberry Ice Pops
Move over, popsicles, there’s an even tastier treat coming your way this Fourth of July! These homemade ice pops use fresh berries and lemon zest for fresh flavor. A tub of whipped topping makes them extra creamy.
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If your family is the type that enjoys a sweet treat before dinner, put out these tasty M&M bars. They’re like a blondie—but better! Try these other easy Fourth of July dessert bars, too.
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Lemon Berry Dump Cake
Dump cakes are the ultimate easy dessert. These treats are measured, mixed and baked right in the pan. Best yet: They start with a cake mix.
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Peach Blueberry Cobbler
With peaches and blueberries both in season on the Fourth of July, a cobbler like this is a must. And in case you ever wondered, here’s the difference between cobblers, crisps, and buckles.
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Cookie Cake
Is there any treat more American than a classic chocolate chip cookie? This chocolate chip cookie cake is an amazing Fourth of July dessert. Tint the frosting red, white or blue and finish with plenty of patriotic sprinkles.
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Frozen Fruit Whip
For a lighter July Fourth dessert, try a frozen fruit salad. Use fresh or frozen berries along with whipped topping and sweetened condensed milk to create this treat.
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Mississippi Mud Cake
Who doesn’t love a southern cake? Mississippi mud cake is a classic. It starts with a brownie-like base and then gets topped with marshmallow creme, pecans and more.
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Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake
Remember those strawberry shortcake bars you used to get from the ice cream truck as a kid? Meet the grown-up version! This ice cream cake tastes just like that childhood favorite—and it can serve a crowd.
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Cherry Cobbler
Come July, tart cherries are in season. Pit a few dozen and make this delightful cobbler. Like these other a la mode desserts, it only gets better with a scoop of ice cream.
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Macaroon Bars
It doesn’t get easier than this four-ingredient dessert! The recipe starts with a package of refrigerated crescent rolls and then layers on flavor with almond extract, sweetened condensed milk and shredded coconut.
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Five-Minute Blueberry Pie
It’s true: You only need five minutes to prepare this summer dessert. Start with a store-bought crust and then stir up the fast filling with fresh blueberries.
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Easy Banana Pudding with Cream Cheese
For many, no party is complete without banana pudding! It’s one of those treats that’s delicious any time of year, but really hits the spot as a Fourth of July dessert on a hot summer day.
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Mixed Berry Tiramisu
Traditional tiramisu is flavored with espresso and a splash of spirits. This fresh take uses the same mascarpone and ladyfingers as the original but then layers in plenty of sun-ripened berries.
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Vanilla Cream Fruit Tart
A fresh fruit tart can be easily transformed to suit any summer occasion. Use blueberries and red fruits of all kinds to create a flag-inspired dessert.
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Banana Split Cake Bars
Summer isn’t summer without a banana split or two, and these fun bars bring that same delicious flavor in potluck-perfect form. They make a fun sweet to serve up at a Fourth of July backyard bash.
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Chewy Brownies
Brownies are the perfect dessert for any occasion. You can add a bit of Fourth of July flair by adding red, white and blue sprinkles—or just by serving them on festive plates.
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Pina Colada Lush
Love pina coladas? This no-bake dessert combines all the flavors you love and puts them into a tried-and-true 13×9 baking dish.
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Dutch Oven Chocolate Dump Cake
Looking for a quick dessert that will make people think you spent all day in the kitchen? This Dutch oven dump cake will wow your guests. Only you have to know how easy this dump-and-go recipe really is!
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Million-Dollar Pie
Looking for an easy no-bake pie that tastes like a million bucks? This is the recipe for you! The simple dessert uses crushed pineapple, shredded coconut and crushed pecans, all held together by whipped topping and sweetened condensed milk.
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Red-White-and-Blue Berry Delight
Loaded with fresh strawberries and blueberries, this Jell-O mold is perfect for any Fourth of July celebration.
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Lemon Icebox Cake
This easy Fourth of July dessert starts with a box of graham crackers and a package of lemon pudding mix. How simple! Layer all the ingredients together and stash the cake in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Best yet: You can prep it the night before your big shindig.
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Caramel Nut Crunch Pie
Think of this Fourth of July dessert as a Snickers bar in a pie crust. To make it feel even more like a candy copycat, chop up a few candy bars and sprinkle them over the top before serving.
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Orange Juice Cake
This cake uses orange juice and marmalade for two times the orange flavor. It’s a wonderfully citrus-packed treat to serve all summer long.
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Fluffy Key Lime Pie
Key lime is an ingredient that just screams summer. Try this light and fluffy version of a classic Key lime pie for the Fourth of July. Use a premade graham cracker crust or make a homemade graham cracker crust.
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Chocolate Oat Squares
When you bring these chocolate oat squares to a gathering, guests will be tempted to start at the dessert table. Chock-full of chocolate and walnuts, they will satisfy any sweet tooth.
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Watermelon Rice Krispies Treats
Here’s an easy Fourth of July dessert kiddos will love. These crispy treats look just like a wedge of fresh watermelon—and even get a hint of the flavor via watermelon extract! You can always make this treat with vanilla extract instead.
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Old-Fashioned Banana Cream Pie
If you’re celebrating with a handful of vintage Fourth of July recipes, keep the theme going with an old-fashioned banana cream pie. This pie is cool and creamy—perfect for a summer day.
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Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
What’s better than Fourth of July cookies? Fourth of July ice cream cookie sandwiches! Be sure to roll the edges in festive sprinkles for a truly patriotic look.
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Pineapple Coconut Upside-Down Cake
Combine an upside-down cake with a pina colada and you’ll get this tropical-inspired dessert. It’s surprisingly easy to make and guests will be asking for the recipe.
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Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
Sweet and salty desserts are always a hit. These peanut butter pretzel bars are no-bake and quick to make.
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Pineapple Cheesecake
Pineapple is a delightful summer flavor and makes for great Fourth of July desserts. This no-bake cheesecake recipe is best when left to set overnight, so prep it the day before your barbecue and leave the day of for grilling burgers and cooking hot dogs.
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S’mores Cupcakes
These Fourth of July cupcakeshave all the flavors of s’mores—without the campfire. The chocolate cupcakes are topped with marshmallow frosting, graham cracker crumbs and chocolate bar chunks.
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Blueberry Lemon Trifle
Wake up your tastebuds with this lemon and blueberry dessert. Lemon pie filling and lemon yogurt add plenty of zest. Serve up scoops of this trifle topped with extra whipped cream.
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Originally Published: May 23, 2022
