35 Red, White, and Blue Recipe Ideas for the 4th of July

If there is ever an appropriate time to be a bit over the top with your food presentation, the Fourth of July is it. Be it an *extra* colorful Caprese salad or a creative craft cocktail, repping the color of our flag is definitely the way to go. And if you’re planning to bring a dish to the big BBQ, you might as well go BIG. Show your patriotism the only way a foodie can and create one (or a few!) of the 35 recipes below to show.

1. Epic 9-Layer Red, White, and Blue Cake: Meet the most extraordinary cake EVER. It’s worth the time and energy to build nine cake layers to create the most patriotic cake ever made. (via Brit + Co)

2. Red, White, and Blue Donuts: What’s the only thing better than homemade donuts? Nothing. Except when they’re red, white, and blue all over. (via Brit + Co)

3. Patriotic Pavlova: If you want to set off some serious fireworks at your Fourth of July BBQ, be sure to whip up a creamy, berry-filled treat like this one! (via Brit + Co)

4. Mini Mousse Cakes: Certain holidays call for meticulously layering blueberry, strawberry and vanilla mousse. Whether your celebration is small or large, these mini mousse cakes will be appreciated and gawked over all day. (via Eye Doc Bakes)

5. American Sparkling Soda: Typically we would call this drink Italian soda, but for the purpose of patriotism, it’s temporarily dubbed American soda. To make separate layers, the bottom layer has to be a lot thicker than the top, so opt for a sugary fruit puree. (via Thirsty for Tea)

6. 4th of July Poke Cake: If you’ve already got a couple of boxes of white cake mix, you’re well on your way to making this simple poke cake. Once you’ve poked your holes in the cake, black cherry gelatin is poured in and left to form those signature red stripes. (via Brit + Co)

7. Red, White, and Blueberry Caprese Salad: It’s hard to beat the simple combo of sweet tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil — unless you add a handful of blueberries, too! (via Brit + Co)

8. Mixed Berry Sorbet and Champagne Floats: Is there anything better than a drink made of sorbet and Champagne? Adorn your new favorite drink with red, white and blue straws for the ultimate sipping experience. (via Sprinkled Side Up)

9. Firecracker Cake: Get your sparklers ready, because this cake deserves some extra bling. Taking the time to add some food coloring to your cake batter results in a beautiful pattern you’ll be so excited to cut into. (via Love Bakes Good Cakes)

10. Triple Chocolate 4th of July Cake: On the outside, this cake projects a beautiful ombre paint job with white chocolate drizzle and picture-perfect macarons. On the inside is a triple chocolate masterpiece that is so unexpectedly delicious, you won’t mind cutting into the gorgeous exterior. (via B. Sweet)

11. No-Bake 4th of July Pies: Have pie, will travel (to the BBQ). (via Brit + Co)

12. Firecracker Popcorn: This popcorn is decorated with ALL the sprinkles and is sure to cause a few fireworks. Fill paper bags with your popcorn, and gift them to your party guests as they arrive. (via Spicy Southern Kitchen)

13. Fireworks Sugar Cookie Cake Recipe: The Fourth of July is the birthday of the USA, so it only makes sense that you make her a birthday cookie cake to celebrate. Use seasonal red, white and blue M&M’s and a ton of sprinkles to decorate. (via Crazy for Crust)

14. Red, White, and Blue Tart: This star-spangled dessert is so simple to prepare, it’s practically unconstitutional. Investing in a few different sizes of star-shaped cookie cutters allows you to create a fun pie dough crust in place of the traditional lattice topping. (via The Simple Sweet Life)

15. Red, White, and Blue Jello Shots: Jello shots are a MUST for the Fourth. Instead of choosing between red, white or blue, why not layer all three? Top with a squirt of whipped cream and edible blue glitter to make them really special. (via Brit + Co)

16. Marshmallow Popcorn Balls: Recreate your favorite childhood snack with a patriotic touch this year. These popcorn balls will be loved by both the adults and kids at the party, so they definitely won’t go to waste. (via Creations by Kara)

17. Mixed Berry Popsicles: Red, white and blue desserts don’t have to be artificially colored. These swirled popsicles feature a mix of yogurt and berries that mimic the colors of the flag naturally. (via Real Food by Dad)

18. Red, White, and Blue Ombre Funfetti Cake: Funfetti is always a great idea, but you might want to buy more sprinkles than you need… just in case you feel like adding extra on top. The good news is that this technique of icing the cake is a lot easier than it looks, and is a great beginner method to know. (via Brit + Co)

19. Patriotic Red Velvet Cupcakes: Red velvet is the obvious choice for a patriotic cupcake. It’s vibrantly red, and it’s a southern-bred staple recipe perfect for any Independence Day occasion. Top with cream cheese icing to keep it classic. (via Olivia’s Cuisine)

20. Patriotic Mini Brownie Dessert Pizza: Everyone will love that they get their own personal brownie pizza bite, and you’ll love how easy they are to make. To prepare the pizza base, you’ll bake your brownie batter in a sheet pan and use a biscuit cutter to cut out each individual round. (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

21. Red, White, and Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Pie: What could be better than cheesecake? Cheesecake ice cream pie with Oreo crust, to be exact. A simple strategic placement of strawberries and blueberries on top gives the pie an all-American vibe. (via Feel Good Food Blog)

22. Red, White, and Blue No-Bake Cheesecake Parfaits: If individual parfaits seem too cumbersome to serve for a party, keep in mind that you can make all the components ahead of time and assemble right before serving. Even those show-stopping edible stars can be made way in advance to make your life easier. (via Just a Taste)

23. Red, White & Blue Layered Finger Jello: Kids will love helping you make (and eat!) this Jello treat. If you want to make a separate adults-only batch with a bit of vodka, we won’t judge you. (via Brown Eyed Baker)

24. Berry Skewers With White Chocolate Drizzle: If the holiday snuck up on you this year, these fruit skewers are the perfect last-minute patriotic addition to your BBQ buffet. Simply by threading blueberries and strawberries on a skewer and drizzling white chocolate on top, you’ll create a tasty treat that looks like it took you all day. (via Nourished Peach)

25. Sparkling Hibiscus Berry Cocktail: This refreshing cocktail will be the buzz of your cookout. Hibiscus tea, fresh berries, and lemon sparkling water combine with vodka to make the most incredible summer drink that’s perfect for Independence Day. (via My Modern Cookery)

26. 4th of July Ice Cream 3 Ways: Get your chill fill of creamy desserts a la classic cone, layered milkshake, or ice cream “soup.” YUM. (via Brit + Co)

27. Sparkling Red, White, and Blue Sangria: If Sangria is more your speed than you need to make a huge pitcher of this recipe. Take a few minutes to cut out some apple stars for garnish — you’ll be glad you did. (via Gimme Some Oven)

28. Star-Spangled Gumdrops: Seriously, how cute are these? Definitely get the kids involved to save yourself from sticky fingers. (via Mom on Timeout)

29. Mini Firework Cakes: To make these mini cakes, you can either use a cookie cutter to cut out the shapes or a silicone baking mold to get the exact size you want. Layer each color, and top with a dollop of whipped cream for good measure. (via Paint the Gown Red)

30. Red, White, and Blue Whoopee Pies: When you bring out a platter of these at your BBQ, people will gasp with nostalgic emotion. This classic dessert is so good, you may want to think about setting a few aside for a midnight snack. (via Food Fanatic)

31. Jello Poke Cupcakes: We’ve all heard of poke cake, but have you ever had them in cupcake form? They are so moist and flavorful, you’d never know they’re made with all boxed ingredients. (via Taste and Tell)

32. Fourth of July Chia Pudding: This delish DIY pudding will satisfy your craving for something sweet *and* it’s totally vegan so it won’t fill you with empty calories. What’s more, it’s super-simple to prepare for your holiday picnic. (via Brit + Co)

33. Fourth of July FrankenPie: This crazy creation consists of a blueberry pie, an apple pie, and a cherry pie baked into a monstrous three-layer cake covered with flags, sparklers and a healthy dusting of Pop Rocks. ‘Nuff said. (via Brit + Co)

34. Taylor Swift’s Flag Cake: This throwback tribute to T. Swift’s 2014 cake will always be worthy of bringing back via baking pan. (via Brit + Co)

35. Smashed Berry Shortcake: If you’re scrambling for a last minute treat to bring to the BBQ, scramble no more! This festive, patriotic treat is perfectly summery and super easy to make. (via Brit + Co)

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