Holidays & Entertaining Entertaining Seasonal Events Summer Entertaining 12 Fourth of July Desserts That Are Super Easy to Make Don't let the fireworks outshine the true star of Fourth of July: Dessert! By Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner Instagram Twitter Website Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner is a writer and recipe developer. She's a regular contributor to The New York Times, Time Out New York, Forbes, and many more publications. She also writes the food newsletter, Specialty. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 8, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: GREG DUPREE Independence Day means freedom to eat dessert first. Or just dessert all day, right? If you're barbecue hopping, hosting, or just picnicking under the stars, these homemade Fourth of July desserts will keep you sated on a hot summer day.And while red, white, and blue is always a nice theme to stick to, the colors of the American flag are certainly not necessary to create the perfect celebratory treat. The day is about independence, right? So liberate yourself from the annual tricolor fruit kabobs and try one of these recipes perfect for early July. 14 Summer Fruits—and How to Cook With Them 01 of 12 Summer Berry Trifle With Elderflower Cream Greg DuPree get the recipe A red, white, and blue dessert with style, this trifle screams summer celebration! Easy to assemble with infused homemade whipped cream and fresh berries, this no-bake trifle provides a sweet wow factor on Fourth of July. 02 of 12 Cantaloupe Coconut Ice Pops Victor Protasio get the recipe Fresh fruit popsicles are the best popsicles, and these creamy coconut cantaloupe pops hold up. Make them a few days in advance to ensure they freeze and set, and whip one out to cool down in the prime heat of the holiday. 03 of 12 Amaretto Sour Popsicles Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner get the recipe Summer celebrations call for boozy popsicles, like these amaretto sour pops that taste like a frozen version of the popular cocktail. Serve 'em with fresh orange slices and cherries for optimal refreshment. 04 of 12 Easy Ice Cream Cake The secret to this astonishingly simple four-ingredient dessert? Using ice cream sandwiches to build your cake. Marcus Nilsson get the recipe You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream cake! There's just something so delightful about ice cream you can slice into, and this cake is it. Make it with your choice of ice cream flavors, patriotically themed or otherwise. 05 of 12 Summer Ambrosia Jennifer Causey get the recipe Basically a fancy name for a fruit salad with marshmallows, let's give ambrosia the full comeback it deserves this summer. Fourth of July is a perfect time to breakout a retro dessert, especially this dressed-up one. RELATED: How to Store Strawberries So They Won't Spoil Quickly 06 of 12 Lemon Blueberry Cake Greg DuPree get the recipe The sweetness of mid-summer blueberries plus tart lemon pair so well in this cake that's basically lemonade in a pan. The top can even be decorated like an American flag, if you wish. 07 of 12 Banana Pudding Pie Bars With Meringue Brie Passano get the recipe A slab pie that's also a classic summer dessert with a fancy patisserie twist? Oh yes. The wafer-based crust just adds to the goodness of this treat, which is sure to reign in compliments for many seasons to come. 08 of 12 Melted Ice Cream Whoopie Pies Jennifer Causey get the recipe These brilliant three-ingredient ice cream sandwiches use melted ice cream in the cookies, so you can compliment the middle sandwich ice cream or mix and match for endlessly delicious combos. 09 of 12 Mixed Berry Ice Box Cake Greg DuPree get the recipe This ice box cake, made with buttery crackers, offers a supreme sweet and savory combo. The best part about this impressive treat is that you don't even need to turn on the oven. 10 of 12 Strawberry Ginger Slab Pie This easy, homespun pie is a great way to feed a crowd and would be an ideal addition to any bbq or picnic. But keep the season in mind when making it: summer strawberries are delicious, but tend to be juicier than their out-of-season counterparts, which means it may take a bit more cornstarch to thicken them. Get the recipe here. J Muckle get the recipe Slab pie is a perfect dessert to serve a crew at a potluck or picnic, and this pie goes oh so well with any summer day. The ginger brings out the bright flavor of the fruit, and a few star shapes within the crust on top can make this dessert feel extra festive. RELATED: 7 Strawberry Desserts That Celebrate Spring 11 of 12 Honey Whole Wheat Strawberry Clafoutis Kelsey Hansen get the recipe A strawberry baked good with nutritional benefits? Very good for you! In more ways than one. This clafoutis is amazing with a drizzle of honey on top, plus something creamy, like yogurt or ice cream. 12 of 12 Mint Chip Ice Cream Pie Yunhee Kim get the recipe Ice cream is maybe the best pie filling out there, especially when it's cushioned with fudge. Make this pie with one or more flavors, and have fun with the toppings. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit