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12 Patriotic Make-Ahead Desserts for July 4th Celebration

Celebrate Independence Day with these delicious and visually stunning make-ahead desserts, perfect for your July 4th gatherings.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Berry Layered Parfait
  • 2 cups Greek yogurt plain or vanilla
  • 1 cup mixed berries strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
  • 1 cup granola
  • 2 tablespoons honey optional for sweetness
Red, White, and Blue Jello Cups
  • 3 cups water divided
  • 1 cup strawberry jello
  • 1 cup blue raspberry jello
  • 1 cup whipped cream for topping
Patriotic Fruit Pizza
  • 1 package sugar cookie dough store-bought or homemade
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup sliced strawberries
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup sliced bananas
Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes
  • 1 box vanilla cake mix plus ingredients required on the box
  • 1 cup red food coloring
  • 1 cup blue food coloring
  • 2 cups buttercream frosting white
  • 1 cup sprinkles red, white, and blue
Berry Trifle
  • 1 package angel food cake cubed
  • 2 cups mixed berries strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
  • 2 cups whipped cream
Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake
  • 1 package cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup whipped cream
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup strawberries
  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs for crust
Frozen Berry Pops
  • 2 cups mixed berries
  • 1 cup yogurt plain or flavored
  • 1 tablespoon honey optional
Red, White, and Blue Parfaits
  • 2 cups vanilla yogurt
  • 1 cup strawberries sliced
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup granola
Red Velvet Cake
  • 1 box red velvet cake mix plus ingredients required on the box
  • 2 cups cream cheese frosting
  • 1 cup chocolate shavings for garnish
Berry Sorbet
  • 4 cups mixed berries
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Patriotic Cake Pops
  • 1 box cake mix any flavor
  • 1 cup white chocolate for coating
  • 1 cup red and blue sprinkles
Red, White, and Blue Rice Krispie Treats
  • 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 package marshmallows
  • 1 cup red and blue M&Ms

Method
 

Berry Layered Parfait
  1. Layer Greek yogurt, mixed berries, and granola in cups. Drizzle with honey if desired. Chill until serving.
Red, White, and Blue Jello Cups
  1. Prepare strawberry jello according to package instructions and pour into cups. Chill until set. Repeat with blue raspberry jello. Top with whipped cream before serving.
Patriotic Fruit Pizza
  1. Bake sugar cookie dough according to package instructions. Cool, then spread cream cheese mixed with powdered sugar on top. Decorate with sliced strawberries, blueberries, and bananas.
Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes
  1. Prepare vanilla cake mix according to package instructions. Divide batter into three bowls, dye one red, one blue, and leave one white. Bake and cool. Frost with buttercream and decorate with sprinkles.
Berry Trifle
  1. In a trifle dish, layer cubed angel food cake, mixed berries, and whipped cream. Repeat layers and chill until ready to serve.
Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake
  1. Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped cream. Layer graham cracker crumbs, cheesecake mixture, strawberries, and blueberries in a dish. Chill until set.
Frozen Berry Pops
  1. Blend mixed berries, yogurt, and honey until smooth. Pour into molds and freeze until solid.
Red, White, and Blue Parfaits
  1. Layer vanilla yogurt, sliced strawberries, and blueberries in cups. Top with granola before serving.
Red Velvet Cake
  1. Prepare red velvet cake mix according to package instructions. Bake and cool. Frost with cream cheese frosting and garnish with chocolate shavings.
Berry Sorbet
  1. Blend mixed berries, sugar, and lemon juice until smooth. Freeze until firm, stirring occasionally.
Patriotic Cake Pops
  1. Bake cake mix according to package instructions. Crumble and mix with frosting. Form into balls, dip in melted white chocolate, and coat with sprinkles.
Red, White, and Blue Rice Krispie Treats
  1. Melt butter and marshmallows, then mix with Rice Krispies. Divide into three portions, dye one red, one blue, and leave one white. Press into a pan and cut into squares.

Notes

These desserts can be made a day in advance for convenience. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.