I always make some colorful desserts for the 4th of July. Sometimes I break out the food coloring – after all, Red, White and Blue Whipped Cream looks good on just about anything! – but other times I rely on naturally colorful fruit to capture my reds and blues. So stock up on fresh blueberries, strawberries and raspberries this weekend and get ready to put some of these wonderful desserts on your menu.
My Red, White and Blue Berry Icebox Cake (above) is a great make-ahead dessert for hot weather entertaining because it doesn’t require any cooking! The dessert is made with layers of cheesecake-like whipped cream, graham crackers and fresh berries. It sets up in the refrigerator, then is ready to slice and serve, revealing layers of red, white and blue.
Raspberries and blueberries are packed into these fluffy Red, White and Blueberry Cupcakes, bringing lots of berry flavor to the classic vanilla cake batter. The cupcakes are topped with a red, white and blue swirled cream cheese icing that hints at the surprises you’ll find when you pull back the wrapper and bite into the cupcake.
These Strawberry Hand Pies are easy to make and perfectly shareable. That means that no plates or silverware are needed to serve these, making them an exceptional choice for barbecues and picnics all summer long. The tender pastry is packed with berries. They’re good as-is, and even better when paired with vanilla ice cream.
Red, White and Blue Push Pop Cakes are like individual berry trifles, with layers of cake, whipped cream, red strawberries and fresh blueberries. Served in special push pop containers, these treats look just as festive as they taste. If you don’t have the push pop containers, which you can pick up a baking/party-supply stores, you can layer the ingredients in individual dessert dishes.
IF you’re a blueberry fan, my Blueberry Streusel Pie should be right up your alley. This jammy pie is bursting with fresh blueberries and it is topped with a buttery, crisp streusel that is the perfect way to finish things off. This pie just might be a new summer tradition.
These All Natural Red, White and Blue Rice Krispy Treats get their gorgeous coloring from freeze dried fruit! Dried strawberries and blueberries both tint and flavor the red and blue layers of the cereal treats, while shredded coconut adds some texture to the white layer. They’re even better than the original and sure to be a hit with kids of all ages.
What do you think?