31 Spectacular Fourth of July Desserts

July 4th is just around the corner, and while we're celebrating America's independence, why not celebrate your natural gifts for making very impressive desserts? Oh, you're not a naturally gifted dessert-maker? No matter. We've rounded up dozens of over-the-top desserts that are both easy to execute and patriotically themed. While these are all stunners, you can always make any of them even more festive with accessories such as sparklers, America flag toothpicks, or by plating them on plates and stands with a patriotic theme. You could also use your culinary independence to go the more-savory route. Either way, use your imagination and be prepared for compliments about your stellar entertaining.

Related: Easy, Patriotic Foods to Bring to a Fourth of July Party

Sugar cookies may not be the first things that come to mind when you think "impressive desserts," but when this cake-sized version hits the celebration, it'll be anything but boring — despite the familiar flavors, the bold presentation is worthy of your party. Just make sure there's some cream of tartar and baking soda on hand for the baking to keep this giant cookie chewy and soft.

Recipe: Crazy for Crust

Related: The Best Classic Cookie Recipes

Ina Garten may not have invited us all to the Hamptons for the holiday, but she did create this delicious sheet cake recipe, so we can probably forgive her. The cake can be served right from the pan and makes for as many as 24 servings.

Recipe: Ina Garten

Recipe: Best Store-Bought Desserts From Costco

If you and your friends have '80s nostalgia — and an ice pops mold — this recipe will delight your palates and soothe your '80s-loving souls. The homemade magic shell is a tasty addition, but totally optional.

Recipe: No. 2 Pencil

Related: Things You Didn't Know About Jell-O

Panna cotta already sounds impressive, and would be lovely for any Independence Day party, but why not make it patriotic while you're at it? Layer red grenadine syrup, a coconut panna cotta, and blue curaçao — the edible glitter is optional, but a lot of fun.

Recipe: Sprinkle Bakes

Related: Restaurant-Worthy Twists on Boring Pantry Staples

Trust an almost 135-year-old American magazine to give us a recipe that's festive, scrumptious, and not terrible for the waistline: just berries and honey-ricotta topping on watermelon.

Recipe: Good Housekeeping

Related:: Cheap and Easy Ways to Enjoy Watermelon

This decadent red, white, and blue trifle is elegant and patriotic. It layers berries and pound cake with strawberry jam and vanilla pudding or, if you're feeling ambitious, cream custard.

Recipe: Saving Room for Dessert

Related: When to Buy Fresh Produce Year-Round

When you hear the name of this dessert, you probably first think, "Yum!" and then, "Oh, but that's probably hard to make." Fear not — it's only five ingredients, and comes together quickly and beautifully, with a big head start from one of the ingredients being store-bought red velvet cupcakes.

Recipe: Food Network

Related: Easy Frozen Desserts to Enjoy This Summer

For the grownups, these boozy firecracker strawberries will be the perfect way to get the celebration going. The recipe requires only 10 minutes, leaving you time to work on other parts of the meal or maybe even make another dessert. The spirit-inspired recipe calls for vodka, but if you prefer tequila or rum, use that instead. Whatever you soak the strawberries in, they're dunked in marshmallow fluff, then sprinkles.

Recipe: Delish

Related: The Best Vodka Under $30

Even the word "doughnut" makes people light up. We don't know what saying the name of this recipe for brioche doughnuts will do, but be prepared for some elation. Mention that you made the doughnuts yourself — it takes just about an hour for everything — and brace yourself to get an award on the spot.

Recipe: Half-Baked Harvest

Related: Expert Tips for Making Doughnuts at Home

Your friends who binged "The Great British Baking Show" on Netflix will be so impressed by this cake. You should be finished making it in less than an hour, too. The trick is to spread the red- and blue-dyed batters in the pan in alternating stripes.

Recipe: Taste and Tell

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Don't feel like spending more time in a hot kitchen? This dessert using cream cheese and whipped cream — no eggs or flour — is here for you. After setting up in the freezer, it's the perfect refreshing end to a backyard celebration.

Recipe: Down Redbud Drive

Related: Cheap and Easy Cheesecake Recipes

We can just hear guests exclaim, "You made us meringues?!" No one has to clue them in that meringues are actually quite easy to make, though you'll need to know how to use piping bag and have a piping tip and small paint brush on hand. (Why? To make the lines of red and blue food coloring that'll come out on the meringues.)

Recipe: Farmgirl Gourmet

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Chefs everywhere are obsessed with nutty, toasty brown butter (another thing that sounds much harder to make than it is). This recipe uses that lovely flavor, which becomes ethereal when paired with fresh summer berries.

Recipe: Bakerita

Whether you serve these at the end of the meal for dessert or as a welcome nibble to start things off on the right foot, guests will love them. Feel free to sub in another flavor of vodka for the vanilla version, but don't skip their dip in white chocolate and blue sprinkles.

Recipe: Funny Is Family

Related: Boozy Milkshake Recipes You're Going to Love

These little bite-sized stars are a delightful and refreshing treat. The gelatin is the color in the white of sweetened condensed milk, and you'll ned to pick up a star-shaped cookie-cutter unless you plan to carve each out by hand.

Recipe: Brown Eyed Baker

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People may not serve candy bars as dessert very often, but most people also don't make their own patriotic versions for July 4th parties — including homemade nougat. These are a great option if you don't want to serve a huge dessert but still want to make a confectionary impression suitable for our country's birthday. 

Recipe: Cherry Tea Cakes via PopSugar

Related: How to Make Classic Childhood Candies

Mousse is another dessert that sounds much trickier to make than it actually is — this one by Sarah Jampel is a no-bake, no-freeze dessert with three ingredients that takes only 20 minutes to make. But it's elegant and holiday-appropriate.

Recipe: Food52

Related: Delicious Recipes That Don't Require an Oven

Need an over-the-top Fourth of July dessert that leans to the healthier side? Try this treat in which the fruit is supplemented by lemon yogurt and marshmallows. No one will miss the extra carbs or calories.

Recipe: Betty Crocker

Related: 50 Easy Salads to Make the Most of Summer Produce

We would be thrilled to be served an ice cream cake — and a homemade one, at that — on one of the hottest holidays of the year. But this recipe takes it above and beyond.

Recipe: Food52

Related: Irresistible Ice Cream Flavors You Can Get at the Grocery Store

Goat cheese sounds (and is) fancy and elegant, so why not make this rustic, not-too-sweet recipe for the Fourth? Use a high-quality, American-made goat cheese for maximum USA pride.

Recipe: Food & Wine

Related: The Funkiest Cheeses in the World

Want an ice cream cone? Or do you want a cupcake? Why settle for just one? Make this recipe for the best of both, in which the trick is pouring cake batter into the cones to bake, then giving them a festive topping.

Recipe: Our Family of Seven

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Enjoying dessert while watching the fireworks? Make this tasty popcorn with dripped  chocolate and your guests will be dazzled.

Recipe: JaMonkey

Related: 50 Ways to Get Creative With Your Popcorn

There's nothing like serving dessert in a mason jar to say, "This dessert tastes and looks beautiful, but will be neither fussy nor overdone." These overdeliver on flavor and feel fresh, yet decadent. One is just 270 calories, even with angel food cake.

Recipe: Woman's Day

Related: 50 Easy Recipes You Can Make in 20 Minutes or Less

This deconstructed cake is another one calling for candy melts. It's easy to make but is a real stunner, especially if you insert sparklers for extra pizzazz.

Recipe: Betty Crocker

Related: Betty Crocker-Era Holiday Recipes That We Secretly Love

Sometimes, the old staple desserts with just a bit extra are the best way to wow a crowd. This pie with Fourth of July stars will impress your guests, especially with a dollop of whipped cream on top. But just because it's easy to make doesn't mean it's fast: From prep time through cooling to serving, it'll take about seven hours.

Recipe: Sally's Baking Addiction

Related: Classic Pie Recipes

This recipe isn't quite America-themed, but also isn't quite not America-themed. What's more American than hot dogs? Or even cupcakes? They were invented in the U.S., and this one uses 16 of them (along with a few food colorings and pastry bags with medium tips). Maybe the cleverest element is using green gummy bears for relish.

Recipe: Food Network

Related: Best Cupcakes in Every State

Here's a recipe for doughnuts guaranteed to put a smile on the face of anyone who eats them.

Recipe: Inside Bru Crew Life

Related: Unique Doughnuts You Have to Try

Perfect for a hot summer day, this recipe offers a refreshing Fourth of July-themed treat. Add some booze if you want — tequila, vodka, or rum would work well. Just start by picking up some lemonade, frozen strawberries or raspberries, blueberries, coconut milk, and agave nectar. 

Recipe: Kitchen Confidante

Blogger Deb Perelman is known for delicious, everyday-friendly recipes, and this gorgeous galette is no exception. There's no need to tell your guests that "galette" is more or less French for "pie, but way easier to make": about 15 minutes of prep time and twice that to bake.

Recipe: Smitten Kitchen

Related: Traditional Holiday Dishes From Around the World

It's ice cream! It's a sandwich! It's July 4th-appropriate! Wins all around for this recipe pairing chocolate flavor with patriotic candies.

Recipe: Pip and Ebby

Related: Which Ice Cream Sandwich is the Best?

Hosting an all-adult celebration this year? Why not start out the festivities with these Jell-O shots? They're 100% guaranteed to get the fun (and patriotism) going.

Recipe: Hoosier Homemade

Discover more fun and festive recipes right here.