37 Fourth of July Desserts for Your Post-Grill Chill
These showstopping Fourth of July dessert recipes are so bright and colorful, they might just inspire as many oohs and ahhs as the night sky set ablaze by Roman candles and starburst firecrackers. I’m talking about a lemony take on s’mores. A zesty frozen margarita in the form of a pie that’ll beat the summer heat. This nonnegotiable all-American dessert. And a festive pretty-in-pink-and-red layer cake that’s so fun even your grumpy uncle will “take a slice.” Whether you’re a loud and proud sweet tooth or someone just trying to make a boxed cake mix better, this list of dessert recipes for July Fourth has something for everyone. So grab a spoon—and don’t forget the sunscreen.
And if you’re looking for a few savory Fourth of July recipes to serve first, head this way →
Photograph by Rana Düzyol, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni1/37Strawberry Galette
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Kat Boystova, prop styling by Allie Wist2/37Classic Banana Pudding
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Summer Moore3/37Raspberry Cake With Whipped Cream Filling
This lighter-than-air cake is everything we want in a summer dessert recipe: tart raspberries and plush sponge swathed in layers of pink whipped cream.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca4/37Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
These ice cream sandwiches rely on an ultra-chewy chocolate chip cookie that stays soft, not snappy, once frozen and yields readily into the vanilla ice cream filling.
6/37Simple Strawberry Shortcakes
Don’t be pigeonholed by the name–use these lemon-scented cream biscuits as the main stage for very good whipped cream and an assortment of any summer fruits you fancy.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams7/37Triple-Chocolate Brownies
These fudge-like brownies might be the perfect dessert, especially when topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and fudge sauce. Take a batch to a Fourth of July party, the neighborhood BBQ, a church potluck, and any other social gathering on your calendar.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua8/37Yogurt-Berry Paletas
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca9/37Cheater’s Berry Crumb Pie
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca10/37Blueberry Muffin Cake
Peak-season blueberries meet toasty cinnamon granola in this dessert version of your favorite breakfast. We won’t judge if you cut into this Fourth of July cake before the guests arrive.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Kat Boytsova11/37Swirled No-Churn Thai Tea Ice Cream
The hardest part of this recipe is tracking down Thai tea mix (or waiting for it to arrive in the mail; psst, here’s a link)—but it’s worth it.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Jillian Knox, prop styling Sophie Peoples12/37Mixed Berry Bars With Brown Sugar Crust
The berry curd firms up while simultaneously softening the buttery brown sugar crust as these bars chill in the fridge. We highly recommend making this Fourth of July dessert the day before your party.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie13/37Miso White Chocolate–Macadamia Cookies
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.14/37Lush Vanilla Berry Pudding
Introducing banana pudding for banana haters. Juicy fresh berries pop in this extra-summery riff on the classic, layered with vanilla pudding and lots of crumbled Nilla Wafers.
Photo by Chelsie Craig15/37Easy Sheet Cake With Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting
This quintessential yellow sheet cake recipe feels classic Americana. Swap in red, white, and blue sprinkles for the funfetti, and you have a patriotic dessert for every summer occasion. (Head this way for a chocolate version with brown butter frosting.)
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca16/37Spiced Marshmallow Popcorn Bars
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Shilpa Uskokovic, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua17/37PB&J Dome Cake
PB&J is an American-born combination up there with pastrami on rye. Give the duo a showstopping presentation with this peanut butter–filled cake covered in a cloudlike strawberry cream.
Photograph by Scott Semler, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh18/37Ginger-Lime No-Bake Cheesecake Bars
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime20/37Rum-Soaked Fruit and Coconut Crisp Sundaes
Photograph by Rana Düzyol, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni21/37Strawberry-Biscoff Cheesecake Tart
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk22/37Blueberry and Peach Graham Galette
Alex Lau23/37Yellow Cupcakes
Think of these cupcakes as the blank canvas for all of your Fourth of July whimsy: Top with red, white, and blue sprinkles or decorate in multicolored frosting and assemble like an American flag.
Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Sean Dooley24/37BA’s Best Angel Food Cake
Celebrate Independence Day with this airy cake, lavished with a juicy medley of fresh berries. You’ll need just a few pantry staples (and a tube pan) to pull off this elegant bake, but precision is key.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Gözde Eker25/37Baked Alaska With Pistachio Brittle and Raspberry Curd
Give this old-school ice cream cake a flag cake–like spin by swapping in store-bought blueberry ice cream and sturdy homemade pound cake.
Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Simon Andrews, prop styling by Sophie Strangio26/37Cookies and Black Sesame Ice Cream
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio30/37Sour Cherry Cheesecake
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Chris Morocco, Prop Styling by Emily Eisen31/37Fresh Fruit Tart With Almond Press-In Crust
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li32/37Cherry Biscuit Cobbler
Topping the sweet cherry filling with shortcake-inspired biscuits keeps this cobbler crisp and golden brown—not stodgy—as the fruit bakes.
Photograph by Rana Düzyol, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni33/37Strawberry and Campari Sorbet Sundae
Blitzing Campari into strawberry sorbet gives the frozen dessert a lightly bitter backbone that makes the sweet fruit even more refreshing, especially when served over a luscious whipped Greek yogurt cream with crispy shattered meringues.
Eva Kolenko34/37Blueberry-Lemon Icebox Cake
The ripples of blueberry chia seed jam that run through the lemon cream give this no-bake dessert a geode-like aesthetic.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Anna Billingskog35/37Strawberry–Graham Galette
Unlike finicky pie dough, the graham cracker crust in this easy dessert recipe uses melted–not chilled butter–and holds up at room temperature for as long as you need.
Christopher Hirsheimer36/37Macerated Berries With Vanilla Cream
Spoon peak-summer berries over vanilla whipped cream and match the red, white, and blue theme without even trying. Round it out with the “king” of pound cakes.
Photograph by Scott Semler, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh37/37Strawberry-Pretzel Ice Cream Pie
