Fireworks & Frosting: 14 Treats for Your Fourth of July Gathering

Fireworks, laughter, good company—and of course, delicious desserts! What better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than with a spread of scrumptious treats? This year, ditch the store-bought cakes and impress your guests with homemade delights bursting with flavor and festivity.

From light and refreshing berry bars to decadent chocolate ice cream, and even a surprising savory option, this list has 14 amazing recipes to make your Fourth of July unforgettable. Whether you’re planning a backyard barbecue or an elegant gathering, you’ll find the perfect dessert to end the day on a sweet note.

Mixed Berries and Cream Bars

For these bars, we paired a slightly salty pretzel cake base with a cream filling and topped it off with a scattering of fresh berries. 

Upside-Down Heirloom Tomato Cornbread

What better way to celebrate tomato season than a savory cornbread bursting with summer flavor. Featuring a caramelized tomato top, our crisp Upside-Down Heirloom Tomato Cornbread from our May/June 2020 issue is made all the more delicious with smoked white Cheddar cheese and fresh corn in the batter. Buttermilk keeps this quick bread moist, and minced jalapeño adds just a pinch of heat. Whether serving as an impressive appetizer or stunning side dish, you can’t go wrong with this impressive dish at your table.

Peach Almond Cake

Fresh, juicy peach halves give this vanilla and buttermilk Peach Almond Cake bursts of color and concentrated sweet-tart flavor, while the addition of brandy to the homemade marzipan lends just the right amount of kick. 

Blueberry-Almond Galettes

Almond flour is finer than standard all-purpose. It absorbs more moisture from the dough, giving the buttermilk crusts of these Blueberry-Almond Galettes added crispness. A hint of tart lemon zest balances out the sweetness of the blueberries.

S’mores Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

Offering summer nostalgia by the slice, these S’mores Chocolate Cheesecake Bars bring gooey marshmallows, smooth chocolate, and decadent creaminess to the table. 

Strawberry Raspberry Cobbler

Traditional only in method, this Strawberry Raspberry Cobbler has a Middle Eastern flare with cardamom and rosewater. This cobbler made with cake batter soaks up the fruit’s flavorful juices as it bakes and develops a light, spongy crumb. Pistachios create a slightly crunchy texture that pairs well with the tender baked fruit. 

Roasted Piastachio Ice Cream

Using roasted, salted pistachios—and lots of them—makes this Roasted Pistachio Ice Cream irresistible.

Apple Crumb Pie

Traditional apple pie gets an updo with a creamy crème fraîche custard filling in this Apple Crumb Pie. Layers upon layers of crisp sweet apples are topped with a creamy base and baked until soft. With a splash of spiced rum and a crunchy Almond Streusel topping, this recipe begs for ice cream.

Strawberry Red Velvet Cake

In this sweet summer remake, red velvet cake gets a healthy helping of fresh strawberries added into the buttercream to create a Strawberry Red Velvet Cake that rivals the classic.

Deep Dark Chocolate Ice Cream 

Velvety and rich, this Deep Dark Chocolate Ice Cream is for those of us who simply Cannot. Get. Enough. Chocolate.

Icebox Key Lime Pie

Classic Key lime pie gets a spicy upgrade with our Gingersnap Crust flecked with crystallized ginger. The filling gets extra volume and its whipped consistency from a trio of  creamy ingredients: coconut cream, crème fraîche, and whipped cream. True to the original, this icebox pie is bursting with tangy, sweet-tart Key lime flavor.

Cherry Crumb Cake

Ditch the extravagant garnishes and towering layers for this simple and sophisticated one-layer cake that is guaranteed to impress. With a layer of cherries baked beneath the Ginger-Lime Crumb Topping, our elevated take on the cherry-limeade cake (a summertime classic) is even more beautiful after you cut into it. You’ll get a juicy burst of cherry in every bite.

Mascarpone Pretzel Strawberry Tart

By swapping the traditional cream cheese filling with vanilla bean-scented Mascarpone Cream and replacing the congealed topping with fresh strawberries, we’ve given this classic pastry a modern salty-sweet makeover.

Chocolate Buttercream Cake

This cake may be based on the classic 1-2-3-4 cake, but it’s anything but basic! Much like pound cake, the 1-2-3-4 cake gets its name from the proportions of its base ingredients: 1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups flour, 4 eggs.

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