Red, White, and Blue Recipes

Fourth of July weekend fills the air with sparkling fireworks, sounds of kids laughing outside, and sizzling smells of barbecued vegetables and meats on the grill. We drive to family and friends to celebrate patriotic freedoms and eat good All-American foods. Show your spirit with red, white, and blue inspired recipes. Make a flag cake or a creamy pie. Grab a handful of fresh berries, catch the popsicle drippings down your arm, and sip a little bubbly for joyous day in the sun.

Start Slideshow

1 of 55

Sparkling Ice Cream Floats with Berries

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Sparkling Ice Cream Floats with Berries Recipe

Who knew the ultimate summer dessert would be the simplest you’ve ever made? These delightfully sweet and boozy floats take only a few ingredients and about two seconds to whip up, but trust us—they are always sure to impress. Rossini is a sparkling wine beverage, usually Prosecco-based, that is mixed with strawberries and raspberries. It is sweeter and fruitier than a rosé or other sparkling wine so it makes a delicious combination with rich vanilla ice cream (we especially love Häagen-Dazs brand here). We found a great one at Trader Joe’s for just about $6, but if you have a hard time finding rossini, you can definitely use your favorite rosé.

2 of 55

Blueberry Bread Pudding With Lemon Hard Sauce image

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Pam Lolley

3 of 55

Tahini-Blueberry Sheet Cake With Strawberry Buttercream

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Pam Lolley

Tahini-Blueberry Sheet Cake With Strawberry Buttercream Recipe

Perfect for a graduation party or summer cookout, this impressive dessert offers the ease and crowd-friendly factor that we associate with a sheet cake, as well as a delightful twist of creativity and surprising vibrancy with the incorporation of tahini and fresh berries. If you have a jar of the trendy sesame seed paste hanging out in your pantry, trust us—it’s high time to go beyond hummus and welcome it into your dessert life. Tahini lends a delicious toasty quality to the tender cake while fresh blueberries dotted throughout the batter balance this nutty depth with their bright, juicy sweetness. A simple strawberry buttercream ties everything together and makes for a low-effort, eye-catching presentation.

4 of 55

Watermelon-Strawberry-Granola Breakfast Bowls

Photo: Alison Miksch

Watermelon-Strawberry-Granola Breakfast Bowls Recipe

Why toss the rind? Jumpstart sunny summer days by filling them with peak-season watermelon, strawberries, and chopped mint.

5 of 55

Rosé-Poached Berries Are the Warm Weather Dessert You Deserve

Photo by Victor Protasio

Rosé-Poached Berries Are the Warm Weather Dessert You Deserve Recipe

Fresh strawberries briefly and gently poach in vanilla- and thyme-scented rosé wine for a versatile spring condiment: Serve it for dessert over ice cream, angel food cake, or pound cake; or use it at breakfast to top your yogurt or oatmeal. You can also try this technique with raspberries or blackberries if they’re more plentiful at the farmers market. If your rosé is on the sweet side, start with 1 tablespoon of honey, and add more as needed.

6 of 55

Strawberry Dream Cake

Photo: Greg Dupree Styling: Ginny Branch

Strawberry Dream Cake Recipe

This gorgeous cake is even more amazing when you slice into it, revealing the rows of perfect strawberries.

7 of 55

Deep Eddy Blueberry Lemon Drop Pop

Time Inc. Video Studio

Deep Eddy Blueberry Lemon Drop Pop Recipe

These adult ice pops are the perfect refreshing summer treat. We made ours using Deep Eddy vodka as we find it to be exceptionally vibrant in flavor, but feel free to use your own favorite brand of flavored vodka. Raspberries would also be a delicious fruit to highlight in these bright and boozy pops.

8 of 55

Berry Cobbler with Pecan Sandie Streusel

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Berry Cobbler with Pecan Sandie Streusel Recipe

The toasty, nutty streusel topping is a surprising twist on the classic berry cobbler.

9 of 55

Rosé Sangria

Time Inc. Video Studio

Rosé Sangria Recipe

Perfect for any spring or summer gathering, this bubbly, refreshing rosé sangria is as easy to make as it is to sip. The fruity base of berry puree and vodka could easily be prepped ahead of time and chilled so that all that’s left to do is pour in your sparkling water and rosé right before serving. You could even prepare the sangria in single portions for more of a custom cocktail feel, having a small amount of puree, vodka, and fresh fruit ready to go in glasses when guests arrive; then, simply top each off with bubbly as needed. To switch things up, you could also substitute fresh peaches and/or raspberries in place of the strawberries used to create the puree. Try freezing some of the fresh fruits you plan to include (such as grapes and berries) beforehand in order to keep the beverage cool.

10 of 55

Blueberry Corn Muffins

Photographer: Gina DeSimone; Prop stylist: Kashara Johnson; Food Stylist: Briana Riddock

Blueberry Corn Muffins Recipe

When blueberries are in season, you find a reason to tuck them into just about anything and everything. Why? Because a burst of blueberry has a way of making almost everything better; that’s certainly the case with these corn muffins. Plump summer blueberries and corn are simply meant for one another. The fresh berries bring a fresh sweetness to the muffins, as well as moisture that makes for an insanely tender muffin. The buttermilk in this recipe is also key to achieving an exceptionally soft, rich muffin. The muffins bake at a high temperature in order to to get the golden color and crispy edges that you expect from classic cornbread. These hearty and delightful muffins are ideal both for a relaxed weekend brunch with friends, as well as an on-the-go breakfast while running out the door in the morning.

11 of 55

Lemonade Blueberry Pops

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Emma Star Jensen

Lemonade Blueberry Pops Recipe

These popsicles turn a pale pink thanks to a little kitchen chemistry when the blue pigment in the berries meets the acid in the lemonade. You can use any mold you like for these popsicles, but you'll get a different number of pops depending on the mold size.

12 of 55

Mixed Berry Cream Pie with Double Chocolate Crust

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Mixed Berry Cream Pie with Double Chocolate Crust Recipe

Brushing red currant jelly onto the berries makes them shine, like those fruit tarts you see in bakeries. If you can't find red currant jelly, use strawberry jelly (don't subsitute jam or preserves).

13 of 55

Bordeaux-Style Strawberries

Photo: Erin Kunkel Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Bordeaux-Style Strawberries Recipe

In Bordeaux, where châteaus and vineyards abound, a typical dessert is fresh strawberries sliced into a red wine glass and then topped with a great Bordeaux. Here, that regional tradition is adapted to make it more dessert-like. If you're pressed for time, do as the Bordelais do--quick and easy.

14 of 55

Cherry Berry Cocktail

Photo: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Cherry Berry Cocktail Recipe

This vodka cocktail is berry bliss. Garnish with a handful of your favorite berries skewered on a cocktail pick or straw.

15 of 55

Stuffed Berries

Photo: Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline Cunningham

Stuffed Berries Recipe

By stuffing hollowed out strawberries with a scrumptious mixture of cream cheese, powdered sugar, and amaretto, you end up with a delectable treat that's bound to disappear off of summer plates.

16 of 55

Nectarine-Blueberry Crisp

Photographer Victor Protasio, Prop Stylist Mindi Shapiro, Food Stylist Anna Hampton

Nectarine-Blueberry Crisp Recipe

With a buttery, crunch-tastic oat and brown sugar topping partnered with the super simple filling that highlights the best of what ripe berries and stone fruit have to offer, this sweet and satisfying crisp is the ultimate in summer desserts.

17 of 55

Stovetop Summer Fruit Crisp

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Stovetop Summer Fruit Crisp Recipe

Traditional? No. Delicious? Oh, yes. This quick-fix take hits all the highlights of a classic berry crisp--syrupy-sweet fruit, crisp topping, and cool cream--in a fraction of the time.

18 of 55

Blue Velvet Dream

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Blue Velvet Dream Recipe
This fruity drink is truly a dream. Blue Curaçao gives the drink its signature blue color, while the velvet falernum adds a splash of sweet and spicy vibes.

19 of 55

Ricotta Lemon-Blueberry Waffles

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Ricotta Lemon-Blueberry Waffles Recipe

A sweet berry mixture tops these ricotta cheese-flavored waffles.

20 of 55

American Flag Cheesecake Bars

Photo: Ryan Benyl; Styling: Stephana Bottom

American Flag Cheesecake Bars Recipe
Show your pride by flying the flag and also serving it for dessert. Betsy Ross would be proud.

21 of 55

Strawberry Shortcake Deep-Dish Skillet Cookie

Photo: Alison Miksch

Strawberry Shortcake Deep-Dish Skillet Cookie Recipe

Everyone's favorite summer berry dessert gets transformed into a giant deep-dish skillet cookie. White chocolate chips, bits of pound cake and sliced strawberries join forces to create this fruity indulgence that gives a chocolate chip cookie a run for its money. Mix in other fresh berries for a varied flavor and slightly adapted take on strawberry shortcake.

22 of 55

Easy Berry Tart

Easy Berry Tart Recipe

This vibrant and impressive dessert literally couldn’t get any easier.

23 of 55

Berry Tartlets

Photo: Eva Kolenko; Styling: Kelly Allen

Berry Tartlets Recipe

These dainty little tarts have an unusual depth of character, thanks to their graham-cracker-like crusts.

24 of 55

Red, White and Blue Ice Pops

Red, White and Blue Ice Pops Recipe
Celebrate red, white, and blue all summer long with these patriotic ice pops. The secret ingredient is a blue sports drink, along with cranberry juice and lemonade. They’re easy enough for the kids to make themselves.

25 of 55

Strawberry-Blueberry Cheesecake

Photo: Oxmoor House

Strawberry-Blueberry Cheesecake Recipe
This luscious cheesecake is a showcase for the season's freshest, sweetest berries. With all its red, white, and blue, it's perfect for your next Fourth of July party or summer gathering.

26 of 55

White Balsamic-Marinated Berries with Sweet Buttermilk Curd

Photo: Christopher Testani; Styling: Thom Driver

White Balsamic-Marinated Berries with Sweet Buttermilk Curd Recipe

This creamy dessert is a mix of sweet, tart, and tangy sensations. Honey granules are available at specialty markets or online at amazon.com. You can double this recipe to serve a larger crowd. Use 2 bowls to freeze the buttermilk, and thaw simultaneously in 2 colanders. There is a considerable amount of whey once the buttermilk thaws. Don't toss it all; Doug Flicker recommends using it for an added boost in smoothies or adding it to cream soups and sauces for a tangy touch of acidity.

27 of 55

Gingered Blueberry Shortcake

Photo: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Cindy Barr

Gingered Blueberry Shortcake Recipe
Sweet, juicy, peak-season berries make this dish shine. For convenience, make the berry mixture, whipped cream, and shortcakes in advance, then assemble just before serving. Prepare the berry mixture and whipped cream earlier in the day, and refrigerate; bring berry mixture to room temperature or warm slightly in a pan before serving. Make the shortcakes as time permits, freeze them, then defrost at room temperature when ready to serve.

28 of 55

Red, White, and Blue Ice-Cream Cake

Red, White, and Blue Ice-Cream Cake Recipe
Celebrate the 4th of July with a sweet salute! This patriotic spin on ice-cream cake is the coolest dessert of the summer!

29 of 55

Quick Berry Frozen Yogurt

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Quick Berry Frozen Yogurt Recipe
Quick Berry Frozen Yogurt is described by one tester as "a melt-in-your-mouth experience like no other!" Quick Berry Frozen Yogurt is definitely a summer treat you and your family will love.

30 of 55

Celebration Cupcakes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Celebration Cupcakes Recipe
Make your cupcakes red, white, and blue with the use of red and blue food coloring. Decorate with red and blue sprinkles, and, if you're feeling particularly patriotic, Star Cookies on a stick.

31 of 55

Red Velvet-Berry Cobbler

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Red Velvet-Berry Cobbler Recipe
Top this festive treat with scoops of homemade Cream Cheese Ice Cream for a cool summery twist on the classic Southern layer cake.

32 of 55

Red, White, and Blue Layer Cake

Photo: Jonny Valiant; Styling: Linda Hirst

Red, White, and Blue Layer Cake Recipe
This colorful layered cake plays in the patriotic colors of the Fourth of July.

33 of 55

Greek Yogurt with Warm Black and Blueberry Sauce

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Greek Yogurt with Warm Black and Blueberry Sauce Recipe

For a sweet, fruity treat that won't cost you a days-worth of calories, this simple yogurt bowl is the perfect solution. When making this Greek Yogurt with Warm Black and Blueberry Sauce in the summer, substitute fresh berries for frozen. This sauce also pairs well with biscuits or as a stand-in for syrup on pancakes.

34 of 55

Star-Spangled Sundaes

Photo: Mark Ferri

Star-Spangled Sundaes Recipe
Sure, you can make sundaes out of almost anything, but when you’re going for a patriotic theme, choose red, white and blue sprinkles, candy and ice cream. And don’t forget the cherry on top.

35 of 55

All-Star Berry Tart

All-Star Berry Tart Recipe
Rich pastry cream provides the white and raspberries and blueberries in the shape of a star are the red and blue in this colorful holiday dessert. It’s a super-easy recipe that’s sure to impress your guests.

36 of 55

Smoked Cherry Bombs

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Smoked Cherry Bombs Recipe
Petite phyllo parcels are stuffed with a creamy almond filling and topped off with dye-free smoked cherries. Serve these at a patriotic barbecue and let freedom ring!

37 of 55

Berry Cream Tart

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Berry Cream Tart Recipe
Spread a sweet cream cheese filling over a refrigerated pie crust and top with fresh berries. Unfurl your creative spirit as you arrange the berries on the tart.

38 of 55

Star Berry Cobblers

Star Berry Cobblers Recipe
These individual cobblers are full of your favorite berries and are topped with homemade biscuits! Use July 4th themed cookie cutters to cut the biscuits into festive shapes.

39 of 55

Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes

Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes Recipe
This is a real dandy. It would be a great addition to your July 4th celebration spread. The amusing effect of the swirled frosting can be duplicated using any colors for any occasion, but we think it's very necessary for July 4th!

40 of 55

Blueberry Cobbler with Sugared Star Shortcakes

Photo: Becky Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Blueberry Cobbler with Sugared Star Shortcakes Recipe
Take a shortcut and use refrigerated biscuits for the star-shaped shortcakes. If you want to be really technical about including red with the white and the blue, toss in some fresh raspberries or sliced strawberries.

41 of 55

Red, White and Blue Parfaits

Photo: Ryan Benyl; Styling: Stephana Bottom

Red, White and Blue Parfaits Recipe
Make a creamy vanilla pudding and layer it with cherry or strawberry gelatin and blueberries for a super-easy make-ahead dessert.

42 of 55

Betsy Ross Martini

Betsy Ross Martini Recipe
These adorable martinis are just begging to be served at your next Fourth of July celebration, so raise your glass to Betsy and thank your lucky stars for the USA!

43 of 55

Blueberry Fool with Raspberries

Blueberry Fool with Raspberries Recipe
No, we’re not talking about the politicians. In the culinary world, a fool is an old-fashioned dessert made of cooked, pureed fruit that’s strained and folded into whipped cream. Here, the blueberry fool is layered with raspberries and plain whipped cream for a colorful dessert.

44 of 55

Grand Old Flag Cake

Photo: Mark Ferri

Grand Old Flag Cake Recipe
Celebrate any American holiday with this festive, fruit-covered chocolate cake. It's sure to stand out at even the most festive picnic.

45 of 55

Red, White, and Blue Pops

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Red, White, and Blue Pops Recipe
Keep the layers distinct by fully freezing each one before adding the next.

46 of 55

Captain America Cupcakes

Beth Branch

Captain America Cupcakes Recipe
Captain America Cupcakes are super easy to make with our pintable Captain America cupcake topper stencils. These cupcakes are perfect for superhero birthday parties, and even for the 4th of July!

47 of 55

Red, White, and Blue Cake

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Red, White, and Blue Cake Recipe
Slice a red velvet cake into four layers and fill with whipped cream and berries for a dessert that's worthy of fireworks.

48 of 55

Stars-and-Stripes Cherry Pie

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Stars-and-Stripes Cherry Pie Recipe
Let your inner pastry chef shine as you cut stars and stripes from refrigerated pie crusts to make a patriotic pie.

49 of 55

Citrus-Berry Parfait

Photo: Dasha Wright; Styling: Linda Hirst

Citrus-Berry Parfait Recipe
This sundae-style recipe is elegant and simple, with silky Greek yogurt and plenty of antioxidant-rich blackberries and blueberries.

50 of 55

Red, White, and Blue Toasted Oat Scones

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Red, White, and Blue Toasted Oat Scones Recipe

If you have trouble finding dried blueberries, swap in additional dried cherries or another tender dried fruit. Toasted nuts would also make a dandy substitution and provide textural contrast.

51 of 55

Red, White, and Blue Berry Cake

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Red, White, and Blue Berry Cake Recipe

52 of 55

Warmed Berries with Honey and Fresh Cheese

Photo: Erin Kunkel Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Warmed Berries with Honey and Fresh Cheese Recipe

You may adapt this dessert to your taste by adjusting the blend of berries, the amount of honey, or even the amount of cheese. The idea is luxury in the amount of berries. Fromage blanc is wonderfully subtle; you can sub Greek yogurt, which is tangier.

53 of 55

Berry Swirl Gelato Cake

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Berry Swirl Gelato Cake Recipe

Store-bought waffle cones and gelato bring this impressive dessert together. We like Talenti brand gelato for its softer, easy-to-spread texture.

54 of 55

Summer Berry Tartlets

Oxmoor House

Summer Berry Tartlets Recipe
The choice of berry is yours for these tasty bite-sized treats. We loved them with both blackberries and raspberries and photographed both versions.

Replay gallery

Account

Red, White, and Blue Recipes

1 of 55

Sparkling Ice Cream Floats with Berries

2 of 55

3 of 55

Tahini-Blueberry Sheet Cake With Strawberry Buttercream

4 of 55

Watermelon-Strawberry-Granola Breakfast Bowls

5 of 55

Rosé-Poached Berries Are the Warm Weather Dessert You Deserve

6 of 55

Strawberry Dream Cake

7 of 55

Deep Eddy Blueberry Lemon Drop Pop

8 of 55

Berry Cobbler with Pecan Sandie Streusel

9 of 55

Rosé Sangria

10 of 55

Blueberry Corn Muffins

11 of 55

Lemonade Blueberry Pops

12 of 55

Mixed Berry Cream Pie with Double Chocolate Crust

13 of 55

Bordeaux-Style Strawberries

14 of 55

Cherry Berry Cocktail

15 of 55

Stuffed Berries

16 of 55

Nectarine-Blueberry Crisp

17 of 55

Stovetop Summer Fruit Crisp

18 of 55

Blue Velvet Dream

19 of 55

Ricotta Lemon-Blueberry Waffles

20 of 55

American Flag Cheesecake Bars

21 of 55

Strawberry Shortcake Deep-Dish Skillet Cookie

22 of 55

Easy Berry Tart

23 of 55

Berry Tartlets

24 of 55

Red, White and Blue Ice Pops

25 of 55

Strawberry-Blueberry Cheesecake

26 of 55

White Balsamic-Marinated Berries with Sweet Buttermilk Curd

27 of 55

Gingered Blueberry Shortcake

28 of 55

Red, White, and Blue Ice-Cream Cake

29 of 55

Quick Berry Frozen Yogurt

30 of 55

Celebration Cupcakes

31 of 55

Red Velvet-Berry Cobbler

32 of 55

Red, White, and Blue Layer Cake

33 of 55

Greek Yogurt with Warm Black and Blueberry Sauce

34 of 55

Star-Spangled Sundaes

35 of 55

All-Star Berry Tart

36 of 55

Smoked Cherry Bombs

37 of 55

Berry Cream Tart

38 of 55

Star Berry Cobblers

39 of 55

Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes

40 of 55