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Red, White, and Blue Dessert Recipes for 4th of July

Patriotic Fruit Pizza with Pecan Shortbread Crust

Want to know the best way (in my mind) to make your 4th of July super patriotic? Serve a dessert that’s red, white, and blue!

Torrey Moseley’s (Dallas, TX) Patriotic Fruit Pizza with Pecan Shortbread Crust is a show-stopping dessert.

“I love fruit pizzas, but am always a bit disappointed when it comes to the crust,” shares Torrey. “Usually, the crust is a plain-Jane sugar cookie crust… but mine sports a pecan shortbread crust that is TO DIE FOR.”

Torrey’s pecan shortbread crust really sets this apart from your average fruit pizza recipe. It’s crisp and sweet but isn’t overly sweet. Her cream cheese spread is thick and the orange zest is just enough to give the mixture a little citrus flavor. We used strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple as suggested and the combination was fabulous. This is a really cute dessert!

“I make this EVERY year on the Fourth of July,” says Faye Patterson (Erie, PA) of her Fourth of July Cheesecake. “My family looks forward to it and the little ones love to help decorate the top. It’s one of my favorite traditions.”

Faye’s cheesecake is both delicious AND fun. The vanilla wafer crust is delicious with the creamy cheesecake. If you like a crispier crust, I suggest baking it for a bit (maybe 10 minutes) before adding the cheesecake filling. This recipe can be prepared a day or two ahead of time too. Just save decorating until right before serving.

Fresh and fruity, Christi Capps’ (Nashville, GA) American Angel Food Parfait is a sweet ending to July 4th. “It’s a great, light dessert anytime,” thinks Christi… I do too.

Using store-bought angel food cake means this dessert comes together in a jiffy. Chunks of cake are layered with whipped topping, blueberries and raspberries (or strawberries). It’s extremely easy to make and is a great option if you’re asked to bring a dessert last minute. This creamy dish is light as a feather and tastes like a dream… a good dream.

Want an adult-only dessert? Try Robin DuPree’s (Coldspring, TX) Red Wine Ice Cream with Walnuts and Cherries – OMG! We were intrigued by this ice cream recipe and honestly wasn’t sure if we were going to like it. We didn’t like it, we loved it.

The spices set the tone for this creamy treat. Individually the flavors aren’t special but combined they’re magical. Fresh cherries and walnuts add sweetness to balance out the spices. This ice cream recipe is unique, unusual, and a great treat for adults.

If you are looking for more Fourth of July ideas, check out this recipe collection. It’s filled with fun and festive recipes perfect for 4th of July. Happy Pinching!