The best way to end an Independence Day party is to have a variety of delicious July 4th desserts for guests. Bake a variety of 4th of July dessert recipes so guests can have many options for a sweet way to end the day.

Here are some delicious July 4th dessert ideas for your party:

Pay tribute to the American flag with 4th of July cookie designs inspired by the stars and stripes. This dessert option can be made ahead of time and is always popular with kids. If you're looking for an edible 4th of July party favor, package up a handful of patriotic star cookies in a cute container. Finish with a curled ribbon! Here's an easy recipe we love:

• 2 3/4 c. flour
 • 1 tsp. baking soda
 • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
 • 1 c. butter, softened at room temperature
 • 1.5 c. granulated sugar
 • 1 egg
 • 1 tsp. vanilla extract

1) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

2) In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually, blend in the dry ingredients. 

3) Roll out a good amount of dough to about 1/4” thick, and use star cookie cutters to cut out shapes.

4) Place onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until golden. Let stand on the cookie sheet until cool enough to move onto wire racks. Once fully cooked, have fun decorating! 

Jello is a light, but satisfying July 4th dessert. Make either a cherry, raspberry or strawberry jello, and add in fruits such as tangerine oranges, walnuts, dried cranberries and pieces of apple. For patriotic July 4th dessert recipes, make jello using molds in the shapes of flags or stars.  If you're feeling particularly creative, layer strawberry jello and pina colada jello in a glass. We love this fun and easy recipe for layered red and white layered jello cups: 

Ingredients
 
• 1 3-oz. package of red Jello
• 2 c. boiling water, divided
• 1 packet of unflavored gelatin
• 1 c. milk, divided
• 3 tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 4 serving glasses 

1) Pour the packet of red Jello into a small bowl. Stir in 1 c. boiling water for 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.

2) Equally divide the prepared red Jello between your 4 serving glasses. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes, or until it has started to set. 

3) Prepare the white layer next. Mix one packet of unflavored gelatin in a small bowl with 1/4 c. cold milk. Heat the remaining 3/4 c. milk over high heat just until boiling, then remove. (Do no scald!)

4) Add 3 tbsp. sugar and 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Stir until dissolved, then mix with the cold milk and gelatin mixture. Stir until combined, and allow to cool.

5) Evenly pour the white Jello over the red layer in your serving glasses. Return all glasses to the refrigerator and set for about 3-4 hours. Enjoy!

 

 

Red velvet cupcakes are both festive and scrumptious. Bake the cupcakes in festive red, white, and blue cupcake liners. Once the cupcakes have cooled, ice them with whipped cream cheese frosting. Use some graham cracker or pie crust crumbs, and sprinkle a thin layer over the frosting. Purchase star and flag picks to decorate the cupcakes.
  

Red, white and blue lollipops make great 4th of July desserts. Purchase red, white and blue chocolate; or make the colorful chocolate yourself by buying white chocolate and adding food coloring. Visit your local craft store to find lollipop molds in the shape of stars, flags or Uncle Sam’s hat! Don’t forget to place sticks in the lollipops before they set and cool. Patriotic lollipops also make fantastic July 4th party favors!
  

Cake drops make for both delicious and decorative Fourth of July desserts. Make the cake drops using cake mix, frosting and a three ounce chocolate bar. Begin by making and cooking the cake mix; or bake a cake from scratch. Once the cake is done cooking in the oven, crumble it and place it into a mixing bowl. Add the frosting into the bowl and mix the crumbled cake and frosting until they are blended together. Next, warm the chocolate bar until it is in liquid form. Create balls of the cake mix and frosting mixture by using a melon scooper. Use a fork to pick up each cake ball, and dip it in the chocolate. Place the cake ball on a piece of wax paper to set. Consider sprinkling nuts, graham cracker crumbs, or red, white and blue sprinkles on the top of the cake drops.

If your July 4th party is a potluck, make sure to have enough desserts. Depending on how many people you plan to have at the party, you'll want at least 4 or 5 different desserts. Other popular July 4th desserts include all-American apple pie, patriotic sugar cookies, and red, white and blue fruit trifles. And be sure to set the stage for your event with gorgeous digital July 4th invitations. Customize your favorite design, send via text or email, and gather RSVPs online!