I absolutely love the 4th of July holiday. It’s the time of year to celebrate independence and patriotism with friends and family, July is the halfway mark of the year, and the weather is nice and hot in the south. I have always considered myself patriotic, but being a military spouse has made me even more so than ever before because I better understand the sacrifices made daily for our freedom.
Every July, I love learn new recipes to add to my repertoire for the 4th festivities that include a little red, white, and blue. If you’re looking for a few easy, tasty, and patriotic desserts for your 4th of July celebration, look no further. Below are two of my all-time favorites.
Patriotic Cherries
This recipe was inspired by my friend and military spouse Diane over at The Nomadic Nation Shop. It is super simple, family friendly, and requires only four ingredients unless you want to make them with liquor then you’ll need to add that to the list.
Ingredients:
1-Jar of maraschino cherries
2-Tablespoons of blue sugar sprinkles
1-Box of white chocolate for melting
Wax Paper for drying
*Optional-for adults over 21 only, add vodka for cherries with a kick. If using vodka, soak cherries overnight, then follow the recipe below.
Instructions:
1-Strain the jar of cherries. Allow cherries to sit in strainer while you prepare other two ingredients.
2-In a tiny measuring cup or bowl, add 2 tablespoons of blue sprinkles for dipping.
3-In a microwave safe bowl, add the white chocolate and begin melting for 30 seconds at a time. Stir chocolate and repeat until melted and smooth.
4-Dip each cherry into the white chocolate, then dip into the blue sprinkles. Place cherries on the wax paper for 15 minutes or until dry (the chocolate will be hardened). You can also place in the refrigerator to expedite the drying process. Once the chocolate has had time to dry, this super patriotic treat is ready to enjoy!
American Flag Cheesecake
This recipe has been my staple at 4th of July gatherings for the last six years. It consists of a basic cheesecake recipe with the addition of the toppings which represent the American Flag.
Cheesecake Ingredients:
1-Stick of butter
3-Packages of cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
3-Eggs
1-Teaspoon of vanilla extract
1-Cup of Sugar
1-Box of graham cracker crumbs (will require more butter and sugar-follow directions on box)
Topping Ingredients:
1-Container of cool whip
1-Package of fresh blueberries
1-Package of fresh strawberries
Directions:
1-Follow instructions for graham cracker crust on the box and bake.
2-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
3-Mix the cream cheese, add in 1 stick of butter, then eggs, vanilla, and sugar.
4-Pour mixture over the graham cracker crust and bake for 40-45 minutes or until slightly brown on top.
5-Cool completely.
6-Spread thawed cool whip evenly over the top of cheesecake.
7-Wash both blueberries and strawberries, then pat dry.
8-Slice strawberries into thin pieces.
9-Add in your blueberries to the corner of cake pan in a rectangle for that part of the flag, then begin lining the strawberries for the stripes in the flag. You should have 7 rows of strawberries when finished.
Disclaimer: Strength 4 Spouses was given a complimentary box of Patriot Pops in exchange for promoting this exclusive product from Fla-Vor-Ice that supports United Through Reading programs.
If you’re not into cooking or have run out of time for homemade July fourth treats, we have you covered! Skip the recipes and purchase a box of these Fla-Vor-Ice Patriot Pops from your local Dollar General store and support United through Reading, a nonprofit organization that connects service members and their children through reading. Patriot Pops and Fla-Vor-Ice are proud supporters of United through Reading. Now that’s a sweet treat you can feel good about.
© Strength 4 Spouses LLC, 2019-2020.
Do you have a favorite fourth of July recipe? Feel free to share about it in the comments.
