50 Easy Fourth of July Desserts to Make This Year

Best Ever Vanilla Ice Cream

This ice cream is technically a custard since it contains eggs. After lots of testing (and tasting), I’ve found that eggs are the key to making a smooth and creamy treat that rivals what you can get at a premium ice cream shop. It’s one of my favorite easy Fourth of July desserts.  —Peggy Woodward, Taste of Home Senior Food Editor

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Easy Banana Pudding with Cream Cheese

I blend cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk and whipped topping into instant pudding then layer it with vanilla wafers and sliced bananas. Served in a pretty glass bowl, this banana pudding with cream cheese makes for a fancy yet fuss-free dessert. —Edna Perry, Rice, Texas

Check out these 4th of July desserts that are more dazzling than fireworks.

Key Lime Pie Balls

The classic creamy filling, graham cracker crust and burst of lime are all mixed together in every bite of these rolled cookies. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

For more patriotic recipes that are quick and easy to make, check out these 4th of July recipes.

Makeover Fruit Pizza

There’s nothing better than a guilt-free dessert, especially when it’s topped with refreshing and colorful fruit. We skimmed the calories and fat from a traditional fruit pizza to create one with about half the calories, fat and cholesterol. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Cannoli Dip

Ricotta is one of my family’s favorite ingredients. I made up the cannoli filling and broke up some ice cream waffle shells to use as “chips and dip”—it was an instant hit! It’s also good served slightly warm. —Ann Marie Eberhart, Gig Harbor, Washington

Peach Cobbler

I created this peach cobbler recipe myself with a few tips from my mom and grandma. Because it’s so quick and easy, it can be made in minutes to suit any occasion. I’ve used it as a breakfast fruit dish, a dinner dessert and a light snack. —Martha Betten, North Manchester, Indiana

Easy Lemon Berry Tartlets

These fruity, flaky tartlets filled with raspberries and topped with lemon-tinged cream cheese are a sweet ending to any weeknight meal. They are elegant yet come together quickly and easily. —Elizabeth Dehart, West Jordan, Utah

Skillet Stout Brownies

These stout brownies are so rich and fudgy. I love how quickly they come together. They’re perfect for a busy weeknight. —Mandy Naglich, New York, New York

Slow-Cooker Bananas Foster

The flavors of caramel, rum and walnut naturally complement fresh bananas in this classic dessert made easy! —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

Patriotic Pops

My kids love homemade ice pops, and I love knowing that the ones we make are good for them. We whip up a big batch with multiple flavors so they have many choices, but these patriotic red, white and blueberry ones are always a favorite! —Shannon Carino, Frisco, Texas

Discover more of our best red, white and blue desserts.

Pineapple Cheesecake

A co-worker shared the recipe for this easy elegant pineapple cheesecake years ago, and our family has enjoyed it many times since. —Phoebe Carre, Mullica Hill, New Jersey

Rhubarb Crisp

I found this strawberry rhubarb crisp recipe on a box of Quaker Oats about 20 years ago. It’s quick and easier to make than pie. It’s versatile, too, because you can add strawberries in spring or apples in fall. I usually pop it into the oven shortly before we sit down to eat so it’s still warm for dessert! —C.E. Adams, Charlestown, New Hampshire

Ice Cream Balls

These ice cream balls are a fun and easy dessert to fix—even the kids can help. The cereal adds a crunchy texture to the ice cream and makes an everyday treat something special. —Anne Marie Woodhull, Cedar Springs, Michigan

Easy Cake Mix Bars

I take this dessert to work for Friday pick-me-ups. It’s one of my favorite yellow cake bar recipes. I love to share them because they’re so easy to eat, easy to make and easy on the wallet. —Amy Rose, Ballwin, Missouri

If you’re looking for patriotic bars and brownies, check out these 4th of July bars.

Easy Berry Cheesecake Parfaits

These sweet little parfaits take everything that’s wonderful about cheesecake and make it way easier. You get the rich creaminess, graham cracker crunch and bright berry flavor all in fun individual portions. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Sugar Cookie S’mores

Change up traditional s’mores with the use of sugar cookies and candy bars. The sweetness cannot be beat! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

If you like these festive cookies, you’ll love these 4th of July cookies.

Lemon Cheesecake Squares

Whether I’m hosting friends or sending a plate to work with my husband, these creamy elegant lemon cheesecake bars are always a hit. It’s a wonderful make-ahead dessert that easily serves a large group.

Ginger Pound Cake S’mores

Kids and adults won’t be able to resist this fun spin on campfire S’mores. Pound cake replaces the traditional graham cracker while crystallized ginger adds a unique flavor twist. —Peter Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas

Brownie Kiss Cupcakes

It’s fun to prepare individual brownie cupcakes with a chocolaty surprise inside. My goddaughter asked me to make them for her birthday to share at school. She requested 32. I later found out she needed only 27 for her class…wonder where the other five went! —Pamela Lute, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania

Pretzel Fruit Pizza

I created this recipe while working as an independent kitchen consultant for a national company. It’s wonderful! —Bethany Perry, Beverly, Massachusetts

Funnel Cakes

This funnel cake recipe is simpler to make than doughnuts, and it’s just as good. Funnel cakes have been a favorite of ours since we came across them living in the Ozarks. —Mary Faith Yoder, Unity, Wisconsin

Lemon Berry Dump Cake

This sweet-tart cake recipe is so much fun to make with my grandkids. They love just “dumping it all in” and watching it magically become a pretty, delicious dessert. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Not Your Mama’s Seven-Layer Bars

The addition of dulce de leche makes this a decadent new take on traditional seven-layer bars. You can cut this recipe in half and make it in an 8×8-in. pan. —Andrea Barlow, Hot Springs, Arkansas

Blueberry Cobbler

This simple slow-cooked dessert comes together in a jiffy. If you like, you can substitute apple or cherry pie filling for the blueberry. —Nelda Cronbaugh, Belle Plaine, Iowa

Sonoran Sunset Watermelon Ice

If you didn’t think watermelon and cilantro could go together in a dessert, this recipe will be a pleasant surprise! Sprinkle pomegranate seeds and a sprig of cilantro on top for extra flair. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota

All-American Sheet Cake

My sweet and tangy sheet cake piled with fresh whipped cream and juicy fruit is so good, you might just want to eat it for breakfast. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

Butterscotch No-Bake Cookies

More like a candy than a cookie, these little butterscotch no-bake cookies are delightful. —Andrea Price, Grafton, Wisconsin

Fudge Pops

This chocolate frozen dessert is the perfect summer treat! Invite your kids into the kitchen to help you stir the pudding. —Ruth Ann Stelfox, Raymond, Alberta

Oreo Rice Krispies Treats

These Oreo Rice Krispies Treats are chewy on the inside with a crispy, crunchy cookie top. Not only are they tasty, but the crumbled cookies make for a sweet presentation. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Southern Peach Toasts

These bruleed peach toasts are my creative homage to the beloved southern fresh peach cobbler. It is an upscale presentation with delicious peaches and very easy to prepare. —Mary Louise Lever, Rome, Georgia

Amaretto Cherries with Dumplings

You can’t beat the combination of almond flavor with cherries. These light and fluffy dumplings are heavenly. Topped with the sauce and ice cream, it makes for a scrumptious dessert. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Dutch Apple Pie Tartlets

These adorable mini apple pie pastries make a delightful addition to a dessert buffet or snack tray. The recipe calls for convenient frozen phyllo shells, so they’re surprisingly easy to prepare. The lemon curd filling adds a unique flavor twist. —Mary Ann Lee, Clifton Park, New York

Quick and Easy Tiramisu

No one can resist this quick and easy tiramisu recipe. Make it ahead for added mealtime convenience. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies

With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire

Cantaloupe A La Mode

This special dessert is a refreshing finale to a warm-weather meal. —Nancy Walker, Granite City, Illinois

Glazed Lemon Cake

My mother baked this moist treat when I was a child. I loved the lemon glaze and light cake as much then as my children do now. —Missy Andrews, Rice, Washington

Grapefruit Meringue Pie

There’s a grapefruit tree in our backyard, so I like to use fresh grapefruit juice when I make this pie. I just love the unique citrus flavor of this dessert. —Barbara Soliday, Winter Haven, Florida

Hawaiian Wedding Cake Cookies

Macadamia nuts and pineapple help give this Hawaiian cookie recipe its tropical name. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

No-Fry Fried Ice Cream

This ice cream has a crispy cinnamon coating just like the fried ice cream served at Mexican restaurants, but minus the oily mess. Make ahead of time and freeze until serving. —Tim White, Windsor, ON

Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

I make these banana bars with cream cheese frosting whenever I have ripe bananas on hand, then store them in the freezer to share later. With creamy frosting and big banana flavor, this treat is a real crowd-pleaser. —Debbie Knight, Marion, Iowa

Five-Star Brownies

There’s a bit of my state’s history behind these brownies’ name and shape. In 1990, when I entered them at our state fair, Kansas was celebrating the 100th birthday of a famous native son, Dwight Eisenhower. In fact, that occasion was the theme of the fair. So I renamed my brownies, in honor of the rank he’d achieved as a general and cut them out with a star cookie cutter. They ended up winning a blue ribbon! —Pam Buerki Rogers, Victoria, Kansas

Homemade Cherry Crisp

Our family loves this pretty, tasty dessert. It uses convenient pie filling, so you can make it in no time—and it takes mere minutes to heat in the microwave. —Laurie Todd, Columbus, Mississippi

Cream Cheese Cookie Cups

Need a quick dessert? Try these yummy cookie bites. For a pretty look, use an icing bag to pipe the filling into the cups, then top each with mini M&M’s. —Rachel Blackston, Mauk, Georgia

Tennessee Peach Pudding

This out-of-this-world dessert is one of our favorite, easy peach recipes. I was raised in Oklahoma, and we used Elberta peaches right off our trees when we made this outstanding cobbler. —Virginia Crowell, Lyons, Oregon

Honey-Rum Grilled Bananas

These grilled bananas are the perfect dessert following a cookout. My family was skeptical at first, but everyone tried the recipe and they all agreed it was delicious. I use coconut rum from the Bahamas. —Lori Wendt, Mahomet, Illinois

Nutella Hand Pies

These pint-sized Nutella hand pies made with puff pastry are too good to keep to yourself! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Fast Fudge Sundaes

For big chocolate taste, I treat my family to this thick ice cream topping. It’s a snap to make the fudgy sauce, and we like it better than the store-bought kind. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Strawberries & Cream Torte

This festive strawberries and cream summer treat is one of my mom’s favorites. It wows guests every time yet is simple to make. —Cathy Branciaroli, Wilmington, Delaware

Funky Monkey Rice Krispies Treats

These peanut butter banana Rice Krispies Treats prove that bananas and peanut butter are a match made in heaven. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Easy Key Lime Pie

This refreshingly easy Key lime pie is a winner on all counts. It’s quick and easy enough to make for a weeknight dessert, but special enough to take to weekend potlucks. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen