Classic Desserts and Treats for the Fourth of July

For your Fourth of July celebrations, don't neglect the desserts! While it may be too hot for s'mores or a chocolate cake, there are many delicious treats to take the edge off the summer heat. Instead of spending your time over a hot grill or stove, have some cool desserts and treats on hand that don't require baking. If you do decide to bake, consider doing your baking at night, or early morning hours. Avoid desserts heavy on things like chocolate and buttercream, as they will be affected by heat as well.

A classic summer dessert is strawberry shortcake, taking advantage of the season's ripe berries. Instead of making a sticky glaze for the berries, simply chop the berries and allow them to marinate in their own juices with a couple spoons of sugar. This is an easy dessert even for those who don't want to cook, as most groceries and bakeries carry angel food cakes and shortcake cups. Give your shortcakes a Fourth of July twist by adding blueberries, sprinkling colored sugar on top or tinting the whipped cream with a drop or two of blue food coloring. If you're feeling decorative, serve one large angel food cake, and make stripes with berries and whipped cream. You could also chop the cake into bite size bits, and layer it with berries and whipped cream as individual parfaits.

For some, it just isn't the Fourth of July without the classic American apple pie as dessert. There are numerous regional variations on apple pie around the country, adding extra ingredients ranging from jalapenos to Cheddar cheese. Another traditional summer pie is the cherry pie. Cut out stars with a cookie cutter to decorate the top crust of your pie to add some holiday cheer. Cobblers made with local fruit are also a good choice for summer time celebrations. If you need treats to beat the heat, ice cream and ice cream floats are at the top of the list. They are simple and fun, especially if you have a variety of sodas. Just pick up some vanilla ice cream and sodas such as root beer, orange soda or other fruity sodas. Add colorful straws and sprinkles to your treats.

Cookies are another excellent treat for Fourth of July parties. They can be made well in advance and are easy to decorate in red white and blue. Find some cookies cutters in shapes such as stars, flags or the shape of your state. Use M&Ms and white chocolate to enliven chocolate chip cookies, or decorate sugar cookies with colored sugars. If you bake large cookies, they can be used to make ice cream sandwiches as well.

Don't stress over providing desserts for your Fourth of July gathering. Simple desserts are often the best choice during the summer. If nothing else, buy a couple boxes of red, white and blue Bomb Pops for everyone to enjoy.