Easy Summer Desserts for the Fourth of July

Looking for a delicious but easy dessert for your Fourth of July celebration? Look no further! These simple desserts will wow the guests at your barbeque or picnic. Not surprisingly, they feature the stars of the summer harvest - fresh, juicy blueberries and strawberries.

All-American Berry Cake

This delicious berry-topped cake is easy to make and makes a festive presentation for a July 4^th barbeque or any other patriotic celebration.

To prepare All-American Berry Cake, you will need...

1 package angel food cake or white cake mix
Ingredients to prepare cake mix according to package directions
1 lemon
½ c. powdered sugar
2 c. strawberries, sliced
2 c. blueberries
1 (8 oz.) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

To prepare the All-American Berry Cake...

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Pour the cake batter into a rectangular baking pan, spreading evenly. Bake 35-50 minutes or until top is golden brown and cracks feel dry. Gently run a spatula or knife between the cake and pan to loosen the sides. Carefully turn cake upside down onto a cooling rack; cool completely. Do not remove the cake from the pan.

Zest the lemon and squeeze enough juice to measure 2 tablespoons. Whisk the lemon zest, juice, and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth. Add the sliced strawberries and blueberries to the sugar mixture and mix gently to coat the berries.

Poke holes in the cake about ½ inch apart. Spoon the fruit mixture over the cake, leaving a ½ inch margin around the edges. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Prior to serving, fill a pastry bag fitted with a star tip with whipped topping and pipe dollops of whipped topping around the edge of the All-American Berry Cake.

White Chocolate Berry Pie

This beautiful White Chocolate Berry Pie combines delicious taste of summer berries with a cool, creamy filling. The guests at your Fourth of July picnic will flip for this dessert!

To make White Chocolate Berry Pie, you will need...

5 one-ounce squares of white baking chocolate, divided
2 Tbsp. milk
1 small package (3 ounce) cream cheese, softened
1/3 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. orange zest
1 cup whipping cream, whipped
1 9-inch graham cracker pie crust
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1 cup blueberries

To make White Chocolate Berry Pie...

In a double boiler or the microwave, melt four squares of white chocolate with the milk (use care not to overheat the chocolate if you use the microwave). Cool to room temperature.

Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl until the mixture is smooth. Add the orange zest and melted white chocolate. Gently fold in the whipped cream. Spread the mixture in the graham cracker pie crust.

Combine the strawberries and blueberries in a bowl, then spoon on top of the white chocolate mixture.

Melt the remaining white chocolate and drizzle over the berries.

Refrigerate the White Chocolate Berry Pie at least one hour prior to serving.