Fruity Fourth of July Dessert Recipes

One of the most anticipated parts of any picnic is the fantastic spread on the dessert table. Independence Day desserts are no different, and are generally adored not only because of their delicious taste but also because they are often decorated with stars and stripes or other red, white, and blue decor. Fruit is a great dessert because it's universally enjoyed, it's healthier than other dessert options, and it's easy to adjust the amounts depending on what size picnic you are hosting. To keep your Fourth of July desserts fresh and festive, try incorporating some of the following dessert ideas using fruit into your picnic menu.

Festive Fourth of July Fruit Kabobs and Fruit Dip

For the dip: Mix together one 8 oz brick of softened cream cheese, 1 cup of marshmallow fluff, and 1 tablespoon of almond extract and beat it until the lumps are gone and the mixture is smooth and creamy. You may even consider making a second batch to keep in the fridge just in case the first batch doesn't make it through the party. This dip is so delicious it will be enjoyed by all.

To make the skewers: Using a package of wooden grill skewers, thread on different types of fruit. You can use anything you'd like, but for the Fourth of July holiday I like to use fruits that are shades of red or blue. Some options to consider are blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, and watermelon. You can either thread the fruit by alternating colors, or make all blue skewers and all red skewers, or even thread one type of fruit per skewer. Display the colorful fruit kabobs on a large classic white tray and not only will you have a delicious and healthy dessert but you'll also have a decorative platter that will add to the ambiance of your festival.

Berry Shortcake Sundaes

You'll need to start with a few loaves of pound cake or angel food cakes. You can either make these yourself, or if you'd like you can buy them from the grocery store or bakery and just cut them up when you get home. No one will be the wiser and it's a big time saver to use already prepared cakes. Slice the cakes into one inch sections and lay them out onto a large platter.

Next, you'll need to prepare your berry toppings. You can do this a few different ways. You can either mix all of the berries together (this works really well if you're using a prepackaged frozen bag of fruit) or you can have one bowl for blueberry, one for strawberry, one for raspberry, etc. For each quart of fruit you use, you will need to mix in 1/3 cup of sugar. As previously mentioned, you can either mix all of the fruit together in one large bowl, or use individual bowls for each fruit variety. After you add the sugar to the fruit, Stir it well to coat the fruit with the sugar. Allow the berries to macerate (this just means that the berries will release their natural juices and start to soften) on the counter for a few hours, stirring every so often to coat the berries in the syrupy mixture.

You'll also need some ice cream. Again, this is up to your preferences. You can use a vanilla ice cream, or get a little more festive and choose to add a few different flavors to your lineup. Think of flavors that will work well with your berry syrups. Some ideas are strawberry, blue raspberry or cherry. Check your store's freezer shelves. Most companies now include even more adventurous flavors like strawberry cheesecake or coconut cream pie or in their product offerings. Using different types of ice cream is a fun way to let each guest personalize to their preferences.

To serve, start with a layer of cake, top with a scoop of ice cream, and ladle over a spoonful of berries and their syrup. Let your guests prepare their own shortcake sundae or prepare it yourself and then serve. Whatever you decide, these customizable desserts are easy, fun, and festive, and your guests will be excited about the departure from the average strawberry shortcake dessert.