Sweet Independence: Patriotic Desserts for Your July 4th Bash

They can take away our fireworks, but they can't take away our patriotic desserts. I scoured the Interwebs for a few sweet, flag-themed treats to add a spark to your dessert table this weekend.

Stock up early on the basics, like red and white fruit: strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, raspberries. I'm guessing they will be in short supply soon.

Red, White and Blue Trifle Recipe

Everyone's favorite thematic cook Sandra Lee has created this layered dessert with just four ingredients! Sandra Lee's July 4th tablescape must look like some sort of Independence Day orgy took place.

Her Red, White and Blue Trifle takes two hours total and requires one box of red velvet cake, one tub of whipped topping, blueberries and strawberries. No word on what happens if you sub in raspberries for strawberries.

Taste of Home

Star Spangled Fruit Tart

This recipe for a Star Spangled Fruit Tart comes from a top 10 list of patriotic desserts compiled by Taste of Home. I'm a sucker for a cream cheese filling, and I love the idea of using cookie dough as tart crust here. Why am I not using cookie dough as a crust in more of my desserts? I need to remedy this situation.

Total tart time: approximately one hour, including prep, baking and cooling. You'll need a pre-made sugar cookie dough, cream cheese, sugar, almond extract, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.