This 4th of July, we're looking to our own personal constitution, on which is written: "The more dessert, the merrier" -- we will always fight for our right to a good cake! What better time to bake one than 4th of July? These cakes come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors -- red, white & blue, fruity, upside-down, icebox, and more -- so gather up your favorite sparklers, sprinkles, and plenty of fruit for decorating!
The way we see it, there are a few ways to go for a 4th of July dessert -- you can lean heavily into the flag theme, either with fresh fruits or food coloring, or go for something a bit more evergreen that you can rely on all summer long. If you're looking for a bright, super-impressive showstopper, look no further than our lemon-berry firecracker cake, our flag cake, or our chantilly cake. Want more of a subtle vibe? Our strawberry crunch poke cake, our no-bake whipped ricotta cheesecake, or our blueberry cheesecake icebox cake still represent those American colors, without too much work.
Not a big fan of patriotism, but still want a killer summer dessert? Try our upside-down pineapple cake or our peach cobbler cheesecake. And don't forget about ice cream cakes! The 4th of July is the perfect occasion to bust one out. Check out our July 4th ice cream cake, our copycat Dairy Queen ice cream cake, our strawberry shortcake ice cream cake, or our spumoni ice cream cake to see how versatile they can be, then have fun with whatever flavors you like.
While we are ALL about dessert, we know that you might also be looking for some inspiration for the main event too -- check out our favorite 4th of July recipes, our top 4th of July appetizers, and all the best dishes to bring to a 4th of July picnic.
Angel food cake is basically just whipped egg whites and sugar, but it tastes like heaven in every bite (pun intended). It's perfection, whether you top it with strawberries for a strawberry shortcake variation or enjoy it all on its own. Ready to hear the angels sing?
Hot dogs, fireworks, and flag cake -- if your 4th of July party doesn't end with a red, white, and blue dessert, then you're doing it wrong! This cake is about as patriotic as it gets, but is easy enough to allow you maximum time outside the kitchen soaking up the best bits of summer.
One bite of this Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola cake, and you'll be instantly transported to a rocking chair on a covered front porch playing with that triangle peg board game (IYKYK). Even if you're not familiar with the Southern comfort food stylings of Cracker Barrel, you can trust us that this chocolate cake is real good.
Get the Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake recipe.
When it's hot outside, a no-bake dessert like this blueberry cheesecake icebox cake is an ace up your sleeve. Layers of blueberry jam, whipped cream cheese, and graham crackers are stacked together for a no-fuss cool and creamy masterpiece that looks like you spent hours crafting it (but all you did was chill it!).
Get the Blueberry Cheesecake Icebox Cake recipe.
It may be retro, but this classic cake is a staple easy dessert for a reason. Sweet pineapple gets an irresistible rich boost from melted butter, brown sugar, and eye-catching maraschino cherries -- one slice, and you'll feel transported to the tropical vacay of your dreams.
Get the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake recipe.
Nothing says Fourth of July quite like a patriotic red, white, & blue dessert, especially this eye-popping lemon-berry firecracker cake. For a blast of flavor, our spin on the classic firecracker cake upgrades itself from white cake to a tangy lemon batter with blueberry- and strawberry-flavored swirls.
There are cakes, and then there's Chantilly cake, an impressive dessert that marries the delicious simplicity of a classic yellow cake with the berries and cream combo that makes shortcakes shine. What's even sweeter? The all-American dessert has a charming origin story that started in a grocery store bakery.
Get the Chantilly Cake recipe.
Is there any better combo than milk and chocolate chip cookies? We think not. For this particular recipe, you don't even have to bake the cookies yourself! All you need to make this show-stopper no-bake dessert are 4 ingredients -- cookies, heavy cream, cream cheese and powdered sugar -- and a couple hours.
Elegant in its simplicity, this creamy cool dessert is summer at its best. It's got layers and layers of flaky puff pastry and homemade vanilla pastry cream, covered with more pastry cream and puff pastry crumbs and decorated with fresh fruit. It might take a little more time than your average dessert, but it's SO worth it.
Get the Napoleon Cake recipe.
This creamy, decadent cheesecake is swirled with a raspberry sauce to create a show-stopping dessert that's sure to impress. Our favorite part? Rather than a standard graham cracker crust, this cheesecake base is made from super-buttery shortbread.
Get the Raspberry Cheesecake recipe.
When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade -- make this fruity, white chocolate mousse cake instead. It's rich and SO creamy, but thanks to tart lemon and blueberries, it won't weigh your palate down.
Our favorite thing about upside-down cakes? They're impossible to mess up because you can place your fruits just so before pouring the batter on. It's always a joy to see how they turn out once you flip them -- they always impress. Just look at those raspberries and peaches!!
Get the Raspberry Peach Upside-Down Cake recipe.
Classic yellow cake brings us right back to childhood celebrations. It's basically a vanilla cake made with extra egg yolks, which make the cake perfectly dense with a super-rich flavor that pairs well with a thick, fudgy chocolate frosting.
Get the Yellow Cake recipe.
This fun spin on a cheesecake tastes just like a Creamsicle! The batter might feel kind of loose as you're adding it to the pan, but don't worry. After a couple hours in the refrigerator, the cheesecake mixture will be perfectly firm and creamy in its Golden Oreo crust.
Get the Creamsicle Cheesecake recipe.
A classic chocolate cake is always a good idea, but if you want to switch things up a bit, give this white chocolate cake a try. It's soft and layered with a white chocolate mousse and then frosted with a simple cream cheese frosting. Top with red and blue fruits to keep it patriotic if you like!
Get the White Chocolate Cake recipe.
Making strawberry jam from scratch is easier than you'd think and so worth it for this cake. All you're doing is cooking down the fresh berries with sugar and lemon juice. We used it in the batter AND frosting to make sure that the cake has the best strawberry flavor possible.
Few desserts are as easy as an icebox cake. If you can whip cream, you're basically halfway there. Oreo Thins make a great cookie base because they can soften perfectly all the way through, but, honestly, a a regular Oreo will work just as well if you have those on hand.
Get the Easy Icebox Cake recipe.
Dairy Queen's classic ice cream cake is king in the realm of frozen desserts, but our copycat recipe is coming for the crown. Starring that signature ribbon of fudge and chocolate cookie crunchies sandwiched between vanilla and chocolate ice cream, this homemade version of this iconic treat is equally easy to make and delicious to eat.
Few things scream spring and summer more than the classic flavor combo of blueberry and lemon. The tart sweetness of the blueberries is amplified by the zing of the citrus. This three-layer masterpiece is sure to be a dessert table showstopper at your next barbecue, party, or potluck.
This is like a peach cobbler in soft and buttery cake form, with sweet peaches studded throughout. The frosting is a brown sugar boiled icing, much like you would find on a Texas sheet cake. Pour it on while the cake is still warm, so it soaks in as it cools, then can harden into a delicious, sweet topping.
If you're a vanilla cake fan and have never tried a white cake, you're in for a treat: This white cake is tender, light, fluffy, and moist, and is layered with the most satiny-smooth vanilla frosting.
This cake has everything you love about the Good Humor strawberry shortcake bars, in a homemade ice cream cake that couldn't be easier. Pro tip: To get clean slices of the cake (we went with triangles, but squares work too), run a chef's knife under hot water before cutting each piece.
Pineapple upside-down cake is the most classic, but you can pretty much put anything underneath cake batter, bake it, flip it, and have a stunner of a dessert. For this version, we kept it simple with strawberries -- make this for any and every occasion this summer!
Get the Strawberry Upside-Down Cake recipe.
Chocolate peanut butter lovers, this cheesecake is for you. This is a rich and creamy peanut butter cheesecake with an Oreo crust and topped with lots of chocolate ganache for a decadent dessert and its always what we are craving. Go ahead and top with Reese's to drive the theme home. Of all of our cheesecakes, this one is at the top of our list, and we can never put our fork down.
Blueberry topping just isn't enough for us in a cheesecake recipe, so we went ahead and swirled blueberry puree into the creamy, tangy filling will help you get your fix. This cheesecake has the perfect tartness to it that will have you saying, "just one more bite," another thousand times.
Get the Blueberry Cheesecake recipe.
Though it will be hard, try to resist adding a TON of banana pudding in between the layers here; otherwise, things will get pretty messy. If that means there's extra pudding left over, so be it. We know you'll find some use for it. 😉
Get the Banana Pudding Cake recipe.
Craving a cobbler, but not interested in all the work? This dump cakes is for you! Fresh blueberries take on a perfect jammy consistency in the oven as the cake mix turns golden brown and crispy, resulting in a simple dessert worthy of being the center of your summer BBQ or picnic.