31 Fourth of July Desserts for Star-Spangled Summer Fun

The best 4th of July desserts take advantage of an auspicious bit of timing: The US celebrates its Independence Day just as fresh berries—blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries—are approaching their sweetest, juiciest, and most colorful. Coincidence? Who’s to say? But these desserts make the most of summer’s bounty in an extraordinarily festive fashion. There are American flag cakes; frozen treats including icebox cakes and homemade ice cream sandwiches; and classics like strawberry shortcake, raspberry cheesecake, and many-a-fruit-studded pie.

Read on for our coolest, creamiest, sweetest, flakiest, and all-around most celebratory sweets. (And don’t forget to peruse our 4th of July dinner ideas. You’ll probably need some summer drinks too.)