Sure, fireworks are fun, but when it comes to family-friendly activities, making festive treats is a way safer bet. Not only does it offer a fun way to spend time with your kids, but the creations be a yummy opportunity to celebrate the holiday. Simple recipes are a great hands-on collaboration for little helpers. These easy Fourth of July treats to make with kids are sure to get the patriotic party started.
Watermelon Stars
Refreshing, healthy, and festive, these stars (above) will steal the show at any gathering.
Ingredients:
- 1 seedless watermelon
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 apple, jicama, or honeydew melon (for the white stars)
How-to:
- Slice the watermelon into thick rounds, about 1 to 1½ inches thick.
- Use a large star cookie cutter to cut stars from the watermelon slices.
- Slice an apple, jicama, honeydew melon, or white-fleshed pear into thick slices. Use a small star cookie cutter to create the white stars.
- To assemble, arrange the watermelon stars on a platter. Scatter blueberries throughout the plate and tuck in the white stars. You can also gently slide the stars onto wooden skewers for fruit wands.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
Patriotic Yogurt Parfaits
Oh, say can you see: Red, white, and blue parfaits are perfect for Fourth of July gatherings.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of strawberries, washed and diced
- 2 cups of blueberries, washed
- 2 cups of vanilla Greek yogurt (low-fat or non-dairy varieties work, too)
- ½ cup of granola (optional)
How-to:
- Add a layer of blueberries to the bottom of clear glasses, mason jars, or dessert cups.
- Spoon on a layer of yogurt.
- Add a layer of sliced strawberries on top of the yogurt layer.
- Spoon on a layer of yogurt.
- Repeat layers until cups are full, ending with a few strawberries and blueberries on top for a festive finish. For a little crunch, you can sprinkle granola between layers or on top.
- Chill the parfaits in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving.
Flag Cake
Fresh, festive and filled with fiber, these favorite is easy to make, without any artificial ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 1 pint of fresh strawberries, washed and hulled
- 1 pint of fresh blueberries, washed
- 1 sheet cake (homemade or store-bought)
- Whipped cream or vanilla frosting
How-to:
- Frost the cooled cake with a smooth layer of whipped cream or frosting.
- In the upper left corner, arrange blueberries in a rectangle to create the “stars”
section of the flag. - Create stripes by laying rows of sliced strawberries across the cake, leaving white frosting visible between each row.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Cute, right?
Firecracker Popsicles
Make sparks fly with these homemade red, white, and blue popsicles, created with fruit and yogurt.
Ingredients:
- Red Layer: 1 cup of strawberries (fresh or frozen) and a splash of water or lemonade
- White Layer: 1 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt
- Blue Layer: 1 cup of blueberries, 1 to 2 Tbsp. maple syrup, and a splash of water
How-to:
- To make the Blue Layer, combine blueberries, maple syrup, and a splash of water into a blender and pulse until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds, filling about ⅓ of each mold. Freeze for 1 to 2 hours, until mostly firm.
- For the White Layer, spoon vanilla yogurt over the frozen blueberry layer until molds are about ⅔ full. Freeze another 1 to 2 hours.
- Add the Red Layer, add strawberries and water or lemonade to a blender and puree until smooth, then pour over the yogurt layer to fill the molds. Gently insert sticks if you haven’t already. Freeze at least 4 hours or overnight.
Tips for layering: Let each layer freeze before adding the next to keep the colors separate. Tap molds gently on the counter after each layer to remove air bubbles. Looking for a creamier texture? You can mix a little yogurt into the blueberry and strawberry blends before layering.
Tips for serving: Run the outside of the molds under warm water for a few seconds to help the popsicles come out of molds easily.
Red, White & Blue Rice Cereal Treats
Ready to add some patriotic punch to a traditional favorite? These yummy squares will please all ages.
Ingredients:
- 4 Tablespoons of butter or margarine
- 1 10-ounce bag of marshmallows (any size works, but mini ones will melt faster)
- ¼ cup of sprinkles
How-to:
- In a large pot, add butter or margarine over low heat until melted.
- Fold marshmallows into pot and stir continuously until the mixture is completely melted and smooth.
- Remove the pot from the heat, then stir in rice cereal until cereal is completely coated.
- Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish that’s been lightly coated with non-stick cooking spray. Press the treats down flat with parchment paper (or your hands).
- Before the treats set completely, add sprinkles evenly over the top, lightly pressing them down so they stick into the marshmallow.
- Let the treats cool and set for about 1 to 2 hours. Once firm, cut them into squares.
Spangled Ice Cream Sandwiches
I scream, you scream… we will all scream for Independence Day when these tasty treats are on the menu.
Ingredients:
- 12 soft cookies (chocolate chip, sugar, or whatever your family prefers)
- 1 pint vanilla ice cream, slightly softened (you can also use cookies-and-cream, strawberry, or birthday cake ice cream flavors)
- ½ cup sprinkles, freeze-dried strawberries and frozen wild blueberries
How-to:
- Place 6 cookies flat-side up on a baking sheet or tray.
- Scoop about ¼ cup of softened ice cream onto each cookie.
- Place remaining cookies on top of each ice cream layer, then gently press down until ice cream reaches the edges.
- Use a butter knife or small spatula to smooth any ice cream around the sides.
- Place sprinkles or freeze-fried berries onto a plate. Roll the edges of each sandwich in the sprinkles or berries until the ice cream is coated all the way around.
- Place the sandwiches on a tray lined with parchment paper and freeze for at least 2 hours, or until firm. Three to five minutes before serving, remove from the freezer so the cookies soften slightly and the ice cream is easier to bite into. Yum!
Sparkler Snack Mix
This easy-to-create blend is bound to be a big hit at any holiday get-together.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of popcorn (pre-popped)
- 3 cups of mini pretzels
- 1 cup of mini marshmallows
- 1 cup of red and blue candy-coated chocolates
- 1 cup of yogurt-covered raisins or white chocolate-covered pretzels
- ¼ cup of sprinkles
How-to:
- Combine popcorn, pretzels, marshmallows, candies, and yogurt-covered treats into a large bowl.
- Gently toss everything together until evenly mixed.
- Add the red, white, and blue sprinkles over the top and give the mixture one final toss.
Looking for more snack ideas kids will love? Check out our list.
