Play with your food: 4th of July recipes

Play with your food: 4th of July recipes

Ameri-size your patriotic fun with these nifty treats that kids and adults will love making—and eating. Very little prep time is involved. (Hooray for more time outside!). From sweet-and-savory appetizers to keep-your-cool smoothies to downright-dazzling desserts, you’ll be ready to set the scene for fireworks and flip-flops with these fun 4th of July recipes on the table.

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Stars and Sweets Shortcakes Recipe

Stars and sweets shortcakes

The traditional flag cake gets an update with this arrangement of individual shortcakes with a variety of summery toppings.

Bald eagle cheese bite on a cracker with a cashew beak and peppercorn eye.

Bald eagle cheese bites

These little cheese bites are easy to assemble, so invite the kids to help create some patriotic goodies that will get as many “oohs and ahs” as your fireworks display.

Firecracker layered fruit smoothies with a strawberry bottom layer, vanilla Greek yogurt middle layer and blueberry top layer, garnished with mixed berries.

Firecracker layered fruit smoothies

Cool, easy and fun. Just like the 4th of July.

Fruit Kabob Sparklers Recipe

Fruit kabob sparklers

Watermelon, blueberries, feta, lime and chili powder come together in an explosion of sweet, salty, spicy and tart.

Super Star Ice Cream Sandwiches Recipe

Super star ice cream sandwiches

Celebrate our nation’s love of cookies and ice cream with these treats for kids of all sizes.

Jennifer Fujita

Jennifer is a Hallmark writer and culinary student who is always on the hunt for new, easy recipes for celebrating the holidays and seasons.