• Cake
  • Frosting
  • YouTube
  • My Favorite Tools
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Recipes
    • Cake
    • Cupcakes
    • Frosting
    • Ice Cream
    • Vegan
  • Cake Basics
  • Tutorials
  • Blog
  • About
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Sugar & Sparrow logo in script font

Sugar & Sparrow

Lifestyle and Cake from Portland Oregon

  • Cake Basics
  • Recipes
    • Cake
    • Cupcakes
    • Cookies & Bars
    • Filling
    • Frosting
    • Ice Cream
    • No-Bake
    • Small Batch
    • Vegan
  • Tutorials
  • Book
  • Blog
  • About

The Best 4th of July Desserts for Your BBQ

June 23, 2026 · In: Featured, Recipes, Seasonal, Summer

I’ve gathered all of my favorite dessert recipes that are perfect for a 4th of July celebration. Whether you’re looking for no-bake desserts you can easily make ahead, desserts that will feed a crowd, or desserts that are naturally red, white, and blue, there’s something for everyone on this list!

20 fourth of july dessert recipes

4th of July Dessert Recipes

berries and cream sheet cake by sugar and sparrow

Berries & Cream Sheet Cake

Fluffy and moist vanilla cake baked in a 9×13 pan, topped with silky whipped cream cheese frosting and fresh summer berries. It’s deliciously light, perfect for a crowd, and naturally red white and blue!

Get the Recipe

4th of july desserts s'mores icebox cake

S’mores Icebox Cake

Every slice of this dessert tastes like a gooey s’more, but elevated with homemade marshmallow creme and chocolate ganache! There are eleven layers of graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallow creme that gets toasted on top like the real deal.

Get the Recipe

strawberry shortcake sheet cake baked in a 9x13 pan

Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake

Basically strawberry shortcake in soft sheet cake form and perfect for a crowd! Fluffy and moist vanilla cake baked in a 9×13 pan, topped with silky whipped cream cheese frosting and homemade strawberry sauce. 

Get the Recipe

fruit pizza for 4th of july

Fruit Pizza with Summer Berries

Easy, impressive, and will absolutely disappear at a 4th of July BBQ! It’s a deliciously soft and chewy sugar cookie crust topped with a cream cheese frosting that’s the perfect amount of sweet, then topped with fresh berries arranged in any pattern you want.

Get the Recipe

no-churn strawberry shortcake ice cream

No-Churn Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

No-churn vanilla ice cream with notes of cheesecake, swirled with strawberry reduction and baked shortcake crumbles in every bite. So dreamy and easy to whip up (no ice cream maker needed!)

Get the Recipe

berry crisp recipe with vanilla ice cream

Mixed Berry Crisp

A Summer BBQ staple! Delicious berry filling with buttery oat topping, best served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, warm or cold.

Get the Recipe

strawberry shortcake frosted sugar cookie bars recipe

Strawberry Shortcake Cookie Bars

The buttery soft sugar cookie base makes these bars BETTER than traditional strawberry shortcake! They’re topped with deliciously light whipped cream cheese frosting and homemade strawberry sauce.

Get the Recipe

chocolate chip cookie cake recipe with vanilla buttercream border and sprinkles

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

A thick, chewy chocolate chip cookie baked in a round pan to make it a party cake! Decorate with patriotic buttercream piping to make it festive, or keep it undecorated – it will go fast no matter what!

Get the Recipe

berry chantilly cake 4th of july dessert ideas

Berry Chantilly Cake

Inspired by the iconic Whole Foods bakery dessert, this cake features layers of fluffy white cake, Chantilly cream frosting, and fresh berries throughout.

Get the Recipe

strawberry sheet cake for 4th of july

Strawberry Sheet Cake

Extra soft and moist strawberry cake baked in a 9×13 pan to feed a crowd! Every bite of this cake is bursting with natural strawberry flavor between the reduced puree in the batter + freeze-dried strawberries in the frosting.

Get the Recipe

no bake cheesecake recipe by sugar and sparrow

No-Bake Cheesecake

Easy, delicious, and doesn’t require turning on the oven! It’s a buttery graham cracker crust topped with a velvety smooth, creamy filling that has all the traditional flavor of cheesecake. In other words, it’s a cheesecake without the commitment of a cheesecake.

Get the Recipe

no churn vanilla ice cream berry crisp toppings

No-Churn Berry Crisp Ice Cream

No-churn vanilla ice cream with ribbons of homemade berry filling and clusters of buttery oat streusel in every bite. It tastes just like berry crisp a la mode and is easy to whip up (no ice cream maker needed)!

Get the Recipe

sheet pan sugar cookie bars

Sheet Pan Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars


The most delicious, buttery soft sugar cookie bars baked in a sheet pan and frosted with vanilla buttercream. Get creative with red white and blue frosting and/or sprinkles to make it patriotic!

Get the Recipe

oreo icebox cake 4th of july dessert ideas

Oreo Icebox Cake


Seven layers of delicious Oreo cookies and homemade whipped cream, refrigerated until the cookies soften into the perfect dessert consistency. Just four ingredients, easy to make, and every bite tastes like a milk-dunked Oreo in the very best way!

Get the Recipe

coconut cupcakes recipe by sugar and sparrow

Coconut Cupcakes


Soft and moist, perfectly flavored coconut cupcakes topped with silky smooth coconut buttercream and shredded coconut. Inspired by the cupcakes Ina Garten would sell out in minutes at Barefoot Contessa!

Get the Recipe

berry chantilly sheet cake 4th of july dessert ideas

Berry Chantilly Sheet Cake


This sheet cake version of the iconic Whole Foods dessert features fluffy white cake, Chantilly cream frosting, sweet jam, and fresh berries. Pretty, perfect for a crowd, and naturally red white and blue.

Get the Recipe

sheet pan chocolate chip cookies 4th of july

Sheet Pan Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake


A giant chocolate chip cookie baked in a sheet pan! It’s perfectly gooey and fudgy when fresh out of the oven, then it settles into a soft and moist cookie cake you can decorate as a patriotic party cake.

Get the Recipe

4th of july desserts no bake

No-Bake Oreo Cheesecake


The dreamiest cookies and cream cheesecake made without any baking! Rich and creamy cheesecake filling studded with Oreo cookies on a delicious Oreo cookie crust. Few can resist this!

Get the Recipe

Sugar and sparrow vanilla sheet cake

Vanilla Sheet Cake


Super moist and fluffy cake with the perfect vanilla flavor, topped with vanilla buttercream and sprinkles. This would be so easy to decorate as a 4th of July cake!

Get the Recipe

No-Churn S’mores Ice Cream


The ultimate s’mores ice cream: graham cracker infused ice cream with toasted marshmallows, graham cracker chunks, and ribbons of fudge and marshmallow creme. No ice cream maker necessary!

Get the Recipe

I hope you find the perfect dessert for your 4th of July celebration on this list! Let me know if you make one of these recipes in the comments and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me a photo. I love to see what you create with my recipes!

By: Whitney · In: Featured, Recipes, Seasonal, Summer · Tagged: 4th of july desserts, fourth of july desserts, summer desserts

you’ll also love

berry crisp recipe with vanilla ice creamMixed Berry Crisp Recipe
no bake cheesecake recipe by sugar and sparrowThe Perfect No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe
24 best birthday cake recipesMy 24+ Best Birthday Cake Recipes

Join the List

Stay up to date & receive the latest posts in your inbox.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Next Post >

Strawberry Shortcake Cookie Bars

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Sugar & Sparrow

Welcome to Sugar & Sparrow

Helping you whip up pretty desserts with confidence and creativity. And hopefully sharing a few laughs with you along the way!

Learn More

Connect

let’s bake!

Get my very best recipes, baking tips, and decorating tutorials sent to your inbox

Featured Posts

no churn cookie dough ice cream recipe

No-Churn Cookie Dough Ice Cream

oreo buttercream recipe for cakes and cupcakes

Oreo Buttercream

earl grey buttercream recipe

Earl Grey Buttercream

Search

Archives

Follow Along

@sugarandsparrowco

CARAMEL APPLE CUPCAKES 🍏deliciously moist, perfect CARAMEL APPLE CUPCAKES 🍏deliciously moist, perfectly spiced apple cupcakes topped with a swirl of salted caramel buttercream and drizzled with homemade salted caramel sauce – these are the ideal Fall cupcakes if you ask me! 

Comment RECIPE and I’ll send it to you! Or find it linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/caramel-apple-cupcakes/

#applecupcakes #saltedcaramel #caramelcupcakes #fallbaking #caramelapple
DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAM 🖤 (recipe below) there DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAM 🖤 (recipe below) there is ZERO food coloring in this black buttercream recipe which means it won’t turn your mouth black (or anything else 💩) + it tastes like Oreo cookie butter so it’s a win all around!! The key is to use EXTRA dark black cocoa powder, which also comes in handy in my black velvet cake recipe 🙌🏼 ideal secret ingredient for your Halloween cakes! 
⁣
Full recipe (and the black cocoa powder I use!) is linked in my bio and at https://sugarandsparrow.com/dye-free-black-buttercream/
⁣
DYE-FREE BLACK BUTTERCREAM⁣⁣
Yield: 2.5 Cups⁣⁣
⁣⁣
INGREDIENTS:⁣⁣
1 Cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temp
2 1/2 Cups (300g) powdered sugar⁣⁣
1/2 Cup (56g) EXTRA DARK black cocoa powder⁣⁣*
1 tsp pure vanilla extract⁣⁣
2 Tbsp whole milk, room temp
pinch of salt⁣⁣
⁣⁣
INSTRUCTIONS:⁣⁣
1. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the butter on medium speed until creamy and light in color, 4 min. Add half of the powdered sugar and mix on low until just combined, then add the rest of the powdered sugar. With the mixer still in the off position, sift in the black cocoa powder and add the vanilla, milk, and salt. Mix on low until all ingredients are thoroughly combined, 2-3 minutes, scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed.⁣⁣
2. Place the buttercream in an airtight container and allow the color to deepen for 24 hours or more. ⁣⁣

*I use a brand called The Cocoa Trader that I get on Amazon. It’s the darkest black cocoa powder I’ve seen so far!!
⁣⁣
#blackbuttercream #naturalfoodcoloring #blackcake #buttercream #blackcocoapowder
SMALL BATCH pumpkin cake with cream cheese frostin SMALL BATCH pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting 🧡 This mini cake is a scaled down version of my favorite pumpkin cake recipe + makes the perfect amount for 2-4 people! Bake it as a 4-inch mini layer cake or a single layer 6-inch cake, either way is absolutely delicious and the perfect for date night, a small gathering, or any time you’re craving pumpkin cake without having to make a huge dessert 🙌🏽

Comment RECIPE and I’ll send you the full recipe (with thick and stable cream cheese frosting!) or find it linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/small-batch-pumpkin-cake/ 

INGREDIENTS 
2/3 Cup (88g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1/3 Cup (67g) packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp (25g) granulated sugar
1/3 Cup (80ml) vegetable oil or melted butter
1 large egg, room temp
1/2 Cup (125g) canned pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Grease and line three 4-inch cake pans or one 6-inch cake pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ground ginger. Set aside.
3. In a separate medium bowl, add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, vegetable oil (if using melted butter in place of the oil, cool it for 5-10 minutes prior to adding here), egg, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract. Whisk together until uniform, then add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
4. Pour the batter evenly between the prepared cake pan(s). If using 4-inch cake pans, bake for 22-26 minutes. If using a 6-inch cake pan, bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely before frosting (full recipe with cream cheese buttercream is linked in my bio!)

#pumpkincake #smallbatchcake #minicake #creamcheesefrosting #fallbaking
TOP 10 FALL CAKES 🍂 These are not only MY favorite TOP 10 FALL CAKES 🍂 These are not only MY favorite Fall cake recipes, they’re yours too! 🥰

Comment “FALL” and I’ll send you all of the cake recipes shown here and all 36+ of my favorite Fall baking ideas – classic cakes like pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, spice cake, and cranberry orange cake, more complex flavor combinations like chocolate pecan pie cake with salted caramel and apple crisp cake, and cozy recipes like no-bake pumpkin cheesecake, homemade salted caramel, and my favorite brown butter chocolate chip cookie bars. 

https://sugarandsparrow.com/fall-baking-recipes/

#pumpkincake #applecake #fallcake #cakeinspiration #cakeideas
The BEST pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting 🧡 The BEST pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting 🧡 this pumpkin layer cake is easy to make, perfectly spiced, so moist, irresistible with cream cheese frosting, and uses the ENTIRE 15oz can of pumpkin (no awkward leftovers!). Top it with pretty piped pumpkins to make it extra cute 🥰

Comment RECIPE to get the full recipe (with frosting + cake decorating tutorial) or find it linked in my bio and at https://sugarandsparrow.com/pumpkin-layer-cake-recipe/

INGREDIENTS
2 Cups (265g) all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 Cup (200g) packed brown sugar
1/2 Cup (100g) granulated sugar
1 Cup (240ml) vegetable oil or melted butter
4 large eggs, room temp
15 Oz (425g) canned pumpkin puree
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Grease and line three 6-inch or two 8-inch cake pans.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ground ginger. Set aside.
3. In a separate large bowl, add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, oil (if using melted butter in place of the oil, cool it for 5-10 minutes prior to adding here), eggs, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract. Whisk together until uniform, then add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
4. Pour the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 32-36 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Cool the cakes completely to room temp before frosting!

#pumpkincake #creamcheesefrosting #layercake #cake #fallbaking

Footer

On the Blog

  • Cake Basics
  • Recipes
  • Tutorials

Info

  • About
  • Privacy Policy & Disclosure

stay in the know

Copyright © 2026 · Theme by Sugar & Sparrow