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If you’re planning an Independence Day celebration for friends and family this summer but have a picky eater or two in the family, consider 4th of July dessert ideas you can make with your kids. Choose options you know they’ll love that won’t take much energy or preparation on your part. You’ll likely have a lot going on as you prepare to host a party for the first time since COVID-19, so take the pressure off and keep your 4th of July desserts easy and quick.
Getting kids cooking and preparing meals in the kitchen can help create adventurous eaters. “Kids may need to have frequent joyful experiences involving food to overcome the anxiety they may have around tasting the unfamiliar,” the American Academy of Pediatrics notes on its website. “Over time, cooking with your children can help build that confidence โ and provide rich sensory experiences.”
4th of July dessert ideas using boxed mixes

There’s no sense in baking brownies or a cake from scratch when the fun part for your kids is the decorating. Make it easier on yourself by using a boxed mix.
- Red, White and Blue Dessert Bars: These colorful blondies start with a box of cake mix, making them super easy for kids to make with minimal supervision, depending on their age. Simply top off the bars with frosting and sprinkles for a fun and patriotic treat.
- Fourth of July Strawberry Poke Cake: Mom Lindsay Frank shared this festive 4th of July dessert that’s fun and easy to make with your kids. “Itโs delicious and festive and seriously about the easiest Fourth of July dessert recipe youโll find,” she wrote on her blog. “My kids helped me decorate it and we had fun doing it together. We had more fun eating it though.”
- Fudgey Patriotic Kid-Made Brownies: If youโre looking for a great semi-homemade treat, these brownies will be a hit. Parents can help with the baking and then let the kids create the flags on the brownies.
Dairy-free desserts for kids

If your child has food sensitivities, allergies, or you prefer healthier vegan options for your 4th of July dessert recipes, the following ideas will be the perfect addition to your snack table.
- Watermelon Ice Pops: These ice pops are a cool and refreshing healthy dessert for kids that use coconut cream, making them a perfect dairy-free, vegan dessert. Kids will love putting together their own cute and healthy treats. These ice pops make a nice substitute for ice cream thanks to the natural sweetness of the fruit.
- Red White and Blue Berry Watermelon Fruit Pizza: Everyone is going to want a slice of this fruit pizza. Unlike most fruit pizzas, the base of this one is watermelon. All youโll need to do is slice the watermelon for the kids and they can do the rest. You can make this dessert vegan or dairy-free by using almond-milk-based whipped topping or dairy-free yogurt.
No-bake desserts for kids

Skip the baking altogether with one of these simple 4th of July dessert ideas you and the kids can put together with little to no prep.
- Red, White & Blue Ice Cream Sandwiches: It doesn’t get much easier than store-bought ice cream sandwiches. Add a few sprinkles and this festive dessert comes together in just a few minutes. If you’re looking for gluten-free kids desserts, try the highly rated FatBoy brand gluten-free ice cream sandwiches.
- Tasty Bald Eagles Snacks: The kids are going to love assembling this American Bald Eagle snack. If your kids like coconut and cashews this adorable bald eagle, no-bake treat will be a hit. Make the treat and read, Bailey the Bald Eagle and the Great Flight, an encouraging children’s book about strength and facing your fears.
- Red, White, and Blue Mini Pavlovas: With just about five minutes of prep time, your crew can put together these colorful no-bake desserts โ from the site Budget Delicious โ with little assistance. Their recipe includes this mouth watering description: “Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert which is chewy crispy on the outside yet light and marshmallowy on the inside that is usually topped with cream and fruit.”
- Red, White, and Blueberry Pound Cake Bites: Grab a premade pound cake from the grocery store to make this kid-friendly dessert even easier. This one is perfect for even the youngest of helpers. For added fun, incorporated it into a patriotic poetry tea time snack.
- Patriotic Dessert Lasagna: This patriotic dessert is perfect for the kids to make because there is no baking and little prep involved! This recipe could double as an educational “following-directions” activity for your kids; simply print out the recipe for them and have them follow the step-by-step instructions to assemble each layer of this decadent 4th of July dessert.