One great way to celebrate the fourth of July is to serve a patriotic treat at your picnic or BBQ. Many of these treats are easy enough that your kids can help make them.


Red, White, and Blue Popsicles

Popsicles layered with red, white, and blue are cool and festive treats for Independence Day. When making these, be sure to freeze them after you add each layer so that the colors do not mix. There are a few options for what you can use to make these popsicles. Fruit juice is the healthiest option; try raspberry or cranberry juice for the red, apple or white grape juice for the white, and blueberry juice for the blue. These can also be made with appropriately colored Kool-Aid, Gatorade, or Jell-O. Whipped topping or vanilla yogurt can be used for the white.

Fruity Flag Cake

A fruity flag cake can be made using white cake mix, vanilla frosting, strawberries, and blueberries. Begin by making the cake, letting it cool, and then frosting it. Next, use a knife to score off a square in the upper left hand corner. Fill this section with blueberries, to act as the stars on the American flag. Lay sliced strawberries in rows across the rest of the cake to act as the red stripes; the white icing will look like the white stripes. If you are looking for a healthier option, you can simply lay a fruit plate out in the design of the flag.

Patriotic Dipped Strawberries

This red, white, and blue snack is quick to make and is easy for the kids. For this treat, you need strawberries, white chocolate chips, and blue sprinkles. Melt the white chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave, following the directions on the package. When the white chocolate is melted, hold the stem of the strawberry and dip it in the white chocolate. Try to dip about ½ or ¾ of the strawberry. Before the chocolate dries, completely dip the bottom in blue sprinkles. You want to see a band of white chocolate, as well as the band of blue sprinkles.