One of our favorite sayings “There’s always room for dessert” puts an instant smile on our faces around here at the Julianna Rae office. With the 4th of July upon us we believe that holiday celebrations are meant to be enjoyed and a sweet treat is part of the fun.

The patriotic desserts we’ve gathered below earned their spot because they’re festive, creative, and absolutely beautiful. The best part about making dessert yourself is that you can customize the ingredients to suit your lifestyle. Whether your baking a classic berry pie or whipping up a no-bake cheesecake, a few simple swaps cam make your favorite treats a little lighter without sacrificing flavor. And, if you’re watching your calories there are easy ways to lighten up summer time desserts!

• Swap the butter for fruit puree or greek yogurt: In many cake, muffin, and quick break recipes, replacing 25-50% of the butter with unsweetened applesauce, mashed banana, pumpkin puree, or plain old Greek yogurt can help reduce saturated fat while keeping baked goods moist and delicious.
• Use Unsweetened applesauce in place of some of the oil: For many recipes, substituteing about 3/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce for every 1 cup of oil reduces fat and works especially well in cakes, muffins, and sweet breads. Don’t be afraid to give it a try!
• Choose dark chocolate when you can: Dark chocolate offers a richer flavor, so a little often goes a long way. It can also contain more cocoa and less sugar than mile or white chocolate, depending on the variety you choose.
• Lighten up the frosting: Instead of a thick buttercream, try a frosting made with whipped topping, whipped cream, or Greek yogurt based frosting for a lighter finish that’s perfect for warm summer days.
• Mix in some whole grain: Rather than replacing all-purpose flour completely, try swapping 25-50% with whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat flour. it’s an easy way to add fiber while maintaining a tender texture.

The Fourth of July swings around once a year so don’t stress over every calorie. Balance is what matters most. Savor your favorite holiday foods, spend time with people you love, and enjoy a dessert that makes you smile. The sweetest memories have nothing to do with nutrition labels. That said, let’s dive into our list of 13 festive patriotic desserts… one for every stripe on the American flag! Whether your headed to a backyard BBQ, family picnic, or watching fireworks under the stars, there’s a red, white, and blue treat here that’s sure to impress the pickiest of pallets!

 1.  Patriotic Red, White & Blue Strawberries

2.  Fruit Sparklers

3.  Red, White & Blue Mini Cakes

4.  Banana Firecrackers

5.  Red, White & Blue Popsicles

6.  Easy Red, White & Blue Trifle

7.  Stained Glass Jello

8.  Vegan Smoothie

9.  Patriotic Berry Pie

10.  Festive Rice Krispie Treats

11.  Jam & Cream Cheese Pinwheels

12.  Fourth of July Milkshake

13.  Red, White & Blue Fireworks Cookies

If you’ve served or are serving in the armed forces we salute and thank you! And to all, we hope you have a sparkling 4th of July! See you in the next blog!

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Deb Fries works with the Julianna Rae team to offer the best shopping experience for quality silk and cotton sleepwear while also writing for the blog at Juliannarae.com.