The Fourth of July makes us go berry crazy. It’s the colors, of course. Blueberries, raspberries and a great pouf of freshly whipped cream — your dessert is instantly patriotic. So if you’re wondering what to make for that Independence Day picnic, barbecue or potluck, here’s some berry inspiration, five fabulous, easy-to-make desserts that will wow the crowds.
1 America’s Test Kitchen’s Blueberry Cobbler
Brightened with a touch of fresh lemon and topped with flaky buttermilk biscuits, this blueberry cobbler is rustic, cozy and utterly delicious. Best of all, you can bake it ahead and pop it in the oven for a last-minute warm-up at party time. Check out the recipe and clever baking tips from chef Jack Bishop, America’s Test Kitchen’s chief creative officer, here. Do not forget the vanilla ice cream!
2 Tiny Berry Pies
These adorable baby pies are baked in ramekins, so they’re perfectly sized to tuck in a picnic basket to enjoy before the fireworks fill the sky. You simply fill the ramekins with fresh berries or cherries, then top them with rounds of cream-cheese pastry dough, which is made in a food processor. We’re thinking circles of dough are fun, but stars would be even Fourth-ier.
3 America’s Test Kitchen’s Summer Berry Trifle
Full disclosure: This show-stopping strawberry, blackberry and raspberry trifle is no 30-minutes-and-done dessert. Every part of it, from the vanilla pastry cream to the chiffon cake, is made from scratch. That’s why it’s so good. But it’s a total do-ahead dessert. The components can all be made ahead, and the trifle needs to chill for a good 6 to 36 hours, which makes it a great option for a day when you need to fit in a pancake breakfast, a 5K and a parade before dinner. Check out the recipe and Bishop’s shortcuts.
4 Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwiches
Red velvet cookies filled with a tangy blueberry-lemon ice cream? Sign us up. It’s a fabulous combination — and another do-ahead option. Bake the cookies and make the easy ice cream at your leisure, enjoy the results hours or even days later. You can read the tale of our recipe creation mishaps here, or jump directly to the successful conclusion: the extremely tasty cookie and ice cream recipes.
5 The Ultimate Blueberry Lattice Pie
We’re not sure what makes this pie, from Martha Stewart and her kitchen crew, so crazy good, but we could eat an entire pie all by ourselves. It’s THAT good. Here’s the recipe. (Psst, do not wear a white shirt while enjoying this pie.)
