Red, White, and Blue Recipes

Make your menu match your decorations. These flavorful concoctions of red- and blue-hued berries, vegetables, and treats are a great way to keep your American pride going right into meal time. While the sparklers fly, you can whip up a perfectly patriotic meal from appetizer to dessert.

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Stovetop Summer Fruit Crisp

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Stovetop Summer Fruit Crisp

Let these dishes match the stars and stripes for an unforgettable celebration.

Traditional? No. Delicious? Oh, yes. This quick-fix take hits all the highlights of a classic berry crisp—syrupy-sweet fruit, crisp topping, and cool cream—in a fraction of the time.

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Blueberry Margaritas

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Blueberry Margaritas

To get a half-salted rim, you'll need to start with a tablespoon of salt—but only about 1 teaspoon ends up sticking to the glasses.

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Sweet-and-Sour Cherry Tartlets

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Sweet-and-Sour Cherry Tartlets

We like the "naked" look of a couple of tartlets with just a few star cutouts, as shown. If you don't, this recipe makes enough dough for each tartlet to have its own pastry lid.

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Strawberry-Blueberry Cheesecake

Photo: Courtesy of Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Strawberry-Blueberry Cheesecake

This luscious cheesecake is a showcase for the season's freshest, sweetest berries. With all its red, white, and blue, it's perfect for your next patriotic party or summer gathering.

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Red, White, and Blueberry Donuts with Tie-Dye Glaze

Rachel Johnson

View Recipe: Red, White, and Blueberry Donuts with Tie-Dye Glaze

Pipe out your own doughnuts for a fun Fourth of July treat with fewer calories and grams of fat than any traditional variety. We're using the trendy tie-dye glaze to add a fun patriotic touch to these fluffy bites, but you could keep it simple with a few sprinkles on the glaze.

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Cherry-Basil Lemonade Spritzers

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Cherry-Basil Lemonade Spritzers

Instead of the fluorescent cocktail-cherry garnish, fresh cherries take center stage in this refreshing lemon-and-vodka sipper. Macerating the cherries in sugar helps to soften their thick skins and release their juices, which become gorgeously syrupy in the pan.

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Double Berry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

Sara Tane

View Recipe: Double Berry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

Rise and shine to a thoroughly red, white, and blue breakfast. This lower-sugar recipe is a great way to use up slightly hard baguette and any berries you have roaming around your produce drawer. You don't have to let it sit overnight, but a few hours in the fridge will only make the casserole creamier.

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Vanilla Frozen Yogurt with Fresh Cherry Swirl

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Vanilla Frozen Yogurt with Fresh Cherry Swirl

Creamy and luscious with a touch of tart, this simple fro-yo was a clear staff favorite. A combination of half-and-half, plain whole milk yogurt, and a little corn syrup gives the frozen yogurt its supersmooth texture.

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Blueberry and Blackberry Galette with Cornmeal Crust

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Blueberry and Blackberry Galette with Cornmeal Crust

This galette makes the perfect ending to any Independence Day menu. The rich, buttery pastry dough is easy and forgiving. Simply roll it out onto parchment paper with a lightly floured rolling pin, and then use the parchment to transfer it to a baking sheet. If you're lucky enough to find wild blueberries, use them in this rustic summer tart.

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Gin and Maple Macerated Berries

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Gin and Maple Macerated Berries

In this fruit salad, sugar, lime, and gin soften and preserve berries while extracting their natural juices to become a syrupy sauce.

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Raspberry-Lime Rickey Slushies

Photo: Jasen Varney

View Recipe: Raspberry-Lime Rickey Slushies

Red raspberries' juicy, perfumey, sweet flavor peaks from late June through August and is just right for this summer cooler. We spiked the drink with an herbaceous, citrusy gin that's distilled in small batches in Philadelphia. You can also omit the gin for a refreshing mocktail.

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Red, White, and Blue Pops

Photo: Romulo Yanes

View Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Pops

Our Red, White, and Blue Pops will please guests of any age. Stay cool under the fireworks with these patriotic pops.

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Warmed Berries with Honey and Fresh Cheese

Photo: Erin Kunkel

View Recipe: Warmed Berries with Honey and Fresh Cheese

You may adapt this dessert to your taste by adjusting the blend of berries, the amount of honey, or even the amount of cheese. The idea is luxury in the amount of berries. Fromage blanc is wonderfully subtle; you can sub Greek yogurt, which is tangier.

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Blackberry Limeade

Photo: Jeff kauk

View Recipe: Blackberry Limeade

This summer cooler is great to bring along on a picnic or to serve at a backyard party. Pour over ice, if desired.

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Smoked Cherry Bombs

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Smoked Cherry Bombs

Some flavor fireworks and fun surprises help light up the Fourth, and this whimsical dessert delivers. We free the main ingredient, maraschino cherries, from the cocktail garnish tray and flavor them with cherry wood smoke; then we wrap them with a creamy almond filling in buttery layers of phyllo.

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Watermelon Margaritas

Photo: Lee Harrelson

View Recipe: Watermelon Margaritas

A long, tall version of the great summer sipper, with only 105 calories. This is just the thing to have in hand as you watch the fireworks display light up the sky this year.

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Breakfast Parfait Pops

Photo: Rebecca Longshore

View Recipe: Breakfast Parfait Pops

These kid-friendly parfait pops are a great option for breakfast on-the-run or a sweet protein-rich afternoon snack. Easily customize it with different fruits and flavors of granola.

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Lemon-Cornmeal Pound Cake with Berries and Cream

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

View Recipe: Lemon-Cornmeal Pound Cake with Berries and Cream

This is a light and refreshing dessert that won’t leave you feeling overindulged. Fresh berries and fluffy whipped cream make a patriotic display of color that will complement any table.

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Strawberry and Watermelon Punch With Lime and Tarragon

Photo: Christopher Testani

View Recipe: Strawberry and Watermelon Punch With Lime and Tarragon

You can buy strawberry puree or make it yourself: Blend 16 ounces thawed frozen strawberries in a food processor. Strain through a fine sieve; discard seeds. Serve Mike DeCamp's (executive chef at Monello and Constantine) refreshing punch with or without alcohol.

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Berry Limoncello

Photo: Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Berry Limoncello

A slightly richer and sweeter postdinner sip helps you to digest the meal just as a light and dry aperitif helped start it. Fresh raspberries, strawberries, and lemons provide the right balance of sweet and sour flavor.

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Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad

This recipe uses a trio of potatoes and makes a festive July 4th recipe.

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Doug Flicker's White Balsamic-Marinated Berries with Sweet Buttermilk Curd

Photo: Christopher Testani

View Recipe: White Balsamic-Marinated Berries with Sweet Buttermilk Curd

Keep to the simplest ingredients, like fresh berries and buttermilk, for an irresistible, refreshing no-bake dessert. Doug Flicker's (chef and owner of Piccolo) dessert is a mix of sweet, tart, and tangy sensations. Honey granules are available at specialty markets or online retailers like Amazon.

You can double this recipe to serve a larger crowd. Use 2 bowls to freeze the buttermilk, and thaw simultaneously in 2 colanders. There is a considerable amount of whey once the buttermilk thaws. Don't toss it all; Flicker recommends using it for an added boost in smoothies or adding it to cream soups and sauces for a tangy touch of acidity.

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Strawberry Gazpacho

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Strawberry Gazpacho

While tomato season is at bay, turn to strawberries to make this refreshing version of the classic Spanish chilled vegetable soup.

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Fresh Cherry Cheesecake Bars

Photo: Quentin Bacon

View Recipe: Fresh Cherry Cheesecake Bars

With their combo of shortbread-like crust, creamy cheesecake, and fresh summer cherry goodness, these bars will make you the hit of the picnic.

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Pomegranate Cocktail

Photo: Karry Hosford

View Recipe: Pomegranate Cocktail

Blood orange and pomegranate collaborate into a fashionably refreshing cocktail. Garnish with a lime twist, if desired.

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No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake with Mixed Berries

Photo: Marcus Nilsson

View Recipe: No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake with Mixed Berries

Taste the berries for tartness beforehand, and adjust with sugar or lemon if needed.

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Strawberries, Peaches, and Basil with Orange Vinaigrette

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney

View Recipe: Strawberries, Peaches, and Basil with Orange Vinaigrette

Dessert vinaigrettes? It's an idea whose time has come. The warm vinaigrette releases an intoxicating perfume when poured over the fresh fruit. Serve within 20 minutes of preparing for maximum flavor and optimal temperature.

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Fresh Cherry Pie

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Fresh Cherry Pie

This not-too-sweet cherry pie is delicious on its own, and even better served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream under the fireworks.

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Red, White, and Blue Toasted Oat Scones

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Toasted Oat Scones

If you have trouble finding dried blueberries, swap in additional dried cherries or another tender dried fruit. Toasted nuts would also make a dandy substitution and provide textural contrast.

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Balsamic, Beet, and Berry Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Balsamic, Beet, and Berry Salad

In this vibrant salad, the sweet flavors of blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries alike complement the salty tang of raw beets and goat cheese. Tossed in a balsamic rosemary vinaigrette, this no-cook salad will quickly become one of your all-time favorites.

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Fresh Blackberry Granita with Lemon Syrup

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Fresh Blackberry Granita with Lemon Syrup

Make the lemon syrup while the granita freezes, and refrigerate; strain before serving. Top with extra berries, if desired.

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Red, White, and Blue Recipes

1 of 32

Stovetop Summer Fruit Crisp

2 of 32

Blueberry Margaritas

3 of 32

Sweet-and-Sour Cherry Tartlets

4 of 32

Strawberry-Blueberry Cheesecake

5 of 32

Red, White, and Blueberry Donuts with Tie-Dye Glaze

6 of 32

Cherry-Basil Lemonade Spritzers

7 of 32

Double Berry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

8 of 32

Vanilla Frozen Yogurt with Fresh Cherry Swirl

9 of 32

Blueberry and Blackberry Galette with Cornmeal Crust

10 of 32

Gin and Maple Macerated Berries

11 of 32

Raspberry-Lime Rickey Slushies

12 of 32

Red, White, and Blue Pops

13 of 32

Warmed Berries with Honey and Fresh Cheese

14 of 32

Blackberry Limeade

15 of 32

Smoked Cherry Bombs

16 of 32

Watermelon Margaritas

17 of 32

Breakfast Parfait Pops

18 of 32

Lemon-Cornmeal Pound Cake with Berries and Cream

19 of 32

Strawberry and Watermelon Punch With Lime and Tarragon

20 of 32

Berry Limoncello

21 of 32

Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad

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Doug Flicker's White Balsamic-Marinated Berries with Sweet Buttermilk Curd

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Strawberry Gazpacho

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Fresh Cherry Cheesecake Bars

25 of 32

Pomegranate Cocktail

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No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake with Mixed Berries

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Strawberries, Peaches, and Basil with Orange Vinaigrette

28 of 32

Fresh Cherry Pie

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Red, White, and Blue Toasted Oat Scones

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Balsamic, Beet, and Berry Salad

31 of 32

Fresh Blackberry Granita with Lemon Syrup

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