By Kelly Youngblood
Food on Fourth of July is equally as important as fireworks in my book. But who wants to spend the day in the kitchen when all of the fun is going on outside?
I say while you’re celebrating America’s independence this year, give yourself some freedom too! Freedom from standing over the stove mixing, baking, and frosting all day!
There’s just no knead (sorry, I couldn’t resist) to make anything from scratch when you can give store-bought items a quick and easy patriotic makeover that will please the palate as well as keep your stress level to a minimum.
Here are some 4th of July treat ideas that include just a few simple ingredients. No real cooking is involved- just some very easy assembly is required.
Red, White and Blue Strawberries
Strawberries taste best in the summer but these juicy fruits might be too pretty to eat! Take a strawberry and dip it in melted white chocolate (I used the Baker’s brand) and then sprinkle blue sugar on the bottom tip of the berry. Keep the strawberries in the refrigerator on waxed paper until you’re ready to serve.
Ice Cream Sandwich Pops
These treats are a kid-tested favorite and so easy to make it should be a crime. Cut an ice cream sandwich in half or use the mini sandwiches (I know Meijer has the mini ones.) Insert a wooden craft stick into the sandwich and then allow the ice cream to soften just a bit. Roll the ice cream in red, white and blue sprinkles and re-freeze on wax paper. Take out and serve when you’re ready.
Patriotic Cones
These ice cream cones are just too fun and couldn’t be any simpler to make. Take a sugar cone and roll the top round part in melted white chocolate and then add red, white and blue sprinkles or colored sugar. Line them up on a wax-paper covered platter to harden and then bask in the admiration you will surely receive for your talent and creativity.
When I found this recipe for S’mores on a Stick, I was immediately intrigued. It looked easy and tasty and just so festive! All you need is the regular ingredients for s’mores (graham crackers, marshmallows, and Hershey’s chocolate bars) plus some melted chocolate (again, I used the Baker’s brand), sprinkles and a wooden popscicle stick. Assemble your s’mores and melt them in the microwave. Add your popscicle stick and put them in a freezer on wax paper. After about 30 minutes, take them out, cover them in the melted chocolate and add some sprinkles. Once the chocolate is dry, they are ready to eat!
Here are a few more creative 4th of July treat ideas that looked yummy but I didn’t have time to try: Ka-boom Kakes; Red, White and Blue Berry Popsicles; and Stars and Stripes Rice Krispie Treats.
If you feel like channeling your inner Martha Stewart, give any of these recipes a try and let us know how they turned out! Happy 4th of July everyone!
Kelly is a mom to three wild and wonderful children and a freelance writer for a weekly newspaper. She has lived in the “suburbs” of C-U for more than two decades, but is always finding something new and interesting to do in the area.