My favorite holiday of the year is almost upon us..I heart the 4th of July almost as much as Christmas. This fab day in the heat of the summer always reminds me of family gatherings, delicious food and desserts, and loads of fireworks. (Yep, I’m the annoying neighbor setting off fireworks the week leading up to the 4th.)
But let’s get real, it’s hot, and who wants to bake for hours? So even though I love to make decadent desserts from scratch, this is the time of year to find shortcuts. So here are four super simple patriotic desserts you can easily make with your kids!
4 simple patriotic desserts
Easy M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies
Here’s my little secret…these are (in my opinion) the best store bought chocolate chip cookies in the whole wide world…and this only requires two ingredients:
Let your little ones sort the m&m’s, and put them in the pre made dough. I like lots of candies so we usually put 7-8 per cookie.
Then of course the kiddos get to sample one…the cookies were almost as delicious as she is!
Angel Food Cake
Thank you Betty Crocker for making an awesome boxed cake that only requires me to mix in water. Plus it’s my husband’s favorite cake of all time. Add some homemade buttercream frosting and top off with luscious red strawberries and plump blueberries and people will ooh and aaah like when they are watching fireworks! But don’t put the berries on until the last possible second.
(By the way…I tried to make a perfectly pinterest flag cake, but this was all I could muster.)
Firecracker Brownies
If you need a good chocolate fix it’s so easy to dress up boxed brownies. I almost always frost them with my special what the fudge frosting, and of course some red, white and blue sprinkles! And if you don’t feel like making homemade frosting, no problem! Here’s another easy trick, buy canned pre made chocolate frosting, but add crushed malted milk balls to it. Everyone will go nuts over the frosting…I promise!
These were so amazing I couldn’t even get a photo before the crowd dug into them…
Sanders Milk Chocolate Snack Dip
And last but not least…if you don’t want to bake at all…try one of these! Sanders from Michigan sent me these samples to try and I loved the Milk Chocolate Fruit and Snack Dip. We had it with sliced apples, strawberries and pretzels…divine! I haven’t tried the rest yet, but how easy is it to slice up some fruit on a hot summer day? A
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Gorgeous pictures and desserts! I want some of that cake!
Oh my God, Kristen. I think I gained 5 pounds just from oggling the photos in this post.
(Excuse me as I wipe the drool from my keyboard and ask The Hubs to make a late-night run to the grocery store for M&Ms and cookie dough…)
My favorite Fourth of July tradition? Cake! It’s my nephew’s birthday! His nickname? Indy…because he was born on 7-4! Love that kid! Although he’s not a kid anymore: he turns 15 on Friday. Man, time flies…
I love Fourth of. July too! I think it’s the fireworks. Have a great holiday!
Those look awesome! I’m thinking I might just make some of those M&M cookies…baking is not usually my forte!
I think I like July 4th even more than Christmas – can you believe that? It’s because of the whole early summer thing. I love summer that much.
My dad used to throw a huge July 4th bash at my parent’s old house. Millions would come, it seemed like! And he’d make an angel food cake.
I like the M&M cookies!
me too! I love the fireworks and family. So nostalgic…
I’ve never tried that Pillsbury cookie dough before, but I’m all about saving time. Pinned and will give these desserts a try. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday.
That angelfood cake is GORGEOUS!
I am craving cookies with M&M’s now!
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OMG the brownies. And the cookies! And your precious little darlings. They are so cute!
Pinned!
Thanks for linking up at Wordy Wednesday! 🙂
they all look great!
These all look amazing! I love how intent the girls look while decorating the cookies!
These look soooooo good!!!
Wow! These all look amazing! I love that the kids can help you make them all 🙂 We’ll be giving those brownies a try for sure!
Love these yummy treats. Looks good.
I love that these are ACTUALLY simple. Pinterest seems to have redefined that word 🙂
Can I tell you a secret? I LOATHE PINTEREST. With all of my being I cannot stand it. Never use it….unless I’m throwing a party.
All of these look delicious! There is not one that I don’t want to make!
The blue and red M&M’s on the cookies is brilliant! Easy, cute, and delicious. Thanks for the great ideas!
These are such great treats for the kiddos to make. Thank you. I try for healthy eating around my house so the angel food cake with berries and the fruit with dips are an awesome way to keep it on the up and up while feeling like you’re having a really great treat. I haven’t ever frosted an angel food cake before! I’m going to try it now. Thanks for the tip.
I actually love your twist on the classic flag cake! Looks great!