Fill up your summer cookout menu with these gorgeous red, white, and blue desserts and drinks. Perfect for Memorial Day or July 4th!
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This post was originally created in May 2018; it was updated in 2026 to tidy up heading and links.
I love a party with a theme, and patriotic colors are essential for Memorial Day and July 4th celebrations. When planning your next summer cookout, your guests will love the addition of some of these red, white and blue party food ideas.
Once you start looking at recipes for a party, you get sucked in. I started with just a few ideas and it has grown to 20! But after you start looking at these gorgeous Memorial Day recipes, you too will decide that the obvious solution is to just have a party every weekend this summer so you can eat them all.
If you’re hosting a summer get-together, whether it’s to celebrate Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day… or “I just love desserts” you are sure to have the perfect menu with the food below.
Dessert recipes
1. Red, white and blue mini cakes | Hello Little Home
I love single-serving dessert portions. These little cakes look so adorable with each layer a different color. This recipe uses a box cake mix as the base and has a special trick for getting the colors just right.
2. Patriotic Oreo pops | Happiness is Homemade
Oreo pops are one of those desserts that looks complicated, but it’s really just a cookie dipped in candy melts. Decorate with drizzles of colored chocolate or add sprinkles – or both! This is one that you will want to make ahead of time.
3. 4th of July trifle recipe | Fancy Frugal Life
This dessert is simple yet impressive. It includes layers of angel food cake, whipped cream, and fresh berries. If you’re looking for a no-bake dessert that you can make in less than half an hour, this is it.
4. Patriotic Rice Krispies treats pops | Baking Beauty
Rice Krispies treats are kind of the perfect dessert. They are no-bake, can be made ahead, and really don’t take much time anyway. These are pre-cut into single servings so you can easily hand them out to a crowd of kids.
5. Red, white and blue ice cream sandwiches | Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom
There’s something about dessert on a stick that my kids love. You can’t go wrong with ice cream and sprinkles. You could make these ahead of time or let the kids dip their own.
6. Flag fruit pizza | Gimme Some Oven
This dessert pizza starts with a layer of Pillsbury crescent roll dough. Then, the fruit is decoratively placed to look like the American flag.
7. Firecracker cake | Love Bakes Good Cakes
This gorgeous and fancy-looking cake actually starts with a boxed mix and canned frosting. The secret is all in the decorating! I recommend you splurge on the best food dye and sprinkles you can find to make this a really luxurious treat.
8. American Summer no-bake cheesecake cups | One Mama’s Daily Drama
I’ll be honest. This dessert is a bit rich for days over 100 degrees. But it’s hard to say no to a cup with vanilla wafers and cheesecake topped with Skittles or M&Ms.
9. White chocolate pudding pops | Neighbor Food
Pudding pops are easy. Just follow the pudding box instructions and freeze. This recipe takes it to the next level with layers of fresh fruit. You’ll want to make these the day before you chow down.
10. Red, white and blue fruit pizza | Mom Dot
There may be an unlimited number of ways to make a fruit pizza. This one includes a brownie for the base, so it might be magic. By the way, those little stars are edible glitter.
11. Red, white and blueberry pie bars | Kleinworth & Co.
Fresh berries, pie, and white chocolate. This recipe is from scratch, right down to the crust, but don’t let that scare you off. It’s easy enough that a baking newbie could pull it off.
12. Triple berry lemon cookie cups | Spoonful of Flavor
Homemade lemon cream and fresh berries top a crunchy sugar cookie cup. Bake the cookie cups ahead of time and then mix up the topping and assemble right before serving.
13. Patriotic fruit salad | Simplistically Living
I can’t always get my kids to eat a vegetable at a cookout, but they will eat fruit. This fruit salad includes a mix of red, white and blue and you could easily swap out one fruit for one that your kids like better.
14. Stars and stripes patriotic popcorn | Oh My creative
If you are looking for a blend of sweet and salty, patriotic popcorn cups are a perfect treat. Salty popcorn plus sweet candy is easy to make in bulk to serve a crowd.
15. Magical Fruit Wands | Weelicious
These fruit wands are made with watermelon and blueberries. Sometimes the simplest ideas are best.
Drink recipes
16. Summer Punch | One Mama’s Daily Drama
Mix up a big decanter of summer punch to serve a crowd. This one is just soda and juice, like a retro recipe your mom served in the 70s and 80s.
17. Red, white and blue sangria | Bren Did
You can make this sangria recipe in advance and set it up in a big beverage dispenser before a cookout. Adults can make their own drinks and it makes a pretty patriotic decoration too.
18. Red, white, and blue almond milk smoothies | Well Floured
These layered smoothies are perfect for kiddos. Each layer is made with and mix of fresh fruit and frozen.
19. Watermelon slush | One Mama’s Daily Drama
Blend fruit and ice with a splash of sweetener for an easy refresher. Perfect for kids and adults!
20. Cherry limeade | One Mama’s Daily Drama
Cherry limeade is a classic summer drink. This one’s easy to mix up in a pitcher to serve at a party. Just a bit sweet and plenty tart.
Add one or a few of the Memorial Day party food ideas to your next get together or summer party. If you like this post, please save it to Pinterest or share it with a friend!
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
