by Elexis Marie

Created on: May 21, 2008   Last Updated: October 14, 2009

Like most other holidays, food is the cornerstone of Fourth of July events. Cultures around the world use food to solidify their communities and bring people together during celebrations. On the Fourth of July, Americans gather outdoors and spend their day on fireworks, informal team sports and, of course, meals with family and friends. While Christmas and Thanksgiving focus on the meals-Mom's turkey, Grandma's mashed potatoes and Aunt Jane's green bean casserole-the main events on the Fourth are the desserts.

The best Fourth of July desserts are light, sweet and colorful. Seasonal fruits, such as blue berries and raspberries, blend with white frosting or pudding to create extravagant, patriotic dishes. In many families, desserts offer a lively competition, to see who can craft the most luxurious, beautiful treat. Even a novice dessert craftsman can try several time-tested desserts that are so classically American that they must be available on the table.

A flag cake is a combination of colorful, in-season berries, white or yellow cake and white frosting. Make this simple dessert the morning of the event or a day in advance. Using boxed cake mix, bake a 9 inch by 12 inch white or yellow cake. Once it's cooled, top it with pure white frosting. Design a flag using sliced strawberries-or whole raspberries, if you prefer them or someone in your family is allergic to strawberries-and whole blueberries. You can use frozen berries to make the dessert even easier.

Independence Day Parfaits are refreshing treats for children and adults, especially on a sweltering day. Line the bottom of a parfait cup with crushed vanilla wafers or blocks of white cake. Cover the layer with a spoonful of vanilla pudding or use frozen yogurt for an extra chilly dessert. Top that layer with sliced strawberries or whole raspberries and spoon in another layer of pudding or frozen yogurt. Add a layer of blueberries and finish with a frozen, whipped topping or whipped cream. Cover the parfait cups with plastic wrap and store in the back of the refrigerator until it's time to eat.

For lighter fare, try your hand at striped gelatin cups. These require significantly more patience, but gelatin is an all-time, American favorite that never fails to impress a crowd. Prepare red gelatin of any flavor and pour into a parfait cup until it is one-third full. For an extra pop of flavor, mix in berries of the same flavor as the gelatin. Cover the cup and let the gelatin set in the refrigerator. Once the red gelatin has set, mix blue gelatin and set in the refrigerator to cool. When it's cool-but not set-pour it over the red gelatin until the cup is two-thirds full. Cover and return to the refrigerator. Finally, add frozen whipped-topping or whipped cream to add white to the dessert. Keep the gelatin cups cold until you're ready to serve them.

These basic recipes are just starting points. Try your hand at variations by taking advantage of the wide array of seasonal fruits available in July. You'll impress your family with your culinary skills while experiencing the bounty American offers on the Fourth of July.

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