Sugar Star & Flag Cookies
A favorite cookie to send to troops overseas, these soft sugar cookies ship well and taste great! —Susan Whetzel, Pearisburg, Virginia
Patriotic Taco Salad
One year, my daughter decided to celebrate her July birthday with a patriotic theme. This colorful and refreshing salad was the main dish on the menu. The kids gobbled it up! —Glenda Jarboe, Oroville, California
Red, White, and Blue Dessert
I changed a recipe I found and ended up with this rich, fresh-tasting dessert. Decorated to resemble a flag, it’s perfect for the Fourth of July or any other patriotic occasion. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Patriotic Dessert
I took this patriotic dessert to a luncheon and came home with dozens of requests for the recipe! It was quite a success. People told me it looked as good as it tasted. —Flo Burtnett, Gage, Oklahoma
Buttercream Blast Layer Cake
The decorations on this patriotic dessert remind me of a fireworks display. Since the recipe includes both cookies and cake, people can take their pick—or have both! —Jennifer Lindstrom, Brookfield, Wisconsin
Patriotic Pizzas
Here’s a pie-in-the-sky-idea—fruit pizzas you decorate like a high-flyin’ flag! You can decorate it with stripes for the U.S. or with a maple leaf for Canada. Both designs consist of tangy fruit and smooth cream cheese over a tender crust. Since each version is simple to make, you can quickly create either one for a summer picnic or patriotic party. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Watermelon Feta Flag Salad
Our family celebrates the Fourth of July with a watermelon salad that resembles the flag. Here’s an all-American centerpiece that’s truly red, white, and blue. —Jan Whitworth, Roebuck, South Carolina
Patriotic Cookie & Cream Cupcakes
Bring on the red, white, and blue with this creative cupcake cake perfect for the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or any favorite occasion. With some delicious and colorful frosting and a careful arrangement, your sweet display will be a patriotic nod to our great American flag. —Rebecca Wetherbee, Marion, Ohio
Razzy Jazzy Berry Tarts
I serve these fresh-fruit tarts every July at my family’s Independence Day celebration. Sometimes I substitute blackberries with blackberry jam, and I often add slivered almonds to the fillings. —Nicole Chatron, Tulsa, Oklahoma