What do you call this holiday? I tend to say “Fourth of July” simply because if I say “Independence Day” I immediately think of the movie and want to start quoting my favorite scene. That reminds me that I should check to see if it’s on Netflix…

As you may have read in my last post, things have been stressful and very time consuming, so I haven’t had the time that I would like to come up with some super sweet new recipes for the holiday. I even have a jar of “Stars & Stripes” sprinkles sitting right here next to me. No, seriously – I do. I call them Freedom Sprinkles and I haven’t even opened them yet.

Told you.

I’m hoping that maybe I can whip up a batch of Sally’s cake batter cookies and toss some freedom sprinkles on top. Or maybe a batch of Dunkaroos Dip, substituting rainbow sprinkles for these. If nothing else, I can top some ice cream with them. Or just pour them directly into my mouth… don’t judge me.

Aaaaaaanyway. I wanted to share some of my Independence Day (“I could’ve been at a BBQ!”) recipe favorites that I gravitate back to, year after year. For the tl;dr full list without photos, jump to the bottom!

Savory

Lobster Rolls
BECAUSE LOBSTER. And I’m pretty sure if you live in New England and don’t have this at the top of your list that they’ll kick you out. Oh, god pleaseletmestay.

Shrimp Pasta Salad
I’ve been making this for summer events since I was a little kid and I am 101% confident I will never get sick of it.

Copycat Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad
If you prefer a mayo-based pasta salad, you can’t go wrong with this.

Grilled Corn from Center Cut Cook
An absolute must-have for me in the summer. Blame it on my Midwest upbringing if you want, but you can’t deny that perfectly grilled corn slathered in butter is simply amazing.

Easy Tin Foil Sausage and Veggies from Chelsea’s Messy Apron
So easy and SO much flavor!

Old Fashioned Potato Salad from Love Bakes Good Cakes
As much fun as it is to dress up plain potato salad, I like to keep it classic.

Sweet

Watermelon Cupcakes
People have been obsessed with these since 2014! 

Boozy Angel Food Cupcakes
Dip the strawberries in white chocolate candy coating and roll them in freedom sprinkles – you know you want to.

Star Spangled Cookies from Sugar Spun Run
Because… I mean… how fricking cute are these?!

Fourth of July Cheesecake from Itsy Bitsy Kitchen
IT’S SO PRETTY. And also patriotic and mouth-watering. BUT LOOK HOW PRETTY.

Nutella Fruit Tart
Line up some raspberries or strawberries, blueberries and white chocolate chips or marshmallows for an edible flag!

Fruit & Quark Pizza with Oatmeal Cookie Crust
And you could do the same with this! Top your quark or yogurt “sauce” with fresh fruit.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
I know apple pie is the American way, but I think you can totally rock the strawberry rhubarb while singing America the Beautiful.

Strawberry Rhubars
Speaking of strawberry rhubarb, just add some blue sprinkles or blueberries to the top and they’re the perfect patriotic dessert!

Berry Trifle from Natasha’s Kitchen
An easy way to serve a crowd!

Mascarpone Whipped Cream
Because you can top just about anything with this whipped cream and some freedom sprinkles and call it an Independence Day.

Red, White and Blue Ice Cream Floats from The Butter Half
Berries AND ice cream? I’m all over this.

2-Ingredient Pineapple Popsicles
If the kids are out and about all day swimming or just generally running a muck, cool them down with this healthy treat!

Drinks

Raspberry Rosé Sangria
Toss in some fresh blueberries for a pop of contrasting color while you sip and wave a tiny American flag on your porch.

Sparkling Red, White and Blue Sangria from Gimme Some Oven
Besides being the perfect bubbly concoction, the apples in star shapes are such an easy way to dress it up!

Homemade Lemonade from The Stay At Home Chef
This is a must have! It just screams summer to me.

Savory

• Lobster Rolls – BECAUSE LOBSTER.
• Shrimp Pasta Salad – I’ve been making this for summer events since I was a little kid and I am 101% confident I will never get sick of it.
• Copycat Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad – If you prefer a mayo-based pasta salad, you can’t go wrong with this.
• Grilled Corn – An absolute must-have for me in the summer. Blame it on my Midwest upbringing if you want, but you can’t deny that perfectly grilled corn slathered in butter is simply amazing.
• Easy Tin Foil Sausage and Veggies –  So easy and SO much flavor!
• Old Fashioned Potato Salad – As much fun as it is to dress up plain potato salad, I like to keep it classic.

Sweet

• Watermelon Cupcakes – People have been obsessed with these since 2014! 
• Boozy Angel Food Cupcakes – Coat the strawberries in white chocolate candy coating and roll them in freedom sprinkles – you know you want to.
• Star Spangled Cookies – Because… I mean… how fricking cute are these?!
• Fourth of July Cheesecake – IT’S SO PRETTY. And also patriotic and mouth-watering. BUT LOOK HOW PRETTY.
• Nutella Fruit Tart – Line up some raspberries or strawberries, blueberries and white chocolate chips or marshmallows for an edible flag!
• Fruit & Quark Pizza with Oatmeal Cookie Crust – And you could do the same with this! Top your quark or yogurt “sauce” with fresh fruit.
• Strawberry Rhubarb Pie – I know apple pie is the American way, but I think you can totally rock the strawberry rhubarb while singing America the Beautiful.
• Strawberry Rhubars – Speaking of strawberry rhubarb, just add some blue sprinkles or blueberries to the top and they’re the perfect patriotic dessert!
• Berry Trifle – An easy way to serve a crowd!
• Mascarpone Whipped Cream – Because you can top just about anything with this whipped cream and some freedom sprinkles and call it an Independence Day.
• Red, White and Blue Ice Cream Floats – Berries AND ice cream? I’m all over this.
• 2-Ingredient Pineapple Popsicles – If the kids are out and about all day swimming or just generally running a muck, cool them down with this healthy treat!

Drinks

• Raspberry Rosé Sangria – Toss in some fresh blueberries for a pop of contrasting color while you sip and wave a tiny American flag on your porch.
• Sparkling Red, White and Blue Sangria – Besides being the perfect bubbly concoction, the apples in star shapes are such an easy way to dress it up!
• Homemade Lemonade – This is a must have! It just screams summer to me.

Find these recipes and SO much more in my Fourth of July Recipes Pinterest board!