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My favorite 4th of July sides and desserts are the ones you can make a day ahead, so you spend the holiday with your people, not stuck in the kitchen. Most of the recipes here fit that approach, with a few red, white, and blue desserts mixed in for the holiday colors.

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Cucumber salad, three-bean salad, pimento cheese, Vidalia onion dip, and Texas caviar are all prepped the night before and pulled from the fridge when guests arrive. Baked beans cook low and slow on the stove. Banana pudding and peach cobbler can be assembled the day before, too. The patriotic-colored desserts include my easy one-layer Red, White, and Blue Cake, 4th of July Poke Cake, Fruit Kabobs, and White Chocolate Covered Oreos.

1
A plate of round white chocolate-covered Oreos decorated with red, white, and blue sprinkles and drizzle, arranged on a white dish with additional sprinkles and Oreos in the background.
4th of July Oreos
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2
Red white and blue cake with strawberries and blueberries on a blue background.
Red, White, and Blue Cake Recipe
Red, white, and blue cake is the perfect 4th of July cake! Everything goes in one bowl and this patriotic cake is one layer so it’s super easy!
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3
overhead of deviled eggs on a board.
Deviled Eggs Recipe
Deviled Eggs are creamy with just a touch of sweetness from pickle relish and a sprinkle of paprika.
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4
Pimento cheese in a small white bowl with celery.
Pimento Cheese Recipe
Pimento Cheese recipe that's a classic Southern favorite, made with extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, pimentos, and cayenne pepper.
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5
A bowl filled with cucumber onion salad.
Cucumber Onion Salad
Cucumber Onion Salad is a simple, classic recipe of sliced crisp cucumbers, sweet onions, and tangy vinegar to create a side dish that's refreshing and full of flavor.
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6
A large white bowl with green border filled with vidalia onion dip sprinkled with parsley.
Vidalia Onion Dip
Vidalia Onion Dip is a simple, creamy, sweet onion dip that mixes up in minutes, bakes for half an hour, and is devoured in seconds!
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7
A festive platter with mini pancakes, blueberries, marshmallows, strawberries, small waffles, and red, white, and blue candies, arranged on a wooden board with an American flag backdrop.
Breakfast Grazing Board
Easy breakfast board that can be customized for any occasion.
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8
A white bowl filled with texas caviar and surrounded by chips.
Texas Caviar
A fresh and healthy appetizer or salad filled with peppers, onions, herbs, and black-eyed peas.
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9
Fruit and marshmallow skewers with strawberries, blueberries, and marshmallows placed on white parchment paper, topped with red, white, and blue star-shaped decorations.
Patriotic Fruit Kabobs
Red, white, and blue fruit kabobs perfect for July 4th or Memorial Day.
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10
Dutch oven filled with Southern Baked Beans.
Southern Baked Beans Recipe
Southern Baked Beans have a touch of sweetness from brown sugar and lots of flavor from onion, peppers, bacon, and seasonings. These are easy and your folks will love them!
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11
A slice of cornbread with visible pieces of red and green peppers sits on a white plate with a black rim. Crumbs are scattered on the plate.
Jiffy Mexican Cornbread Recipe
A cheesy, slightly spicy Jiffy Mexican Cornbread that’s moist, flavorful, and ready to steal the show at any meal.
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12
A slice of patriotic poke cake with red, white, and blue colors, topped with whipped cream, blueberries, raspberries, and sprinkles, on a white plate.
Patriotic Poke Cake
This 4th of July Poke Cake is made with white cake, red and blue Jello, whipped cream cheese frosting, and fresh berries.
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13
A bowl filled with a colorful three-bean salad, featuring green beans, wax beans, red kidney beans, diced red onions, and green bell peppers, mixed with a wooden spoon. Parsley garnish on the side.
Three Bean Salad
Old-fashioned three bean salad is a great side dish for grilled or roasted meats.
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14
A white bowl filled with macaroni salad mixed with diced vegetables and a creamy dressing, placed on a wooden surface.
Southern Macaroni Salad Recipe
A creamy, tangy Southern Macaroni Salad loaded with fresh veggies and classic flavors is perfect for any picnic or BBQ.
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15
A glass bowl filled with white chocolate bark topped with pretzels, red and blue candies, and mini marshmallows. Other candy and snacks are visible in the background.
White Chocolate Pretzel Bark
Salty pretzels, red and blue candy, and sweet white chocolate make this festive pretzel bark perfect for the 4th of July.
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16
A glass trifle bowl filled with layers of banana pudding, vanilla wafers, and sliced bananas, topped with crumbled wafers.
Southern Banana Pudding
Creamy, luscious, homemade custard makes all the difference in this Southern Banana Pudding.
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17
A slice of cheesecake garnished with fresh strawberries, edible flowers, and a blueberry, served with a fork on a white background.
Lemon Icebox Pie Recipe
Lemon Icebox Pie is creamy and zesty, with fresh lemon juice and zest and Eagle Brand condensed milk–it’s a classic Southern staple!
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18
A freshly baked pie with a golden lattice crust and braided edges, filled with a red fruit filling, is displayed on a white surface next to a fork, beige napkin, and slice of pie.
Baked Strawberry Pie Recipe
This baked strawberry pie features a lattice crust and fresh strawberries with a sweet glaze.
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19
A white plate holds a serving of peach cobbler topped with a dollop of whipped cream. A silver fork is placed on the plate, resting on top of a blue cloth napkin.
Easy Southern Peach Cobbler
The best Southern peach cobbler made with fresh peaches, cinnamon, brown sugar, and a little half-and-half to make the crust rich and delicious.
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20
Strawberry cobbler topped with ice cream on a plate.
Strawberry Cobbler Recipe
A quick and easy Southern crowd-pleaser made with fresh strawberries.
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21
A slice of strawberry jello cake topped with a thin layer of pink frosting and a strawberry slice on a white plate, with a gold fork beside it.
Strawberry Jell-o Cake Recipe
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22
A piece of chocolate cake with gooey chocolate frosting and marshmallow topping on a white plate.
Easy Mississippi Mud Cake Recipe
This easy Mississippi mud cake recipe is made the old-fashioned way with marshmallows and a fudgy frosting.
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23
A plate of cookies with red, white, and blue candy pieces, arranged on a white surface next to part of a flag-themed cloth.
4th of July Cookies with M&Ms
4th of July cookies made with white chocolate chips and M&Ms.
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A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. I’ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

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