The Fourth of July is almost here! This holiday always conjures up great memories of backyard cookouts, glowing sparklers, laughter and fun with family and friends. When I think of the Fourth, in addition to red, white and blue, I also think of sunny days, cold slices of watermelon and flip-flops. 

If you’re like me, during the summer you want to spend more time outside instead of working hard in the kitchen. Whether you’re hosting a party this year (we encourage you to follow best practices for gatherings) or you’re headed to a watch party for fireworks, we’ve got you covered! Let Ashley’s Pastries do the work for you. Just give us a call and we can make sure to have your sweet treats ready when you need them. We’ve got star-shaped cookies, flag cakes and more treats in red, white and blue – guaranteed to give your day the perfect patriotic pop!

If you’re looking for more easy options to make this holiday less work and more play, we’ve rounded up a few fun, easy recipes that won’t take a lot of time but will make plenty of impact. 

  1. Festive fruit. Fruit skewers are a fun but healthy treat. Simply slide strawberries, fresh pineapple chunks, thick blueberries and blackberries on a bamboo skewer. Chill before serving.
  2. Tomato basil pasta salad. The perfect side dish for any summer event, this pasta salad (you just need a handful of ingredients!) is simple and delicious. Find the recipe here.
  3. Firecracker strawberries. This fun treat will be sure to please all ages. Bonus – it works as pretty table decor, too! Simply dip large strawberries in marshmallow fluff (warm in the microwave about 10 seconds) and then dip in blue Pop Rocks candy. Check out this recipe from Delish if you want to try an adult version of firecracker strawberries.

  4.  Flag cake. If you feel like making your own, you can’t go wrong with this classic dish that’s perfect for any patriotic party. Bake a white cake (follow your favorite recipe or use a boxed mix), top with vanilla icing, and decorate with fresh strawberries to make the stripes and use blueberries for the stars for the US flag. Enjoy!5. Strawberry-Thyme lemonade pops. Refreshing, sweet, and an easy summer treat. All you need are three ingredients to create these yummy popsicles: strawberries, thyme leaves and lemonade. You can find the easy instructions here. 

There you go –  five simple recipe ideas to make your Fourth a little more festive without a lot more work. We hope you find time to celebrate America this weekend. We promise the memories you make now with family and friends will last a lifetime. 

As always, thanks for letting Ashley’s be a part of your holiday traditions. We love celebrating life deliciously with you. Have a safe and happy Fourth!