Last-Minute Fourth of July Desserts

By Sandy Hu

Happy Fourth of July! If you’ve been too busy marinating the ribs or buying those steaks for the grill and haven’t had time to think about dessert, here are some red, white and blue instant answers for your celebration today.

Parfait: Make instant vanilla pudding, fold in a little sour cream. Make layers of blueberries and raspberries in a parfait glass or a wine glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint and serve with store-bought cookies.

Cake: Slice pound cake ½-inch thick. Cut star shapes using star cookie cutter. Blend strawberries with grated lemon peel and honey in blender. Stir in a little heavy cream to make a sauce. Serve with pound cake stars and garnish with strawberries.

Cupcake: Bake cupcakes from a mix. Frost with cream cheese frosting. Top with raspberries and blueberries and plant an American flag in the center. To make cream cheese frosting, with an electric mixer beat together 4 ounces (1/2 package) cream cheese at room temperature with 2 tablespoons softened butter until light and fluffy. Add ½ cup powdered sugar and beat until incorporated. Makes about 1 cup frosting.

Have a wonderful Fourth!

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