4th of July Sweet Memories

The Fourth of July has always been one of my top three holidays growing up. When I was younger I loved the excitement my town had for the annual Fourth of July Parade. I remember watching the parade with friends and family. We would laugh and gawk at all the floats and the marching bands that went by, looking forward to the day when we could march in the parade. That chance came for me in high school with the marching band. It was so much fun seeing all the smiling faces, hearing all the cheers and then remembering when it was all over that I couldn’t wait to do it again next year. 
 
Another highlight from my childhood was the Independence Day Stampede. Besides watching the rodeos each year, big name country stars would come to town to perform. This was where I saw my first concert, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. I was lucky enough to see them perform with my closest friends. We’d show up way before the concert started and tried to get right up next to the stage. I remember singing and dancing and not having a care in the world. Then the next day it would be difficult to hear or talk, but it was totally worth it!
 
The cherry on the top, so to say, about this holiday is the food. Who can resist a good old-fashioned BBQ! Hamburgers, hot dogs, coleslaw and all the sides one can think of (ok I could do without the baked beans), but my favorite part about the BBQ was the deserts! I have a strong, make that intense sweet tooth, so I would typically help myself to multiple servings of desert. With my sweet tooth in mind, I have created a list of my most favorite 4th of July desserts in hopes that you will love them as much as I have! 

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My top 4 favorite deserts for the 4th of July:
Banana Pudding Parfait: This creamy desert is AMAZING and super easy to create. Throw some blueberries and strawberries on top to make it festive and people will be asking for more!
https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/banana-pudding-parfaits/
 
Flag Cake: Ok I know, most people know about the flag cake, but it’s a staple at every BBQ on the 4th.  You can bake your favorite cake and then decorate it with strawberries and blueberries or I am loving this one with a no bake cheesecake base. 
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/233327/no-bake-cheesecake-flag-cake/?internalSource=streams&referringId=1506&referringContentType=Recipe%20Hub&clickId=st_trending_b
 
Patriotic Flag Fruit Tray: This is a quick and easy one! Seriously, there is no baking and can be put together in no time. Perfect for the person who wants to make an impression, but short on time.
https://www.passionforsavings.com/4th-of-july-fruit-platter-idea-how-to-make-an-american-flag/
 
Strawberry Short Cake: One of my favorite desserts growing up was strawberry shortcake. My mom would get an angel food cake, some whip cream and strawberries. She would cut up all the strawberries and let them sit with a pinch of sugar while we ate dinner and then after dinner she would put it all in a bowl for us: angel food cake, then whip cream and top it all off with a super size scoop of strawberries. If you would prefer to make this more homemade here is a great recipe.
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/22988/scrumptious-strawberry-shortcake/?internalSource=hub%20recipe&referringId=1506&referringContentType=Recipe%20Hub&clickId=cardslot%2015
 
What desert will I be making this 4th of July? Stay tooned to my Instagram and Facebook page to find out!

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