Here are some delicious 4th of July recipes to make for your party or family gathering, plus fun activities to do!
No matter how much I encourage the boys to use their reusable water balloons, they insist on the bunches you fill in bulk or giant balloons to make huge water babies with. Here they are with a giant water “baby” swinging in the hammock.
Happy 4th of July week!
I hope you’re enjoying a day or two off for the holiday. We are home stocking up on sparklers and a few (legal) fireworks to do with the kids. Don’t forget to stock your pool bag!
If you’re heading to a picnic this week and need a last-minute dish to share, I’m sharing some festive Fourth recipes below along with family-friendly activities and some summery home décor ideas!
4th of July Recipes
Smoked Salmon Sliders
These smoked salmon sliders are SO easy to put together, and the addition of a few veggies makes them extra crunchy! Make sure you get the really good Hawaiian rolls.
Bean and Corn Party Dip
This party dip is one of our go-tos! And here is Thomas’s version.
Make-Ahead Toothpick Apps
This toothpick apps post is one of my most popular from Pinterest! These three ideas for healthy food on toothpicks help avoid sharing of utensils 😉
Arugula Goat Cheese Salad
This arugula goat cheese salad recipe is fresh side dish that pairs perfectly with grilled burgers and corn on the cob.
Summer Pasta Salad
This is one of those great pasta salad recipes where you can mix and match whatever you have in your fridge or garden! Sub in 2.5 cups of your own summer veggies, and use the combination of fresh and dried herbs you have in your pantry. You can’t go wrong!
Red, White + Blue Stacked Smoothies
These stacked smoothies require a little bit of work to prepare, but wouldn’t your kids love them!?
Whole Wheat Blueberry Cobbler Mini Muffins
Another way to use up those juicy blueberries this summer, these blueberry muffins would be so cute in little paper bags.
A Few More 4th of July Recipes From Friends
Fun Family Activities For the Fourth
- Decorate the driveway with sidewalk chalk – flags, fireworks and more!
- Make homemade popsicles with 100% fruit juice and coconut water for a refreshing treat.
- Or work together to make kid friendly Jell-O stars!
- Have a lawn game tournament complete with sack races and water balloon toss!
- Go on a family bike ride, dressed in your best red, white & blue attire. Add colorful streamers to your bike and play some patriotic tunes on a mini speaker.
Summery Home Decor Finds
From a sleek outdoor fireplace to adorable wicker patio furniture and colorful lawn games – I’ve linked all of these summer outdoor living finds here.
10 Fourth of July themed cocktails and mocktails:
1. Red, White, and Blue Sangria:
- Ingredients: Red wine, white wine, blueberries, strawberries, apple slices, club soda, brandy, lemon juice, simple syrup.
- Method: Mix red wine with brandy and simple syrup, white wine with lemon juice and simple syrup. Add fruits and top with club soda.
2. Firecracker Margarita:
- Ingredients: Tequila, triple sec, lime juice, jalapeño slices, blue curaçao.
- Method: Shake tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and jalapeño slices with ice. Strain into glass, float blue curaçao.
3. Stars and Stripes Mojito:
- Ingredients: White rum, mint leaves, lime juice, simple syrup, blueberries, strawberries, club soda.
- Method: Muddle mint leaves, lime juice, and simple syrup. Add rum and ice, top with club soda and garnish with blueberries and strawberries.
4. Patriotic Pina Colada:
- Ingredients: Rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice, blue curaçao, grenadine.
- Method: Blend rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice with ice. Pour grenadine into glass, add blended mix, then float blue curaçao.
5. Independence Punch:
- Ingredients: Vodka, lemonade, blueberry juice, grenadine.
- Method: Mix vodka, lemonade, and blueberry juice in a pitcher. Pour into glasses over ice and add a splash of grenadine for color.
6. Liberty Lemonade:
- Ingredients: Gin, lemonade, raspberries, blueberries, mint leaves.
- Method: Mix gin and lemonade in a pitcher. Muddle raspberries and blueberries in glasses, fill with ice, pour lemonade mix, garnish with mint.
7. American Sparkler:
- Ingredients: Champagne or sparkling wine, blueberries, strawberries.
- Method: Place blueberries and strawberries in glass, top with chilled champagne or sparkling wine.
8. Rockets Burst Martini:
- Ingredients: Vodka, blue curaçao, cranberry juice, lemon twist.
- Method: Shake vodka, blue curaçao, and cranberry juice with ice. Strain into martini glass, garnish with lemon twist.
9. Star-Spangled Mule:
- Ingredients: Vodka, ginger beer, lime juice, blueberries, raspberries.
- Method: Muddle blueberries and raspberries in a copper mug, add vodka and lime juice, top with ginger beer and ice.
10. Betsy Ross Breeze:
- Ingredients: Rum, coconut water, pineapple juice, cranberry juice.
- Method: Mix rum, coconut water, and pineapple juice in a shaker with ice. Strain into glass, float cranberry juice for a layered effect.
Mocktails:
1. Berry Blast Cooler:
- Ingredients: Sparkling water, mixed berry syrup, lemon juice, raspberries, blueberries.
- Method: Mix sparkling water with berry syrup and lemon juice. Garnish with raspberries and blueberries.
2. Sunny Citrus Spritzer:
- Ingredients: Orange juice, lemon-lime soda, grenadine, lemon slices, maraschino cherries.
- Method: Mix orange juice and lemon-lime soda in a glass with ice. Add grenadine for color and garnish with lemon slices and cherries.
3. Patriotic Punch:
- Ingredients: Cranberry juice, lemon-lime soda, blueberries, strawberries.
- Method: Mix cranberry juice and lemon-lime soda in a pitcher. Add blueberries and strawberries for garnish.
Hope you have a fun & safe 4th of July!
