Red, White, and Yummy!

By: Jenn Grandlienard

I love patriotic holidays. I grew up very proud to be an American. (Cue song) Some of my family’s love of country is probably due to my grandfather being in the Marines for WWII and the Korean War. But I’m thankful that I grew up loving the USA because I never want to take for granted the sacrifices made by those who fought and died for this country. 

Most of our patriotic holidays have become centered around barbeques and cookouts, and I partake in those celebrations. But I try to remind my kids of why we celebrate holidays such as July 4th and Memorial Day. And as simple as it seems, keeping the American flag in the forefront of our celebrations is one way I do this. Whether it be providing them with little flags to wave or even as simple as making a dessert with a flag design on it! 

So today, I’d like to share two different flag dessert recipes with you! One is a straightforward JELL-O dessert, and another is an American flag cake. If you make one, I hope it reminds you in a small way of why we celebrate this memorable holiday! Enjoy!

JELL-O Easy Patriotic Flag Dessert

Prep: 30 mins
Cook time: 2 hours
Link to recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 cups boiling water, divided

• 2 pkg. (4-serving size each) JELL-O Berry Blue flavor gelatin

• 2 cups ice cubes, divided

• 2 pkg. (8 oz each) Philadelphia cream cheese, softened

• ¼ cup sugar

• 1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP whipped topping, thawed, divided

• 2 pkg. (4-serving size each) JELL-O Strawberry flavor gelatin, or any red flavor

• 2 cups halved strawberries

• ½ cup blueberries

Instructions:

1. Stir 1-1/2 cups of the boiling water into dry blue gelatin in a medium bowl for at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add 1 cup of the ice cubes; stir until the ice is completely melted. Pour into a 13x9-inch dish. Refrigerate 20 min. or until gelatin is set but not firm.

2. Place cream cheese, sugar, and half of the whipped topping in a large bowl; beat until well blended. Spoon over blue gelatin layer in dish; spread carefully to evenly cover the gelatin layer. Stir remaining 1-1/2 cups boiling water into strawberry gelatin in a separate bowl for at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add remaining 1 cup ice cubes; stir until ice is completely melted. Let stand at room temperature for 5 min. or until slightly thickened. Spoon over cream cheese layer in dish. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until set.

3. Spread remaining whipped topping over dessert just before serving. Decorate with strawberries and blueberries to resemble a flag. Store leftover dessert in the refrigerator.

American Flag Cake

Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Cool time: 2 hours
Total: 3 hrs 5 mins
Link to recipe

Ingredients: 

• 1 box vanilla cake mix of choice, plus ingredients called for on the box (can also use your favorite from-scratch cake mix!)

• Cooking spray

• 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

• 1 (8 oz) container COOL WHIP or other frozen whipped topping, slightly thawed

• 3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

• 1 pint blueberries

• 1-2 pints raspberries

Instructions:

1. Gather ingredients. Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and heat oven to temperature indicated on the box

2. Prepare cake batter according to box instructions

3. Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 13-inch pan. Alternatively, line the bottom with parchment paper and grease the sides for easy removal. Bake according to package directions.

4. Let cake cool for 15 minutes. Invert onto a serving platter to cool completely.

5. Place cake in the freezer while you prepare frosting (this makes the flag cake easier to frost).

6. With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, whipped topping, and confectioners' sugar until smooth.

7. Remove cake from freezer and spread top and sides with whipped cream frosting.

8. To decorate flag cake, outline a square in the top left corner with blueberries.

9. Fill in with remaining blueberries, leaving some white space showing through. These are the stars on your flag cake. Make several lines of raspberries next to and below blueberries. These are the stripes of your flag cake. Refrigerate flag cake until ready to serve.

Happy 4th of July! No matter how we celebrate, may we feel grateful for the country we live in and the freedoms we enjoy every day!