4th of July Dessert Trifle

Holidays bring out the best in us with good times involving food, family, and fun!  Notice, I listed FOOD first?  That’s because whenever we have a big family get-together, the first thing we discuss is menus! I  creating Fourth of July desserts!

With the 4th of July approaching, this festive dessert is always at the top of our lists.  I started making it over 15 years ago, based on a Jell-O ad in a magazine.  I decided this year, it was my kids’ turn to learn how to make it!

What You Need To Make A 4th of July Dessert Jell-O Trifle:

1 quart fresh strawberries

1 quart fresh blueberries

1 large pound cake (found in freezer section)

1 large container whipped dessert topping

1 6oz pkg strawberry Jell-O

1 6oz pkg berry blue Jell-O

How  To Make A 4th of July Dessert Jell-O Trifle:

Prepare Jell-O according to package directions and chill in shallow pans.  This is a great opportunity for little ones to see simple directions in play – I read all the directions out loud to my son as I was making it and even enlisted his stirring help.

Wash and prepare the fruit – cut the strawberries into bit sized pieces.  When set, cut the Jell-O with a knife into squares. Cut the pound cake into 1″ cubes – I keep my pound cake frozen until we are ready to build the trifle – it tends to crumble less.

Layer the ingredients in a tall, clear glass bowl or trifle dish.  Start with pound cake, then the berries, followed by whipped topping.

Continue to layer with the Jell-O.  Red Jell-O, whipped topping, then the blue Jell-O. Depending on how deep your bowl, is continue to layer until you reach the top.  This is another great opportunity to allow your kids to “build” the trifle.

This year, as we built our dessert, we had a great discussion about the 4th of July and the colors that symbolize America.  The colors were chosen to be represented in the Great Seal of the United States by the Continental Congress in 1782:

White to mean purity & innocence

Red for valor & hardiness

Blue for vigilance, perseverance, & justice

I was surprised to find that my older kids had a pretty good grasp of what these words meant and how they applied to our country in 1782. Without the perseverance, hardiness, and purity of our founding fathers, American would not be what it is today.

Enough with the history lesson! Doesn’t this look GOOD??

For some more ideas for colorful treats, check out these fun posts and then go have a wonderful 4th of July:

• Fruit Mural
• Easy Recipe for Dirt Cake
• Pie Crust Jam Cookies