We still aren’t sure how “4th of July” is even in our vocabulary right now, considering it was just March a few weeks ago (or at least that’s how it feels). But here we are. Summer has officially begun, and it's time to celebrate. That means a couple of days off of work, a sunny day, and all of the tips you need to host the ultimate 4th of July party.

Drinks

Popsicle Cocktails

Let’s really get back to the basics of summer. Namely, those weirdly delicious red, white, and blue Bomb Pops that made us a sticky mess in summers past. That’s right, we’re stocking our freezers with the old favorite, but we’re upping the ante this time around with champagne. This is the easiest of the cocktails we’re whipping up for our patriotic party, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be the most Insta-worthy.

• Box of Bomb Pops
• Bottle of Champagne

1. Put the popsicles in a glass with the stick facing out.

2. Fill the glasses with bubbly. Voilà!

Firecracker Jell-O Shots

No good party is complete without some good old-fashioned Jell-O shots. Or at least, that’s what we thought in college, but the second we saw these cuties we knew we couldn't pass them up. They’re a bit more involved since you have to make them layer by layer, but the effort will be worth it since they double as a sweet treat after dinner. Plus, you can also make a booze-free batch for the littles. 

• 3 c. vodka
• 1 box blue Jell-O
• 1 box red Jell-O
• 3 envelopes of unflavored gelatin
• 3 c. boiling water
• 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 jar maraschino cherries, drained

Blue Layer

1. Pour 1 cup of vodka into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle ½ of an envelope of unflavored gelatin on top, then let it sit for 2 minutes. 
2. Add in the blue Jell-O, pour in 1 cup of boiling water, and whisk together until the gelatin is dissolved.
3. Let it cool for 5 minutes, then pour the mixture into small shooter glasses until each is ⅓ of the way full.
4. Chill for 1 hour. 

White Layer

1. Pour 1 cup of vodka into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle 2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin on top, then let it sit for 2 minutes. 
2. Pour in 1 cup of boiling water, and whisk together until the gelatin is dissolved.
3. Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and stir until it’s fully mixed.
4. Let it cool for 5 minutes, then pour the mixture on top of the blue layer until the glasses are ⅔ of the way full.
5. Chill for 1 hour. 

Red Layer

1. Pour 1 cup of vodka into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle ½ of an envelope of unflavored gelatin on top, then let it sit for 2 minutes. 
2. Add in the red Jell-O, pour in 1 cup of boiling water, and whisk together until the gelatin is dissolved.
3. Let it cool for 5 minutes, then fill the rest of each glass with the mixture.
4. Chill for 1 hour. 

When all of the Jell-O shots have set, add a cherry on top for decoration and get to celebrating!

Watermelon Keg

We’ve all seen this modern marvel on Pinterest, but if you’re anything like us, you took one look, thought “I don't have 10 hours to dedicate to carving watermelons,” and moved on. Lucky for you, we’ve done the research and we can tell you that it’s super easy and you can be sure it'll be the star of the event. The only real prep work you’ll have to do is ordering a spigot so you can easily dispense the drinks, but of course, Amazon has your back.

• 1 seedless watermelon
• 1 bottle (750 ml) of your favorite rosé
• 1 ½ c. orange vodka

1. Cut a thin slice from the bottom of the watermelon rind, without cutting into the flesh, to give it a flat bottom to keep it sitting upright.
2. Carve out a circle in the top to create a lid.
3. Remove the lid, and then using an electric hand mixer or immersion blender, blend up all of the insides until completely pureed. 
4. Pour the watermelon puree into a separate cup, straining out pulp and seeds first. 
5. Insert the spigot, then pour the watermelon juice, wine, and vodka back into the watermelon.
6. Refrigerate for 2 hours and then serve.

Snacks

We all know that the entire purpose of the 4th of July is to enjoy as many hot dogs and handfuls of potato chips as you possibly can, so we aren’t here to tell you otherwise. All we’re saying is that you can also include some America-themed appetizers and desserts to the lineup. 

Berry Kabobs

This is another fun Pinterest-style treat, but considering how simple and quick it is to make, we couldn’t leave it out. They’re bursting with summer flavor and will be perfect to pass around before the rest of the snacks are ready to be served. The kiddos will love that they get some marshmallows out of the deal, and who doesn't love eating off of a skewer? We love serving them up with the American flag design, but you can also alternate berries and marshmallows for a simpler red, white, and blue design.

• 1 package blueberries
• 1 package raspberries
• 1 bag mini marshmallows
• Skewers

1. On the first 5 skewers, put 4 blueberries, one mini marshmallow, one raspberry, one more mini marshmallow, and one more raspberry. 
2. On the next 7 skewers, alternate 4 raspberries and 3 marshmallows, to create a striped effect. 
3. Line them up with the blueberries in the top left corner (hello, stars!) and then finish the flag with the raspberry/marshmallow skewers.
4. Add the rest of the berries and 'mallows to the remaining kabobs so you have plenty of extras. 

Watermelon Salad

We are all about a good watermelon salad, especially since we usually only get them when we are spending way too much money at a nice restaurant. But that's not the case any longer! This refreshing summer salad is as easy as it is delicious, and allows for customization so all of your guests are happy.

• 1 baby watermelon
• ½ c. fresh mint, chopped
• ¼ c. red onion, thinly sliced
• 12 oz. cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. lime juice
• 1 tsp. pure honey
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Crumbled feta

1. Cut the watermelon into bite-size chunks, and top with the fresh mint, onion, and tomatoes. 
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, honey, salt, and pepper. 
3. Toss watermelon mixture with the dressing, and sprinkle the crumbled feta on top. 
4. Serve and enjoy!

Baked Brie

 

Surprise, surprise — in case you didn't yet realize it, we love bringing in that red, white, and blue scheme wherever we possibly can. And we also love including cheese in every meal we eat. And when we bring those two passions together, we get ourselves a fun little wheel of baked brie and fruit. 

• 1 wheel of brie
• 6 strawberries, sliced
• ½ c. blueberries
• ¼ c. orange juice
• 2 tsp. honey
• Crackers for dipping (we love pretzel crackers most, but you can also sweeten things up with graham crackers)

1. Preheat oven to 350°, and cut off the top rind of the brie. 
2. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the brie is completely melted and bubbling.
3. While the brie is baking, place the strawberries and blueberries in separate bowls, divide the orange juice and honey evenly between the bowls, and toss until all of the berries are coated. 
4. When the brie is done baking, immediately arrange the fruit in an American flag design on top and serve.