Patriotic Parfait Cups – An Easy Red White & Blue Dessert Recipe

If you are looking for an easy red, white & blue dessert recipe then this Patriotic Parfait Cups recipe is just what you are looking for! Red and blue fruit that is layered between white whipped topping and served in individual cups that are topped with sprinkles.

It is an easy dessert recipe that is perfect to serve for any patriotic American holiday. Whether you are celebrating Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day or Labor Day, these fruit cups are the perfect addition to your backyard barbecue.

Best of all, they can be made ahead of time so that you don’t have to spend a lot of time on the day of the holiday in the kitchen. Instead, prepare them the day before and put them in the refrigerator until they are ready to be served.

I first started making these Patriotic Parfait Cups on Flag Day as a way to honor the red white & blue colors of the United States Flag. Although not an official Federal holiday, Flag Day is observed every year on June 14th.

The holiday commemorates the date in 1777 when the United States approved the design for its first national flag. And every year, there are activities that focus around the flag itself or the colors of the flag.

And because the majority of the time the unofficial holiday falls on a busy weekday, I often look for an easy recipe or two to celebrate with my family. I focus on the colors of the flag and make Red, White & Blue Salsa, Flag Fruit Pizza or these Parfait Cups.

An Easy To Make Recipe

Although all three recipes are easy to prepare, this one is a favorite among both the adults and kids. There is just something special about having your own individual serving of a beautiful dessert.

There is no need to wait for someone to cut a cake, or scoop out a serving of ice cream. Instead, you simply grab the clear plastic cup filled with red, white and blue colors and dig in!

But what I like most about this recipe, it is one that the kids can help make. After the strawberries are sliced, all that is left to do is layer the ingredients.

The strawberries get added to the bottom of the cup. Then next is a layer of whipped topping. Add a few blueberries and another layer of whipped topping.

Sounds easy, right? But the next ingredient is the surprise ingredient of the Patriotic Parfait Cups. Keeping with the colors of the flag, chunks of angel food cake are added to the layers as well.

It adds not only a little texture to the dessert, but also a little sweetness as well. It is the perfect compliment to fruit and whipped topping.

Once the final layer of the whipped topping is mounding on the top of the cups, add a raspberry and red, white and blue sprinkles on top. Then you have a dessert that is fit for any Patriotic holiday!

Patriotic Parfait Cups

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 8 whole Strawberries
• 1 cup of Blueberries
• 1 cup cubed Angel Food Cake
• 8oz Cool Whip, thawed

Topping Ingredients

• 4 Raspberries and
• Red, White, & Blue sprinkles

Equipment Required

• 4 small, clear plastic cups

INSTRUCTIONS

The first step in making these Patriotic Parfait Cups is to gather 4 small, clear cups. You can use parfait glasses if you have them on hand.

However, because this is a dessert that I typically serve as part of a backyard, holiday celebration, I prefer to serve them in clear, plastic cups. That way there is no chance of them getting broken if they get dropped or get knocked off a table.

Once you have your cups, wash and core the strawberries. Depending on the size of the strawberries you will need 7-8 of them.

Slice the strawberries using a sharp knife, or a strawberry slicer. Then evenly distribute the berries between the 4 clear plastic cups.

Push the strawberries down slightly so that they form an even layer. Then add approximately 2 tablespoons of whipped topping over the strawberries.

Spread the whipped topping out and then divide the blueberries among the cups. It is best to place a layer of blueberries on the edge of the cup so that they are visible from the outside.

Simply line up the blueberries around inside edge of the cup, then fill in the center with the remaining blueberries. Next, add another layer of whipped topping on top of the blueberries.

Add The Surprise Ingredient

Now it is time to add the surprise ingredient to the Patriotic Parfait Cups. Cut or tear the angel food cake into small pieces.

Then add the small cake pieces as the next layer. Now it is time to add the final layer of the whipped topping.

As you add the whipped topping, mound it up slightly over the top of the cup. Then top each cup with a single raspberry.

If you don’t have any raspberries you can use a half of a small strawberry. Finally, add red, white & blue dessert sprinkles to the top!

Place the cups in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use other fruit in this recipe?

Feel free to switch up the fruit in your Patriotic Parfait Cups to your preference. However, in an effort to keep the red, white & blue dessert theme, use fruits that represent these colors.

Suggested fruit substitutions include:

• Red – raspberries, pitted red cherries, watermelon
• Blue – blackberries, plums, grapes
• White – pears, apples, melon

2. Can I use fat-free whipped topping?

Feel free to use fat-free, low-fat or regular whipped topping. They all will hold up when layered with the fruit.

3. Can I make this in advance?

One of the best things about this recipe is that it can be made up to a day in advance. Simply follow the instructions and place the parfait cups in the refrigerator, uncovered.

Enjoy! Mary

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