Happy 4th of July Everyone!

Simple 4th of July Fun

In case anyone is looking for some fun things to do on the 4th, here are a few really simple (and cheap) things we've done to celebrate!

 

Patriotic water balloons

Independence Day Learning Activities

Fireworks in a Jar

Crayon resist firework painting

Flag Cake

Flag Pie

Cookie Fireworks

Patriotic balloons

Really homemade s'mores

Fun for July Ideas

In case your still looking for fun things to do for 4th of July, or anytime this month, here are a few things that we've done in the past.

This American Flag Cake is always a classic. Everyone oohs and ahhs when I've taken it to a gathering, but if you use store bought mixes it comes together in no time, and homemade cake and toppings don't take that much longer.


These Cookie Fireworks were a hit last year with the boys. The idea would work well with any sugar cookie recipe too.




But we'll probably be having something like this All American Apple Pie again, since strawberries and blueberries aren't in season here. I'm thinking maybe I'll do peach filling this year though.

We'll also be revisiting some of the learning activities from the America Unit Study we did last year to reintroduce some basic facts to our boys.






And we'll definitely be having some of this Easy Fresh Squeezed Lemonade with our hamburgers tomorrow. :)

Cookie Fireworks

I had some pie crust left over from making apple pies, so I decided to make some fun cookies in the shape of fireworks and sparklers. Sugar cookie dough would also work well. This is a fun project that even little kids can help with and older children could do all on their own.

Simply cut strips of dough with a pizza cutter and stars with a cookie cutter (or a star shape from your child's shape sorter that you have thoroughly cleaned). Arrange strips and stars to look like fireworks and/or sparklers on a cookie sheet. Press together lightly. Bake until golden brown. Let cool completely. Then frost with accents of red and blue for some very patriotic cookies. Enjoy!

All American Apple pie

What is more American than apple pie? Apple pie shaped like a flag. Strawberries and blueberries are out of season here, so I came up with a different flag-shaped dessert.

Oil Pie Crust

2 cups flour
½ cup oil (vegetable, canola, sunflower, etc.)
6 Tbsp or more ice water
(makes enough for a standard double crust pie or a thin 9x13 flag pie)

Mix together oil and flour with a pastry cutter. Add ice water, and continue mixing until firm dough forms. Let rest at least 15 minutes before rolling.

Apple Pie Filling

5 cups thinly sliced apples (peeled if you like)
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup flour
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
(makes enough filling for a standard 9 in pie or a thin 9x13 flag pie)

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, and stir to coat apples in dry ingredients.

For a regular apple pie, just divide the dough and roll two circle large enough for your pie pan. Place the first crust in the pie pan. Bake for 5 minutes at 350°F, remove, and add apple pie filling. Place the top crust over the filling, crimp edge, and cut slits in the top to vent while baking. Bake at 350°F for 40–50 minutes until the crust is golden brown.

To make an American flag pie roll a large rectangle of dough to fit in a 9x13 pan. You can use a 9x9 pan for a thicker square-shaped pie, but unless you decrease the recipe you will have crust left over. Place the first crust in the pie pan. Bake for 5 minutes at 350°F, remove and add apple pie filling. Use a pizza cutter to cut thin strips of crust for the stripes of the flag. Use a small star cookie cutter (or a star shape from your child's shape sorter that you have thoroughly cleaned) to cut some stars for the flag. Arrange stars and stripes on top of the pie. Bake at 350°F for 40–50 minutes until the crust is golden brown.

American Flag Cake

This is a simple, yet elegant dessert is a classic for 4th of July.

Flag Cake

1 9x13 yellow or white cake (from a mix or homemade)

1 small container of cool whip, can of white frosting, or homemade cream cheese frosting
1 pound of strawberries with tops removed and cut in half
1 cup of bluberries

Frost the top of the cake, arrange blueberries in a square in the top left corner, and then arrange the strawberries as horizontal stripes.