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Celebrate Independence Day in style with some festive recipes, including Star-Spangled Chicken With Fireworks Salsa—and Star-Spangled Berry Pie for dessert. You’ll also find burgers, ribs, our prizewinning fried chicken, and patriotic desserts to top off any great meal!
This one-crust “Star-Spangled Berry Pie” is the ultimate Independence Day dessert! Ripe raspberries and blueberries are topped with stars; a white chocolate layer on the bottom takes this over the top!
We taste-tested a lot of fried chicken—and this recipe won first prize in our annual Almanac recipe contest! It’s delicious, crispy, and moist. What more could you want?
Our super summer sliders are a gourmet-level burger for a burger chef and a special feast. If it’s too gourmet for you, we also have a basic burger recipe.
Nothing beats this Berry Iced Tea on a hot, humid day. It’s the perfect way to quench your thirst during berry season. Feel free to experiment with different berries!
This berry tart is simple to make and looks stunning. Start with a tart shell, which you can make or buy. Then spread a pastry cream in the shell and top with mixed berries of your choice!
Discover a collection of refreshing, cool drinks and punch to quench your thirst on a hot July day! See our Summer Drinks Recipe page.
Cold Picnic Food Recipes
Planning a picnic? From refreshing drinks to finger food to salads, we’ve got you covered. See our list of cold picnic food recipes.
Grilling Recipes
The Fourth of July is the perfect time to break out the grill! Check out our top grilling tips and recipes for ideas on what to cook up this holiday weekend!
History of Independence Day
In the United States, July 4 marks the day in 1776 when the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson.
Writing in July 1776 from Philadelphia, John Adams related to his wife, Abigail: “Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, whichever was debated in America, and a greater, perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony … “
Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
When your squash grows 3 inches long, then shrivels up and dies, then it isn't getting pollinated. Squash plants bear both male and female flowers. To have fruit set, pollen from the male flower must be physically transferred to the female flower by bees. Do you have a lot of pollinating bees in your garden? If not, you can manually pollinate the flowers yourself--help them along with some Q-tips! Also, be sure to avoid pesticides in the garden which kills the pollinators.