Go Back

4th of July Brownies

4th of July brownies with dense, fudgy cake-brownie texture topped with a thick white vanilla cream cheese frosting. Finished with an American-flag pattern of tightly packed blueberry canton and neat red strawberry rows with white gaps.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
cooling + chilling 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 310
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Brownies
  • 1 fudge brownie mix Use the box mix directions, plus any ingredients listed on the box (eggs, oil, water, etc.). If using homemade brownies, follow your recipe for an equivalent 9x13 bake.
White vanilla cream cheese frosting
  • 2 cup powdered sugar
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2.5 tbsp milk Start with 2 tablespoons and add up to 3 tablespoons if needed for spreadability.
Flag toppings
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries Sliced and laid flat for the red stripes.
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries Packed tightly into the upper-left canton.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 9x13 baking pan

Method
 

Bake and cool the brownies
  1. Heat oven and bake the brownies in a 9x13 pan according to package directions. Cool completely for at least 1 hour before frosting, until the surface feels room temperature and set.
Make the cream cheese frosting
  1. Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk together until smooth and spreadable. Scrape the bowl as needed so the frosting is thick but easy to spread, with no dry powdered sugar streaks.
Frost and build the flag pattern
  1. Spread the cream cheese frosting in an even layer over the cooled brownies. Use an offset spatula or back of a spoon to smooth the top so the fruit rows sit neatly.
Add the blueberry canton
  1. In the upper left corner, arrange a rectangle of blueberries tightly packed to form the canton. Press lightly so berries touch and the blue area looks dense.
Add the strawberry red stripes
  1. Create red stripes across the rest of the brownies using rows of sliced strawberries laid flat. Place rows in straight lines so each stripe is consistent in thickness and width.
Show the white gaps
  1. Leave alternating gaps between strawberry rows as the white stripe showing through the frosting. Aim for evenly spaced gaps so the flag pattern is clear in overhead cuts.
Chill, cut, and serve
  1. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set the frosting, then cut into squares and serve. Serve chilled so the frosting holds its shape and the fruit stays firm.

Notes

Pro tip: slice strawberries evenly (about the same thickness) so the red rows look straight and uniform. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days; freezing is not recommended because the fruit texture can soften after thawing. If you need a dairy-light option, use a dairy-free cream cheese substitute for the frosting while keeping the same ratios.