Flag Day is observed on June 14th every year. It's not a bank holiday, and most businesses don't close, but that shouldn't stop anyone from serving fun food, especially flag dishes. Easy American Flag Dessert makes a great dessert for a backyard barbecue, family gathering, or potluck. This dessert can be made a day or two ahead, and can actually be served on any patriotic holiday: Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Independence Day, President's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Election Day, Constitution Day, etc. The base of this beautiful dessert is similar to those yummy soft sugar cookies everybody loves, and it's topped with a fresh strawberry filling. A creamy pudding goes over the filling, then it's decorated with blueberry stars and strawberry stripes. The end result is a cross between a cookie, cake, and pudding. Yum!

Although there are a few steps in preparing the layers of this dessert, they are all easy steps thanks to the use of boxed pudding mixes and the microwave. Using the food processor to chop the berries (pulse a few times– you don't want strawberry puree), and the blender for the topping are also great time savers.

48 Small Squares

Cookie Base:

4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar

1 cup cold butter, cut into chunks
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

Filling:
1 package Junket Danish Dessert, (4.3/4 ounce)
1 1/2 cups water
4 cups chopped fresh strawberries

Topping:
1 cup whipping cream

1 3 oz. package instant vanilla pudding
2 cups milk
1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

Garnish:
1 cup flaked coconut
4 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup fresh blueberries

1. Cookie Base: Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Line a 17 1/" x 12 1/2" Jelly-roll pan with parchment or spray with non-stick spray.
3. Mix the flour, salt, baking soda, and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
4. Cut the butter into the mixture until it looks like cornmeal.
5. Add the eggs, sour cream, and lemon extract.
6. Mix well and pat evenly onto the prepared pan.
7. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden; remove from the oven to cool.
8. Filling:
9. Whisk together the Danish Dessert and water in a microwaveable container.
10. Microwave 3 minutes; whisk until smooth and microwave an additional 1-2 minutes or until the mixture is transparent and thick.
11. Set aside 2/3 cup of the mixture and stir the chopped strawberries into the remaining pudding.
12. Spread over the cookie base.
13. Topping: Whip the cream until stiff peaks form.
14. Place the pudding mix, milk, and cream cheese in a blender; blend until smooth.
15. Let the mixture sit until thickened, and fold into the whipped cream.
16. Spread over the strawberry mixture.
17. Sprinkle evenly with coconut.
18. Garnish:Arrange the blueberries in the upper left corner of the dessert in the shape of a 4" x 5" rectangle.
19. Mix the remaining Danish Dessert with the sliced strawberries and arrange them in stripes to resemble the flag.
20. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled.
21. To serve, cut into small squares.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 172 Calories from Fat 87
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 50% Protein 6% Carb. 44%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 10 g
Saturated Fat 6 g
Cholesterol 35 mg
Sodium 135 mg
Total Carbohydrate 19 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 6 g
Protein 3 g

Vitamin A 7% Vitamin C 24% Calcium 0% Iron 2%