No Bake Patriotic Cake & Patriotic Pretzel Rods

A quick and easy no bake patriotic cake celebrating red, white and blue. Everyone will love this simple festive dessert.

Happy Thursday everyone! Today I have a no fuss recipe to share with you. Are you having a Memorial Day cookout with family and friends? If so I have the perfect dessert! How about this festive No Bake Patriotic Cake!

The best part is this light and fluffy cake is made without turning on the oven! This recipe starts with store bought pound cake, strawberry glaze, and a creamy whipped cream and cream cheese topping. Fresh blueberries and chopped strawberries are added to create festive stars and stripes.

Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and woman who died serving in our country’s armed forces. It’s a day to pay respect to all who have lost their lives making the ultimate sacrifice.

Sometimes all of us can get caught up in cookouts and barbecues and forget the true meaning of Memorial Day. I grew up in a military family and several of my family members are still dedicating their lives to our armed forces.

Cookouts and holiday celebrations give us all a chance to spend quality time with family and friends, but please take time from your Memorial Day festivities to pay respect and pray for those who died while serving in our countries U.S Military. For their families it is more than a barbecue or cookout.

If you do have a get together this Memorial Day weekend remember every great cookout should end on a sweet note, so I hope you’ll give this No Bake Patriotic Cake a try.

I love super simple desserts that require no baking especially when it’s hot outside. This easy red, white, and blue desserts comes together in no time with just a handful of ingredients found at your local Walmart.

For the cake base I used pound cake from the bakery department at Walmart. This was the first time I have tried their pound cake and it was delicious. I usually purchase Sara Lee’s pound cake, but this was really moist and priced at only $2.98 each. I have included some easy step-by-step photos of how easy this cake came together.

No Bake Patriotic Cake

2 – 12 oz bakery pound cakes or homemade, cut into one inch cubes

2 – cups store bought strawberry glaze or (1) recipe homemade glaze (recipe below)

1 – 16 oz container fresh strawberries, chopped and separated

4 – ounces cream cheese, softened

1 – 16 oz container heavy whipping cream

1 – teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 – cup powdered sugar

1/2 – pint fresh blueberries

If using homemade strawberry glaze, prepare the glaze first so it has sufficient time to cool. If using store bought glaze omit this step (I used homemade glaze).

Cut the pound cake into one inch cubes and arrange in a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.

Add the strawberry glaze over the pound cake and spread evenly. Sprinkle about 1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries over the glaze.

Prepare the whipped cream topping, by whipping the cream slowly until the cream is lightly thickened and soft peaks start to form. Add the softened cream cheese to a separate bowl and whip until creamy.

Add the cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar to the heavy whipping cream, and continue whipping until the cream forms semi stiff peaks.

Drop the whipped cream mixture by dollops over the strawberry glaze and spread evenly to cover the glaze completely.

Add the fresh blueberries and remaining chopped strawberries. Refrigerate cake for at least 2 hours before serving. Refrigerate any leftovers.

servings: 12-16

Cook’s Note: Store bought strawberry glaze is not always in stock at my grocery store, so I have included a homemade version if you’re unable to find it. Raspberries can also be substituted for strawberries.

Homemade Strawberry Glaze

Ingredients:
2 – cups sugar

2 – cups water

6 – tablespoons cornstarch

6 – tablespoons strawberry gelatin (Jell-O)

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, water, and cornstarch. Cook over medium high heat until it boils and thickens.

You will know the mixture is thick enough when it coats the back of a spoon. Remove glaze from heat, add gelatin, and mix to combine using a wire whisk. Cool glaze before using.

I also made up a batch of these fun Patriotic Pretzel Sticks! These chocolate dipped pretzel rods are super simple to make and and are perfect for your Memorial Day table. Everyone will love the sweet and salty combination of these yummy pretzel treats. I made two varieties, white chocolate, milk chocolate with caramel.

Patriotic Pretzel Sticks

1 – 12 oz package pretzel rods (I used Great Value)
12 – ounces (1/2 a package) Plymouth Pantry Vanilla Bark
12 – ounces (1/2 a package) Plymouth Pantry Chocolate Bark
1 – cup Kraft caramel bits
2 – 3 tablespoons water
red, white, and blue holiday sprinkles

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Rods:
In a small bowl add the caramel bits and the water. Using the defrost setting melt the caramel until smooth and runny.

Place one end of a pretzel rod into the caramel, and spoon the melted caramel over at least 3/4 of the length of the pretzel rod. lightly tap the pretzel on the side of the bowl to remove excess caramel. Lay the pretzel rods on parchment paper to set the caramel.

In a small bowl melt the chocolate bark on the defrost setting of your microwave until smooth (about 6 minutes) I melt the chocolate in 3 minute intervals, remove, stir, and melt the last 3 minutes.

Dip each caramel covered pretzel rod into the melted chocolate and spoon the chocolate over the caramel. Lightly tap the pretzel on the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate. Add sprinkles and place pretzels on parchment paper until set.

Vanilla Dipped Pretzel Rods:
In a small bowl melt the vanilla bark on the defrost setting of your microwave until smooth (about 6 minutes) I melt the chocolate in 3 minute intervals, remove, stir, and melt the last 3 minutes.

Dip each pretzel rod into the melted vanilla bark and spoon the melted vanilla over 3/4 of the length of each pretzel. Lightly tap the pretzel on the side of the bowl to remove any excess vanilla bark. Add sprinkles and place on pretzels on parchment paper until set.

For more great patriotic recipe ideas stop by the Food & Celebration page at Walmart.com

If you’re looking for more Patriotic recipe ideas check out my Walmart posts for these easy Red, White & Blue Mini Fruit Pizzas and this Red, White & Blueberry Angel Fluff.