Five Unique Recipes for 4th of July. Sure to be the Star of the Party

Everyone looks forward to burgers, barbecue, and hot dogs on Independence Day, but you can really make a splash at your family's potluck by making one of these 5 unique recipes for Fourth of July. Get your taste buds ready!

Fourth of July Firecracker Dogs

Photo Credit: Handmade in the Heartland

Handmade in the Heartland created these spectacular Firecracker Dogs using only a few basic ingredients.

Time: 35 minutes

Serves 16

Ingredients:

• 16 bamboo skewers
• 16 hot dogs
• 1 can refrigerated breadstick dough
• Cookie sheet
• Parchment paper
• Star-shaped cookie cutter
• 16 slices of Colby cheese, 1/4-inch thick

Directions:

1. Insert a bamboo skewer through each hot dog, leaving around 1 and 1/2 inches sticking out of one end.
2. Wrap a section of breadstick dough around each hot dog in a spiral pattern until you get to the top. The refrigerated bread dough should already have perforated sections that you can easily separate for each hot dog.
3. Arrange the wrapped hot dogs on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven for about 20 minutes. Allow to cool for around 3 minutes.
4. Cut out star shapes from 1/4-inch thick slices of Colby cheese using a cookie cutter. You can have your local grocery deli slice the cheese to 1/4 inch, and you can purchase a shar-shaped cookie cutter from any craft supply store.
5. Push the exposed end of each skewer into a cheese star to complete the Firecracker Dogs.

Patriotic Popcorn Lollipops

Photo Credit: Simply Kierste

Kids will love these amazing Patriotic Popcorn Lollipops, courtesy of Simply Kierste.

Time: 15 to 20 minutes

Serves up to 8

• 16 cups air-popped popcorn
• Large bowl
• 4 tablespoons butter
• Saucepan
• 10 ounces mini marshmallows
• Wooden spoon
• Wax paper
• Large Popsicle sticks
• 16 ounces white chocolate chips
• Glass bowl
• Sprinkles, red, white, and blue

Directions:

Ingredients:

• 4 refrigerated pie crusts
• Kitchen shears
• 12 4-ounce mason jars
• 2 cans cherry pie filling

Directions:

1. Unroll two of the refrigerated pie crusts, and cut both into six pieces using kitchen shears.
2. Press each piece of pie crust dough into a small, 4-ounce mason jar, keeping the thickness of the dough even around each jar.
3. Fill each jar with cherry pie filling.
4. Unroll the remaining two pie crusts, and cut both into six pieces using kitchen shears, as before.
5. Cover the top of each jar with a section of pie crust dough. If you prefer, cut slits or shapes into the top of the dough to make the pies more decorative.
6. Make the pie jars in a 400-degree Fahrenheit oven for 10 minutes, cover with foil, then bake for another 30 minutes.

Red, White, and Blue Pretzel Bites

Photo Credit: The Gunny Sack

Transform ordinary pretzels into extraordinary 4th of July fare with a just few ingredients from the baking aisle, thanks to the Gunny Sack.

Time: 13 minutes

Serves up to 40

Ingredients:

• 40 square pretzels
• Cookie sheet
• Parchment paper
• 20 miniature candy bars
• 1/4 cup red chocolate candy melts
• 1/4 cup white chocolate candy melts
• 1/4 cup blue chocolate candy melts
• 3 glass bowls
• Sprinkles, red, white, and blue

Directions:

1. Arrange 20 square pretzels on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
2. Place a miniature candy bar on top of each pretzel, and bake in a 300-degree Fahrenheit oven for around 3 minutes.
3. Remove the pretzels from the oven, and top each one with a second pretzel, pressing down gently. Allow the pretzels to cool completely.
4. Pour red, white, and blue chocolate candy melts into separate glass bowls, and heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Stir until evenly melted.
5. Dip one side of each Pretzel Bite into the melted chocolate candy, then top with red, white, and blue sprinkles while the candy is still hot. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Cheesecake-Stuffed Strawberries

Photo Credit: Dessert Now Dinner Later

Guests will devour these Cheesecake-Stuffed Strawberries from Dessert Now Dinner Later, so you might want to make a few extra.

Ingredients:

• 24 fresh strawberries, large
• Knife
• Tray or plate
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Mixing bowl
• Hand mixer
• Pastry bag
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

Directions:

1. Wash off 24 large strawberries, and cut off the stems with a knife.
2. Arrange the strawberries on a tray or plate with the cut sides facing down.
3. Cut an "X" shape into the top of each strawberry with the knife.
4. Combine the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract in a mixing bowl, and beat with a hand mixer until fluffy and smooth.
5. Fill a pastry bag with the cream cheese mixture, and pipe some of the mixture into the center of each strawberry.
6. Top each filled strawberry with a fresh blueberry, and serve.

Looking for even more dishes like these 5 unique recipes for 4th of July? Try out these 8 awesome backyard BBQ picnic recipes and cocktails for grownups only.