Erin McCarty’s Best 4th of July Recipes

This is my favorite 4th of July dessert!!

Layered Berry Americana

SYRUP:
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup sparkling water (regular water is fine)

LAYERS:
12 ounces pound cake or white cake
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 cups fresh blueberries
2 cups fresh strawberries
2 cups bananas (soak in lemon juice to prevent browning)

Directions:

Prepare lemon syrup: In a small saucepan, bring sugar, lemon juice and water to a boil over medium heat. Stir to dissolve sugar completely. Let cool.

Slice cake into 3/4-inch slices. Then brush syrup over both sides of each cake slice. Beat cream cheese with sugar on high speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed and slowly add the cream. Beat until mixture resembles soft whipped cream.

Arrange half of the cake pieces in the bottom of a glass serving bowl or dish (2 qt. size is sufficient). Spoon half the cream-cheese mixture over the cake.
Scatter half of the bananas, blueberries and strawberries on top. Repeat layering with cake, cream cheese and fruit.
Pile the last of the strawberries on top.

Cover and refrigerate until chilled (about an hour). You may also refrigerate overnight.