How To Host The Ultimate Outdoor 4th Of July Fête

The most patriotic holiday of the year is fast approaching, and as we prepare for this red, white, and blue-filled day, our thoughts immediately turn to how to host this year's blow out party. As always, this all-American day should revolve around food, and we believe that it's best to stick with the traditional Independence Day staples: Fried chicken, hot dogs, ribs, and slaw should all feature, and of course there's no such thing as a Fourth of July party without a flag cake. Invite your friends over, turn the grill on, decorate your home with those three famous colors, and kick-off the ultimate Fourth of July party.

You can't host a party on Fourth of July without a flag cake. Whether you make a tray bake, frost it with buttercream, and create the flag on top with berries, or whether you take on the challenge of making a more challenging cake with the flag hidden in the interior layers, make sure you have a cake filled with stars and stripes at the party.

For the Best American Flag Cake Ideas, click here.

A refreshing glass of iced tea is the classic summer drink everybody will be craving at your outdoor party. Make a huge pitcher, and have plenty of ice to add to every glass.

For the Basic (But Perfect) Iced Tea recipe, click here.

Classic American ribs, cooked over charcoal and wood chips, and basted in a spicy, beer-infused sauce, are an essential Independence Day dish.

For the Beer-Basted Baby Back Ribs recipe, click here.

Obviously fried chicken is necessary at every Fourth of July party. Make a huge portion of this classic, crispy, salty, buttermilk fried chicken for your guests to share (or fight over).

For the Buttermilk Fried Chicken recipe, click here.

With all the ribs, fried chicken, hot dogs, and flag cakes being devoured, you're going to want some fresh, crunchy vegetables on your dinner table too. A classic Caesar salad will fit this slot perfectly.

For the Caesar Salad recipe, click here.

Set out numerous homemade dips, accompanied by chips, vegetable chips, and crudités, ready for your guests to start enjoying as soon as they arrive.

For 9 Party Dips recipes, click here.   

Slaw is the perfect accompaniment to every grilled or fried dish you'll be serving at your Fourth of July fête.

For the Classic Coleslaw recipe, click here.

Let your guests help you with the decorations: Set a dress code that will provide the perfect stars and stripes theme to your party. Request that your guests put on their favorite sequined or striped clothes to add to the patriotic party décor.

Make a classic American burger at home, and make sure it's a perfect burger this year. This interpretation of the ever-popular Shake Shack burger will fulfill all your cravings for a salty, perfectly cooked patty, served in a simple bun, and topped with the tastiest ingredients.

For the Fake Shack Burger recipe, click here.

Skip the mayonnaise-coated potato salad: This mustard potato salad has the perfect amount of heat, and a wonderful balance of simple flavors.

For the Grain Mustard Potato Salad recipe, click here.

As you'll have your grill on for your Fourth of July party, don't fry your chicken wings, grill them.

For the Grilled Chicken Wings With Jalapeño BBQ Sauce recipe, click here.

It's the height of summer, so make the most of the season's produce. Fresh corn is so delicious at this time of year, so throw it on the grill and serve with butter, and plenty of salt.

For the Grilled Corn on the Cob recipe, click here.

Take your hot dogs to the next level this Fourth of July by serving them in a grilled hot dog bun, and topping them with melting American cheese.

For the Hot Dog Bun Cheese Melt recipe, click here.

Make a batch of sugar cookies, cut them out into stars and rectangles, and decorate them with the American flag, or simply in red, white, and blue. Place them in bowls around the party to act simultaneously as decoration and edible treats.

For the Sugar Cookies recipe, click here.

If you want to serve something more substantial than chips and dips as an appetizer, look no further than these huge soft pretzels and a dipping bowl filled with deli-style mustard.

For the Giant Soft Pretzel recipe, click here.

Top your red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, balance some blueberries on top, stick in an American flag, and pile them up on your prettiest cake stand for dessert that doubles as décor.

For the Red Velvet Cupcakes recipe, click here.

Buy bundles of red, white, and blue balloons, and jazz them up by pushing confetti and sequins into them before you blow them up. When they're full, they'll sparkle beautifully, and you can let all the kids pop them to create a colorful explosion at the end of the party.

Cool down on a hot July day with these suitably patriotic, all-natural, red, white, and blue ice pops.

For the Red, White, and Blue Firecracker Ice Pops recipe, click here.

Put your origami skills to good use this Fourth of July. Buy red, white, and blue paper, fold it into stars, and tie them up with thread to celebrate this Independence Day with the prettiest homemade bunting.

Really show off your culinary skills by ending your party with a homemade cherry pie, topped with melting vanilla ice cream, to finish off the meal. Make sure no one leaves hungry, by serving a huge slice of this pie to them after the main meal has finished.

For The Best Cherry Pie recipe, click here.

Ensure the drinks are in keeping with the theme by making a huge patch of this vodka-spiked pink lemonade. Add striped blue straws to every cup for a cocktail that matches all the day's decorations.

For the Vodka-Spiked Pink Lemonade recipe, click here.