4th of July Dessert: Patriotic Berry Pie

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Berry Pie Ingredients:

For the crust
2 cups flour (all-purpose)
¼ cup almonds, finely chopped
¼ tsp salt
2/3 cup butter, cold
5-7 tbsp. ice water
For the filling
2 ½ cups sliced strawberries
1 ¾ cups raspberries
1 ½ cups blueberries
½ cup sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
1 tbsp. water
½ tsp almond extract
For the egg wash
1 egg
Sanding sugar

Berry Pie Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 425^oF.
2. Combine the flour, salt and chopped almonds in a large bowl. Cut the butter into chunks and add it to the flour mixture; mix with two forks to achieve a coarse crumb-like mixture. Add little by little water, just until the mixture is moistened.
3. Take 1/3 of the mixture out and shape a ball. Place it on wrapping foil and flatten it a bit. Wrap it up and put it in the refrigerator to rest.
4. Sprinkle a little flour on a working surface, take the remaining dough and roll it out into a circle (about 12 inch, 1/8 inch thick). Fold the circle into quarters and place it onto a 9 inch pie plate. Now carefully unfold the circle and press it firmly so it takes the shape of the pie plate. Let a little dough over the edges.
5. The next step is to prepare the berries. You will need two bowls; one to put in the strawberries and the raspberries and the other for the blueberries.
6. In another bowl, mix together the sugar and the corn starch. Now add about ¼ cup of this mixture to the blueberries, along with one tbsp. water and ¼ tsp almond extract. Toss gently to coat everything. Add the rest of the sugar mixture to the strawberries and raspberries, together with ¼ tsp almond extract and toss gently to coat all the berries.
7. Take a piece of aluminum foil and fold it a few times in order to make a 2 inch wide strip. Place the strip onto the pie crust, so you separate the surface into 1/3 and 2/3 sections. Press the foil a little bit so it slightly gets into the crust. Now take a spoon and pour the blueberries into the smaller section of the pie. Pour the strawberries and raspberries into the larger section. Now you can remove the foil with care so the berries don’t mix.
8. Take the remaining dough out of the refrigerator and roll it out on a lightly floured working surface. Cut out 5 strips (3/4 inch) to use as the flags’ stripes and place them over the strawberries and raspberries. Fold the remaining edge of the crust over the strips.
9. Using a small star cookie cutter, cut out as many stars as you like and place them over the blueberries.
10. Slightly beat the egg and brush the crust with it. To finish, sprinkle with the sanding sugar.
11. Bake for about 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to about 375^oF and continue baking for about 30-40 minutes. Cool, serve and enjoy!

Want more berry recipe ideas?

Take a look at our 23 Patriotic Dessert Recipes!

If you want, you can even make the pie in a rectangular shape to give it an even more flag-like look. This 4^th of July Dessert is going to be the hit of your celebration party. You can serve it with a delicious ball of vanilla ice cream to round it up and provide the perfect patriotic dessert for your guests.

For more summer holiday desserts on Stagetecture, click here.

Labor Day Snack: Patriotic Popcorn Recipe

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Patriotic Popcorn Ingredients:

• 12 cups popped popcorn (choose a white variety), divided into 3 parts
• 3 cups chocolate candy melts (blue, red, white) or white chocolate which you can dye it with gel paste colors (the water based food colorings are not suitable for this use)+

Directions:

1. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with wax paper.
2. Melt one color of the chocolate melts in a double broiler or in a microwave. If you’re using white chocolate melt 1/3 of it, choose some good quality one and heat it very carefully, since white chocolate can get clumpy really fast, especially if melting it in a double broiler. Add the desired color and stir quickly.
3. Pour the melted chocolate over 1/3 of the popped popcorn and stir until everything is covered well.
4. Spread the popcorn on the baking sheet. You can now choose to either form popcorn balls (as soon as the mixture is cold enough to handle but still formable) or leave it as it is. If making the popcorn balls, you can even try to insert a lollipop or ice-cream stick to make serving it easier and more fun.
5. Let the mixture cool down. If you decided to spread the popcorn, just break it apart.
6. Repeat the procedure with the remaining colors.

Serve the popcorn in a bowl by mixing all the colors together or arrange them on a serving plate by color. Filling small cellophane bags with it for individual serving is another cute idea, especially if you want to give them away as a Labor Day Snack gift. Making popcorn balls on a stick and wrapping them individually or arranging them to display them would make a perfect snack for a Labor Day Party Buffet. Just let your imagination guide you on how to serve this easy but at the same time impressive Labor Day Snack and it’s sure that you will delight anyone who tries it.

For more patriotic recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

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4th of July Decor: DIY Patriotic Wreath (Video)

Image via: Etsy – Wreaths Ur Way – Patriotic Burlap Wreath

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4th of July Wreath Supplies

12″ metal wreath form

6 inch white ribbon or plain burlap ribbon

6 inch blue burlap ribbon

6 inch red burlap ribbon

Floral wire

Ribbon for hanging the wreath

Hot glue gun

White stars or other patriotic decoration

Watch the video to see how to weave the wreath

Click here to watch the burlap wreath weaving tutorial: Patriotic Burlap Wreath

Instructions

1. To begin, cut a few 6 inch long pieces out of the flower wire using a wire cutter and set them aside.
2. Notice that the wire wreath is made out of sections. You can use those sections as guides for changing the burlap colors depending on the result you are going for. For this tutorial we will fill two continuous sections with blue burlap, and then fill the next section with red burlap and the next with white (or plain) burlap, continuing in this matter until we reach the blue burlap again. You could of course choose a different way to separate the wreath and interchange colors.
3. To start weaving the burlap, take the end of the blue burlap ribbon and fold it into half lengthwise. Fold it again in half and wrap a piece of wire around it. Secure the end by using the same wire or a new wire piece. Cut away any excess wire.
4. Start from the bottom opening and weave the burlap through the wires of the wreath by pulling it through the openings in order to make loops, just as it is shown in the video. When you have made three loops, turn the wreath over and twist the burlap a couple of times. Now, repeat the weaving process row by row. Whenever you complete a row, push the ribbon to the side so you can add more burlap. When you are done with the two blue ribbon sections, cut the burlap and secure the end with some wire. Proceed to the next section, repeating the process with red and then white (plain) burlap until you complete the wreath. Now you can fluff the loops a little bit with your fingers.
5. Continue all the way around the wreath form pushing the loops close together as you go. When the wreath is done, cut the end about 4 inches long and weave it through the wreath form to secure.
6. Use the hot glue gun or some wire pieces to add the decorations you have prepared.

It might take you a little bit to perfect the weaving process, but once you begin with it you will soon be able to complete the wreath in a glimpse. Let your imagination guide you and choose some patriotic items to decorate the wreath, like small USA flags, wooden letters that spell USA or other embellishments. Making this wreath for 4^th of July Decor will surely add a wonderful patriotic touch to your home.

Looking for more Patriotic Wreath Ideas ? – Visit How To Make a Burlap Wreath!

Image via: Etsy – Twin Angels Wreaths – Wreath with Patriotic Decorations 

For more 4th of July Ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

4th of July Decor: Patriotic Home Ideas

Image Via: Lizzy and Me Western Decor

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A Few Proud Stars On The Walls

Stars not only shine proudly on the national flag, they can also give your home a 4th of July decor makeover. Just use the patriotic themed craft papers of red, blue and white shades to craft gorgeous stars that can be stuck on the walls. Make stars of different sizes and use a different paper pattern for each one. You will end up with a very glamorous patriotic makeover.

Image Via: Arts and Classy

Changeable Upholstery

For this one you need not restrict yourself to patriotic patterns. Patriotic colors of red, blue and white will suffice. Just look out for navy, red and white  themed cushion covers, table mats, table runners, napkins , etc. Just change a few upholstered items to match the patriotic mood. Be careful to pick out patterns and motifs that you can use even after you are done with the 4th of July celebrations.

Image Via: Happy 4th of Julyz

A Patriotic Corner In The Kitchen

Take out those blue, white and red themed mugs and cups to display your kitchen cutlery. Use some themed straws to go in one, some white based kitchen napkins in another one and some classic cutlery in yet another one. The idea is to use the red, blue and white theme in the kitchen. You can just do up a corner or go overboard with the entire kitchen by using placemats, crockery and themed kitchen linen.

Image Via: BHG

Don’t Forget The Mantel

Mantels are the best place to display celebrations, be it any occasion. Introduce a 4th of July decor into your mantel space by displaying some plants in patriotic themed pots. You can use cane structured pots, ceramic pots or earthenware. Use themed ribbons to dress them patriotic. The mantel can be given the backdrop of the American flag for that extra touch of sentiment.

Image Via: Dendelions And Dustbunnies

Involve The Kids

Kids are perhaps the most excited to welcome any occasion that calls for a celebration. How can one possibly leave the kids out of the 4th of July decor preparations? Bring in the flavors of patriotism into their room by introducing patriotic elements. Introduce patriotic themed bedroom linen, pillow cases, foot mats, toys, curtains etc to get kids and their spaces involved in the deal.

Image Via: Happy 4th of Julyz

4th of July decor is just a way to express the Independence Day spirit. Homes are the most personal spaces to any individual and if one chooses to bring in an occasion or a mood into this space, it symbolizes the biggest form of gratitude. So come on, get going and introduce patriotism into every nook and corner of your home. Do write in to us if you have any more bright ideas to do up your home this 4th of July.

Click here for more 4th of July Decor Ideas on Stagetecture!

Planning to host a party for the 4^th of July celebration is a fun and exciting task. It may not be easy but with proper planning, everything should be done accordingly. One of the things that you have to prepare is your container garden. This is essential to provide an accent to your venue.

Since the centerpiece is for the 4^th of July celebration, it should be something that reflects patriotism or freedom. With this concept, you have to try the patriotic container flowers as your celebration centerpiece. It’s a beautiful centerpiece that will attract attention to your guests.

Image via: Pinterest

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Check out this patriotic container flower centerpiece by Southern Living and make it yourself:

Materials Needed

• 3 (1-gallon) ‘Sun Parasol Crimson’ mandevillas
• 1 (8-inch) basket ‘Titan White’ Madagascar periwinkle
• 2 (1-quart) ‘Techno Blue’ lobelias
• Drink cooler
• Mini-nugget bark mulch

Container Flowers

• Shasta daisy
• Red zinnia
• ‘Techno Blue’ lobelia
• ‘Watermelon’ sun coleus
• ‘Supercascade White’ petunia
• ‘New Wonder’ fanflower

Image via: Southern Living

Procedure

1. Start by watering plants well.
2. Fill the cooler with enough mulch to raise pots to the same height as the edge of the cooler.
3. Place mandevillas first.
4. Add Madagascar periwinkle in front; then tuck in a lobelia on each side.
5. Hide the original pots with a layer of mulch, which will help retain moisture.

You can also work on other flower varieties if you want. But the combination of the flowers listed above should give you a perfect patriotic container flower centerpiece for your 4^th of July celebration. Also, you can explore other options for your container like any recycled pot or repurposed items. You just have to make sure that the color of your container matches the patriotic theme. Make sure you practice safety precautions in making this project. Use the right gardening tools and appropriate materials only.

For more 4th of July ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

It’s the 4^th of July and that means sunshine, watermelon, 4^th of July parades, parties and fireworks! For children the 4^th of July is a day that many look forward to. It’s filled with fun activities and events that create memories that last a lifetime. Why not get your children involved in the preparation for the celebration by providing them with several easy and fun 4^th of July crafts!

Image via: Martha Stewart

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Handprint American Flag

Image via: Serendipity

Cute, classic, and something creative to use year after year, an American flag made out of your children’s hand and footprints is truly a must-have keepsake. Find a large piece of white paper or even a blank canvas. Place a generous amount of red and blue paint on separate plates. Have your children dip their feet into the red paint and press their paint-covered tootsies onto the paper. Do the same thing with the blue paint. Have the children press their hands into the blue paint and press their hands onto the paper creating the “stars.” A handprint America flag is the perfect activity for the 4^th of July and one that can be used again and again.  Who doesn’t love to get messy in paint!

Patriotic T-Shirts

Image Via: Spoonful Show support for your community 4^th of July Parade, or have one of your own, and wear personalized patriotic t-shirts! The sky is the limit when it comes to decorating t-shirts. There are stencils and iron-on decals in almost every craft store. If you can’t find a stencil or iron-on decal, create a stamp of your own! Grab an old sponge and a star shaped cookie cutter. Place the star cookie cutter on top of the sponge and trace around it. Then cut the sponge star out and dip it into red or blue paint! Press your sponge start onto your t-shirt and voila! A decorated t-shirt that is perfect for the 4^th of July!

 4^th of July Crown

Image Via: Spoonful Need a crown to go with that t-shirt? No problem! Your children will love to create their very own 4^th of July crown using duct tape, straws and pipe cleaners! Find a box of red, white and blue straws. These are easy to find around the 4^th of July at your local grocery store or Walmart. Grab some pipe cleaners while you are at it. You may need to buzz over to the local craft store for pipe cleaners but they are easy to find. Next make a stop at the local hardware store. Find some red or blue duct tape. The duct tape will serve as the base of the crown and will also hold the straws in place. Pull strips of red or blue (or both) duct tape that are twice as long as your child’s head. Turn the strip over and place the bottom edges of your straws onto the sticky part of the duct tape. Then fold the remaining strip of duct tape over top of the straws, sandwiching the straws in between the sticky portion of the duct tape. Stick the pipe cleaners into the straws and twist and curl the top edge of the pipe cleaners as you choose! Staple the two edges of duct tape together and crown your child for the 4^th of July!

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.

Hosting a Labor Day party is very exciting. Here you will be able to meet and greet your friends, former classmates, relatives, co-workers and people you are looking forward to seeing again.  This will surely provide you the needed motivation and enthusiasm to plan a great party.

Planning ahead of time is a must. This will provide you the needed adjustments or in case something will not come your way. One of the primary preparations you need to plan ahead is the decorations. This is very important since this will set the tone of the party from start to finish.

Image via

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Here are some decorating ideas for Labor Day Party:

Pick a party theme

There are several themes you can choose from. For instance, you can have a patriotic beach house Labor Day party. Having this theme, you can have as a feature any beach-inspired element for your home furnishings and decors. You may place beach pebbles in a clear glass, then, tie a red, white and blue lace around the glass. Place a sea shell or starfish along the lace to emphasize your theme. This makes a beautiful center table design. You may also do this to wrap around your table napkins. You can add simplicity to a family get-together by displaying patriotic colored bed linens, quilts in a beautiful way.

Image via

Don’t forget your Star-Spangled decor

Labor Day is often associated with Independence Day decorations. Both holidays have something to do with giving honor to people who contribute great things for our country. For this idea, consider having red, white and blue as the dominant colors with Star-Spangled designs. You may use colored paper to form a star shape banner with the three colors, hang flags on your porch, bring out decorative throw pillows and more!

Image via

Display symbolic representations of labor force

Hang a helmet, stethoscope, multi-tester, power tools and equipment. This may not be the real thing and can be done through illustrations, hand paintings, pictures and the like. Add a description about the symbol and how this symbol represents a particular job. You may also include successful people who are engaged in this kind of labor.

Gather wonderful memories for your Labor Day party with these ideas. Have fun and bring in the spirit of the labor force at home with your friends and family and celebrate the red, white and blue!

For more holiday decorating ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Labor Day is fast approaching. Everyone’s excited talking about the parties and gatherings that take place. Of course, no one should forget the reason for the celebration – to give honor to our laborers. They may be community helpers, industrial manufacturers, and other forms of labor, or you! Have you ever thought about explaining the concept of Labor Day to your children? Here are 3 easy kids’ labor day crafts that are sure to be fun and educational.

Image via

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Occupations Collage

You may print out images of workers from the internet or your camera and cut it out. Have cardboard that you paste all the images to make a collage. It will be very nice if you will choose colorful images that will stand out and spark creativity. Also, ensure that you have images of the types of occupations that your kids know or are curious about. From service people, military, school teachers, athletes, science occupations, and architects, your kids will love this craft!

Image via

Box Town

This craft is very easy and fun to make. All you need is to gather empty boxes of shoes, gadgets, etc. You also need markers, glue and color paper. To do this, cover the boxes with art papers using glue. Draw designs to your boxes so that it will look like buildings or offices representing our laborers. Make this craft as your table centerpiece decor. For more fun visit an area in your neighborhood and take pictures with your kids and visit the stores to see what people work in them. Then use the pictures to recreate the box “city” when you get home!

Image via

Stand-alone Star

Labor Day crafts are sometimes similar to what we have during Independence Day. The stand-alone star craft is like a 3-dimensional star that you can place on top of the table. To do this, prepare a cardboard and cut it to form a star. After decorating the two stars, make a slit on both stars. One slit should be on top of one star and at the bottom of the other star. Connect the two stars together through the slit. You now have a decorative 3-dimensional star that can stand by itself on top of the table.

Having these crafts will surely provide the boost in setting the mood of the event. With a few hours of working these crafts, your efforts will definitely pay off with smiles and appreciation and your kids will have a blast doing them!

For more creative crafts and DIY ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

The 4th of July holiday is a celebration of our nation’s first steps toward sovereignty and freedom when the Founding Fathers drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence. Every year families and friends gather together congregating in the backyard for fun, food and good times. The smell of delicious and flavorful foods being cooked over the grill drifts through the air and into the olfactory systems of everyone within the area.

Image via: Pottery Barn

Because the 4th of July is all about traditions, values and freedom, many backyard get together feasts consist of old, reliable and comforting dishes like hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, potato salad, deviled eggs, and apple pie. Often the decorating and tableware reflect the event of the day with red, white and blue items and US flags hung for all to see. This color theme is generally carried over into the dessert dishes to liven up the festivities and enhance the significance of the day.

Now to get down to the nitty-gritty purpose of this article – creating a memorable and delightful 4th of July culinary concoctions certain to bring a smile to all your guests and have them begging for seconds.

Image via: Bower Power

Condiments and dips 

Fresh hamburger and hotdog buns, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, sweet and/or dill pickle relish, iceberg lettuce leaves, sliced tomatoes, butter/margarine, seasoned salt, BBQ sauce, sliced red onions, cheese slices assortment (American, Cheddar, Swiss and Monterrey Jack), guacamole (see recipe below), sliced pickles, chili con carne (get your favorite brand), and salsa (again, get your favorite brand). Have all of these items prepared and laid out like an assembly line with the plates and cutlery at one end so your guests know where to begin fixing their plates.

Hamburgers

Get enough raw hamburger meat (preferably ground chuck) to feed at least one 5 – 6 oz. patty to each person. In a large bowl crumble up the raw hamburger and then add the following ingredients for each 2 pounds of meat: 1 – egg, 2 – T black pepper, 1 – T onion powder, 3 – T Worcestershire sauce, 3 – dashes of salt. You will want to get the BBQ grill started and hot before consider cooking. A hot grill will sear or seal in the juices of the meat. Be sure to not pack the patties too hard or tight and also place a small thumb indentation in the center of each patty. Once the grill is good and hot, place the patties on there and let them cook for 5 to 6 minutes on side – only turn once and DO NOT smash or squish the patties with the spatula as this will cause them to dry out. A good burger is moist and juicy not charred and dry.

Hotdogs 

Grilling hotdogs is relatively easy and affords no preparation work. Choose your favorite hotdog brand at the grocery figuring 1 to 2 dogs per person (I recommend getting the “all-beef” marked). Again, you want a hot grill before you begin cooking. Place the hotdogs individually separated on the grill and let them cook. Turn them every 2 minutes until they reach a nice pinkish red color, a plumped up and have grill or char lines on them.

Image via: HWTM

Corn on the cob

On your kitchen stove, heat a large caldron of water to boiling. Add in ½ cup of sugar and stir until dissolved. Now place as many ears of corn as possible (leave room for movement – do not stuff them in there solid). Once the water begins to boil again, start your timer at 8 minutes and let the corn cook. After the time ends, remove the corn from the pot and spread and roll the butter/margarine all over the ear of corn. Add seasoned salt to taste.

Potato Salad

Use 4 to 5 pounds of red potatoes. Remove the peeling and slice the potatoes into the size of 1” to 2” cubes. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add 2 – T of salt to the water. Once boiling, add in all of the chopped potatoes. Let them boil until tender (about 15 minutes). Place 2 eggs in another pot of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pot and remove from the heat and let the eggs steep for 12 minutes. Place the now hard-boiled eggs under cool running water and let me cool off until you can pick them up and peel the shell off. Chop up one small red onion, 4 celery stalks, and a small (16 oz. jar) of sweet pickles. Pour the potatoes out of the pot and into a colander and them return them to the empty pot. Add in the chopped eggs, red onion, celery, sweet pickles, 1 cup of mustard, ¾ cup of mayonnaise, 1 – T of salt and 1 – T of black pepper. Use a large spoon to mix everything together. Pour the potato salad into a serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 5 hours to cool.

Deviled Eggs

In a large pot of water, place 1 dozen eggs, 1 – T of vinegar and bring to a rolling boil. Once boiling, cover the pot and remove from the heat. Let the cover pot stand for 12 minutes so the eggs will be hard-boiled. When done, place the pot of boiled eggs in the sink and run cold water over the eggs until they are cool. Now, remove the shell from each egg and slice each one in half lengthwise. Gently remove the yolk from both halves and place them in a small bowl. Using a potato smasher, mash up the cooked yolks and then add in 1 – tsp salt, 1 – ½ tsp red pepper, ¼ cup sweet pickle relish, 1 – ½ tsp onion powder, and 1 – ¼ cup mayonnaise. Mix all together and spoon mixture into each egg white half where the yolk was. Sprinkle each deviled egg with paprika. Place in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 hours to cool and set.

Image via: Pinterest

Apple Pie

You have already made several wonderful homemade dishes, so why not buy a nice frozen or freshly made apple pie at the grocery or bakery.

And there you have it – the quintessential 4th of July menu – all favorites and all easy to do.

For more 4th of July ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Happy DIY Saturday! Today we are talking about the 4th of July, and after fireworks what is the best part about the holiday? (Well except for being off of work))…. FOOD!! Whether you are having a barbecue in your backyard or you’re visiting your neighbors party make sure you don’t show up empty handed.

Image via: Skinny Taste

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I think patriotic red, white, and blue desserts are the best! There are so many ideas to create simple and delicious treats for your friends, family and neighbors. Today, watch a video from Hershey’s Kitchens for creative desserts, and then take a look at Martha Stewart’s ideas for some festive 4th of July desserts!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Video – Patriotic Recipes from Hershey’s Kitchens

Image via: Party City

4th of July Desserts from Martha Stewart

Red, White and Blue Berry Trifle

Image via: Martha Stewart

Ingredients

Directions

Cook’s Note

We used cake sparklers on this trifle. They should only be used outdoors, according to package instructions; alternatively, look for sparkle candles, which will give you a similar look. Both are available from many online baking-supply stores. Recipe via

Fireworks Cookies

Image: Martha Stewart

Ingredients

• FOR THE COOKIES

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • Coarse salt
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Make the cookies: Sift flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a large bowl.
2. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture, then vanilla. Refrigerate dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, for at least 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll out dough to a scant 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut out cookies using a 1 3/4-, 2 1/4-, 2 3/4-, or 3 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, rerolling scraps once. Transfer to a baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
4. Bake until edges just start to brown, 17 to 19 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack, and let cool completely.
5. Decorate the cookies: Pipe an outline of white icing around edge of 1 cookie, leaving a 1/4-inch border, then “flood” with more white icing to cover.
6. Immediately pipe a red or blue dot in the center of cookie. Then pipe concentric rings of colors around the center dot (using the same color as the dot, or alternating colors).
7. Immediately drag a toothpick through the colors to create bursts, starting from the center dot and working toward the edge, then alternate dragging inward and outward as you work around the cookie. (Or drag around the cookie in 1 direction or curve the lines for a pinwheel effect.) Let dry. Repeat with remaining cookies and icings. Recipe via

For more 4th of July crafts, ideas, and recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

For more DIY Saturday ideas, see Stagetecture’s You Tube Channel!