Red, White, and Blue Desserts

Photos by Alexis deBoschnek and Jessica Sforza

I don’t know about you, but the Fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays — and not for the reason you might think. In my experience, it has been a very food-focused event, and that is what the foodie in me loves about it! Most of the time, I feel like it is just an excuse to throw a big barbecue with some kind of water-related activity. With the anticipated heat wave that we are getting in New York later this week, that seems like a must this year.

2026 is also set to be one of the biggest celebrations of the 4th to date, thanks to the 250th anniversary of the United States declaring independence from Great Britain in 1776. According to The White House’s official website, this quarter-millennium milestone is officially coined as “America250” or the “Semiquincentennial” — a once-in-a-generation celebration. While I am not celebrating the festivities in the Capital Region this weekend, you can still pick up all local ingredients you will need for yours at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market!

Something unique that you can bring to your party for dessert is Alexis deBoschnek’s Any-Fruit Crisp. What I love about this recipe is that it is extremely versatile and diet-friendly for anyone who is gluten-free, dairy-free, and spice-free — and it can be made up to two days in advance! You can also use any kind of fruit you like, but if you want to stick to a red, white, and blue theme, we suggest adding strawberries, blueberries, or blackberries to your mix.

There are many vendors at the market who still have great berry selections for your Any-Fruit Crisp. Here is a list of what you can buy where:

– Scotch Ridge Berry, Tree and Flower Farm has blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries

– Burgers Marketgarden has strawberries and raspberries

– Saratoga Apple Inc has strawberries and cherries 

– Owl Wood Farm and Yada Yada Yada Farm have strawberries

– Gomez Veggie Ville has strawberries and blueberries

Whether it be swimming at the pool, going to the beach, hanging out at the lake, boating, jetskiing, tubing, or a good old-fashioned water balloon fight between your front and backyards with family, friends, and neighbors, we hope that you have a fun and safe Fourth of July, however you decide to spend your holiday!

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Wednesdays, 3–6 pm, and Saturdays, 9 am–1 pm, at High Rock Park in Saratoga Springs. Visit https://saratogafarmersmarket.org to sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.