Red, White, and Blue Dream Bars

These no bake Red, White, and Blue Dream Bars are not only patriotic but also incredibly creamy, cold, and refreshing! With an easy cookie crust, creamy cheesecake filling, and blue raspberry and cherry cream gelatin layers, they’re a crowd-pleaser that will have your guests begging for the recipe!

Don’t worry—though there are a lot of steps and more than a handful of ingredients, making these smooth, dreamy bars is easier than you think. I’ll show you exactly how to make perfectly layered Red, White, and Blue Dream Bars step-by-step. So, let’s get started on creating a sweet treat that will be the highlight of your Fourth of July parties, Memorial Day picnics, or other gatherings!

It is a perfect no-bake dessert you can make ahead of time! I’d recommend making it even the day before so that it is well-chilled and set for your gathering.

Want to add something baked to your patriotic celebration? This Firecracker Bundt Cake will definitely add some great color and fun to an already amazing dessert table.

Ingredients for Red, White, and Blue Dream Bars

Before we get started, let’s make sure we have all the ingredients we need to make these delicious bars. Here’s what you’ll need:

For the Crust:

• 1 ½ cups crushed Nilla Wafers (about 45-50 cookies)
• 5 tablespoons of unsalted butter

Blue Raspberry Cream Layer

• 3 ounces blue raspberry JELL-O
• ½ cup boiling water
• ½ cup cold water
• 4 ounces of cream cheese, room temperature
• 10-12 drops of blue food coloring
• 1 cup of Cool Whip or Stabilized Whipped Cream

Cheesecake Layer

• 8 ounces of cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup of Cool Whip

Cherry Cream Layer

• 3 ounces of cherry JELL-O
• ½ cup of boiling water
• ½ cup of cold water
• 4 ounces of cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons red food coloring

Preparing the Crust

The first step to making these Patriotic Jello Cream Bars is to prepare the crust.

1. Line an 8 X 8-inch baking pan with parchment, so that you can easily remove the bars to evenly slice and serve.
2. In a medium bowl, melt the 5 tablespoons of butter in a microwave for about 30 seconds or completely melted. Use a food processor or blender to pulse the Nilla Wafers until they are fine crumbs.
   Stir the cookie crumbs into the melted butter with a rubber spatula well incorporated.
3. Next, pour the crumb mixture into the prepared baking pan and press the crumb mixture down to create an even crust. You’ll want to freeze the crust while preparing the next layer for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Adding the Blue Jello Layer

The next step in Red, White, and Blue Dream Bars is making the blue raspberry cream layer.

Note: The Blue and Red layers are made exactly the same way, though it’s important to make them separately when called for in the recipe.

1. The first step is making the gelatin. Use a 2-cup measuring glass to mix the blue raspberry gelatin with ½ cup of boiling water. Stir until dissolved, then add ½ cup cold water and stir again. Let it cool in the refrigerator for 8-10 minutes, but we don’t want it to set up yet.
2. While the jello cools, beat 4 ounces of cream cheese in a mixing bowl until smooth. Incorporate the cooled blue gelatin slowly into the cream cheese with either an electric mixer or a whisk (though I have had much better results doing it by hand with a whisk!) Add 1 cup of Cool Whip (or try my Stabilized Whipped Cream!) and blue food coloring, then mix until fully incorporated.
3. Once it is completely smooth and even in color, pour the blue cream jello over the frozen crust. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

Cheesecake Layer (White Layer)

Next, it’s time to make the creamy cheesecake layer. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla together until it’s smooth and creamy. Fold in 1 cup of Cool Whip with a rubber spatula.

Place many small dollops of the cream cheese mixture on top of the blue jello layer, then spread evenly with an offset spatula. This helps keep the cream cheese from digging into the blue layer as you spread. Place it back in the refrigerator while you prepare the cherry gelatin layer.

Add the Cherry Jello Layer

They wouldn’t be Red, White, and Blue Jello bars without the red Jello layer!

Follow the same process you used for the blue raspberry layer. Make the gelatin first, then when it’s cool, combine it with softened cream cheese, Cool Whip, and red food coloring as directed until you have a beautiful red layer! Pour it over the cheesecake layer and spread evenly with the offset spatula.

At this point, the bars need to be refrigerated for 8 hours or even overnight!

Decorate and Serve Red, White, and Blue Dream Bars

Now that all the layers are complete, it’s time to serve the dream bars. Start by removing the bars from the pan by lifting the parchment paper out completely. Run a knife under warm not hot water, then dry it off and use it to slice through the red, white, and blue bars.

Make sure to wipe the knife clean between each cut and even run it under warm water each time. Once the bars are cut, carefully remove them from the parchment paper and place them on a serving platter. Top with patriotic sprinkles and serve!

Storing Red, White, and Blue Dream Bars

This red, white, and blue dessert can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Now that you know how to make these delicious Red, White, and Blue Dream Bars, it’s time to get baking. I hope you enjoy making and sharing these dreamy bars with your loved ones this summer. Happy baking!

My Favorite Dream Bar Recipes

I’m kind of known for my dream bars, so check out some of these great desserts next time:

• Orange Creamsicle Dream Bars
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Bars
• Strawberry Cheesecake Dream Bars
• Oreo Pudding Dream Bars
• Red Velvet Cherry Dream Bars