Make 4th of July Dessert Plates

It’s strawberry season and it’s almost the 4th of July. This combination of events means that shortcake and other delicious strawberry desserts will be featured at almost every BBQ and other food related gathering for the next couple weeks.  If you are entertaining a smaller group of friends and loved ones, these plates will accent your desserts beautifully.  The plates are easy to make but keep in mind that the paint needs 24 hours to dry before you can fully “cure” them in the oven, so plan accordingly.

Materials needed:

• Food safe porcelain/ceramic paint (i.e. Pebeo Porcelaine 150) in red or blue
• White porcelain or ceramic dessert plates
• A star stamp ( I used a stamp from the brand Recollections)
• A small paintbrush
• Cotton swabs
• A paper towel

Directions:

1. Wash and dry the dessert plates.
2. Apply a thin layer of the blue or red paint to the star stamp.
3. Press the star stamp onto the plate- apply gentle pressure.
4. If you make any minor mistakes with the paint, wipe it up quickly with a paper towel or a cotton swab (depending on the size of the error).  For larger mistakes and/or spills, follow the instructions for clean up on the side label of the paint bottle.
5. Repeat these last few steps for each star that you want on the plate.
   

Now you just need to figure out which dessert to serve on your new plates! Berry cobblers, pies, and popovers with strawberry jam are well received favorites this time of year.  I made a popular classic–strawberry shortcake.  I used a cookie cutter to cut the biscuit dough into star shapes to continue with the star theme.

Whichever dessert you choose it will surely be enjoyed and appreciated!  Happy 4th of July!

Bonnie Thomas

Bonnie Thomas works as a child and family therapist in southern Maine and is also an established artist and author. She has published several books with Jessica Kingsley Publishers, including Creative Coping Skills for Children: Emotional Support Through Arts and How to Get Kids Offline, Outdoors, and Connecting With Nature.

More by Bonnie Thomas