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Show-Stopping Patriotic Flag Cake Recipe with Easy Cream Cheese Frosting

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A festive and moist layered cake decorated like a patriotic flag, featuring vibrant red, white, and blue layers with a smooth, tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for Fourth of July and other patriotic celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (320g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Red and blue gel food coloring
  • 16 oz (450g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • Fresh blueberries (for decoration)
  • Fresh strawberries, sliced (for decoration)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Stir in vanilla extract.
  5. Reduce mixer speed and add dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with milk in two additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Leave one plain (white), add red food coloring to the second, and blue to the third. Stir gently.
  7. Pour red batter into one pan and white batter into the other. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on racks.
  8. Bake blue layer separately in a smaller pan or as cupcakes for 20-25 minutes. Cool completely.
  9. For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low then medium speed until fluffy. Mix in vanilla and salt. Add milk if needed for consistency.
  10. Assemble cake by placing red layer on serving plate, spreading frosting on top, then adding white layer. Frost top and sides of cake.
  11. Use blue cake layer or cupcakes to form the star section on top left corner. Arrange fresh blueberries over blue frosting.
  12. Smooth frosting with offset spatula. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without thinning batter. Keep ingredients at room temperature for best results. Chill frosting if too soft. Level cake layers if domed. Use crumb coat for clean frosting finish. Fresh berries should be rinsed and dried before decorating. Refrigerate cake before slicing for cleaner cuts.

Nutrition

Keywords: patriotic cake, flag cake, cream cheese frosting, Fourth of July dessert, red white and blue cake, easy cake recipe, festive cake

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/show-stopping-patriotic-flag-cake-recipe-with-easy-cream-cheese-frosting/