Celebrate Independence Day with flair by baking this visually stunning and delicious Red, White, and Blue Fourth of July Cake. This cake is not only festive with its vibrant layers of red, white, and blue, but it’s also incredibly tasty, thanks to a rich, fluffy vanilla buttercream frosting. It’s the perfect centerpiece for any Fourth of July celebration or patriotic event!
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- Unsalted Butter: 1 cup (softened)
- Granulated Sugar: 2 cups
- Large Eggs: 3 (at room temperature)
- Buttermilk: 1 cup (or whole milk)
- Vanilla Extract: 2 teaspoons
- All-Purpose Flour: 3 cups (spooned and leveled)
- Baking Powder: 2 teaspoons
- Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
- Red and Blue Gel Food Coloring: 1/8 teaspoon each
For the Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
- Unsalted Butter: 2 cups (softened)
- Powdered Sugar: 8 cups
- Vanilla Extract: 1 tablespoon
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
- Heavy Whipping Cream: 1/3 cup
- Red, White, and Blue Sprinkles: for decoration
Directions
- Prepare the Cake Pans:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans to ensure easy release after baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar:
- In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This provides the base for the cake’s structure.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla:
- Incorporate the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, ensuring each is fully integrated before adding the next.
- Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Sifting helps to aerate the flour, making for a lighter cake.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients:
- Alternately add the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the creamed butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined to avoid overworking the batter.
- Color the Batter:
- Divide the batter evenly among three bowls. Add red food coloring to one bowl and blue to another, leaving the third bowl plain. Stir each until the color is uniform.
- Bake:
- Pour the colored batters into the prepared pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in their pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks to cool completely.
- Make Frosting:
- Beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, then the vanilla and salt. Finally, add the cream and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Assemble the Cake:
- Start with the blue layer on a cake stand, spread a layer of frosting, then add the white layer, more frosting, and finally the red layer on top.
- Apply a thin crumb coat of frosting over the entire cake to seal in crumbs and chill for 20 minutes to set.
- Final Frosting and Decoration:
- Apply a final thick layer of frosting. Smooth out for a clean finish. Decorate with red, white, and blue sprinkles and additional colored frosting if desired.
Preparation and Serving
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Servings: 12
Tips
- Food Coloring: Use gel food coloring for more vibrant colors that won’t alter the consistency of the batter.
- Ingredient Temperature: Ensure all ingredients, especially eggs and butter, are at room temperature to achieve a smoother batter and better rise.
- Crumb Coat: For a smooth finish on the frosting, apply a crumb coat of frosting and chill the cake before adding the final layer of frosting.
This Red, White, and Blue Fourth of July Cake is the perfect way to show off your patriotic spirit while enjoying a delicious treat. Whether you’re hosting a barbecue, attending a potluck, or just celebrating with family, this cake will surely be a hit. Enjoy the festivities with this gorgeous, tasty dessert that everyone will love!