Show-Stopping Patriotic Flag Cake
A festive and easy-to-make patriotic flag cake featuring fluffy vanilla layers, rich cream cheese frosting, and fresh berries arranged to resemble the American flag. Perfect for Fourth of July and other patriotic celebrations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (312g) all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
- 8 oz (226g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2–3 tbsp milk (dairy or plant-based)
- Fresh strawberries, sliced
- Fresh blueberries
- Optional: edible glitter or sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Reduce mixer speed to low. Add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and smooth tops.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks to cool completely, about 1 hour.
- For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla. Add milk as needed to reach spreadable consistency.
- Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread a generous layer of frosting evenly.
- Place second cake layer on top and frost entire cake smoothly.
- Arrange fresh blueberries in the upper-left corner for the blue field. Lay sliced strawberries in horizontal stripes across the remaining cake surface.
- Refrigerate cake for at least 30 minutes to let frosting firm up before slicing.
Notes
Pat the strawberries dry before decorating to prevent soggy frosting. Use an offset spatula for smooth frosting edges. Cool cakes completely before frosting to avoid melting. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, substitute cream cheese and butter with dairy-free alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of c
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
Keywords: patriotic cake, flag cake, Fourth of July dessert, vanilla cake, cream cheese frosting, berry cake, festive cake