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Show-Stopping Patriotic Flag Cake Recipe with Easy Vanilla Buttercream

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A festive patriotic flag cake with vibrant red, white, and blue layers, moist vanilla cake, and silky smooth vanilla buttercream, perfect for summer celebrations and backyard barbecues.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • Red and blue gel food coloring
  • 1 ½ cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened (for buttercream)
  • 5 cups (600g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract (for buttercream)
  • 2–4 tbsp heavy cream or whole milk (for buttercream)
  • Pinch of salt (for buttercream)
  • Fresh strawberries, sliced (for decoration)
  • Fresh blueberries (for decoration)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 9-inch pans and line bottoms with parchment rounds.
  2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
  3. Beat softened butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each, then stir in vanilla extract.
  5. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add flour mixture in three additions alternating with milk, starting and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Leave one plain, add red gel food coloring to second, and blue gel food coloring to third.
  7. Pour each colored batter into prepared pans and smooth tops. Bake 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
  8. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks to cool completely.
  9. Beat softened butter for buttercream until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar alternating with cream until smooth. Stir in vanilla and salt. Beat on high for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy.
  10. Place red layer on serving plate. Spread buttercream on top. Repeat with white and blue layers. Frost top and sides evenly.
  11. Decorate with sliced strawberries on red section and blueberries on blue section.
  12. Refrigerate cake for at least 30 minutes to set buttercream before slicing.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Gel food coloring provides vibrant colors without thinning batter. Cool cakes completely before frosting to prevent melting buttercream. Chill cake after assembly for cleaner slicing. Variations include adding almond or lemon extract, swapping berries, or making gluten-free or dairy-free versions.

Nutrition

Keywords: patriotic flag cake, vanilla buttercream, summer cake, 4th of July dessert, layered cake, festive cake, berry decoration

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