Classic Homemade Great-Grandma’s July 4th Flag Cake
A moist vanilla cake decorated with fresh strawberries and blueberries to mimic the American flag, topped with a creamy tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for summer gatherings and patriotic celebrations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 85 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (320g) all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon 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 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 ½ cups fresh blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9×13 inch pans and 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 granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix gently on low speed until just combined.
- Divide batter evenly between pans and smooth tops. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
- Beat cream cheese and butter together until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low then medium speed until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread a thin layer of frosting on top, then place second cake layer. Apply a crumb coat around the cake and chill for 15 minutes.
- Apply a thick, even layer of frosting over the cake. Arrange blueberries in the top left corner and strawberry slices in stripes across the rest to create the flag design.
Notes
Use room temperature butter and eggs for best texture. Avoid overmixing batter to keep cake tender. Chill cake after crumb coat for easier frosting application. Frozen berries can be used if thawed and drained well. For a lighter version, substitute whole milk with almond milk and use reduced-fat cream cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cak
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Protein: 4
Keywords: July 4th cake, flag cake, patriotic dessert, vanilla cake, cream cheese frosting, summer cake, berry cake