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Perfect Flag Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

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A festive and easy-to-make layered cake with vibrant red, white, and blue colors, topped with a smooth cream cheese frosting. Perfect for celebrations like the Fourth of July.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 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, room temperature
  • Red and blue gel food coloring
  • 12 ounces (340g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-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 sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
  5. Add dry ingredients in three additions alternating with milk, starting and ending with flour mixture. Beat on low speed just until combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Leave one plain (white), add red gel food coloring to the second, and blue gel to the third. Mix until vibrant colors are achieved.
  7. Pour blue batter into one cake pan and white batter into the other. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  8. Bake the red batter separately in a greased and floured pan at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes. Cool all layers completely on racks.
  9. For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until fluffy. Add a pinch of salt to balance sweetness.
  10. Assemble the cake by placing the blue layer on a serving plate, spreading a thin layer of frosting, then adding the white layer, more frosting, and finally the red layer. Cover the entire cake with remaining frosting and smooth with an offset spatula.
  11. Chill the cake for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Gel food coloring provides vibrant colors without thinning the batter. Let cake layers cool completely before frosting to avoid melting. Chill cake after frosting for cleaner slices. For dairy-free or gluten-free versions, substitute ingredients as suggested.

Nutrition

Keywords: flag cake, Fourth of July cake, cream cheese frosting, patriotic cake, layered cake, easy cake recipe, celebration dessert

Find it online: https://zorbmeal.com/perfect-flag-cake-recipe-with-cream-cheese-frosting-easy-step-by-step-guide/