I love making a themed dessert for holidays. So, I typically make Red, White And Blue something or other for July 4th.

I was looking around for ideas when I saw the most incredible Red/White/ Blue cake EVER! Glory at Glorious Treats created a Flag Cake with a flag INSIDE it.

Adding to the beauty of this gorgeous July 4th Cake is that it is simple to prepare.

Flag Cake

Ingredients:

2 boxes white cake mix, with ingredients listed on the box to prepare
2 packets Dream Whip (there is a photo of a box of Dream Whip in this post)
2 (3 oz) boxes of vanilla pudding mix, the cook and serve type
red and blue food coloring

Note: I like adding the Dream Whip and pudding to the cake mix as it makes the cake rise up higher without causing it to dome. The addition also makes the cake taste even better.

Directions:

1. Prepare two 8″ cake pans by coating with a small amount of butter and flour, and placing parchment paper in the bottom.

2. Prepare one batch of cake batter following the box instructions. Mix in one packet each of Dream Whip and pudding mix. Color the batter red (Americolor red gel is good). Divide the batter equally and pour into the two prepared pans. Bake as instructed.

3. While the red cakes are baking, prepare another batch of batter, using the remaining box of cake mix and packets of Dream Whip and pudding mix.

4. When the red cakes are done, cool for 10 minutes. Turn out onto racks to cool.

5. Wash the cake pans and prepare as in Step 1.

6. Pour half of the batter from Step 3 into one of the prepared pans. Color the remaining batter blue. (Americolor royal blue is recommended).

7. Bake the blue and white cakes according to cake mix directions.

8. You will now have:

1- 8″ round blue cake
1- 8″ round white cake
2- 8″ round red cakes

9. Slice the two red cakes in half (horizontally), so you’ll have a total of 4 red layers. Set aside one layer, this will not be used for the cake. Cut a 4″ circle out of one of the layers using a biscuit cutter or cookie cutter. You want to have two 8″ round red layers and one 4″ round red layer.

Note: A cake divider tool is very handy here.

10. Cut the white cake in half. Cut a 4″ circle out of one of the white halves.

11. Use the 4″ biscuit cutter to cut out the center of your blue cake.

12. You should now have:

1 thick layer of blue, with the center cut out
2- 8″ layers of red
1- 4″ layer of red
1- 8″ layer of white
1- 4″ layer of white

13. Prepare a batch of Vanilla Icing (I used the recipe below).

14. Assemble cake with a thin layer of frosting between each layer of cake, starting on the bottom with red cake, then white, then red, then blue. Add some frosting along the inside “ring” of the blue cake to hold in the next two layers which will fit inside the opening. Fill the hole in the blue cake with a 4″ round layer of white cake, some frosting, then the 4″ round of red.

15. Once assembled, frost the cake as desired. Chill the frosted cake in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it.
Recipe from Glorious Treats as seen at 17 And Baking

Buttercream Icing

Ingredients:

3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup boiling water (1/3 cup on hot days)
1 1/2 cups shortening
6 Tbs slightly chilled butter, cut into 1-inch pieces

Directions:

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer at low speed, stir together sugar, salt and vanilla.

2. With a whisk attachment, add boiling water and whip at low speed until smooth and cool.

3. Add shortening and butter and whip until smooth.

4. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high. Whip until light, fluffy and doubled in volume (10-20 minutes). If the buttercream still appears too soft, add butter 1 tablespoon at a time until it is a spreadable consistency.

Yield: approximately 4 3/4 cups

Icing recipe from The Whimsical Bakehouse. The quantities I used are from the Little Cakes From The Whimsical Bakehouse Cookbook. The icing was just enough to cover and fill the cake with a little left for some icing swirls on top.

Some music for the Fourth Of July.
Atherton-Fourth Of July

Chad Johnston-The Hiding Song/The Fourth Of July

I know I am barely going to be able to post this in time to wish a Happy 4th to those who celebrate. I’m still working out the kinks of trying to blog in real time. Not a piece of cake! :)

Cheers! Happy Fifth! <——–Now that could be a totally rocking cocktail post.