Description
Classic Ina Garten flag cake brings patriotic spirit to summer celebrations. Red, white, and blue frosting creates a festive dessert perfect for July 4th gatherings. Guests will love its bold design and delicious flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ lbs / 675g cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 lb (4 sticks) / 450g unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 18 tbsps (2 ¼ sticks) / 255g unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 cups / 600g caster sugar
- 6 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
- 3 cups / 375g plain flour
- 1 cup / 240ml sour cream, at room temperature
- 1 lb / 450g icing sugar, sifted
- ⅓ cup / 40g cornflour
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 ½ tsps pure vanilla extract
- 2 half-pints / 250g blueberries
- 3 half-pints / 375g raspberries
Instructions
- Prepare Pan: Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) / 350°F. Grease an 18x13x1 inch sheet pan with butter and dust with flour to prevent adhesion.
- Mix Batter: Cream butter and sugar in a stand mixer until pale and fluffy. Add eggs gradually, then fold in sour cream and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly, scraping bowl sides to ensure uniform consistency. Sift flour, cornflour, salt, and bicarbonate of soda separately, then gently incorporate into wet ingredients on low speed. Transfer batter evenly into prepared pan, smoothing surface with a spatula.
- Bake Cake: Place in preheated oven and bake for 20-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean. Remove and cool completely at room temperature.
- Create Frosting: Beat butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually add icing sugar on low speed, mixing until silky and lump-free. Use a spatula for final blending.
- Decorate Flag: Spread most of the frosting evenly across cooled cake. Sketch flag outline with a toothpick. Arrange blueberries in top left quadrant. Pipe alternating rows of raspberries and white icing to create stripes. Finish by piping star shapes with remaining frosting over blueberry section.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Tip: Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for smooth, even mixing and optimal cake texture.
- Mixing Technique: Avoid overmixing batter to prevent a tough, dense cake; mix just until ingredients are combined.
- Cooling Critical: Allow cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and sliding of decorative elements.
- Precision Piping: Use a steady hand and consistent pressure when creating flag design for a professional, clean appearance.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 660
- Sugar: 82g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 76g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 150mg