Whip Up Ina Garten’s Dazzling American Flag Cake Recipe Today

Summer celebrations sparkle with this delightful American flag cake recipe that captures the essence of patriotic gatherings.

Ina Garten’s classic dessert brings vibrant colors and sweet memories to every table.

Each slice tells a delicious story of tradition and joy.

The cake bursts with fresh berries and creamy frosting that dance together in perfect harmony.

Layers of soft white cake create a stunning red, white, and blue masterpiece that will impress every guest.

Guests will marvel at the intricate design and rich flavors that make this cake a showstopper.

Grab your mixing bowl and get ready to create a dessert that celebrates American spirit with every delectable bite.

Serve at July 4th or Memorial Day in Style

• Celebrate Festive Flavors: Ideal for Fourth of July parties, this vibrant cake becomes the star of summer gatherings and patriotic events.
• Create Stunning Centerpiece: Transform the cake into a show-stopping dessert by carefully arranging berries and icing to highlight the American flag design.
• Customize Serving Style: Cut generous squares to showcase the intricate flag pattern, allowing guests to appreciate the detailed red, white, and blue presentation.
• Pair with Refreshments: Complement the cake with chilled lemonade, iced tea, or sparkling white wine to enhance the festive summer mood.

Store Carefully to Preserve the Decoration

• Maximize Freshness: Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, keeping it away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Refrigerate Wisely: Wrap the cake tightly with plastic wrap before storing in the refrigerator, which extends its life to 5-7 days while maintaining moisture and flavor.
• Freeze for Later: Slice the cake into individual portions, wrap each piece separately in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then place in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
• Serving Tips: Remove the cake from the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to allow it to reach room temperature, which enhances its taste and texture.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 490 kcal

Servings: 12

Ingredients for Ina’s Patriotic American Flag Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides sturdy structure and smooth texture for the cake's foundation.
• Cornstarch: Softens flour's protein, creating tender and delicate crumb.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
• Baking Soda: Helps cake rise and creates light, airy texture.

• Unsalted Butter: Delivers rich, creamy flavor and tender cake consistency.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create golden, soft cake texture.
• Eggs: Binds ingredients, adds moisture, and provides structure.
• Sour Cream: Adds tangy flavor and creates incredibly moist cake.
• Vanilla Extract: Deepens flavor profile with warm, aromatic notes.

• Cream Cheese: Provides creamy, tangy base for smooth frosting.
• Confectioners' Sugar: Creates silky, spreadable icing texture.
• Blueberries: Represents blue field in flag design with fresh, vibrant color.
• Raspberries: Creates striking red stripes with bright, juicy appearance.

Tools for Decorating With Berries & Precision

• Electric mixer with paddle attachment: Essential for creaming butter, mixing batter, and preparing frosting smoothly.
• Large mixing bowls: Needed for combining ingredients and preparing cake batter and icing.
• Sifter: Critical for evenly mixing dry ingredients like flour and cornstarch.
• Sheet pan (18x13x1.5 inches): Provides the perfect surface for baking the flag cake.
• Spatula: Helps smooth batter in the pan and spread icing evenly.
• Toothpick: Used for testing cake doneness and outlining flag design.
• Pastry bag with star tip: Allows precise piping of white stripes and stars.
• Parchment paper: Optional for easy cake removal from pan.

Step-by-Step Guide to the Stars and Stripes

• Kitchen Preparation

Gather all necessary baking equipment including a large sheet pan, electric mixer, and mixing bowls. Ensure your workspace is clean and organized for smooth cake creation.

• Butter and Sugar Fusion

Blend softened butter and sugar until the mixture becomes fluffy and light, creating a smooth base for the cake’s foundation. Incorporate eggs gradually, mixing thoroughly after each addition.

• Dry Ingredient Integration

Gently combine flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda in a separate container. Slowly fold these dry ingredients into the butter mixture, maintaining a delicate texture and avoiding overmixing.

• Baking Process

Transfer batter into the prepared sheet pan, spreading evenly with a spatula. Bake in a preheated oven until a toothpick emerges clean, signaling the cake’s perfect doneness. Allow cake to cool completely.

• Creamy Frosting Creation

Whip butter and cream cheese together until silky smooth. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla, creating a luxurious frosting that will transform the cake into a patriotic masterpiece.

• Flag Design Assembly

Spread most of the frosting across the cooled cake. Use fresh blueberries and raspberries to craft the American flag pattern. Pipe white frosting stripes and stars to complete the festive design.

• Serving Celebration

Present the cake directly from the baking pan, showcasing the vibrant red, white, and blue design. Slice and serve to delight family and friends with this stunning dessert.

Tips for Making It Gluten-Free or Lighter

• Let butter sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before creaming to achieve the perfect light and fluffy texture.
• Scrape down bowl sides consistently while mixing to ensure even ingredient distribution and prevent lumpy batter.
• Gently pat raspberries and blueberries dry with paper towels before placing on cake to prevent color bleeding and maintain crisp flag design.
• Add confectioners' sugar gradually and taste as you mix to control sweetness and achieve smooth, spreadable icing.
• Bake cake one day ahead and store covered at room temperature, then decorate on the day of serving for maximum freshness and vibrant berry colors.

Ultimate Ina Garten American Flag Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s American flag cake combines patriotic spirit with classic vanilla flavor. Red, white, and blue buttercream creates a festive design that celebrates national pride with delicious elegance.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups / 600 grams sugar
• 6 extra-large eggs (room temperature)
• 3 cups / 360 grams flour
• 1 ½ lbs / 680 grams cream cheese (room temperature)
• 2 half-pints / 300 grams blueberries
• 3 half-pints / 450 grams raspberries
• 18 tbsps / 255 grams unsalted butter (room temperature)
• ⅓ cup / 40 grams cornstarch
• 1 tsp / 5 milliliters kosher salt
• 1 tsp / 5 milliliters baking soda
• 1 cup / 240 milliliters sour cream (room temperature)
• 1 ½ tsps / 7.5 milliliters pure vanilla extract
• 1 lb / 450 grams unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 1 lb / 450 grams confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 1 ½ tsps / 7.5 milliliters pure vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease and flour an 18 by 13 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan, ensuring complete coverage.
2. Batter Creation: Cream butter and sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs incrementally, then incorporate sour cream and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly, scraping bowl sides to achieve uniform consistency.
3. Mixing Dry and Wet Ingredients: Sift flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda together. Gradually fold dry ingredients into butter mixture on low speed until just combined. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan using a spatula.
4. Baking and Cooling: Bake in oven center for 20-30 minutes. Verify doneness by inserting a toothpick that comes out clean. Allow cake to cool completely to room temperature.
5. Frosting Preparation: Blend softened butter, cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Beat until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency.
6. Flag Decoration: Spread majority of icing across cake surface. Sketch flag outline using a toothpick as a guide. Position blueberries in upper left corner. Arrange raspberries in two horizontal rows for red stripes. Pipe white stripes between raspberry rows using remaining icing in a star-tipped pastry bag. Add decorative stars over blueberry section.
7. Serving: Transfer cake to serving board using parchment paper for easy removal, or serve directly from baking pan.

Notes

• Butter Softening Tip: Allow butter to reach room temperature for 30-45 minutes before mixing to ensure smooth, even incorporation with other ingredients.
• Mixing Technique: Mix cake batter just until ingredients combine to prevent overworking, which can lead to tough, dense cake texture.
• Cooling Critical: Let cake cool completely before frosting to prevent icing from melting and design from becoming messy.
• Fruit Selection: Choose fresh, firm raspberries and blueberries for crisp, vibrant flag decoration and optimal visual appeal.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 490
• Sugar: 51 g
• Sodium: 220 mg
• Fat: 26 g
• Saturated Fat: 16 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 59 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 115 mg