Calling all non-bakers: even if you’re not particularly fond of creating cakes and other baked goods from scratch, but are still interested in a fun, patriotic treat to serve to family, friends and guests at upcoming 4th of July gatherings, I invite you to try this easy method for creating an Independence Day Celebration Cake.
Adapted from all those nifty American flag Jello cakes with alternating rows of Cool Whip, strawberries and blueberries, this cake is smaller, slightly more sophisticated and in my opinion, more flavorful and satisfying than the Jello variety.
Easy to bake and fun to make (no professional skills required), this 4th of July Celebration Cake can be tailored to fit your individual needs, tastes & requirements depending upon what flavor cake you prefer, what kind of icing you use and even what berries you choose.
If you are long on plans but short on time and looking to make this dessert even easier, why not use a boxed cake mix versus baking a cake from scratch? While I typically opt for a traditional yellow cake when using a boxed mix, you could choose any flavor you prefer. And while blueberries are pretty much a must to create a panel of stars, feel free to substitute halved strawberries or cherries instead of raspberries to create the stripes of the American flag.
Baker’s note: because I prefer cakes that aren’t overly sweet and saturated with rich, thick icing, I made my own icing using 2 simple ingredients, heavy whipping cream and a box of dry, white frosting mix, and only frosted between the cake layers and the top (skipping the sides). Don’t want to fuss with easy, homemade icing? No problem—use pre-made!
Tip: if you will be serving this cake at a home gathering or bed & breakfast inn, I encourage you to get even more creative with its presentation! Sparklers add a nice touch to any 4th of July celebration and adding a few to this cake would make a stunning impression. Also, consider adding extra berries around the base of this cake and sprinkling them with a dusting of powdered sugar. You could also decorate the cake pedestal itself, or your entire tablescape with red, white and blue decor such as cut-out paper stars, miniature American flags, ribbons and confetti.
Now, onto the easy part…
For the cake: use your favorite go-to cake recipe or any flavor boxed mix you prefer. Prepare cake according to directions, baking in 2 cake rounds. Cool thoroughly before assembling.
For the icing: use the recipe provided below or make your own easy-to-prepare icing. Don’t want the extra fuss or hassle? Go ahead and use pre-made!
Blend 1 cup heavy whipping cream & 1 box dry frosting mix in a small mixing bowl; cover and chill for at least 1 hour. After icing is thoroughly chilled, use an electric mixer and beat until stiff.
Editor’s Note: If using this recipe and choosing to ice the sides of cake as well as the layers and the top, increase the amount of heavy whipping cream to 1& 1/2 cups while still using 1 box of dry frosting mix.
While I suggest making this cake using two 9″ cake rounds and then trimming the sides of the cake after layering and icing the rounds, you could also use a 9×13″ pan or baking dish—and may wish to do that if trying to create an American flag to scale. Obviously, when using cake rounds, there isn’t enough space to fit 50 stars with the 13 alternating stripes depicted on the American flag. As a creative decision, the choice is yours. (If you’re worried about creating an exact, to-scale replica of the American flag, don’t sweat it. While it’s certainly appropriate to do so, I predict most guests will enjoy your efforts and have gobbled down this cake before having the time or inclination to get nit-picky about the authenticity of your dessert!)
Be sure to thoroughly rinse and dry your berries before halving them, then lay them out to recreate an American Flag design.
Carefully slice the cake when serving, being sure to wipe the blade between slices to keep your cake looking clean and delightful.
Enjoy!
And to my fellow Americans—I wish you all safe and happy 4th of July celebrations!
Thank you for visiting Inn Cuisine! Be sure to check out the newly remodeled Recipe Index and subscribe to Inn Cuisine's free RSS feed (also available via email) so you never miss a recipe. Need more ways to stay connected? Follow Inn Cuisine on Facebook & Twitter!
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
{ 2 trackbacks }
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Now that does look festive, and easy enough for a bake-o-phobe like me to make. Happy Fourth!
Sandie, now ya got me singin’ John Cougar’s “Aint’ That America”! That cake rocks…Have a superb July 4 weekend and thanks for your ever kind comments on my side…poutines?
I feel more patriotic already! Just lovely Sandie!
Great cake for July 4th!
This beauty is so festive! I love it! Happy 4th of July to you too! Hope your day is full of great BBQ and….beer!