Festive Red, White & Blue Cake is a soft, fluffy, and sweet dessert that is visually stunning too! This 3 layer cake recipe is easy to follow, requiring basic ingredients such as white cake mix, butter, powder sugar, egg whites, oil, water, and food coloring.
Make this simple festive cake by using boxed cake mixes, then top the cake with the best buttercream frosting for a delightful and simple treat. Whether you’re hosting a Fourth of July barbecue or celebrating Memorial Day with friends and family, this red, white & blue cake is sure to impress.
A Fun & Patriotic Cake that Tastes Great!
Looking for a festive and delicious cake to celebrate national holidays or any occasion with a patriotic flair? Look no further than this red, white, and blue cake! Add this delicious and visually appealing cake to any dessert table and its playful appearance that is sure to delight guests of all ages.
This Festive Red, White & Blue Cake is a delectable and fun dessert that is perfect for any patriotic celebration. It is easy to make, customizable, and sure to impress anyone who tries it.
Why you should make this festive cake recipe today!
- It is a simple recipe. Despite the fancy appearance, this recipe is brought together so easily with boxed cake mixes and an easy homemade buttercream frosting. It does not get any easier than this!
- Festive and fun. Colorful layers of cake in every slice make it that much more enjoyable but you can even take it up a notch by adding sprinkles to the white cake layer for a funfetti appearance.
- It is customizable. Add food coloring to the frosting so that the outside is just as festive and fun as the inside or swap out the garnishes for other berries like strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries! Anything red or blue colored will work well.
Red White Blue Cake Ingredients
Cake mix: You will need two 15.25-ounce-sized boxes of white cake mix. You can use your favorite brand or even gluten free, there is no wrong way to go with the cake mixes you choose.
Egg white: Use 6 egg whites to give the cake the right consistency without changing the color (egg yolks make cake batter yellow).
Oil: Adding 1 cup of vegetable oil gives the cake needed fats to stay moist while baking.
Water: 2 cups of water will get the cake batter to the right consistency.
Food coloring: For the patriotic colors, you need red and blue food coloring, the total amount needed will vary depending on the type of food coloring used. I find gel food coloring gives the most vibrant colors.
Buttercream frosting
Butter: 1 cup of softened unsalted butter (2 sticks) is what will make this frosting rich and flavorful.
Powdered sugar: For a sweet and smooth topping add in 4-5 cups of powdered sugar.
Milk: You need about 3-4 tablespoons of milk or heavy cream to get the frosting to a nice spreadable consistency.
Vanilla extract: Use 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract extra to enhance the flavors in this cake topping.
Garnishes: For festive and fun garnishes on this cake you may want to use some cherries and/or sprinkles.
How to Make our Festive Red White and Blue Cake
Prep
Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Then spray (3) 8-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Set the pans aside.
Cake batter
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer or stand mixer, combine the 2 cake mixes, egg whites, oil, and water, mix until well combined.
Next, evenly divide the batter between three small bowls. You can keep ⅓ of the batter in the main large bowl, that can be the “white” layer. The other two bowls are going to be the red and blue batter.
Then, use the red food coloring in one of the bowls and blue food coloring in the other. Add just a few drops of each and mix until your desired color is achieved.
Now, pour the batter into each of the prepared cake pans, giving each pan its own color. One red, one white, and one blue.
Bake
Proceed to put each cake pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and comes out clean.
After baking is complete, let the cakes cool in their pans for 5 minutes before turning them over onto a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
When the cakes have completely cooled, begin to prepare the buttercream.
Buttercream frosting
Start by creaming the butter and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, until light and fluffy.
Then add in the vanilla extract and stir to combine.
If you have a hard time getting your frosting fluffy, add in milk or cream, one tablespoon at a time until your desired consistency is achieved. Or if it is too runny, add a tablespoon of powder sugar at a time, until you’ve reached the desired consistency.
Assemble the cake
Place the red cake layer on a cake plate and spoon a bit of frosting in the middle and spread it out to the edges.
Then stack the white cake on top of the red and add some frosting on top. Spread it out to the edges.
Lastly, add the blue cake layer on top and cover the entire cake in the remaining frosting. I like to place it into a piping bag and go around the edges and top.
If desired, add maraschino cherries and sprinkles for added festive decorations.
Place the cake into the fridge for at least one hour to chill and set.
Slice, serve and enjoy!
Variations of Red, White & Blue Cake
The Festive Red, White & Blue Cake is a perfect dessert for any patriotic holiday. However, there are many variations of this cake that you can try out to make it even more special. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Cream Cheese Frosting: If you’re not a fan of buttercream frosting, try using cream cheese frosting instead. It’s tangy and creamy, and pairs perfectly with the sweet cake. To make cream cheese frosting, you’ll need:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Berry Toppings: For a healthier twist on this cake, try adding fresh berries as a topping. You can use strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries to create a colorful and delicious dessert. Simply slice the berries and arrange them on top of the cake. You can also mix the berries with a little bit of sugar and lemon juice to create a sweet and tangy sauce.
Chocolate Drizzle: If you’re a chocolate lover, try adding a chocolate drizzle to your cake. Melt some white chocolate and tint it with red and blue food coloring. Then, drizzle the chocolate over the cake in a zigzag pattern. You can also sprinkle some white chocolate shavings on top for added texture and flavor.
FESTIVE RED, WHITE AND BLUE CAKE
Ingredients
- 2 boxes 15.25 oz white cake mixes
- 6 egg whites
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups water
- Red and blue food coloring
Buttercream frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened, 2 sticks
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 TBSP milk or cream
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Cherries and sprinkles for garnish
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray (3) 8-inch round cakepans well with nonstick cooking spray. Set pans aside.
- Batter: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer or whisk, combine the 2 cake mixes, egg whites, oil, and water until combined.
- Evenly divide the batter between three small bowls, or you can keep 1/3 of the batter in the main large bowl, that can be the "white" layer. The other two bowls are going to be the red and blue batter.
- Use the red food dye in one and the blue food dye in the other. Just a few drops of each to get your desired shade will do. Pour the red batter into one of the prepared pans, the blue in another and the white batter in a third pan.
- Bake: Proceed to put each cake pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and come out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in their pans for 5 minutes before inverting them onto a cooling rack to finish cooling completely. When the cakes are completely cool it is time to make the butter cream.
- Buttercream frosting: Cream the butter and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, until light and fluffy. Add in the vanilla extract and stir to combine.
- If you have a hard time getting your frosting fluffy, add in milk or cream, one tablespoon at a time until your desired consistency is achieved. Or if it is too runny, add a tablespoon of powder sugar at a time.
- Assemble: Place the red layer on your cake plate and spoon a bit of the frosting in the middle and spread out.
- Stack the white layer on top of the red, add frosting to the top of the white layer and repeat with the blue layer.
- Once your layers are stacked finish completely frosting the cake with the buttercream. I like to take whatever buttercream is leftover and place into a piping bag and pipe around the edges and top. I add sprinkles and maraschino cherries to decorate.
- Place the cake into the fridge for at least an hour to chill and set up. Slice and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
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Can I use gluten-free cake mix for this easy cake recipe?
Yes, you can use gluten-free cake mix to make a festive red, white, and blue cake. Simply follow the same recipe and substitute the regular cake mix with a gluten-free option. Be sure to check the ingredients list to ensure that the gluten-free cake mix does not contain any wheat, barley, or rye.
How long is layered cake good for?
You can keep this cake stored (covered) in the fridge for up to 5 days. For the best tasting results, I recommend eating it within about 3 days.
Can I freeze frosted red, white, and blue cake?
Yes, you can freeze a frosted cake. However, it is important to wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. When you are ready to serve the cake, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before bringing it to room temperature.
Check out some more great patriotic recipes to enjoy soon
- BLUEBERRY JELLO SALAD
- PATRIOTIC LAYERED JELLO SALAD
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- 4TH OF JULY COOKIES
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- PATRIOTIC CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIE BARS
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- MINI PAVLOVA RECIPE
Festive Red, White & Blue Cake is a patriotic treat that everyone can enjoy a slice of. Serve this 3 layer cake for the Fourth of July and enjoy your celebrations with this winning dessert!
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