Your Guests Will Love this 4th of July cake that Looks Like a U.S. Flag

4th of July Cake

Make your 4th of July cake an American flag cake! It is relatively easy to do and your guests will love it.

You will need two pints of fresh strawberries and one pint fresh blueberries. This makes a 13x9 inch cake that will serve 12-16 people. First choose a cake and frosting combination from the holiday recipes below. The Heavenly Fluffy Frosting is a boiled frosting that holds up pretty well at picnics and barbeques... it will remind you of marshmallow fluff. The cream cheese frosting is easier and also holds up well. You can replace the frosting with whipped cream but you will need to keep the cake refrigerated until just before serving.

Decorate and serve the cake in the pan.

Spread the icing generously over the cake. In the top left-hand corner of the frosted cake, arrange the blueberries into a rectangle, approximately 5" wide by 4" tall. Press the berries down into the frosting in rows so that the frosting shows between and gives the impression of stars on the flag. Place strawberry halves cut-side down in rows going across the cake horizontally, pressing the berries down into the frosting. If you want to be accurate, there are thirteen stripes on the flag. There are seven red stripes and six white. The top and bottom stripes are red.

You may want to add candles or display your 4th of July cake with sparklers.

Moist and delicious and not overly sweet.

3 cups flour, unbleached or all-purpose, sifted
1/3 cup powdered cocoa
3 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise (use only the best quality mayo)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the mayonnaise and sugar and beat at medium until blended. With mixer running, gradually add the cold water and vanilla. Add dry ingredients to mayonnaise mixture, beating until well blended, about 2 minutes. Pour batter into buttered 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake 40 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool completely in pan on rack.

Easy Yellow 4th of July Cake Recipe
Serves 12-16

Nearly as quick as a box mix, but better!

2 cups flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup softened butter (leave out to soften; microwaving is not recommended)
1 cup milk or buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients in large bowl, then add butter, milk and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs and beat for 30 seconds more. Pour into buttered 13x9 inch pan and bake for 35 minutes or until tests done with toothpick. Cool completely in pan on rack.

Heavenly Fluffy Frosting
You will need a candy thermometer for this one (definitely use one). Requires your undivided attention, but if you have the time, the results are worth it.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS: Combine sugar, water, corn syrup, and salt in a saucepan; stir until well blended. Boil slowly without stirring until mixture will spin a long thread when a little is dropped from a spoon (hold the spoon high above saucepan), or reaches 238 - 242 degrees F (114 - 117 degrees C). In a large bowl, beat egg whites with a mixer until they are stiff, but still moist. Pour hot syrup slowly over egg whites while beating. Continue until mixture is very fluffy, and will hold its shape. Add vanilla, and beat until blended. If icing does not seem stiff enough, beat in 2 or 3 tablespoons confectioners sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until stiff enough to hold its shape. Spread on cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting
Rich and wonderful! This will make a generous amount. If you have leftover frosting, you can use it as a filling to sandwich between cookies, or fold it into some chilled whipped cream and use it as a fruit dip.

INGREDIENTS
2 packages cream cheese (8 oz.), softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sifted powdered/confectioners sugar (may add more)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS: In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the powdered sugar. Taste. If you want sweeter and thicker frosting, mix in more powdered sugar a little at a time. Store any excess in the refrigerator after decorating your 4th of July cake (keep in mind it will become much thicker if chilled).

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