The Ultimate 4th of July Cake: A Crowd-Pleaser That Brings On the Patriotic Spirit

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the summer is punctuated by outdoor barbecues, picnics, and celebrations of the red, white, and blue. In my opinion, there is no better way to embody the patriotic spirit than by preparing the perfect 4th of July dessert—a festive and delicious cake that steals the show!

In this blog post, I am going to share one of my favorite cake recipes for Independence Day: the Patriotic Poke Cake. Made with a simple red layer, white layer and blue layer topped with cream cheese frosting, fresh fruit, and blue sprinkles, it’s an easy dessert with a stunning visual impact.

The best part? It’s an easy recipe you can prepare in your own kitchen without any fancy equipment. All you need is a cake pan, a bowl of a stand mixer or a hand mixer, and a bit of your time.

This full recipe is the perfect dessert for a fun celebration! It’s a fun crowd pleaser recipe!

Ingredients

Ingredients:

White Velvet Layer

¼ cup unsalted butter

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup white granulated sugar

1 egg

½ cup milk

½ cup vegetable oil

⅛ cup warm water

1 ½ teaspoons white vinegar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon almond extract

1 ¼ cup all purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon baking powder

Red Velvet Layer

¼ cup unsalted butter

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup white granulated sugar

1 egg

½ cup milk

½ cup vegetable oil

⅛ cup warm water

1 ½ teaspoons white vinegar

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon almond extract

1 ¼ cup all purpose flour

1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon baking powder

Red food dye

Blue Velvet Layer

¼ cup unsalted butter

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup white granulated sugar

1 egg

½ cup milk

½ cup vegetable oil

⅛ cup warm water

1 ½ teaspoons white vinegar

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon almond extract

1 ¼ cup all purpose flour

1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon baking powder

Blue food dye

Cream cheese Frosting

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Coat 3, 8-inch round pans with nonstick spray. 
2. Grab 3 separate bowls to make all three layers at the same time.
3. Add the butter and salt to each bowl and beat together with a hand mixer.
4. Then add white sugar to each bowl and beat until creamy.
5. Now add the respective amounts of all the wet ingredients of egg, milk, vegetable oil, warm water, white vinegar and extracts to the bowls. Once again use the hand mixer to combine everything.
6. In the white velvet bowl first add the flour, baking soda and baking powder, then mix until the batter is smooth to complete that layer.
7. Then add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and powder to the red and blue velvet bowls, mixing with the hand mixer until the batters are smooth.
8. Add 3-4 drops of red food dye to the red velvet bowl and 3-4 drops of blue dye to the blue velvet bowl. Use a rubber spatula to mix in the colors in each and finish off those batter layers.
9. Pour the batters into each of the 3 round pans sprayed with nonstick spray earlier.
10. Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean. 
11. Let the cakes cool completely before frosting.
12. Place the bottom layer as the blue velvet. Add frosting to that layer, place the white layer next, frosting again, and then the red on top, frosting everything. Sprinkle with red, white and or blue sprinkles on the outside of the cake if desired.

Storing Leftovers

The best way to store your 4th of July cake is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you’ve used fresh fruit as a topping, it should be eaten within 2-3 days.

Freezing the Cake

If you wish to make the cake ahead of time, you can bake the cake, add the jello, and freeze it. Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and foil before freezing. When you’re ready to serve, thaw the cake in the refrigerator, frost, and decorate with fresh fruit.

FAQs, Tips, and Tricks

• For an extra festive touch, use a large star tip in a pastry bag to pipe additional frosting stars on top of the blueberry section of the cake.
• Want more depth to your cake? Consider using deeper pans and making a layer cake. Simply double the recipe, bake two cakes, and layer them with frosting in between.

Side Dishes and Serving Suggestions

A great 4th of July meal should include classic American fare. Serve your 4th of July cake alongside barbecued chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, or grilled fish. For sides, consider a refreshing watermelon salad, potato salad, or coleslaw. Don’t forget the lemonade and iced tea!

This Fourth of July cake will be a hit at any celebration, whether it’s a backyard barbecue, a picnic in the park, or even just a special occasion at home. The vibrant blue and red stripes on this patriotic cake capture the spirit of the holiday, making it a sweet treat that’s as visually appealing as it is delicious.

Whether it’s your first time baking a July 4th cake or you’re a seasoned pro, I hope you enjoy this recipe and that it adds a dash of patriotic fun to your summer celebrations. Happy baking and Happy Independence Day!

What are some other amazing 4th of July recipes to try?

• Healthy July 4th Flag Fruit Skewers
• Easy July 4th Themed Chocolate Covered Oreos
• Red White and Blue July 4th Ice Cream Pie
• Red White and Blue Slushies – Fun Treats For July 4th
• 4th Of July Red White and Blue Smoothie Recipe

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Before you go, check out these great posts!

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