The Easiest Barefoot Contessa Flag Cake Recipe for Celebrations

The Barefoot Contessa Flag Cake transforms ordinary baking into a spectacular culinary celebration of national pride.

Soft, tender layers promise a delectable canvas for creative decoration.

Sweet cream cheese frosting creates the perfect smooth backdrop for vibrant fruit designs.

Patriotic themes bloom naturally through carefully arranged berries representing classic flag colors.

Summer gatherings and festive events find their sweet centerpiece in this remarkable dessert.

Simple techniques make this impressive cake accessible to bakers of all skill levels.

Stunning visual impact meets incredible flavor in every delightful slice: prepare to amaze your guests.

Key Components for Flag Cake

• Unsalted Butter: Soft and creamy, provides rich flavor and tender texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a light, fluffy crumb.
• Large Eggs: Bind ingredients and add structure to the cake.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and creates a soft, tender cake texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with warm, sweet notes.

• All-Purpose Flour: Foundation of the cake, provides structure and texture.
• Cornflour: Helps create a softer, more delicate cake crumb.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
• Bicarbonate of Soda: Helps cake rise and creates light texture.

• Unsalted Butter, Cream Cheese: Creates smooth, creamy base for icing.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth to the frosting flavor.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
• Fresh Blueberries, Fresh Raspberries: Provides color and fresh topping for flag design.

How to Make Flag Cake

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Generously coat an 18x13x1 inch sheet pan with butter and dust with flour to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Create the Cake Base

• Butter
• Sugar

• Sour cream
• Vanilla

Scrape mixer sides and blend until silky smooth.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients

• Flour
• Cornflour
• Salt
• Bicarbonate of soda

Slowly incorporate dry mixture into wet ingredients on low speed. Stir gently with spatula and transfer batter to prepared pan. Smooth surface evenly.

Step 4: Bake to Perfection

Place pan in center of oven. Bake 20-30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Allow cake to cool completely at room temperature.

Step 5: Whip Up Creamy Frosting

• Butter
• Cream cheese
• Vanilla

Add powdered sugar, mixing on low until fully integrated. Stir with spatula for consistent texture.

Step 6: Design Patriotic Masterpiece

Spread three-quarters of frosting across cooled cake. Use toothpick to sketch flag outline. Fill top left corner with blueberries. Pipe alternating raspberry and frosting stripes. Decorate blueberry section with delicate star details using remaining frosting.

Insider Hints for Flag Cake

• Prep Ingredients Strategically: Pull out butter, eggs, and sour cream 30-45 minutes before baking to reach perfect room temperature for smoother mixing.
• Sift Like a Pro: Gently sift dry ingredients through a fine-mesh strainer to break up clumps and create an ultra-light, tender cake texture.
• Gentle Mixing Matters: Fold batter delicately with a spatula, stopping the moment ingredients are just combined to keep the cake tender and fluffy.
• Cooling is Crucial: Allow cake to rest on a wire rack for at least one hour, ensuring complete temperature drop before applying frosting to prevent melting.
• Berry Selection Secrets: Choose plump, firm blueberries and raspberries with vibrant colors and no soft spots for a stunning and delicious flag cake decoration.

Keep Flag Cake Fresh

• Airtight Container: Preserve the cake's freshness by storing it in a sealed container with a tight-fitting lid. This method locks in moisture and prevents the cake from absorbing other refrigerator odors, keeping its delicate flavor and texture intact.
• Individual Slice Protection: Wrap each remaining slice separately in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before refrigerating. Separate wrapping prevents the cake from drying out and maintains its original taste and soft consistency.
• Temperature Control: Keep the cake at a consistent cool temperature between 36-40°F. Steady refrigeration helps maintain the cake's structure and prevents potential bacterial growth, extending its edible lifespan.

Creative Spins on Flag Cake

• Patriotic Berry Bars: Transform the sheet cake into individual bars by cutting into rectangular pieces. Top each bar with a mini flag design using smaller berries and precise piping work.
• Summer Picnic Cupcakes: Convert the recipe into cupcake form, using the same batter and decorating each cupcake with a miniature flag design. Pipe cream cheese frosting and arrange tiny berries to create flag patterns.
• Fourth of July Trifle: Layer cake pieces with whipped cream and fresh berries in clear glass containers. Create alternating red, white, and blue layers that mimic the flag's color scheme for a festive dessert presentation.
• Stars and Stripes Parfait: Break cake into smaller pieces and layer in individual glasses with cream cheese frosting, fresh raspberries, and blueberries. Pipe cream in star-like patterns to enhance the patriotic theme.

Parting Thoughts on Flag Cake

American patriotism reaches new heights with this spectacular flag cake.

Barefoot Contessa’s signature recipe transforms simple ingredients into a memorable dessert celebrating national pride.

Culinary creativity shines through each carefully placed berry and precisely piped stripe.

Colors of red, white, and blue tell a delicious story of heritage and independence.

Sophisticated bakers can recreate this iconic dessert with precision and passion.

Grab camera, slice a piece, share your masterpiece online – challenge friends to match your star-spangled culinary skills!

Adore the Delight of Flag Cake

• Celebrate Festive Flavors: This patriotic flag cake transforms a classic sheet cake into a stunning Fourth of July dessert that screams celebration with its eye-catching red, white, and blue design.
• Effortless Elegance Meets Crowd-Pleasing Deliciousness: The recipe combines simple baking techniques with a show-stopping decorative approach, making it perfect for home bakers who want to impress without complicated skills.
• Texture Paradise: Enjoy a moist, tender cake with a velvety cream cheese frosting that creates a perfect balance of softness and rich, tangy smoothness in every single bite.
• Quick and Stress-Free Dessert: With just 30 minutes of baking time and straightforward decorating steps, this cake delivers maximum visual impact with minimal kitchen effort, making it ideal for busy hosts and last-minute party planners.

Barefoot Contessa Flag Cake Recipe

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4.5 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 20 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s Flag Cake showcases patriotic American baking with remarkable simplicity and elegance. Creamy buttercream frosting adorns a classic sheet cake, creating a festive dessert perfect for summer celebrations and Independence Day gatherings.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 cups / 600g caster sugar
• 6 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 3 cups / 375g plain flour
• 1 cup / 240ml sour cream, at room temperature
• 1 lb (4 sticks) / 450g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 ½ lbs / 675g cream cheese, at room temperature

Additional Dry Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup / 40g cornflour
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 lb / 450g icing sugar, sifted

Flavor and Garnish Ingredients:

• 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 half-pints / 250g blueberries
• 3 half-pints / 375g raspberries
• 18 tablespoons (2 ¼ sticks) / 255g unsalted butter, at room temperature

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking environment by warming the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) / 350°F and positioning the rack in the center. Thoroughly coat an 18x13x1 inch (46x33x2.5 cm) sheet pan with butter and a light dusting of flour to prevent sticking.
2. Create the cake foundation by whipping butter and sugar in a stand mixer using the paddle attachment for approximately 3 minutes until the mixture becomes pale and voluminous. If the butter feels too cold, incorporate 1-of warm water to improve texture. Gradually introduce eggs at medium-low speed, then gently fold in sour cream and vanilla extract. Pause to scrape down the mixing bowl’s sides and ensure a uniform blend.
3. Combine the dry ingredients by meticulously sifting flour, cornflour, salt, and bicarbonate of soda into a separate bowl. Slowly integrate the dry mixture into the wet ingredients on low speed, mixing just until incorporated. Use a flexible spatula to complete the blending and transfer the batter evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with gentle strokes.
4. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes, monitoring until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges completely clean. Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool entirely at room temperature.
5. Craft the creamy frosting by beating butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract together on medium speed until achieving a silky, homogeneous texture. Gradually introduce icing sugar while mixing on low speed, ensuring complete integration. Use a spatula for a final thorough blend, eliminating any potential lumps.
6. Transform the cake into a patriotic design by spreading approximately three-quarters of the prepared icing uniformly across the cooled surface. Utilize a toothpick to delicately sketch the flag outline. Arrange blueberries to fill the top left quadrant. Methodically pipe alternating rows of raspberries and icing to create distinctive stripes. Complete the design by piping elegant star shapes using the remaining icing over the blueberry section.

Notes

• Grab ingredients at room temp to blend seamlessly, creating a velvety smooth batter that guarantees tender crumb.
• Sifting dry ingredients breaks up lumps, introducing tiny air pockets that transform your cake into a cloud-like delicacy.
• Gentle mixing keeps the batter tender, preventing tough proteins from developing and maintaining a delicate cake structure.
• Patience matters when cooling – letting cake rest completely prevents frosting from sliding and ensures picture-perfect presentation.
• Select plump, vibrant berries that add bursts of fresh flavor and gorgeous color to your final masterpiece.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 20
• Calories: 620 kcal
• Sugar: 47g
• Sodium: 259mg
• Fat: 38g
• Saturated Fat: 23g
• Carbohydrates: 63g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 6g
• Cholesterol: 153mg