Easy Ina Garten American Flag Cake Recipe for Summer Fun

Ina Garten’s american flag cake transforms ordinary baking into a patriotic celebration of flavor and festivity.

Her signature dessert combines classic ingredients with artistic flair, creating a stunning centerpiece that captures national pride.

Soft, tender crumb meets creamy frosting in this delightful sweet treat that speaks volumes about summer gatherings.

Elegant yet approachable, the cake invites every home baker to craft something truly memorable.

Seasonal berries dance across the surface, telling a delicious story of red, white, and blue.

Simple techniques and quality ingredients make this dessert accessible to bakers of all skill levels.

Each slice promises a delectable journey through traditional american baking artistry: come create culinary magic!

Why Ina Garten’s American Flag Cake Makes a Statement

• Craft a Patriotic Masterpiece: Transform a simple cake into a stunning American flag design that's perfect for Fourth of July celebrations or any patriotic gathering.
• Effortless Elegance: This recipe combines simple baking techniques with a show-stopping decorative finish, making it impressive yet surprisingly easy to create.
• Berry Beautiful Decoration: Use fresh blueberries and raspberries to create a vibrant, colorful flag pattern that's both visually striking and deliciously fruity.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: The classic vanilla sheet cake with creamy frosting offers a universally loved dessert that brings people together with its nostalgic, homemade charm.

Must-Have Ingredients for a Patriotic Cake

• Butter: Provides rich flavor and tender texture, choose high-quality unsalted butter for best results.
• Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a light, fluffy texture.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and add structure to the cake.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and creates a tender crumb.
• Vanilla: Enhances overall flavor with warm, sweet notes.

• All-Purpose Flour: Main structure for the cake, provides essential base.
• Cornstarch: Helps create a softer, more delicate cake texture.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor.
• Baking Soda: Helps cake rise and creates light, airy texture.

• Butter: Creamy base for frosting, adds rich flavor.
• Cream Cheese: Provides tangy flavor and smooth texture to frosting.
• Confectioners' Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
• Vanilla: Adds depth to frosting flavor.
• Blueberries, Raspberries: Fresh fruits for creating flag design decoration.

How to Assemble This Festive Cake

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Heat the oven to 350°F. Generously grease and dust an 18 x 12 x 1-1/2-inch sheet pan with butter and flour to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Whip Butter and Sugar

Using an electric mixer, blend butter and sugar for 3 minutes until the mixture becomes light, airy, and fluffy.

Step 3: Incorporate Wet Ingredients

• Eggs
• Sour cream
• Vanilla extract

Mix until the ingredients are completely smooth and well combined.

Step 4: Combine Dry Components

• All-purpose flour
• Cornstarch
• Salt
• Baking soda

Step 5: Create Cake Batter

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain a tender texture.

Step 6: Bake the Cake

Pour the batter evenly into the prepared sheet pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 7: Craft Creamy Frosting

• Softened butter
• Cream cheese
• Vanilla extract

Mix until smooth, then gradually add confectioners’ sugar until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.

Step 8: Design Patriotic Decoration

• Blueberries for the star section
• Raspberries to form red stripes

Tips for a Stunning Flag Design

• Preserve Flag Freshness: Refrigerate decorated cake for up to 3 days, allowing 30 minutes at room temperature before serving.
• Create Flag Design: Slice cake into rectangular sections to maintain the patriotic flag pattern when presenting.
• Advance Cake Prep: Bake cake a day early and store at room temperature wrapped, boosting moisture and flavor complexity.
• Blueprint Berry Placement: Use a toothpick to lightly outline berry arrangement before positioning blueberries and raspberries.
• Control Frosting Flow: Gradually incorporate confectioners' sugar to manage icing thickness and prevent runny consistency.
• Select Perfect Berries: Pick firm, unblemished raspberries and blueberries for a stunning, vibrant flag decoration.
• Verify Cake Doneness: Check internal temperature reaches 200-205 degrees using an instant-read thermometer.
• Protect Cake Texture: Halt mixing dry ingredients into batter the moment they blend to prevent dense, tough results.
• Ensure Smooth Release: Layer parchment paper after buttering and flouring pan for effortless cake removal.
• Soften Butter Perfectly: Allow butter to sit at room temperature 30-45 minutes for creamy, light texture when mixing.

Storing a Red, White & Blue Cake

• Freezer Protection: Wrap the cake meticulously in multiple layers of plastic wrap and aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn and maintain its delightful flavor. Shield the cake completely, ensuring no exposed areas that could compromise its quality.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Store the cake in an airtight container to preserve its moisture and freshness for up to 3 days. Seal the container carefully to lock in the cake's delectable taste and prevent other refrigerator odors from seeping in.
• Berry Freshness Technique: Keep berries separate from the cake during storage to prevent soggy edges and maintain their crisp texture. Add fresh berries just before serving to guarantee the most vibrant and appetizing presentation.

Variations on Ina Garten’s Flag Cake

• Berry Bonanza Cake: Replace raspberries and blueberries with mixed seasonal berries like strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries for a vibrant and colorful flag design.
• Citrus Celebration Cake: Incorporate lemon zest into the cake batter and add orange-flavored cream cheese frosting for a bright, tangy version of the classic flag cake.
• Patriotic Chocolate Swirl: Marble chocolate batter into the vanilla cake base and use white chocolate frosting with red and blue berry accents for a decadent patriotic dessert.
• Spiced Americana Cake: Blend warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg into the cake batter, creating a cozy and festive alternative that maintains the flag's classic design.

Wrap-Up on Ina Garten’s American Flag Cake

Patriotic dessert lovers rejoice!

Ina Garten’s American Flag Cake transforms summer gatherings into memorable celebrations.

Her legendary recipe blends classic baking techniques with artistic presentation.

Classic vanilla sheet cake provides perfect canvas for festive berry decoration.

Cream cheese frosting adds luxurious richness complementing fresh fruit design.

Stars and stripes emerge through carefully placed blueberries and raspberries, creating edible national pride.

Ready to impress guests?

Share this delightful recipe, spark conversation, and invite friends to experience culinary creativity that honors American spirit.

Ina Garten American Flag Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Stars and stripes come alive in Ina Garten’s patriotic dessert, a classic American flag cake that celebrates summer gatherings with sweet style. Festive layers of vanilla cake and buttercream create a delightful red, white, and blue masterpiece you’ll proudly serve at any Independence Day celebration.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 cups sugar
• 1–½ pounds cream cheese
• 1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 pound confectioners’ sugar

Dairy and Eggs:

• 6 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
• 18 tablespoons (2–¼ sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

Flavoring and Berries:

• 1–½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 half-pints blueberries
• 3 half-pints raspberries

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Instructions

1. Thoroughly grease an 18 x 12 x 1.5-inch (45.7 x 30.5 x 3.8-centimeter) sheet pan with butter, then dust with flour to prevent sticking.
2. In a stand mixer, vigorously blend softened butter and granulated sugar for approximately 3 minutes until the mixture becomes pale and voluminous.
3. Incorporate room-temperature eggs one at a time, ensuring complete integration after each addition.
4. Fold in sour cream and pure vanilla extract, mixing until the mixture achieves a smooth, homogeneous consistency.
5. Sift together all-purpose flour, cornstarch, kosher salt, and baking soda in a separate bowl to eliminate potential lumps.
6. Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to maintain the batter’s delicate texture.
7. Transfer the batter evenly into the prepared sheet pan, using a spatula to spread it smoothly.
8. Place in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and bake for 22-28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean.
9. While the cake cools, prepare the frosting by whipping softened cream cheese, unsalted butter, and vanilla until silky.
10. Gradually incorporate confectioners’ sugar, beating until the frosting reaches a spreadable, glossy consistency.
11. Once the cake has completely cooled, generously spread the cream cheese frosting across the surface.
12. Artfully arrange fresh blueberries and raspberries to create a patriotic flag-inspired design on top of the frosted cake.

Notes

• Celebrate American spirit with this show-stopping dessert that brings families and friends together.
• Create a stunning flag design using fresh berries and vibrant gel food coloring for maximum visual impact.
• Achieve the most tender cake texture by carefully creaming butter and sugar while incorporating room temperature ingredients.
• Prepare ahead with confidence, knowing the cake can be made a day in advance and stored easily.
• Enjoy leftovers for up to 4 days, keeping the patriotic magic alive long after the celebration ends.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 710 kcal
• Sugar: 52 g
• Sodium: 250 mg
• Fat: 42 g
• Saturated Fat: 25 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 82 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 135 mg