Ina Garten’s American Flag Cake Recipe with Patriotic Flair

Ina Garten’s American Flag Cake stands as a quintessential symbol of patriotic baking, transforming simple ingredients into a stunning culinary masterpiece.

Soft, moist layers of tender cake serve as a canvas for vibrant red, white, and blue decorations that capture the spirit of celebration.

Sweet and light, this dessert brings families together with its nostalgic charm and impressive visual appeal.

Bold buttercream frosting creates intricate designs that honor national pride and evoke memories of summer gatherings.

Delicate crumb and rich flavors merge seamlessly in this crowd-pleasing confection that elevates any festive occasion.

The cake represents more than just a dessert; it becomes a centerpiece that sparks conversation and creates lasting memories.

You’ll find this recipe delights guests with its perfect balance of taste and artistry: make it with love.

Why the American Flag Cake Is a Patriotic Delight

• Create a Patriotic Dessert Masterpiece: Transform a simple cake into a stunning American flag that celebrates national pride with delicious creativity.
• Enjoy Effortless Baking Delight: This recipe offers a straightforward method that allows both novice and experienced bakers to craft an impressive dessert with minimal complicated steps.
• Burst with Fresh Fruity Flavors: Combine the rich, creamy cake base with vibrant raspberries and blueberries that add natural sweetness and a pop of color to every slice.
• Perfect for Festive Gatherings: An ideal showstopper for Fourth of July celebrations, Memorial Day barbecues, or any patriotic event that calls for a memorable dessert centerpiece.

What You Need for Ina’s American Flag Cake

• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich flavor and tender texture, best when at room temperature.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a light, fluffy texture.
• Large Eggs: Bind ingredients and add structure to the cake, fresh eggs work best.
• Sour Cream: Adds moisture and creates a soft, tender crumb.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with its warm, aromatic notes.

• All-Purpose Flour: Main structure of the cake, provides necessary baking foundation.
• Cornstarch: Helps create a more delicate, tender cake texture.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile.
• Baking Soda: Helps cake rise and creates light, airy texture.

• Unsalted Butter, Cream Cheese: Create smooth, creamy base for the frosting.
• Confectioners' Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps achieve proper frosting consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds subtle flavor to the frosting.
• Fresh Blueberries, Fresh Raspberries: Provide color and decoration for the American flag design, choose ripe and firm berries.

How to Decorate the American Flag Cake Like Ina

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven and Ready the Baking Dish

Crank up the oven to 350°F. Generously coat an 18 by 13 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan with butter and sprinkle flour to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Whip Up the Cake Base

• Cream butter and sugar until fluffy
• Add eggs two at a time
• Mix in sour cream and vanilla
• Scrape bowl sides and blend until silky smooth

Step 3: Blend Dry Ingredients

• Flour
• Cornstarch
• Salt
• Baking soda

Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.

Step 4: Bake to Perfection

Slide pan into oven center. Bake 20-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cake cool completely to room temperature.

Step 5: Craft Creamy Frosting

• Butter
• Cream cheese
• Confectioners' sugar
• Vanilla

Mix until luxuriously smooth.

Step 6: Design Patriotic Masterpiece

• Blueberry-filled top left corner
• Raspberry red stripes
• White frosting rows
• Piped star details on blueberry section

Step 7: Serve and Celebrate

Transfer cake to serving platter or leave in baking pan. Slice and enjoy this delicious American-inspired dessert with friends and family.

Tips for Baking the Perfect Flag Cake

• Prep Ingredients Perfectly: Bring butter, eggs, and sour cream to room temperature to create a silky-smooth batter that bakes into an incredibly tender cake.
• Flour Measuring Hack: Gently spoon flour into measuring cups and level with a knife to prevent dense, heavy cake layers that can ruin your beautiful dessert.
• Gentle Mixing Magic: Stir the batter just until ingredients combine, stopping as soon as you see no more flour streaks to keep the cake light and airy.
• Patience for Perfect Frosting: Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack before decorating to ensure your icing stays beautifully in place and doesn't melt.
• Precision with a Toothpick: Lightly sketch the flag design on the cake surface before decorating to guide your fruit and icing placement for a professional-looking American flag design.

How to Store Your American Flag Cake

• Airtight Container Method: Transfer cooled cake to a large, sturdy container with a tight-fitting lid. Seal completely to prevent moisture loss and absorb other refrigerator odors. This approach maintains cake's original texture and flavor for maximum freshness.
• Layered Wrap Method: Wrap cake layers individually in plastic wrap, then cover with aluminum foil for extra protection. Create a barrier against freezer burn and preserve the cake's delicate frosting and decorative flag design. Prevents moisture from compromising cake's structural integrity during long-term storage.
• Single-Slice Preservation: Cut remaining cake into individual portions before storing. Wrap each slice separately in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe zip-top bag. Allows convenient single-serving access without thawing entire cake, perfect for spontaneous sweet cravings.

Fun Variations on the Flag Cake Design

• Summer Berry Bonanza: Replace blueberries and raspberries with seasonal mixed berries like strawberries, blackberries, and local fresh fruits for a vibrant color palette and fresh flavor profile.
• Chocolate American Celebration: Swap vanilla cake base with rich chocolate cake, using dark chocolate buttercream for piping and decorating while maintaining the classic flag design.
• Gluten-Free Patriotic Plate: Substitute regular flour with gluten-free flour blend, ensuring the cake remains tender and light while keeping the traditional decorative flag appearance.
• Lighter Cream Cheese Option: Reduce butter and cream cheese quantities, incorporating Greek yogurt for a tangy, lighter frosting that cuts down on overall calories without compromising taste.

Wrapping Up the American Flag Cake Magic

Patriotic spirit dances across this culinary canvas, weaving American pride through each delectable slice.

Ina Garten’s flag cake transforms simple ingredients into a spectacular celebration of national colors and flavors.

Berries and cream create a masterpiece that sings with red, white, and blue elegance.

Celebration becomes edible art, honoring tradition with each carefully crafted detail.

Baking skills merge with creative design, producing a memorable dessert perfect for summer gatherings.

Passionate bakers and party hosts: your table awaits this showstopping dish – snap a photo, share the recipe, and spread delicious national pride with friends and family.

Ina Garten American Flag Cake Recipe

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4.9 from 8 reviews

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

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Description

Ina Garten’s American Flag Cake celebrates patriotic spirit with a classic sheet cake design. Red, white, and blue berries create a festive flag pattern that delights guests at summer gatherings and holiday celebrations. Guests will love this showstopping dessert that brings national pride to the dessert table.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 cups sugar or 600 grams
• 6 extra-large eggs (at room temperature)
• 3 cups flour or 360 grams
• 1 ½ pounds cream cheese (at room temperature) or 680 grams
• 2 half-pints blueberries or 300 grams
• 3 half-pints raspberries or 450 grams

Baking Components:

• 18 tablespoons (2 ¼ sticks) unsalted butter (at room temperature) or 255 grams
• ⅓ cup cornstarch or 40 grams
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt or 5 milliliters
• 1 teaspoon baking soda or 5 milliliters

Frosting and Flavoring:

• 1 cup sour cream (at room temperature) or 240 milliliters
• 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract or 7.5 milliliters
• 1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter (at room temperature) or 450 grams
• 1 pound confectioners’ sugar, sifted or 450 grams
• 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract or 7.5 milliliters

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350°F (175°C). Thoroughly coat an 18 by 13 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan (45 by 33 by 4 cm) with butter and flour, ensuring complete coverage.
2. Create the cake foundation by whipping butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer with paddle attachment until the mixture becomes light and airy. Gradually incorporate eggs two at a time, then blend in sour cream and vanilla extract. Scrape bowl sides and mix until achieving a uniform consistency.
3. Sift dry ingredients including flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda into a separate bowl. Gradually fold dry ingredients into the butter mixture on low speed, mixing until just combined. Transfer batter to prepared pan, smoothing the surface evenly with a spatula.
4. Position pan in the oven center and bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Test cake’s doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean. Allow cake to cool completely to room temperature.
5. Craft the icing by combining softened butter, cream cheese, sifted confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Use electric mixer to blend until achieving a smooth, creamy texture.
6. Decorate the cooled cake by spreading approximately three-quarters of the icing across the surface. Delicately outline the American flag design using a toothpick as a guide. Populate the upper left corner with blueberries. Create red stripes by arranging two horizontal rows of raspberries. Use remaining icing in a pastry bag with a star tip to pipe white stripes between raspberry rows. Complete the design by adding decorative stars atop the blueberry section.
7. Serve the patriotic dessert directly from the baking pan or carefully transfer to a serving board using parchment paper for easier removal.

Notes

• Grab ingredients at room temperature to ensure a silky smooth batter with perfect cake consistency.
• Gently spoon flour into measuring cups and level precisely, preventing dense and heavy texture.
• Stop mixing batter the moment ingredients combine, preserving delicate cake’s airy and tender crumb.
• Wait until cake reaches complete coolness before applying frosting to maintain beautiful decorative design.
• Trace flag outline lightly with toothpick for guaranteed symmetrical and professional-looking decoration.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 20
• Calories: 576 kcal
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 220 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 67 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 125 mg