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Perfect Red White and Blue Layer Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

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A festive and easy-to-make patriotic layer cake featuring vibrant red, white, and blue layers with a tangy, silky cream cheese frosting. Perfect for summer gatherings and holidays.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (320g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk (or dairy-free milk with 1 tbsp vinegar)
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp red gel food coloring
  • 2 tsp blue gel food coloring
  • 16 oz (450g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Stir in vanilla extract.
  5. With mixer on low, add flour mixture in three parts alternating with buttermilk in two parts, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Leave one plain for white layer. Add red gel food coloring to one bowl and blue gel food coloring to the other; mix gently until smooth.
  7. Pour each colored batter into prepared pans, smooth tops, and tap pans to release air bubbles.
  8. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Rotate pans halfway through baking.
  9. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks to cool completely.
  10. For frosting, beat cream cheese and softened butter on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed until combined, then beat on medium until fluffy. Stir in vanilla extract and salt.
  11. Assemble cake by placing blue layer on plate, spreading frosting on top, then white layer with frosting, then red layer. Cover top and sides with remaining frosting, smoothing with offset spatula.
  12. Refrigerate cake for at least 1 hour to set frosting. Bring to room temperature before slicing.

Notes

Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without thinning batter. Cream butter and sugar thoroughly for a tender crumb. Avoid overmixing after adding flour to keep cake soft. Chill frosting if too soft to spread. A crumb coat helps prevent crumbs in final frosting layer. Can substitute natural colorings or adapt for gluten-free and dairy-free diets.

Nutrition

Keywords: red white and blue cake, patriotic cake, cream cheese frosting, layered cake, summer dessert, 4th of July cake, easy cake recipe

Find it online: https://forkifyfun.com/perfect-red-white-and-blue-layer-cake-recipe-with-cream-cheese-frosting-easy-patriotic-dessert-idea/