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Perfect American Flag Sheet Cake Recipe with Easy Cream Cheese Frosting

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A festive and crowd-pleasing sheet cake decorated to look like the American flag, featuring a moist butter cake base and tangy cream cheese frosting, perfect for patriotic occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1–2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
  • 2 cups fresh blueberries
  • Extra frosting or whipped cream to fill in the white stripes

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch pan or line with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. Using a mixer, beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
  5. With mixer on low, add one-third of the flour mixture, then half the milk. Repeat once more, ending with the last of the flour. Mix just until combined.
  6. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Tap pan gently to release air bubbles.
  7. Bake for 35-40 minutes, checking at 35 minutes with a toothpick; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool cake completely in pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes.
  9. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing well. Adjust consistency with milk if needed.
  10. Spread a thin, even layer of frosting over the cooled cake.
  11. Arrange sliced strawberries in rows to create red stripes, leaving white stripes with frosting or whipped cream.
  12. Place blueberries densely in the top left corner to form the blue field of the flag.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Avoid overmixing the batter to keep the cake tender. Pat strawberries dry before arranging to prevent soggy frosting. Chill frosting if too runny before spreading. Fresh berries are preferred for vibrant color and texture. The cake can be made gluten-free or vegan with substitutions. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze slices for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: American flag cake, patriotic dessert, sheet cake, cream cheese frosting, Fourth of July dessert, berry cake, easy sheet cake

Find it online: https://sweetstirring.com/perfect-american-flag-sheet-cake-recipe-with-easy-cream-cheese-frosting-tutorial/