Perfect Patriotic Flag Sheet Cake Recipe Easy 4th of July Dessert
A moist vanilla sheet cake topped with fresh strawberries and blueberries arranged to mimic the American flag, finished with a tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for summer celebrations and easy to make.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups (350 g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, room temperature
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups (360 g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 ½ cups fresh blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch sheet pan with butter or nonstick spray and lightly dust with flour. Optionally line with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Using a mixer, beat softened butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract and scrape down bowl sides as needed.
- With mixer on low, add dry ingredients in three additions alternating with milk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool cake in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes, then remove from pan and parchment if used. Cool completely before frosting, about 1 hour.
- Prepare frosting by beating cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and heavy cream or milk to desired consistency.
- Spread an even ¼ inch layer of frosting over cooled cake using an offset spatula.
- Arrange sliced strawberries in horizontal stripes across the cake, leaving a square in the top-left corner for blueberries. Fill the square with blueberries packed closely to mimic stars.
Notes
Use room temperature eggs and butter for better mixing and tender crumb. Avoid overmixing after adding flour to prevent toughness. Let cake cool completely before frosting to avoid melting. Pat strawberries dry if very juicy to prevent sogginess. Variations include gluten-free flour, lemon zest addition, alternative berries, or dairy-free frosting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cak
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28
- Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Protein: 4
Keywords: patriotic cake, 4th of July dessert, sheet cake, vanilla cake, cream cheese frosting, strawberries, blueberries, summer dessert