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Perfect Red White Blue Layer Cake with Buttercream Stars

red white blue layer cake - featured image
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A quick and easy festive red, white, and blue layered cake with moist layers and fluffy buttercream stars, perfect for summer celebrations and patriotic occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • About 1 tablespoon red gel food coloring
  • About 1 tablespoon blue gel food coloring
  • 1 ½ cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 5 cups (600g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3–4 tablespoons (45-60ml) heavy cream or whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • Pinch of salt (for frosting)
  • Red and blue gel food coloring (for star decorations)
  • 1 cup sliced strawberries (fresh berries for garnish)
  • 1 cup blueberries (fresh berries for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch cake pans or line with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat ½ cup softened unsalted butter until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
  4. Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to the butter-egg mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
  5. Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Stir red gel food coloring into one, blue into another, and leave the last plain for the white layer.
  6. Pour each colored batter into prepared pans. Smooth tops gently with a spatula. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  7. Let cakes cool in pans for 15 minutes, then invert onto cooling racks. Cool completely before frosting.
  8. For the buttercream, beat 1 ½ cups softened butter on medium speed until creamy (about 3 minutes). Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low to prevent sugar cloud.
  9. Add heavy cream and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, then beat on high for 3-4 minutes until fluffy. Add a pinch of salt to balance sweetness.
  10. Place the blue layer on cake board or plate. Spread about ½ cup buttercream evenly. Add the white layer, spread another ½ cup frosting. Finish with the red layer on top.
  11. Cover entire cake with a thin crumb coat and chill for 15 minutes.
  12. Divide remaining buttercream into three bowls. Tint one with red, one with blue, and leave one white. Fill piping bags fitted with star tips.
  13. Pipe stars around the top edge and sides, alternating colors to mimic the flag’s festive vibe.
  14. Garnish the top with fresh sliced strawberries and blueberries.
  15. Chill for 30 minutes before serving to set the frosting.

Notes

Bring eggs and milk to room temperature to avoid lumps and dense cake. Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without watering down batter. Chill crumb coat before piping stars to keep layers neat and stars crisp. You can make cake layers a day ahead and freeze them wrapped tightly; thaw completely before frosting. For dairy-free, substitute butter and milk with coconut oil and almond milk. For gluten-free, use gluten-free flour blend.

Nutrition

Keywords: red white blue cake, patriotic cake, buttercream stars, 4th of July cake, layered cake, easy cake recipe, summer dessert

Find it online: https://twinkletaste.com/perfect-red-white-blue-layer-cake-recipe-easy-buttercream-stars-tutorial/