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Perfect American Flag Sheet Cake Recipe with Easy Cream Cheese Frosting

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A moist and flavorful vanilla sheet cake decorated with cream cheese frosting and fresh berries to resemble the American flag, perfect for patriotic celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
  • 2½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ 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) buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice, let sit 5 minutes)
  • ½ cup (120g) sour cream
  • 8 oz (226g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1 pint fresh blueberries
  • Optional: star-shaped cookie cutter for cutting strawberries into stars

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour a 9×13-inch sheet cake pan or line 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 with an electric mixer on medium speed until light 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. Alternately add the dry ingredient mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture in three parts, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix gently after each addition.
  6. Fold in sour cream gently.
  7. Pour batter evenly into prepared pan and smooth the top.
  8. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Start checking at 35 minutes.
  9. Let cake cool in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes, then invert onto rack to cool completely.
  10. Beat cream cheese and softened butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low speed. Add vanilla and heavy cream to reach spreadable consistency.
  11. Spread cream cheese frosting evenly over cooled cake using an offset spatula.
  12. Arrange sliced strawberries in neat rows on one half to form red stripes. Cluster blueberries in the top-left corner to represent stars. Optionally, use a star-shaped cookie cutter on some strawberries for star shapes. Press fruit gently into frosting.
  13. Chill cake in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to set frosting and meld flavors.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter to avoid a dense cake. Use room temperature ingredients for better blending. Pat berries dry before decorating to prevent soggy frosting. Chill cake before frosting for easier spreading. Adjust frosting consistency with heavy cream or powdered sugar as needed. Fresh berries are preferred for decoration; thaw frozen berries thoroughly if used.

Nutrition

Keywords: American flag cake, sheet cake, cream cheese frosting, patriotic dessert, 4th of July cake, berry cake, summer dessert

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