10 Delicious 4th of July Cake Ideas

Independence Day is approaching, and it is time to celebrate! But before the festivities begin, the 4th of July cake is the first thing you need to sort out. Check out some of the best 4th of July cake recipes that will leave your guests drooling and satisfy their sugar cravings. If you are bored with traditional and simple cake recipes, it is time to impress your family and friends by baking an out-of-the-box fourth of July cake to make the celebrations a lot more fun.

10 Easy 4th of July Cake Ideas

There are so many creative 4th of July cake recipes for kids, friends, and family, and we’re sure everyone will enjoy them. These multi-layer homemade cakes or cupcakes with extravagant icing, colourful sprinkles, fruits, or even flag-infused creations will blow your mind and will be loved by everyone who sees and tastes these cakes. Here are some of the best cake ideas for you.

1. Red Velvet Cake

Total Time – 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings – 10-12

Ingredients

For the cake

• Butter – 1 cup (softened)
• Granulated sugar – 1 cup
• Pure vanilla extract – 1 tsp.
• Eggs – 2 (large)
• All-purpose flour – 2.5 cups
• Cocoa powder – ¼ cup
• Baking soda – 1 tsp.
• Kosher salt – 1 tsp.
• Buttermilk – 1 cup
• Distilled white vinegar – 1 tbsp.
• Red food colour – 2 tbsp.
• Cooking spray

For the cream cheese frosting

• Cream cheese – 2 blocks (softened)
• Butter – ½ cup (softened)
• Powdered sugar – 4 cups
• Pure vanilla extract – 1 tsp.
• Kosher salt – ¼ tsp.

Instructions

• In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with a hand mixer until it’s light and fluffy. Next, add the eggs one at a time, beat them well, and add the vanilla extract to the mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 350°.  Line two 8” round cake trays with parchment paper and grease them with the cooking spray.
• Take another bowl and combine the cocoa, flour, baking soda, and salt together. Add half portion of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk them to combine. Now, add the buttermilk, vinegar, and red food colour, whisking to combine. Add the other half of the dry ingredients and mix again.
• Divide the batter equally between cake trays and let them bake at 180° for 25-30 minutes. Then, insert a toothpick, and if it comes out clean, the cake is baked. Let it cool down completely before inverting it on a plate.
• Make the frosting while the cake bakes. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add some salt and vanilla essence and mix thoroughly. The frosting should be thick and have a spreadable consistency.
• Now, it is time to assemble the cake. Level the tops of the cakes using a knife. Reserve the scraps for decorating. Then, place a layer on the cake stand and top it with a thick layer of frosting and add the second cake on top. Frost the top and sides of the cake generously with the cream cheese frosting. Decorate with the leftover crumbles.

2. Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake

Total Time – 1 hour

Servings – 10 servings

Ingredients

For the cake

• Cooking spray
• Vanilla cake mix – 1 box
• Instant vanilla pudding – 1 package
• Eggs – 4 (large)
• Water – 1 cup
• Butter – ½ cup (melted)

For the frosting

• Butter – ½ cup (softened)
• Powdered sugar – 2 cups
• Vanilla extract – 1 tsp.
• Kosher salt – 1 pinch
• Strawberries – 1 quart
• Cool Whip – 2 cups

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 360°. Line two round cake moulds with parchment paper and grease them with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, eggs, water, pudding mix, and butter. Pour the batter in the cake trays and bake until the toothpick comes out clean after about 25-30 minutes. Let it cool down completely.
• To make the frosting, add the butter to a large bowl and beat it until it’s fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and beat them together. Next, add the vanilla, salt, and heavy cream and beat until combined.
• Layer the buttercream on the top of one cake and then transfer the remaining cream to a piping bag. Layer the strawberries on the buttercream layer evenly, and then pipe more buttercream all over it—Smooth the top with a spatula.
• Place the second layer of cake on top and cover the cake with a cool whip completely. Garnish the cake with thin strawberry slices.

3. America Cake

Total Time – 50 minutes

Servings – 6

Ingredients 

• Butter – 1 cup
• Flour (for dusting)
• Red velvet cake mix – 1 box
• White cake mix – 1 box
• Blue food colouring
• Cream cheese – 1 cup
• Confectioners’ sugar – 3 cup
• Vanilla – 1 tsp.
• Red, white, and blue sprinkles

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 360°, grease a round baking tray, and line it with parchment paper.
• Prepare the box cake mixes batter as per the instructions given on the box. In two separate bowls, divide the white cake batter into two equal portions. Add five drops of blue food colour in one of the bowls.
• Now, pour the red, white, and blue coloured batters into three squeeze bottles. Use about half of the red velvet batter for this step.
• Starting with red, squeeze about ¼ cup of the batter into the tray and squeeze the same amount of the white batter on top of the red batter, followed by the same amount of the blue batter.
• Continue alternating between the three colored batters, making a bull’s eyes pattern, by gradually decreasing the amount of batter poured.
• Set the cake in the oven and bake for 30 mins or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let the cake cool down in the pan, and then transfer it to a plate.
• To make the frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese together. Add sugar and vanilla and beat until fluffy.
• Spread the frosting all over the cake evenly and decorate it with the red, white, and blue sprinkles.

4. Firecracker Cake

Total Time – 45 minutes

Servings – 15

Ingredients

• White cake mix – 1 box
• Water, Egg whites, and Vegetable oil as required for the cake mix
• Red food colouring
• Blue food colouring
• White frosting – 1 container
• Red, white, and blue sprinkles

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 360°. Grease and dust a a cake mould with flour and set it aside.
• Prepare the cake batter as per the instructions given on the cake mix box. Pour a cup of the batter into a small bowl and add red food colouring. Pour another cup of batter into another bowl and add blue colouring, and mix.
• Pour the red cake batter into the cake tray and pour the white batter on top of it. Next, pour the blue batter over the white batter.
• Bake as per the direction or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake completely, and then invert it on a plate.
• After the cake is completely cooled off, divide the frosting evenly into 3 bowls and microwave one of the bowls uncovered on high heat for a few seconds. Using a spoon, drizzle the frosting of this bowl all over the cake in a striping pattern.
• Microwave the second bowl and add blue food colouring to it. Then, drizzle it evenly on the cake. Repeat the process with the third bowl of frosting and mix in red food colouring. Decorate the cake with red, blue, and white sprinkles.

5. No-Bake Strawberry Trifle

Total Time – 30 minutes

Servings – 10-12

Ingredients

• Angel Food Cake – 1 cut into 1″ cubes
• Fresh strawberries – 1 lb (hulled and sliced)
• Fresh blueberries – 1 lb
• Trifle dish or Casserole dish

For the lemon syrup

• Water – ¼ cup
• Sugar – 2 tbsp.
• Lemon juice – 2 tbsp.

For the frosting

• Cream cheese – 2 cups
• Granulated sugar – ¾ cup
• Heavy whipping cream – 2 cups
• Vanilla extract – ½ tsp.

Instructions 

• To make the lemon syrup, combine the water, sugar, and lemon juice in a measuring cup and stir to dissolve the sugar. Set aside.
• To make the trifle cream, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy. Pour in the heavy cream and continue beating until fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and combine the mixture.
• To assemble the trifle, place ⅓ of the angel food cake at the bottom of the dish, and brush it with ⅓ of the syrup. Add ⅓ of the cream and roughly spread it over the cake pieces. Next, add ½ of the sliced strawberries. Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients. Add the last ⅓ of the cream on the top and decorate it with the leftover fruits.

6. Flag Brownies

Total Time – 45 minutes

Servings – 24

Ingredients

• Butter – 12 tbsp.
• Sugar – 1½ cups
• Cocoa Powder – ⅔ cup
• Eggs – 3
• Vanilla extract – 1½ tsp.
• Flour – ¾ cup
• Salt – ½ tsp.
• Baking Powder – ¼ tsp.
• Chocolate Chips – 1 cup
• Fresh Blueberries – 1 cup
• Sliced Strawberries – 2 cups
• White frosting – 16 ounces

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 360°. Line a pan with aluminium foil and grease it with cooking spray.
• Melt butter in a pan, add the sugar and cocoa powder to it and whisk. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and whisk again. Stir in the salt, baking powder, and flour.
• Add the chocolate chips and pour the batter into the pan. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, then let it cool it completely.
• Place the brownie in a serving tray and spread a thin layer of frosting.
• Place the blueberries in the top left corner and arrange the strawberry slices in 5 rows.
• Fill the remaining frosting in a large pastry bag fitted with a star tip — pipe frosting between rows of strawberries.
• Refrigerate the brownies until ready to serve.

7. Poke Cake

Total Time – 3 hours 40 minutes

Servings – 10-12

Ingredients

• White Cake mix – 1 box
• Eggs – 4 (large)
• Canola/Vegetable oil – ½ cup
• Buttermilk – 1 cup
• Cherry gelatin – 1 box
• Berry blue gelatin – 1 box
• Boiling water – 1 cup
• Coldwater – ½ cup

For the frosting

• Whipped topping – 1 container
• Cream Cheese – 1 pack
• Powdered Sugar – ½ cup
• Vanilla extract – 1 tsp.
• Sprinkles
• Fresh fruit

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 360° and grease a baking tray with cooking spray.
• In a bowl, whisk together the cake mix, buttermilk, eggs, and oil. Pour the batter into the baking tray and bake for about 30 minutes. Let it cool down for 15 minutes.
• While the cake cools, add the red gelatin in boiling water and stir for 2 minutes until dissolved, and then add ¼ cup of cold water. Combine properly and put it in a squeeze bottle.
• Repeat the same with the blue gelatin and put it in another squeeze bottle.
• Poke holes in the cake using a skewer or fork. Pour the gelatin in the poked holes, alternating between red and blue to make a a striped pattern.
• Store the cake in the freeze for at least 3 hours.
• For the frosting, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and beat until smooth.
• Spread the frosting all over the cake and top it with fruits and sprinkles. Store in the freezer until ready to serve.

8. Swirled Bundt Cake

Total Time – 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings – 15

Ingredients

• Butter – 1 cup
• Eggs – 3
• Egg yolks – 2
• Cooking spray
• All-purpose flour – 2¼ cups
• Baking powder – 1 tbsp.
• Salt – ½ tsp.
• Granulated Sugar – 1 cup
• Brown Sugar – ⅓ cup
• Milk – 1 cup
• Blue and red food colouring
• Cream cheese icing drizzle
• White, blue, and red sprinkles

Instructions

• Preheat the oven at 320° and coat a baking tray with cooking spray, and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, beat the butter for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar to the butter and beat until fluffy. Add the eggs and egg yolks and beat the mixture for a minute.
• Add flour and milk to the butter mix alternatively. Beat the mixture after each addition.
• Pour 2 cups of batter each in 2 different bowls. Add red food colouring to one bowl and blue to the other. Leave the remaining batter plain. Pour the batters of each colour in the tray, alternating between the colours.
• Bake for about 50 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean. Let the the cake cool down and then invert it.
• Drizzle the cream cheese icing all over the cake and add sprinkles on top.

9. Sour Cream Pound Cake

Total Time – 2 hours

Servings – 10

Ingredients 

• Butter – ½ cup
• Eggs – 3
• Sour cream – ½ cup
• All-purpose flour – 1½ cup
• Baking powder – ½ tsp.
• Baking soda – ⅛ tsp.
• Sugar – 1 cup
• Vanilla extract – ½ tsp.
• Sweetened whipped cream – 1 cup
• Fresh berries

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 325°. Grease and dust a baking pan with flour, and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and baking soda and set aside.
• In another bowl, beat the butter at high speed for 30 seconds. Add the sugar and continue beating until fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, and continue beating after each addition.
• Add the flour mixture and sour cream alternatively to the butter mixture and beat on low speed until combined.
• Pour the batter into the pan and spread evenly. Bake for 50 minutes and let it cool down completely.
• Remove the cake from the pan and serve with whipped cream and fresh berries.

10. Strawberry Coconut Cheesecake

Total Time – 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings – 12

Ingredients

• Eggs – 4 (large)
• Sugar – 3 tbsp.
• Shredded coconut – 2 cups
• Lemon – 1
• Cream cheese – 3 cups
• Sour cream – ¾ cup
• Potato starch – 1 tbsp.
• Vanilla extract – 2 tsp.
• Strawberry jam – 1 tbsp.
• Strawberries – ½ lb. (hulled and halved)

Instructions

• Preheat the oven at 375°. Coat a 9” pan with cooking spray and set aside.
• Separate the whites and yolks of 2 eggs. Place the whites in a medium bowl and yolks in a small bowl.
• Add 1 tbsp. sugar to the whites and whisk until frothy. Add the coconut and spread the mixture evenly on the bottom of the pan. Bake until the coconut turns golden brown. Let it cool down completely.
• Beat the cream cheese, potato starch, vanilla extract, sour cream, 2 tbsp. of lemon juice, and ¾ cup of sugar in a mixing bowl until smooth.
• Beat the egg yolks and the other 2 eggs, one at a time. Spread the mixture at the top of the coconut crust and bake until the edge sets in about 30-40 minutes.
• Let the cheesecake cool and then freeze until chilled. While the cheesecake is freezing, mix the jam, lemon juice, and 2 tbsp. of sugar together. Add the berries and let them settle for 15 minutes. Fold in the lemon zest, and serve this mix over the cheesecake.

Try out the ideas to create a 4th of July cake that looks as good as it tastes and gets you lots of compliments this Independence Day.

Also Read:

4th of July Crafts for Children
4th of July Facts and Activities for Children