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Perfect Red White and Blue Layer Cake Recipe with Easy Cream Cheese Frosting

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A festive and moist layer cake featuring red and blue layers colored naturally with freeze-dried berries, topped with a smooth and tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for summer celebrations and easy to make in about 90 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (312g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, warmed slightly
  • ½ cup freeze-dried strawberries, crushed (for the red layer)
  • ½ cup freeze-dried blueberries, crushed (for the blue layer)
  • 8 oz (226g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2–3 tbsp heavy cream or whole milk (to adjust consistency)

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, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy and pale, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
  5. Add sifted dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with warmed milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix on low speed just until combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Leave one plain for the white layer. Fold crushed freeze-dried strawberries into one bowl for the red layer and crushed freeze-dried blueberries into another for the blue layer.
  7. Pour each batter into prepared pans and smooth tops. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
  9. For frosting, beat cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low until incorporated. Stir in vanilla extract and adjust texture with heavy cream or milk until spreadable.
  10. Assemble cake by placing red layer on serving plate, spreading frosting on top. Repeat with white layer and frosting, then top with blue layer. Cover top and sides with remaining frosting.
  11. Refrigerate assembled cake for at least 30 minutes before slicing to firm frosting and meld flavors.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients for smooth mixing. Do not overmix batter after adding flour to avoid dense cake. Freeze-dried berries provide natural color without extra moisture. Chill cake after frosting for clean slices. For gluten-free, substitute flour with gluten-free blend and add xanthan gum. For vegan, use plant-based butter and cream cheese and flax eggs.

Nutrition

Keywords: red white and blue cake, patriotic cake, layer cake, cream cheese frosting, Fourth of July dessert, berry cake, easy cake recipe, festive cake

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