Easy Patriotic Firecracker Cake
If you're looking for an easy way to make a festive red, white, and blue cake, this is it! We love the ease of making a Bundt cake, and if you are in a hurry to whip up a holiday dessert for July 4th, we know it has to be quick and turn out beautifully! See how to make this Firecracker Cake for a gorgeous 4th of July dessert!
Why to Make this Red, White and Blue Firecracker Cake!
I was trying to think of a fun new dessert that wasn't overdone on 4th of July! Independence Day is one of our favorite holidays. I am usually designated as a dessert person for our family meals, so choosing something patriotic and colorful is always a goal of mine! We go all out on our family get-togethers with good food, games, and of course the fireworks.
While we usually have a dessert table with lots of our favorites, it's always fun to think of a bright and festive dessert that everyone will be excited to try. I was so happy with how this beautiful cake turned out, and so excited to share! It goes great with a scoop of homemade ice cream, a slice of watermelon, and anything else you have for dessert. Check out the recipe below.
What You Need for This Firecracker Cake:
Although you may just want to jump to the recipe, I always like to share important tips and also what you need to buy for the recipe. Take a look below at a few things to have in the kitchen before your start!
I had the spiral Bundt Cake Pan (pictured) and used it for this cake. Of course you won't need this exact pan, but the spiral feature is really a fun addition to the final, finished look of the cake. It reminds me of a firecracker in the sky!
We all have those old food coloring packs in the pantry, from birthdays dating a few years back! I know I always do! However, it's important to have fresh, good quality food coloring for this cake. Since you will be using 1 tsp of each, which is a lot, you don't want to risk using old or separated food colorings. You will need Red and Blue.
I would just pick these up at Walmart- they are around $2 and you can almost always find Red, White, and Blue ones!
Questions and Answers:
A few common questions on this recipe include:
- Q: Can you use a yellow cake mix?
A: No, definitely don't try that! Yellow+Blue turn into green! That wouldn't be what you're going for. Definitely follow the recipe instructions, OR if you're in a pinch, use a Vanilla cake mix and add ingredients according to package instructions. - Q: Can you use gel coloring?
A: Yes, you can. However, it takes a lot more gel coloring to get a deep red and blue, than it does true food colors. We recommend using Wilton food coloring rather than any gels. - Q: Can you use a different frosting/ icing?
A: Yes, of course! I honestly think vanilla buttercream is OK… but my true favorite is cream cheese frosting! As long as you don't have other colors present in the icing it should work. This recipe uses pre-made frosting, but you can make your own. I love a good cream cheese frosting/icing!!
Adding Food Coloring to Batter for Best Results
While you're making your cake, you will need to be sure to have a few mixing bowls ready to separate your batter.
This cake is SO simple, guys! It's really hardly more effort than making a traditional cake-from-scratch. The main difference is that you will be separating batters, along with coloring a third of it red, and a third of it blue. As the batters are poured into the Bundt Pan, they will make a cool pattern.
The best tip here is DO NOT MIX the red, white, and blue cake batters after you pour them into the Bundt Pan. You might end up with a not-so-festive, not-so-pretty purple!
The other tip, mentioned above, is to use true food coloring. Do not use gels, which are always readily available on the store shelves. I always go to Wilton for good-quality, vibrant icing colors. They sell them at Walmart and online. It does take more than you may be used to adding, to get a deep, bright red and blue!
Create Your Cake!
You don't have to assemble this cake exactly like I did. You can always do your own thing! However, for those that may want a few extra tips, here is specifically how I assembled this cake. See below.
- Pour the red cake batter into the bottom of the pan. Remember, this should be about 1/3 of your batter. So it won't fill up much of the pan at all.
- Pour the white batter over the red batter. You will pour right on top of the red batter. Stay in the “center” of the batter if that makes sense. This will give the finished product a red outside, and white inside! 🙂
- Finally, carefully pour the blue batter in the middle of the white batter.
Don't worry too much about how the batter looks, and again, don't mix! As the cake rises, your blue will become the center, surrounded by white cake, and then surrounded by red on the outside. So fun!
Firecracker Cake Recipe Here:
Easy Patriotic Firecracker Cake!
Perfect for 4th of July, this from-scratch cake comes together quickly and simply.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cup butter
- 1 1/2 Cup sugar
- 6 Eggs, Room Temp is best
- 3 Tsp baking powder
- 2 3/4 Cup flour
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 Cup milk
- 2 Tsp blue food coloring
- 2 Tsp red food coloring
- For the glaze:
- 1/2 Cup frosting
- 1 Tsp blue food coloring
- 1 Tsp red food coloring
- Sprinkles
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a bundt cake pan and set aside.
In a mixer or bowl beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the baking powder and vanilla extract.
Add half the flour and mix until evenly incorporated.
Pour the milk and continue mixing.
Finish with the remaining flour and continue mixing for 2 full minutes.
Divide the batter into 3 bowls.
Add 1 Tsp blue food coloring to 1 bowl
Add red food coloring to second bowl and mix to incorporate. You'll have a white batter bowl remaining.
Pour the red cake batter into the bottom of the pan. Pour the white batter over the red batter and finish pouring carefully the blue batter in the middle of the white batter.
After cake is assembled, bake for 55-65 minutes or until done.
Let it cool down completely before removing from pan.
Prepare the glaze. Divide the frosting into 3 bowls. Add the red food coloring to one bowl and the the blue food coloring to other. You'll have a white icing bowl remaining.
Drizzle the glaze over the cake and decorate with sprinkles.
Notes
Bundt Pan Cooking Times may vary a lot! If you have a heavier Bundt Pan, cooking time will probably be closer to 65 minutes. For a smaller or thinner Bundt Pan, check after 55 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Yield
12Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 505Total Fat 28gSaturated Fat 16gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 155mgSodium 371mgCarbohydrates 57gFiber 1gSugar 33gProtein 7g
Hope you enjoyed this Firecracker Cake recipe! See more Patriotic Desserts from My Royal Kitchen Here!
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This cake looks so amazing and fun!
Thank you!
What a colorful, fun recipe for patriotic holidays like Memorial Day and 4th of July! I can’t wait to make it!