Your 4th of July dessert prep will be a slice of cake with this recipe from our Irish chef!
Calling all non-bakers: If you’re not big on baking cakes and baked goods but are still interested in a fun, patriotic treat to serve guests at home, friends, and family at 4th of July gatherings, I invite you to try this easy Independence Day recipe.
Easy to bake and fun to make, this 4th of July Celebration Cake can be tailored to fit your individual needs, tastes, or requirements depending on the cake flavor you choose, the icing type and flavor you use, and even the berries you choose.
If you are short on time but long on plans and looking to make this dessert even easier, use a boxed cake mix instead of making a cake from scratch. And while blueberries are pretty much a must to create a panel of stars, feel free to substitute halved strawberries or cherries instead of raspberries to create the stripes of the American flag.
Last thoughts: If you’re serving this cake at a home gathering, I encourage you to get even more creative with its presentation. Sparklers add a nice touch to any 4th of July celebration, and adding a few to this cake would make a stunning impression. Also, consider adding extra berries around the base of this cake and dusting them with powdered sugar. You could also decorate the cake pedestal itself or your entire tablescape with red, white, and blue decor, such as cutout stars, miniature American flags, ribbon, and confetti.
4th of July Flag Cake recipe
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cups butter
- 1 2/3 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cups cocoa
- 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/3 cups water
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Topping
- 1/2 pt blueberries
- 1 qt small, evenly-sized strawberries
Method:
Preheat oven to 350F; grease and flour a 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla; beat on high speed for about 3 minutes.
Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; add alternately with water to the butter mixture. Mix just until combined (don't overmix).
Pour into the prepared baking pan.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool for about 15 minutes, then remove it from the pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Place the cake on cardboard that's been covered with foil.
Frost cake with the vanilla buttercream frosting (method below).
Arrange blueberries in the upper left corner of the cake, covering about 1/4 of the cake.
Arrange strawberries in rows to create the red stripes.
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
In a large bowl, combine powdered sugar and butter. Add milk and vanilla; beat to spreading consistency.
* Originally published in 2026 and updated in 2026.
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