Flag cake is a classic American dessert that shines during patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. Not only is it beautiful and eye-catching, but it’s also light, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. This cake combines a soft vanilla or white cake base with a whipped topping and fresh berries, arranged to resemble the American flag. The result is a dessert that’s both festive and crowd-pleasing, perfect for warm-weather gatherings and outdoor celebrations.
The base of the flag cake is typically a moist, tender sheet cake. A simple vanilla or white cake is often used to let the colors of the flag really pop. The cake can be homemade or made from a box mix, depending on how much time you have. Once baked and cooled, it becomes the perfect canvas for decorating.
The topping is usually a layer of whipped cream or whipped topping, which gives the cake a light, fluffy texture and a creamy finish. It also acts as the “frosting” that holds the flag design in place. The whipped topping is gently spread across the cooled cake to create a smooth surface for the berries.
Fresh strawberries and blueberries are the stars of the decoration. Blueberries form the stars portion of the flag in the upper left corner, while halved strawberries are arranged in neat rows to mimic the red stripes. The whipped topping in between serves as the white stripes, making the flag come to life with bold, natural colors. You can also experiment with other fruits like raspberries or blackberries for a different twist, but the classic combo of strawberries and blueberries keeps the look clean and instantly recognizable.
Flag cake is not just pretty — it’s also delicious. The combination of sweet, juicy berries, fluffy whipped topping, and moist cake creates a refreshing dessert that’s perfect for hot summer days. It’s light enough to enjoy after a big barbecue and easy enough to prepare ahead of time.
Whether you’re hosting a backyard party or attending a potluck, flag cake is a fun and festive way to celebrate with something sweet. It brings patriotic flair to the table and gives everyone a reason to come back for seconds.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs large,
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup Red food coloring
- 1/4 cup Blue food coloring
- 4 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- strawberries for decorating
- blueberries for decorating
- raspberries for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk, until just combined.
- Divide the batter into two equal portions and stir in the red food coloring into one portion and the blue food coloring into the other.
- Pour the colored batters into the prepared baking dish, alternating colors to create a flag design.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely.
- In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
- Frost the cooled cake with the whipped cream and decorate the top with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries in a flag pattern.
- Refrigerate the cake until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Cake was too sweet for my taste. Next time, I might cut back on the sugar. 🙁
Does anyone know if I can use powdered sugar instead of granulated sugar in the cake?
Delicious! But I used margarine instead of butter and it still worked. Flexible recipe!
Cake? I thought this was a cookie recipe.
I still think it’s just a glorified cookie. 🤷♀️
It’s a cake, but it has a cookie-like texture! 👍
Too sweet for me. Maybe cut down on the sugar next time. But it’s super pretty, I’ll give it that!
I totally get you! It is really sweet. Maybe I’ll try it with less sugar next time too. But dang, it looks amazing! 😍
Yum! Cake was fantastic! 😂 Definitely gonna use this for the next family gathering! 🎉
Why does it need so much food coloring? Seems a bit much for a cake. Can I just skip it?
I had a hard time with the batter. It didn’t look right and my colors got all mixed up. Not sure what I did wrong.
Don’t worry, it happens! Maybe your colors mixed because you stirred too much? Try to be more gentle next time. Good luck!
This cake turned out amazing! Everyone loved it at the party. Definitely a 5-star recipe!
Not very practical for everyday. Way too complicated for me, and where do I even buy blue food coloring?
This is the best cake I ever made! Followed the recipe perfectly.
Wow, that’s amazing! I love a good cake! 🎉
Best cake? Really? It’s a bit too colorful for me…
I tried making this for the Fourth of July but ended up making a mess. Cake was good but still, it was frustrating.
I followed the recipe but my cake turned out so dry 🙁 What did I do wrong? Not sure if it’s worth trying again.
I’m so sorry to hear that! A dry cake can happen if you overmix the batter or bake it too long. Maybe try checking it a few minutes earlier next time? Don’t give up! 🙂
I really thought the cake would taste different with colors, but. It was just cake. Nothing special.
I totally agree! It looked nice but didn’t taste any different than a regular cake. Kinda disappointing.
That’s a weird take! Maybe you did something wrong? It’s all about the decorating for this one! 😄
It’s just a cake, how hard can it be? I made it with the kids and we had a blast!
Sounds fun! I might try it out with my kids too! Thanks for sharing!
This is too much work for a cake. I just wanted a simple recipe. Maybe next time try something easier.
This cake was amazing! Everyone loved it at the party. Will make again!
This cake was a hit at our 4th of July party! So festive and delicious!
Great recipe, but I think I over-whipped the cream. Oops!
This cake is so much fun to make! The colors really pop and it was a hit at the party. Everyone loved it!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! The colors are definitely eye-catching. I might try this for Fourth of July!
Yummy! But is there really that much food coloring needed?
I thought the same thing! Seems kinda excessive, but maybe it’s for the look? 🤷♀️
Honestly, who needs that much coloring?! Just use a bit for flavor! This seems like a sugar overload. 😬
Looks pretty but honestly, who has time for all this? I just stick to brownies, less hassle.
I totally get what you mean! Brownies are so much easier. But this cake does look fun for a special occasion, right? Just save it for a party or something!
This cake looks way too complicated! Who has time for all that? Just give me a simple recipe, please.
I didn’t think it would turn out looking like a flag. Mine was a big mess.
Looks fun but too much food coloring for me. Can’t we use fruits? 🤷♂️
Nah, I think the food coloring is fine. It makes it look festive! Fruits are tasty, but they don’t give the same pop, you know?
I get where you’re coming from! Using fruits instead of food coloring sounds more natural. But the colors are kind of fun for a party. 🌈
Not sure why anyone would want artificial colors. Can I just use fruits to color it? Seems healthier.
My kids had a blast helping me make this. They loved the decorating part! Will definitely make again for the 4th!
I love this recipe! It looks just like the pic. Couldn’t find buttermilk so I used regular milk. Still turned out great!
My kids helped and they had a blast making it. Super cute cake! We’ll be making it again for sure.
This cake is AMAZING! I made it for the 4th of July, and everyone loved it. The colors are so vibrant!
Looks fun, but isn’t it just a regular cake with food coloring? How does that make it so “AMAZING”? 🤔
I’m so glad to hear that! I made it last year for my family reunion, and it was a hit! The colors really do pop!
I tried making this but my cake turned out dry… Maybe I messed something up?
Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us! Maybe you overbaked it? Just keep trying, you’ll get it right next time! 😊
Totally nailed it! Perfect for the 4th of July! 🇺🇸
Took way longer than expected! Plus, the colors bled into each other. Not what I hoped for.
Just okay. The whipped cream was too sweet for my taste. Next time, less sugar.
The cake tasted fine but the decoration was harder than I thought. It’s not as easy as it looks!
I don’t even kno what a buttermilk is, can I just use regular milk?
Yes, you can use regular milk. It won’t taste exactly the same, but it’ll work!
Flag cake? More like flag disaster! 😂 Mine fell apart. Better luck next time!
Don’t worry, sometimes cakes just have a mind of their own! 😂 Try again, I’m sure you’ll nail it next time!
Flag cake? Sounds unnecessary tbh. Why not just a regular cake?
Flag cake? More like flag mess! Didn’t turn out like the picture. Need real skill for this.
I think your expectations were too high! It takes practice to nail these fancy cakes. Don’t give up!
Maybe it wasn’t as pretty, but it still must’ve tasted good! Cakes are about taste, right?
Is there a way to make this without all that dye? Maybe using fruit or somthing? I’m tryin to be healthier.
I don’t think the cake will look right without the dye. Fruits might not give the same effect. Just saying!
You can totally use fruit for the colors! Like blend strawberries for red and blueberries for blue. Healthier and natural! 🍓💙
I had a hard time with the colors. They mixed together and just looked like a mess. Flavor was okay though.
OMG this is sooo good! Made it for the 4th of July and it was gone in seconds!!
Cake was nice, but my oven is old and it burned on the edges. Watch your time! But still taste great.
This cake is a hit at my BBQs! Looks amazing, tastes even better. Everyone loved it!