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This Fourth of July flag cake features a dense brownie base topped with berries and cream. A fun, easy, and delicious centerpiece for any patriotic celebration!
Sweet, festive, and couldn’t be easier to create, this American flag cake is the perfect dessert for your 4th of July party, Memorial Day BBQ, and Labor Day cookout!
What separates this patriotic cake from other Fourth of July and Memorial Day cake ideas is it’s actually built on a brownie base, so it’s like getting 2 desserts in one.
The dense brownie underneath is balanced by the fluffy whipped topping, and the fresh strawberries and blueberries feel right at home on any summer dessert table.
So forget the red, white, and blue candies or boring store-bought sheet cakes.
This 4th of July flag cake is the other display your patriotic party needs—right behind the fireworks!
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American flag desserts are easier than you think! Besides this USA cake, my American flag fruit pizza is another low-effort treat you can add to your patriotic spread.
But if sweets aren’t your thing, this American flag charcuterie board is another crowd-pleasing edible display for Independence Day and any other patriotic celebration.
Why You’ll Love This Fourth of July Flag Cake Recipe
- Because this American flag cake uses a brownie base, it’s a fun and unexpected dessert that makes any patriotic celebration feel a little more special!
- The combination of chocolatey brownies, cloudy whipped cream, and fresh berries makes the perfect summer BBQ dessert without feeling overly sweet.
- No baking expertise is required to make this Fourth of July flag cake! It’s so easy to put together, you can even invite kids to help you in the kitchen.
Ingredients And Substitutions
For the cake:
Unsalted butter – Helps create the fudgy brownie base of our American flag cake with fruit. Make sure it’s at room temperature before starting for easier mixing.
Granulated sugar – To sweeten the brownie base. We haven’t tested this Fourth of July berry cake with other sweeteners, so it may not turn out quite the same with substitutes.
Eggs – For moisture and binding. Be sure to use room-temperature eggs for a smooth batter!
All-purpose flour – For structure. Use the spoon-and-level method to avoid ending up with excess flour, which can make the brownie more cake-like.
Cocoa powder – Because this Fourth of July flag cake recipe is made with baking powder, you want to use Dutch-process cocoa powder to ensure the perfect rise. It’s also great for intensely chocolatey brownies!
Baking powder – Unlike traditional brownies, which don’t require baking powder, we need this leavening agent to really lift the base of our strawberry flag cake.
Heavy cream – Instead of water, we’re hydrating the batter of our 4th of July American flag cake with heavy cream for extra richness and moisture.
For the toppings:
Whipped cream – I don’t recommend lighter alternatives, as you need the topping to hold its shape well.
Fresh blueberries – For the flag’s canton. Choose uniform, plump blueberries for a dense-looking blue field.
Fresh strawberries – Slice them to a consistent thickness for neat-looking red stripes. And, as with blueberries, pat your strawberries dry before decorating. We don’t want any moisture to migrate into the whipped cream topping of the American flag fruit cake!
Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For American Flag Cake
Cream cheese frosting
If you want a richer American flag cake with strawberries, you can decorate it with a quick cream cheese frosting instead.
Beat 1 cup of cream cheese with 1/2 cup of butter until smooth and creamy, then thicken and sweeten the mixture with 4 to 5 cups of powdered sugar, added 1 cup at a time.
Boxed cake mix
We made this Fourth of July flag cake with a brownie base because it’s dense and perfect for holding the red, white, and blue decorations. However, you can also use your favorite 15.25-oz box of white cake mix and make a quick 9×13 sheet cake from scratch!
To ensure it won’t turn out too fluffy and crumble easily when cut, whisk the cake mix with 1 cup all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Then, add in 1 1/2 cups of water, 3/4 cup sour cream, and 4 egg whites, one at a time.
Bake for 28 minutes at 325°F, then cool completely before frosting.
Fresh berries
You’ll get the most vibrant pops of red and blue on your fruit flag cake with ripe strawberries and blueberries, but fresh raspberries and blackberries work in a pinch.
Tips For Making This Recipe
Shortcuts are Welcome
You can make the 9×13 brownie base of this Fourth of July flag cake with 2 boxes of brownie mix! Just mix the batter as directed on the box, use melted butter instead of oil, and bake the brownie base at 325ºF for 45 minutes, checking with a toothpick on the 30-minute mark.
Serving Suggestions
Set this American flag cake as your centerpiece and pair it with my equally festive July 4th recipes! And if this brownie recipe got you craving more brownies, summer BBQs are the best time to try my strawberry brownies and Instant Pot brownie bites!
Get Clean Slices
Chill your Fourth of July cake for at least 30 minutes before serving so the frosting can set. Before cutting, lightly score the cake where you plan to make each slice, so you don’t end up dragging the fruit decorations.
4th of July Flag Cake Recipe FAQs
Can you put frozen berries in this Fourth of July flag cake?
Nope. This American flag berry cake is best made with fresh strawberries and blueberries. Frozen berries can thaw and make the cake soggy!
Can you make 4th of July cake ahead of time?
You can bake the brownie base the night before. Let it cool completely, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate. I recommend whipping the frosting and prepping the fresh fruit right before decorating to keep everything as fresh as possible. Once assembled, this flag cake with fruit is best eaten within 2 to 3 hours.
What’s the best way to store this 4th of July cake?
For the best texture, store your strawberry flag cake in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy it within 2 to 3 days.
Can I make an American flag cake with Cool Whip instead of whipped cream?
Yes, but make sure to use original Cool Whip, as the light version won’t be stable enough for piping. Let it partially thaw for 1 hour, beat on low for 1 minute, and add 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Beat on low until thick and creamy, and you’re good to go!
How do you keep the whipped cream from melting on the American flag cake?
Beat just until the cream forms stiff peaks, and make sure the brownie base is completely cool before you add the cream. Once you’ve assembled the Fourth of July berry flag cake, chill it for at least 30 minutes so the cream can set.
More Delicious Patriotic Recipes
- 4th of July Fruit Kabobs
- Red White and Blue Strawberries
- 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
- Red White and Blue Popsicles
- Red White and Blue Fruit Salad
I found this recipe for Red White and Blue Cheesecake Bites that I HAVE to try!
Yay! You have made it this far, and I am so glad! Hey – If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below.
Fourth of July Flag Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 7 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 100 ml heavy cream
For the toppings:
- 250 ml whipped cream (plus extra for piping)
- 100 g fresh blueberries
- 200 g fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 340°F.
- Beat the softened butter and sugar together on high speed for 1 minute or until light and fluffy.
- Add the first egg and mix until fully incorporated, then add the second.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder together until evenly combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the heavy cream. Mix just until smooth after each addition. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly with a spatula.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the brownie base cool completely before adding the topping.
- Beat the cream with the whisk attachment of an electric mixer until soft peaks form. You can also add powdered sugar and vanilla extract if you want, then continue beating until stiff peaks form. Spread it immediately across the entire surface of the cooled brownie using an offset spatula.
- Arrange blueberries in the top left corner of the frosted brownie. Pack them closely into a rectangle to form the canton.
- Arrange the sliced strawberries in horizontal rows for the flag's red stripes.
- Pipe more whipped cream in each gap between the strawberry rows for the flag's white stripes and you're cake is done.
Notes
- You can make the 9×13 brownie base of this Fourth of July flag cake with 2 boxes of brownie mix! Just mix the batter as directed on the box, use melted butter instead of oil, and bake the brownie base at 325ºF for 45 minutes, checking with a toothpick on the 30-minute mark.
- Set this American flag cake as your centerpiece and pair it with my equally festive July 4th recipes! And if this brownie recipe got you craving more brownies, summer BBQs are the best time to try my strawberry brownies and Instant Pot brownie bites!
- Chill your Fourth of July cake for at least 30 minutes before serving so the frosting can set. Before cutting, lightly score the cake where you plan to make each slice, so you don’t end up dragging the fruit decorations.
Nutrition
PIN FOR LATER!
