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Recipes 4th of July
Red, White and Blue 4th of July Layer Cake
I'm so excited to share my latest layer cake creation with you guys, in time for the 4th of July!
This red white and blue patriotic 4th of July cake was inspired by fireworks, and so I think it's safe to say more is more in this case? 😁
It's a vanilla sponge layer cake in red, white and blue on the inside and out, and covered in a vanilla American buttercream, drenched in patriotic sprinkles and fun swirls on the top! What's not to love?!
Red, White and Blue 4th of July Layer Cake
I was going to leave it at that, but it was missing something...so I decided last minute to add some colorful gumballs on top, in case it wasn't already looking mega festive! 😋
I'm quite proud of this cake, mainly because it looks exactly how I envisioned and tasted so yummy. But also because the whole process taught me quite a few things about cake decorating (my latest obsession BTW).
For instance, it was my first time using acrylic cake plates to achieve a smooth finish.
Have you seen those magnificent Instagram accounts about cake decorating? Well, I was dying to make a super fun layer cake and frost it using acrylic discs (latest craze in the cake decorating world, for those who don't know...).
I'm a real rookie in this subject, but I'm always willing to try out something new or a new technique to improve my skills, or to at least share my findings with you guys.
So I bought myself a couple of 8 inch acrylic discs from Amazon in the pursuit of making my layer cakes super smooth with mega straight edges.
I must say, I LOVE how these acrylic plates helped me achieve that, and I'm hooked on them!
In the video below I kinda show you how I did it and how smooth all the sides were. Weirdly, sooo satisfying!
But you can also tell how much of a newbie I am, 'cause I didn't realize I had to take of the blue plastic film that comes on one on the sides of the plates! I only took the plastic off on one side, and realized after I saw the video that there was a bit of plastic on the other side too! 🤣
Anyways, it worked really well despite my rookie mistake...
I also learned NOT to try and color white chocolate unless I am positive that the gel food coloring is adequate for coloring candy and chocolate...
You see, I had forgotten to buy blue candy melts for the cake drip, and forgot that not all gel food colors work well at coloring chocolate, so my cake drip color didn't mix too well as you can probably see in the photos? The chocolate looks a little speckled.
It tasted good, but it bugged me and I nearly didn't post this cake because the drip didn't look as shiny or as smooth as I wanted...but my husband reminded me that I'm not a professional, and that most likely, most of my audience "won't be professionals either..." and that you'd appreciate the learning too? I thought he had a valid point, so here we are! 😉
TIP: To be on the safe side and for a much easier option, use ready colored candy melts for your cake drips. Otherwise, make sure to test your gel coloring in a small amount of white chocolate to see if they're compatible.
Here are a few more tips I've learned so far about making layer cakes:
* Weigh your cake batter before dividing it into the cake pans to ensure you have uniform layers.
** Use cake baking strips to ensure your cake layers bake as flat and as regular as possible.
*** Refrigerate your cooled cake layers for a good hour in plastic wrap before frosting to make it easier to handle.
**** Use a tiny, tiny, tiny amount of purple/violet gel food coloring to get your American buttercream a little more on the white side (Usually the butter and vanilla extract can make the buttercream a little yellow).
***** Be sure to freeze your cake for about 10 minutes after applying the cake crumb coat. This will allow you to apply the second layer of frosting much more easily.
That's it for now folks! But I'll be sure to share more tips as I learn them with you here, so please do subscribe to our blog feed ( on the sidebar of the blog ) so you don't miss a thing!
Now onto the recipe and video instructions below!
Red, White and Blue 4th of July Layer Cake
Yield: 8-10 persons
Red, White and Blue 4th of July Layer Cake - a true showstopper layer drip cake with vanilla sponge covered in delicious American buttercream!
ingredients:
4th July Sponge Cake
- 350 g room temperature butter
- 350 g sugar
- 6 egg whites
- 120 ml plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 350 g flour
- 15 g baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red gel food coloring
- 1/2 teaspoon blue gel food coloring
American Vanilla Buttercream for Frosting, Filling and Swirls
- 4 cups of room temperature butter
- 12 cups sifted confectioner sugar
- 2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 8-10 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 1/2 teaspoon food coloring gel in blue and red
For Decor and Drip
- red, white blue sprinkles medley
- 1/ 2 cup of blue candy melts
- red and white gumballs
instructions:
How to cook Red, White and Blue 4th of July Layer Cake
For Cake Sponge
- In a mixer fitted with paddle attachment cream butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy.
- Add one egg at a time beating well after each addition.
- Add vanilla and mix.
- Sift dry ingredients into a separate bowl.
- Add dry ingredients to the butter/sugar mixture with a large metal spoon.
- Divide batter into three 8 inch (18 cm) round cake pans lined with parchment paper and buttered.
- Bake at 180 degrees Celsius or 356 Fahrenheit for about 18-20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
- let cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before turning the out to cool completely onto a wire rack.
- Once cooled, refrigerate your cakes wrapped in plastic wrap until ready to frost.
American Buttercream Frosting
- In a mixer fitted with paddle attachment cream butter for about 5 minutes until soft and paler.
- Add half of the sugar and beat until combined for about 2-4 minutes.
- Add remaining sugar and beat again for about 2-4 minutes until combined.
- Add vanilla and milk and beat to achieve desired frosting consistency.
- Reserve 2 cups of the frosting for the swirls.
Decorating The cake
- Add a layer of cake to a 8-inch cake board.
- *** If using an acrylic plate add that to your turntable underneath the cake board and secure with masking tape.
- Add about 1/2 cup of frosting tot he cake layer and smooth it out with an offset spatula.
- Add a second cake layer on top and more frosting.
- Finish the cake with a third layer, flattest side up.
- Crumb coat the outside of your cake, using an offset spatula and a bench scraper to smooth out the sides.
- Place cake in the freezer for about 10 minutes before adding next frosting layer.
- take cake out of freezer after 10 minutes and place it on the turntable.
- *** If using acrylic disks, stick a layer of parchment paper onto the disk with masking tape and add your second disc on top of the cake and press, making sure the top acrylic cake centered and level.
- Frost the cake with a generous amount of buttercream to cover all sides.
- Using a bench scraper, smooth out the side s of the cake.
- ***If using acrylic discs, freeze your cake for another 30 minutes before removing the discs and parchment with a sharp knife.
- Touch up the top of your cake if needed with more frosting and smooth it out with a bench scraper.
- Add sprinkles to the bottom sides of the cake and freeze again for another 10 minutes.
- Melt the candy in the microwave at 30 second intervals and let it cool down to room temperature.
- Add the blue candy drip to the top and side edges of the cake. Smooth top with a spatula.
- Add streaks of red and blue gel food coloring to the inside of a piping bag fitted with a large open star nozzle like Wilton 1M, then fill it with the reserved 2 cups of frosting.
- Add swirls to the top of your cake, then finish with a gumball on top.
(c) Bird's Party
Hope you like the recipe inspired to have a go! If you do, tag us on social media #BirdsParty so we can see and share your creativity! 😍
This post Red, White and Blue 4th of July Layer Cake appeared first on Bird's Party Blog
So fun!
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful cake! My son and I make a cake each 4th of July and it's been such a fun tradition to share together. Pinned.
ReplyDeleteYour cake was chosen as one of my featured favorites from the Summer Fun party and will be highlighted on the blog today-- Our Unschooling Journey. Thanks again for sharing with us.
DeleteThat cake is beautiful!!! Almost too pretty to eat...but I WOULD devour a piece if I could! Happy 4th! Stop by for a visit when you get a chance!
ReplyDeleteCottage Blessings,
Rebecca
All of your recipes are so pretty! That's some serious talent :) I'd like to invite you to join the Handmade & Otherwise weekly link party. It opens at 8am on Fridays and closes at 8pm on Mondays. I hope you stop by. https://handmadeweekly.com/handmade-otherwise-link-party-week-5/
ReplyDeleteThis recipe looks yummy. Will have to try it. I will be featuring this tonight. Happy 4th of july boscov's 30 off coupon code
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented! Thank you for sharing! You are one of the features at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link to this week's party: http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/make-it-pretty-monday-week-298/ Hope to see you at the bash! Happy week to you! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great 4th of July Celebration and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday! The links will be open early tomorrow, see you then.
ReplyDeleteMiz Helen
GORGEOUS as always! Featuring when my link party opens up.
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th to you Christian - I just LOVE your patriotic cake!
ReplyDeleteCongrats - you're our Featured Friend at Friendship Friday at Create With Joy this week (woot woot!)
xoxo :-)
What a beautiful cake! Thank you so much for sharing at Celebrate Your Story! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteWow, absolutely beautiful cake. It's patriotic and a perfect centerpiece on a dessert table. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi. We chose your beautiful cake to feature at Summer Fun 2019 Link Party--please stop by and grab a button! https://twochicksandamom.blogspot.com/2019/07/summer-fun-link-party-2019-features.html
ReplyDelete