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Perfect Red White Blue Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

red white blue layer cake - featured image
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A festive and moist layered cake featuring vibrant red, white, and blue layers, topped with a silky, tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for summer celebrations and patriotic occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon red food coloring (gel or liquid)
  • 1 tablespoon blue food coloring (gel or liquid)
  • 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch pans or line them with parchment circles.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the bowl as needed.
  5. Stir in vanilla extract. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
  6. Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Leave one plain for the white layer. Stir red food coloring into one bowl and blue food coloring into the other.
  7. Pour each colored batter into prepared pans and smooth the tops. Tap pans gently to release air bubbles.
  8. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Rotate pans halfway through baking.
  9. Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks to cool completely.
  10. For frosting, beat cream cheese and softened butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed. Stir in vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Chill if too soft.
  11. Assemble cake by placing the red layer on a serving plate, spreading frosting over the top. Add the white layer and repeat frosting, then top with the blue layer.
  12. Apply a thin crumb coat of frosting over the entire cake and chill for 20 minutes.
  13. Finish by applying a smooth, even layer of cream cheese frosting around the cake. Chill before serving.

Notes

Use room temperature eggs, butter, and buttermilk for best batter consistency. Gel food coloring provides vibrant colors without thinning the batter. Chill frosting if too soft before spreading. A crumb coat helps achieve a neat finish. Cakes can be baked one or two at a time if fewer pans are available, but baking time will increase.

Nutrition

Keywords: red white blue cake, layered cake, cream cheese frosting, patriotic cake, summer dessert, easy cake recipe

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/perfect-red-white-blue-layer-cake-recipe-easy-homemade-cream-cheese-frosting/