I have a hard time not making pastry-crusted and biscuit-topped bubbling berry desserts for occasions such as the Fourth of July, but earlier this week, a flag cake materialized, and I don’t think my children will allow the holiday to pass from here on out without one. I have wanted to make Deb Perelman’s flag cake ever since she posted it ten years ago, and while I do regret not making it sooner, in some ways the timing was perfect. I had found myself with only one kid home, and I had told her she would “just have to entertain herself for the day.” But when I saw her slump onto the couch, letting out a sigh of exhaustion after giving a somewhat good go at playing alone — riding once around the block on her bike, playing fetch with Pepe, writing a letter to her cousin Arabella — I asked: Should we make a flag cake? She lept off the couch and squealed: Really?! Yes, really. This was such a fun and simple baking project. Wren, who is 9 years old, weighed and mixed the batter with minimal supervision and decorated the entire cake herself. I helped with the frosting mostly because my Kitchen Aid is on its last legs and requires a forceful whack to kick the engine into gear. The recipe, which is the same as this one-bowl buttermilk birthday cake recipe, is below, and I can’t recommend it enough — the cake comes together in no time, the frosting is heavenly, and the berry-flag motif is oh so festive. Friends, I’m wishing you all a Happy Fourth 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
American Flag Sheet Cake, Step by Step
Gather your ingredients: Whisk together the dry ingredients… … then add the wet ingredients. Stir until smooth. Pour the batter into a buttered and parchment-lined 9×13-inch pan. I’m using this USA Pan, which I love: It will feel like not enough batter, but I promise… … it will bake up beautifully: Spread the whipped cream cheese frosting over the top: Then begin your assembly. You’ll need to dust half of the raspberries and blueberries with powdered sugar: Present your cake proudly, perhaps with a pup by your side. Cut and serve.
5 from 2 reviews
