From BETTY CROCKER
Makes 18 servings
This Fourth of July, wow your friends and family with Betty’s American flag cake. Fireworks beware…this cake may steal the show.
INGREDIENTS
RED CAKE LAYER
1 box BETTY CROCKER SUPER MOIST White Cake Mix
1 pint (2 cups) strawberries, stems removed, pureed in blender or food processor to about 1 1/4 cups
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 egg whites
1 teaspoon red paste food color
BLUE CAKE LAYER
1/2 box BETTY CROCKER SUPER MOIST White Cake mix (about 1 2/3 cups dry mix)
1/2 cup blueberries, pureed in blender or food processor
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 whole eggs
1/2 teaspoon blue paste food color
3 tablespoons BETTY CROCKER White Star-Shaped Candy Sprinkles or Nonpareils
WHITE CAKE LAYER
1/2 box BETTY CROCKER SUPER MOISE White Cake Mix (about 1 2/3 cus dry mix)
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 egg whites
FROSTING AND SPRINKLES
3 continuers BETTY CROCKER Whipped Fluffy White Frosting
BETTY CROCKER Red, White, and Blue Sprinkles, as desired
DIRECTIONS
1.TO MAKE RED CAKE LAYERS: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease, or spray, two 8-inch round pans; place 8-inch round piece cooking parchment paper in bottom of each pan. Grease, or spray, parchment paper. In large bowl, beat red cake layer ingredients with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then on high speed about 2 minutes, or until smooth. Spread in pans. Bake 29 to 34 minutes, or until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool 10 minutes; run knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Gently remove from pans to cooling rack; remove parchment paper. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Flatten cake layers by trimming off rounded tops. Cut layers in half horizontally to make 4 thin red layers. In 1 layer, cut small round out of center, using 4-inch biscuit cutter. Wrap and freeze 1 thin layer and the layer that was cut out of; save for another use.
2.TO MAKE BLUE CAKE LAYER: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease, or spray, 8-inch round pan; place 8-inch round piece cooking parchment paper in bottom of pan. Grease, or spray, parchment paper. In medium bowl, beat all blue cake layer ingredients except sprinkles, with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then on high speed about 2 minutes, or until smooth. Fold sprinkles into batter. Spread in pan. Bake 29 to 34 minutes, or until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool 10 minutes; run knife around side of pan to loosen cake. Gently remove from pan to cooling rack; remove parchment paper. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Flatten cake layer by trimming off rounded top. Do not cut in half horizontally. Cut small round out of center, using 4-inch round biscuit cutter. Wrap and freeze 4-inch round; save for another use.
3.TO MAKE WHITE CAKE LAYER: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease, or spray, 8-inch round pan; place 8-inch round piece cooking parchment paper in bottom of pan. Grease, or spray, parchment paper. In medium bowl, beat white cake layer ingredients with electric mixer on high speed, about 2 minutes, or until smooth. Spread in pan. Bake 29 to 34 minutes, or until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool 10 minutes; run knife around side of pan to loosen cake. Gently remove from pan to cooling rack; remove parchment paper. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Flatten cake layer by trimming off rounded top. Cut layer in half horizontally to make 2 thin white layers. In 1 layer, cut small round out of center, using 4-inch biscuit cutter. Wrap and freeze the layer that was cut out of; save for another use.
4.TO ASSEMBLE CAKE: Place 1 red cake layer on cake stand or serving platter; spread 1/3 cup frosting on top. Top with 1 white cake layer; spread 1/3 cup frosting on top. Top with second red cake layer; spread 1/3 cup frosting on top. Gently top with blue layer. Carefully spread thin layer of frosting on cut edge inside of blue cake layer. Gently insert white 4-inch cake round; top with frosting and then red 4-inch cake round; press slightly. Frost side and top of cake using remaining frosting. Top with sprinkles. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.
TIPS
For this flag cake recipe, you must use paste food color to achieve the bright red and blue colors. If you use liquid or gel food color, your cake color will be pastel. Find paste food color at large craft stores for this July 4th cake.
Don’t have a 4-inch round biscuit cutter? For this patriotic cake, cut out a 4-inch circle of cooking parchment paper, and use it as a pattern.
To easily cut cake layer horizontally to make 2 thin layers, mark side of cake with toothpicks, and cut with long, thin serrated knife.
Find this recipe and more holiday treats at bettycrocker.com