Red White Blue and Layer Cake
A red white and blue layer cake is the kind of show-stopping dessert that instantly makes any summer celebration feel festive.
With colorful layers inside and a creamy, bakery-style frosting on the outside, this patriotic layer cake is perfect for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, or any backyard cookout with friends and family.
This red, white and blue dessert looks impressive on the table but is surprisingly simple to make using easy ingredients and straightforward layering steps.
Whether you’re baking for a party or just want something fun and patriotic to share, this recipe walks you through everything you need to create a beautiful cake everyone will be excited to slice into.
Why You’ll Love This Red White and Blue Layer Cake
- It’s the perfect patriotic centerpiece to stand out on any Memorial Day or 4th of July dessert table.
- Surprisingly simple to make, even though it looks bakery-worthy!
- The soft, flavorful cake with creamy frosting makes every bite taste homemade and special.
- This cake feeds a crowd and slices beautifully.
- Easy to decorate your own way.
- Make-ahead friendly for busy hosts.
How to Make a Red White and Blue Cake
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and preparing three 8-inch round cake pans.
- In separate bowls, mix the butter, sugar, and wet ingredients to create three batters—one for each layer—then stir in the dry ingredients.
- Leave one batter plain for the white layer and tint the others red and blue with food coloring.
- Bake each layer until set and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
- You can use cream cheese frosting like this recipe calls for, or swap in a classic buttercream frosting depending on your decorating style.
- If needed, level the cake layers by trimming any domed tops with a serrated knife so they stack neatly and look bakery-style. If you’re new to stacking cakes, these cake decorating tips can help you get smooth, bakery-style results.
- To assemble, place the blue layer on a cake plate, spread frosting on top, add the white layer, frost again, then finish with the red layer.
- Apply a thin crumb coat first to trap loose crumbs, then add the final layer of frosting for a smooth finish.
- Decorate with festive sprinkles or berries, then chill the cake for about 30 minutes before slicing to create clean, beautiful layers.
- For even more inspiration, check out these red white and blue cake decorating ideas for easy ways to give your cake a festive patriotic finish.
Yes! Bake the layers 1–2 days in advance and store them tightly wrapped in the refrigerator until ready to assemble.
Absolutely. Wrap cooled layers in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before frosting.
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More Patriotic Desserts to Try
- If you’re planning a full dessert spread, these red white and blue cupcakes and this festive poke cake recipe make perfect additions alongside this cake.
- Patriotic Oreo balls are another easy 4th of July no-bake dessert that pairs perfectly with this cake for summer celebrations.
- Love layer cakes? Try these easy cake recipes next for more celebration-worthy desserts.
Planning a patriotic dessert table? My Red White & Blue No Bake Desserts bundle makes it easy with printable recipes and a ready-to-use grocery list.
Red White and Blue Layer Cake
Ingredients
White Layer
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ⅛ cup warm water
- 1 ½ teaspoons white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
Red Layer
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ⅛ cup warm water
- 1 ½ teaspoons white vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- Red food coloring
Blue Layer
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ⅛ cup warm water
- 1 ½ teaspoons white vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- blue food coloring
- Cream cheese Frosting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Coat 3, 8-inch round pans with nonstick spray.
- Grab 3 separate bowls to make all three layers at the same time.
- Add the butter and salt to each bowl and beat together with a hand mixer.
- Then add white sugar to each bowl and beat until creamy.
- Now add the respective amounts of all the wet ingredients of egg, milk, vegetable oil, warm water, white vinegar and extracts to the bowls. Once again use the hand mixer to combine everything.
- In the white cake layer bowl first add the flour, baking soda and baking powder, then mix until the white batter is smooth to complete that layer.
- Then add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and powder to the red and blue velvet bowls, mixing with the hand mixer until the batters are smooth.
- Add 3-4 drops of red food dye to the red batter and 3-4 drops of blue dye to third bowl. Use a rubber spatula to mix in the colors in each and finish off those batter layers.
- Pour the cake batter into each of the 3 round pans
- Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool completely before frosting on a cooling rack.
- Make the cream cheese frosting while the cake cools.
- On a cake plate, place the blue cake layer on the bottom. Add a thin layer of frosting to that layer using an offset spatula. Place the white layer next as the second layer of cake, frosting again, and then top off with the red cake layer.
- With the remaining frosting, frost the entire cake.
- Sprinkle with red, white and or blue sprinkles if desired.