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This Red, White, and Blue Cake is crazy easy to make with simple steps. Start with a cake mix and create vibrant red, white and blue colors for the perfect patriotic showstopper for July 4th or Memorial Day.

Slice of Red White and Blue cake on a plate
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I’m so excited to share with you this Red White Blue Cake perfect for Memorial Day or 4th of July. It is our new favorite patriotic dessert. See 97 of The Best Memorial Day Food Ideas for more easy ideas.

This cake is the perfect dessert for any occasion. For even more holiday ideas, check out 23 Easy 4th of July Cookies or You may also love this Red White & Blue Charcuterie Board and Patriotic Oreo Truffles Recipe.

Why You’ll Love Red White and Blue Cake

This red white and blue cake is crazy easy to make. We are cheating a little by using a boxed cake mix. But it would work great if you used a homemade white cake mix as well. The rest is really simple.

The colors in this cake are so bold and vibrant that it will impress everyone. No one has to know how easy it really is to make. I don’t know what it is about red, white and blue desserts and food, they all just seem to taste better.

My entire family loves the 4th of July. We love gathering together, cooking out, playing games and just enjoying some family time to celebrate. We love dressing in our best red white and blue attire. But most of all the kids love the fun and festive 4th of July desserts.

Another favorite is 4th of July Chocolate Covered Oreos. This dessert is so simple yet looks amazing!

Ingredients

  • White Cake Mix – I used Duncan Hines classic white cake mix. Vanilla Cake Mix is also a great option.
  • Eggs, Oil, and Water – Ingredients needed to make cake
  • Red Food Color – I used Wilton no taste red, which is a gel coloring
  • Blue Food Color – I used Wilton royal blue, which is a gel coloring
  • Red Candy Melts – Just use about a ¼ to ½ of the bag
  • Blue Candy Melts – ¼ to ½ of the bag
  • White Candy Melts – Use ½ bag
  • Patriotic Sprinkles – Optional Topping

Scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe

How to Make Red, White, and Blue Cake

  • Step 1 – Heat Oven – Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Step 2 – Make Cake – Mix the cake mix with an electric mixer in a large bowl according to directions over medium speed. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl.
  • Step 3 – Separate Batter – Separate the white batter equally into 3 medium bowls.
  • Step 4 – Add Food Coloring – Leave one medium bowl white. Add the red gel food coloring to one bowl until it is the vibrant red you want.
  • Step 5 – Add Blue Food Coloring – Add the blue gel food coloring to the 3rd bowl for the blue batter. Until it is the vibrant blue you want.
  • Step 6 – Prepare Pan – Spray a bundt pan with non-stick spray.
  • Step 7 – Add Red Layer to Pan – Spread the red cake layer in the bottom of the pan.
  • Step 8 – Top with White & Blue – Spread the white over it and then finish with the blue layer cake.
  • Step 9 – Bake Cake – Bake according to directions on the box.
  • Step 10 – Cool Cake – Once cooked, allow it to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Then flip the cake onto a serving platter.
  • Step 11 – Divide Candy Melts – Place the melting candy into 3 separate microwave bowls. Microwave in 30-second intervals until it is melted and smooth.
  • Step 12 – Frost with White Candy Melts – Smooth the white melting candy over the cake to cover. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
  • Step 13 – Top with Sprinkles – Add sprinkles if you want.
  • Step 14 – Add the Red and Blue – Spoon the red and the blue melting candy into piping bag. Cut the tip of the bags and drizzle the two colors over the cake giving the firecracker effect. You can even use a star tip to add texture.
  • Step 15 – Top with Sprinkles – Top with more sprinkles.
  • Step 16 – Cool Serve and Enjoy – Allow the fourth of July cake to cool on a wire rack and the chocolate to harden on cooling rack. Then cut and serve.
A slice of red, white and blue cake adorned with a drizzle of red icing, a small American flag, and shiny star toppers sits invitingly on a white plate. A silver fork lies beside it, poised against a backdrop of star-patterned fabric.

Red White and Blue Cake

4.84 from 12 votes
Make this Quick and easy red white and blue cake today! The best 4th of July desserts with the bold vibrant colors. Make this 4th of July cake this year.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 12
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 251

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Mix the cake mix according to directions.
  • Separate the batter equally into 3 bowls.
  • Leave one bowl white. Add the red gel food coloring to one bowl until it is the vibrant red you want.
  • Add the blue gel food coloring to the 3rd bowl until it is the vibrant blue you want.
  • Spray a bundt pan with non stick spray.
  • Spread the red batter in the bottom of the pan.
  • Spread the white over it and then finish with the blue on top.
  • Bake according to directions on the box.
  • Once cooked, allow it to cool and then flip the cake onto a serving platter.
  • Place the melting candy into 3 seperate microwave bowls. Microwave in 30 second intervals until it is melted and smooth.
  • Smooth the white melting candy over the cake to cover (doesn’t have to be perfect)
  • Add sprinkles if you want.
  • Spoon the red and the blue melting candy into piping bags. Cut the tip of the bags and drizzle the two colors over the cake giving the firecracker effect.
  • Top with more sprinkles.
  • Allow to cool and the chocolate to harden. Then cut and serve!

Recipe Notes

Feel free to keep a secret on how simple this vibrant 4th of July cake is!

Nutrition Facts

Calories 251kcal, Carbohydrates 35g, Protein 3g, Fat 11g, Saturated Fat 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat 6g, Monounsaturated Fat 3g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 27mg, Sodium 309mg, Potassium 37mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 18g, Vitamin A 40IU, Calcium 98mg, Iron 1mg

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Recipe Tips

  • Prepare Cake Pan – Make sure to spray the bundt cake pan with cooking spray. This helps for the cake can easily be removed from the pan.
  • Food Coloring – We like to use gel food coloring to give the flag cake the vibrant colors.
  • Cool Cake – Make sure the cake is at room temperature before frosting the cake.
  • Frosting Cake – Add a thin layer of frosting on the entire cake. We recommend making sure the outside of the cake is frosted.

Variation Ideas

  • Cake Pan – We used a bundt pan to make the cake. But you can also make a sheet cake to make this red white blue poke cake.
  • Poke Cake – Make this cake as a poke cake for a fun variation.
  • Strawberry Shortcake – Make a fun and festive strawberry shortcake with fresh strawberries and a white cake. Adding blueberries is a great addition for a patriotic look.
  • Frosting – Feel free to use store bought frosting or top the cake with powdered sugar. We have even used whipping cream and berries as an easy topping.
  • Sprinkles – We love to top with red and blue sprinkles on top of the cake for a fun and festive look. Feel free to use different spinkles.
Slice of Red White and Blue cake on a plate

How to Frost Red White and Blue Cake

We love to melt red, white and blue candy melts to frost this cake. It gives the cake so much vibrant colors to make it so fun and festive. Feel free to use whatever icing your prefer to make it your own.

Melting the candy melts allows you to easily drizzle the frosting over the cake then add the sprinkles.

How to Decorate the Red, White and Blue Frosting:

This cake is so easy to decorate. We love that the cake is red, white and blue festive colors as well as the frosting. You can use candy melts to frost the cakes or use regular frosting and add food coloring.

Top the cakes with sprinkles and an American Flag to complete the cake.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Color Cake Batter

After combining the cake mix ingredients place the batter into 3 separate bowls. Add the red food coloring to one bowl and blue food coloring to another bowl. You will keep one bowl white. Continue adding the food coloring until it is the vibrant color that you desire.

What is the Best Food Coloring to Use

We recommend using Wilton Food Coloring for the best vibrant colors. But you can use what you prefer or have on hand.

How to Store Leftover Cake

This red, white, and blue cake can easily store at room temperature. Make sure to cover with a cake dome or plastic wrap. This cake will last about 5 days.

Slice of Red White and Blue cake on a plate

More Red, White and Blue Desserts

We love to hear from you. If you make Red White and Blue Cake for your next holiday, please leave us a comment or a star review.

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About the Author

Hi, Iโ€™m Carrie Barnard โ€” a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.

At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families โ€” without the stress.

4.84 from 12 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Levella says:

    3 stars
    Red White and Blue Cake

  2. Karen says:

    Recipe says red and blue gel icing and directions say food coloring! I think it should be food coloring!

    1. Carrie says:

      Yes, it’s gel food coloring. I will correct the post. I find that the gel food coloring are generally more bold. Thanks for letting me know!