If you’re looking for a really easy, but equally impressive patriotic dessert, these American flag cupcakes are the perfect fit. We use a boxed cake mix and canned frosting for convenience, making this a quick addition to your party dessert table!
Why this recipe works
Using a boxed mix and premade frosting cuts down the preparation time considerably, leaving you more time for hanging out with your guests. Of course, if you prefer, you can use our delicious white cake recipe from scratch instead! That recipe also includes my favorite cream cheese frosting.
Perfect for Memorial Day or the 4th of July, this American flag cupcake cake is a show stopper. Just sit back and let the compliments roll in! An American flag made with cupcakes is a super fun addition to the party, and your guests will think you are amazing.
Related Recipe – Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
CAKE – You can use any flavor cake you like, but we prefer white cake so that the dark color of other cakes doesn’t pull attention away from our flag design.
FROSTING – Any white or vanilla frosting should work. However, keep in mind that some canned vanilla frostings may have more of a cream-colored appearance, so choosing a white frosting is the safest bet for this recipe.
FOOD COLORING – You don’t want to use liquid food coloring for this recipe as you would have to add way too much liquid coloring to achieve the deep color needed and that will break down the integrity of your frosting. For a rich color, use gel food coloring (also referred to as paste food coloring), which can be found in the baking aisle or cake decorating aisle of grocery and craft/party stores. We are partial to the Wilton brand.
How to Make American Flag Cupcakes
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Line two 12-well muffin tins with paper cupcake liners. Using your electric mixer, prepare two boxes of cake mix according to the box instructions. Bake 48 cupcakes and cool completely on wire racks. When cooled, remove the cupcake liners.
- Empty all of the frosting into a large bowl.
- Remove 1/4 of the frosting and place it in a separate bowl. Starting with a small amount, add blue gel food coloring to the smaller bowl and stir until combined. Add small amounts of food coloring if needed, to achieve the desired color. Set aside.
- Divide the remaining white frosting in half so that you have two separate bowls of white. To one of the bowls add red gel food coloring and stir until combined. Add small amounts of red food coloring if needed, to achieve the desired color. Set aside.
- Fill three piping bags fitting with a star tip (we used Wilton 21) with the different colored frostings and pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes (12 with blue frosting, 16 with red, 20 with white). Immediately add white sprinkles (or white star sprinkles) to the blue cupcakes before the frosting begins to dry.
- Using a large piece of sturdy cardboard covered in foil or a rectangular cake board, arrange cupcakes in the shape of the American flag.
EXPERT TIP – Our cake board measures approximately 20-inches x 15-inches. The one we have linked above will work! Check craft stores, party stores, and the cake decorating aisle. You might even be able to visit a local bakery and see if they have one and will sell it to you.
ROW 1 : 4 blue cupcakes, 4 red cupcakes
ROW 2 : 4 blue cupcakes, 4 white cupcakes
ROW 3 : 4 blue cupcakes, 4 red cupcakes
ROW 4 : 8 white cupcakes
ROW 5 : 8 red cupcakes
ROW 6 : 8 white cupcakes
EXPERT TIP: To turn this into a pull-apart cupcake cake, remove the cupcake liners from all the cooled cupcakes. Place all of the unfrosted cupcakes together into a rectangle (8 across, 6 down) so they are all touching. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes without picking them up. You want it to look like a cake, so it’s totally okay that the frosting on each cupcake will stick together. Don’t forget the sprinkles!
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Do not use liquid food coloring for this recipe. You would need far too much liquid coloring to achieve the desired color, and it may not even be possible as they are not as vibrant as gel. The other issue is that the amount of liquid coloring needed would thin out your frosting making it too runny. Not to mention the taste will be affected. Gel food coloring provides vibrant colors and you only need a small amount to get there!
Yes, you can use any flavor of boxed cake mix that makes you happy. We are using white cake mix so as not to take away from the design of the cupcakes.
Serving Suggestions
Our American flag made out of cupcakes is a fun addition to your patriotic menu. Start the day off with our amazing Patriotic Charcuterie Board, make one or two of our delicious recipes on the grill, served with our fresh Summer Pasta Salad and gorgeous Fruit Salad. Dinner wouldn’t be complete without Homemade Baked Beans and Mexican Corn. Don’t forget the Patriotic Punch, a super fun treat kids and adults will love!
These American flag cupcakes are super easy to make, especially when you start with a box mix. They’re great for your patriotic dessert table!
More Red, White & Blue Recipes
- American Flag Kabobs
- Patriotic Mini Cheesecakes
- Red, White and Blue Poke Cake
- Taco Salad Flag
- American Flag Brownies
- Mini Shortcake Cups
- Mixed Berry Trifle
- No Bake Berry Cheesecake Trifle in Mason Jars
- Patriotic Candy Bark
- 4th of July Jello Shots
- Patriotic Ice Cream Cone Cupcake
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American Flag Cupcakes
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 2 boxes white cake mix
- eggs (as listed on back of box)
- liquids, such as oil, milk, water, etc (as listed on back of box)
- 2 cans vanilla frosting
- red and royal blue gel food coloring
- white nonpareils or star sprinkles
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- Do not use liquid food coloring for this recipe. You would need far too much liquid coloring to achieve the desired color, and it may not even be possible as they are not as vibrant as gel. The other issue is that the amount of liquid coloring needed would thin out your frosting making it too runny. Not to mention the taste will be affected. Gel food coloring provides vibrant colors and you only need a small amount to get there!
- You can use any flavor of boxed cake mix that makes you happy. We are using white cake mix so as not to take away from the design of the cupcakes. Darker cakes show through the liners but it is not a deal breaker!
Instructions
- Prepare box cake according to the instructions on the back of the cake mix box. Bake 48 cupcakes then cool completely on wire racks. Remove cupcake liners when cupcakes are completely cooled.
- Empty all of the frosting into a large bowl.
- Remove 1/4 of the frosting and place it in a separate bowl. Starting with a small amount, add blue gel food coloring to the smaller bowl and stir until combined. Add small amounts of food coloring if needed, to achieve the desired color. Set aside.
- Now divide the remaining white frosting in half so that you have two separate bowls of white. To one of the bowls add red gel food coloring and stir until combined. Add small amounts of red food coloring if needed, to achieve the desired color. Set aside.
- Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes (12 blue, 16 red, 20 white). Immediately add white sprinkles to the blue cupcakes before the frosting begins to dry.
- Using a large tray or jelly roll pan, arrange cupcakes in the shape of the American flag.EXPERT TIP – Our cake board measures approximately 20-inches x 15-inches. The one we have linked above will work! Check craft stores, party stores, and the cake decorating aisle. You might even be able to visit a local bakery and see if they have one and will sell it to you.ROW 1 : 4 blue, 4 redROW 2 : 4 blue, 4 whiteROW 3 : 4 blue, 4 redROW 4 : 8 whiteROW 5 : 8 redROW 6 : 8 white
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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