14 4th of July Cake Recipes Sure to Steal the Show (2024)

Flag Cake

Few other recipes are as stunning as this flag cake. Start with any flavor of boxed cake mix, then bust out your inner artist and decorate with cream cheese frosting and fresh summer berries.

Editor's Tip: No special tools are required to make that white stripe. Simply toss half of the raspberries in a bag with powdered sugar, then alternate them with the rows of red berries. A pastry bag of vanilla icing can help you make the stars on the blueberries.

Swirled Fourth of July Bundt Cake

This 4th of July bundt cake is über-festive, thanks to its swirled red, white, and blue batter. Add drizzly cream cheese frosting and red, white, and blue sprinkles to make this a holiday home run.

4th of July Trifle

This creamy 4th of July trifle recipe calls for delicious layers of angel food cake, vanilla cream, and fresh fruit. For even more patriotic flair, use star-shape cookie cutters to slice your strawberries.

Strawberry Shortcake on a Stick

Strawberries are often at peak season around Independence Day. Serving is a breeze if you stack all the fixings for strawberry shortcake—biscuits, strawberries, and whipped cream—on a stick. Think of this as a sneak peek of the state fair food creations to come later in the summer.

Blueberry Lemonade Poke Cake

Summertime's favorite beverage gets a makeover in a deliciously fruity dessert. Yielding 24 servings, this 4th of July cake is perfect for a holiday potluck or big family gathering.

Editor's Tip: Top the cake with fresh raspberries to make a festive red, white, and blue dessert.

4th of July Cookie Pizza

This 4th of July cookie-cake recipe is a mash-up of two delicious desserts—s'mores and chocolate chip cookies. Bake a supersize cookie, and while it's still warm, top it with chocolate, marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers—no campfire required. Don't forget the red, white and blue on top.

Firecracker Party Cake

At long last—a layer cake that travels well. This fresh take on our 4th of July trifle recipe features red cake spiced with cinnamon oil and layers of cooling mascarpone cheese.

Editor's Tip: For an extra crackle of heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the batter.

One-Bowl Chocolate S'mores Cake

Summer tastes like s'mores. With this 4th of July cake recipe, you'll get your chocolate, graham cracker, and marshmallow fix. And, because no one wants to spend their holiday in the kitchen, this recipe makes cleanup a breeze by using just one bowl to mix the entire cake.

Peaches and Cream Prosecco Cake

Sparklers are good, but a sparkling wine-infused 4th of July cake is even better, Layers of Prosecco cake, juicy peaches, and whipped cream frosting make a light and sophisticated treat.

Fourth of July Cherry-Cola Cake

This 4th of July dump cake is a mix of German chocolate cake mix with fizzy cherry cola. In place of the mix recipe's liquids, use cherry cola for a sweet, bubbly twist. Once you've cooled the cake to room temperature, spread it with the fittingly named Celebration Icing, which adds a swirl of cherry jam and a dash of vanilla.

Vanilla Cake with Buttercream, Berries, and Jam

Stacked high for the 4th of July, this berry-and-buttercream cake satisfies on both fronts: looks and taste. Whipped egg whites make the vanilla batter surprisingly light and fluffy. And even though it can serve 12, don't expect to have leftovers of this delicious red, white, and blue dessert.

Red Velvet Cake

Red velvet cake is already in a key color of the July 4th holiday. Stack it with layers of buttercream frosting, and you're a few blueberries away from the favored patriotic color scheme. If you're feeling crunched for time, this is the dessert for you—it can be made up to three days ahead.

Sour Cream Pound Cake

Here's a dessert that would make grandma proud. Simple and sophisticated, this 4th of July pound cake recipe offers a nice break from sugary parade candy. Slice our sour cream-boosted loaf and top each with fresh berries in holiday hues.

Red Velvet Cake Roll

Pretty swirls of red reveal themselves as you slice into this spiral 4th of July dessert. If you've never made a cake roll before, fear not. It's easy when you use a clean kitchen towel and our step-by-step instructions.