| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 1 hr 15 min |
| Prep: | 45 min |
| Cook: | 30 min |
| Yield: | 20 to 24 servings |
| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 1 hr 15 min |
| Prep: | 45 min |
| Cook: | 30 min |
| Yield: | 20 to 24 servings |
Ingredients
- 18 tablespoons (2 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 3 cups sugar
- 6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream at room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups flour
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 1/2 pounds cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 pound confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 half-pints blueberries
- 3 half-pints raspberries
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Butter and flour an 18 by 13 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.
- Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on high speed, until light and fluffy. On medium speed, add the eggs, 2 at a time, then add the sour cream and vanilla. Scrape down the sides and stir until smooth.
- Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until just combined. Pour into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the center of the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool to room temperature.
- For the icing, combine the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mixing just until smooth.
- Spread three-fourths of the icing on the top of the cooled sheet cake. Outline the flag on the top of the cake with a toothpick. Fill the upper left corner with blueberries. Place 2 rows of raspberries across the top of the cake like a red stripe. Put the remaining icing in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe two rows of white stripes below the raspberries. Alternate rows of raspberries and icing until the flag is completed. Pipe stars on top of the blueberries.
- I serve this cake right in the pan. If you want to turn it out onto a board before frosting, use parchment paper when you grease and flour the pan.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 22 servings |
| Calories | 657 |
| Total Fat | 41 g |
| Saturated Fat | 24 g |
| Carbohydrates | 69 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 51 g |
| Protein | 6 g |
| Cholesterol | 164 mg |
| Sodium | 270 mg |
| Serving Size | 1 of 22 servings |
| Calories | 657 |
| Total Fat | 41 g |
| Saturated Fat | 24 g |
| Carbohydrates | 69 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 51 g |
| Protein | 6 g |
| Cholesterol | 164 mg |
| Sodium | 270 mg |
Reviews
This is my go-to cake recipe when I need to make a half sheet cake. I haven’t actually decorated it as a flag, instead I use it to make decorative cakes for large family gatherings or parties. I’ve also used it to make “number cakes” where you turn the cake out and use number stencils to cut out the numbers for a birthday or graduation. It’s a really easy cake and everyone always raves about it.
In the video, Ina use parchment paper. But in the recipe, it says butter and flour the pan. What method do I use?
Every year, for the past 15 years, our family has made this cake. It is the centerpiece of our family’s 4th of July feast. Thank you Ina!
This was a huge hit at the 4th of July BBQ I took it to, everyone loved it.
Love this cake and I have made it for years on the sheet pan and as a round cake.
Making it again as my wedding cake
Making it again as my wedding cake
It looks great, but I don’t understand they focused so much on her they didn’t show the cake enough. It’s good to know you all liked it.
Underwhelmed by cake flavor, but though icing was delicious. One reader said to be sure not to over beat the eggs as it will dry out cake. Maybe this is what I did. I cooked to 28 min and seemed dry. Made sure all ingredients were room temp. If I made again I’d consider a cake mix Dr recipe and use this frosting.
I halved the recipe, it was delicious!
I had 4 banana so I made a banana bread recipe. You talk about out of this world!! But the frosting in this recipe is a must. Went to a 4 of July party and it was gone in no time
Tasty delicious cake for the 4th of July! A little dense. Made it with strawberries & blueberries.