4th of July Cupcakes: the fun red white and blue cupcakes to make this Independence Day

If you're planning a festive Fourth of July bash and deciding what to serve for dessert, why not whip up a batch of these mouthwatering red, white, and blue cupcakes? These fun, tasty 4th of July cupcakes are perfect for your Independence Day celebration as they call for the same colors of the US flag.

With their sweet vanilla flavor and tender, moist texture, 4th of July cupcakes are a perfect sweet treat for your barbecues. Made with jazzed-up boxed cake mix and topped with rich, decadent vanilla buttercream, these patriotic cupcakes are a great individual dessert for your Fourth of July celebration. Both kids and adults will love them!

Patriotic Cupcake Ingredients

You can make your red, white, and blue cupcakes with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

To make the batter, you'll need a boxed white cake mix. Instead of using oil, you'll need butter, which gives the cupcakes a richer, buttery flavor.

You'll need eggs, plus an extra egg white which will make the cupcakes ultra-soft and tender.

Using milk instead of water will make the cupcakes more decadent.

You'll also need blue and red gel food coloring.

For the buttercream, you'll need butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and some milk.

How to Make 4th of July Cupcakes

You'll love how quick and easy it is to make these fabulous patriotic cupcakes. Preheat your oven to 350F and lightly spray a muffin tray with cooking spray. If you prefer, line it with cupcake liners. Next, mix up the box cake mix according to the instructions, but make a few tweaks. Add an extra egg white instead of oil, use double the amount called for on the box of melted butter, and opt for whole milk instead of water. This will make your cupcakes richer, more flavorful, and airy.

Once you've made the batter, divvy it up between three bowls. Make sure the bowls are even! Stir the blue food coloring into the first bowl. Add the red food coloring to the second bowl. Leave the third bowl white. Grab a tablespoon and gently spoon the blue batter into the well of each muffin tin. Follow that with a spoon of the white batter, then top it off with the red batter. Bake the cupcakes per the instructions on the box, then let them cool for 2 to 4 minutes before taking them out to cool on a rack.

To make the frosting, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla. Once it's smooth and has reached your ideal consistency, put the frosting into a piping bag and decorate the cupcakes. You can top them off with sprinkles to make them extra festive!

Tips for the making the Best Red, White and Blue Cupcakes

Measure the batter and make sure to evenly divide it into three.

Use quite a lot of food coloring to dye the batter. The color gets lighter as the cupcakes bake.

Fill the wells of the muffin tin and 2/3 full.

The cupcakes are done baking when they're springy to touch or when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and crumb-free.

Make sure to let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting them.

If your frosting is too thick, add extra milk. If it's too thin, mix in extra powdered sugar.

Make gluten-free 4th of July cupcakes by using a gluten-free white cake mix.

To make mini patriotic cupcakes, use a mini muffin tray and cook the cupcakes for 8 to 10 minutes.

Patriotic Cupcake Variations

Add flavored extracts to the batter for ultra-tasty cupcakes. Use vanilla, orange, lemon, or almond.

Instead of dyeing one part of the batter red, try substituting it for red velvet cake batter.

You could also flavor the buttercream with your favorite flavored extract.

4th of July Cupcake Decorating Ideas 

For fun, themed decorations, try garnishing your cupcakes with red, white, and blue sprinkles or star-shaped sprinkles.

You can also use the frosting to draw stars and stripes or fireworks on the cupcakes.

Divide the frosting into three bowls, dye one red, one blue, and leave the other white. Use these colorful frosting to decorate the cupcakes with American flags.

Another fun option is to buy mini toothpick flags and stick them into the cupcakes.

How to Store Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes

Store your red, white, and blue cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, keep them in the fridge for up to 4 days, but take note: they might dry out slightly.

More Recipes You'll Like

• Blueberry muffins
• Red velvet cupcakes
• Cherry pie

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350F. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

Mix the box cake mix according to the instructions.

Add an extra egg white, use double the amount of melted butter for oil, and whole milk for water.

Divide the batter evenly between three bowls. Stir the blue food coloring into the first bowl. Add the red food coloring to the second bowl. Leave the third bowl white.

Spoon one tablespoon of blue batter into the muffin tin.

Spread it evenly.

Spoon in one tablespoon of white batter on top of it.

Spoon one tablespoon of red batter on top of the white layer.

Bake according to the instructions on the box. Take the trays out of the oven and leave for a few minutes. Take the cupcakes out of the tray and set them on a rack to cool completely.

For the frosting, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

Transfer the frosting to a piping bag.

Decorate the cupcakes with blue and red sprinkles.

Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Use room-temperature ingredients to make your patriotic cupcakes.