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Perfect Red Velvet American Flag Cake Bars

Red Velvet American Flag Cake Bars - featured image
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These easy and visually stunning red velvet cake bars feature a moist, velvety crumb topped with creamy cream cheese frosting and fresh berries arranged to resemble the American flag. Perfect for patriotic celebrations and casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (315 g), sifted
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (300 g)
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk (240 ml), room temperature
  • ½ cup vegetable oil (120 ml)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons red food coloring (gel preferred)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 8 oz cream cheese (225 g), softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (115 g), softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar (360 g), sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
  • Optional: handful of raspberries or blackberries

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch pan with butter or nonstick spray and lightly dust with flour. Optionally, line with parchment paper for easier removal. (5 minutes)
  2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine evenly. (5 minutes)
  3. In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, red food coloring, vanilla extract, and vinegar until fully blended. (3 minutes)
  4. Slowly pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, folding gently with a rubber spatula until just combined. Batter should be smooth and thick but pourable. (4 minutes)
  5. Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Start checking at 28 minutes to avoid overbaking. (30-35 minutes)
  6. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 15 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack or leave in pan to cool completely before frosting. (30-40 minutes)
  7. Beat softened cream cheese and butter together with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed to avoid sugar clouds. Add vanilla extract and heavy cream as needed to reach a fluffy, spreadable consistency. (10 minutes)
  8. Once cake is completely cool, spread cream cheese frosting evenly over the surface with a spatula. (5 minutes)
  9. Arrange blueberries in the top-left corner to form the stars section. Create red stripes by layering sliced strawberries across the rest of the bars in horizontal rows, leaving white frosting visible between stripes. (10 minutes)
  10. Chill decorated cake bars in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let frosting firm up. Cut into squares and serve chilled. (30 minutes)

Notes

Use room temperature eggs and buttermilk for smooth batter. Sift cocoa powder separately to avoid clumps. Fold wet and dry ingredients gently to prevent toughness. Pat berries dry before decorating to avoid soggy frosting. Use a warm spatula for smooth frosting finish. If frosting is too soft, chill before decorating. Check cake doneness early to prevent drying out.

Nutrition

Keywords: red velvet, cake bars, American flag dessert, patriotic dessert, Fourth of July, cream cheese frosting, berry dessert

Find it online: https://lumalunch.com/perfect-red-velvet-american-flag-cake-bars-easy-patriotic-dessert-recipe/