American Flag Cake

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As the weather warms up I find myself gravitation towards lighter cakes and mascarpone whipped cream fulfills that desire in spades! It’s basically a more stable form of whipped cream with a hint of cheesecake flavor. I highly recommend making using this frosting for all of your favorite cake and cupcake recipes.

Baking Notes

• I used raspberries and blueberries for this cake but you can substitute any of your favorites in. Make sure to cut up larger berries and toss with some flour before folding into the batter.
• This cake is LOADED with moisture so it will need to bake for a longer time. Everyone’s oven is a bit different so keep an eye on the cake’s center. I will use a skewer and the spring test to make sure the cake is not under-baked.
• If you want a bit less doming you can fashion your own cake strips wrap them around the edge of the pan. Click here for my full how to on getting flat layers!

WHAT IF YOU CAN’T FIND MASCARPONE ANYWHERE?!?

A while back I was making a cake with a mascarpone buttercream and realized mine had expired! I didn’t have time to go to the market so I followed Nigella’s advice for a reasonable facsimile and mixed the following ingredients together until combined. Make sure they are all at room temperature!

8oz cream cheese
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tbs unsalted butter

Steps to Make this Flag Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare a 13″ x 9″ sheet cake pan by adding parchment paper. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and granulated sugar. Give it a whisk and set aside. 

2. Add egg whites, milk, vanilla, almond extract, and sour cream. Whisk together. 

3. Attach a paddle attachment to the stand mixer. Add in room temperature butter and beat until creamy.  On medium speed, beat for the dry into the butter until you get a crumby mixture. 

4. Add 1/2 of the wet mixtures. Mix, then scrape the bowl down and add the remaining. Beat until combined. Cut the raspberries in half. Squeeze a little bit of lemon juice over the berries. Add some flour and toss until they’re coated.  Gently fold the raspberries and blueberries into the batter by hand. Pour the batter into the prepared sheet cake pan. Throw in a few more berries. Bake for 35- 40 minutes and/or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the cake cool to room temperature on a cooling rack. 

5. In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, add heavy whipping cream and confectioners sugar. Beat on high until whipped. Add vanilla extract. Give it another whip on high. Fold in mascarpone by hand using a spatula. Switch to a whisk and beat. 

6. I trimmed the sides of the cake. You don’t have to do this, but I wanted a nice fresh edge.

7. Use an ice cream scooper to add the frosting. 

8. Smooth with an offset spatula. 

9. Using a ruler, I sketched out my flag, then transferred the design to the buttercream. 

If you’re making an American flag, add blueberries to the top left side of the cake. Add raspberries in lines. Repeat until the flag is finished. 

If you’ve tried this recipe then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

If you’ve tried this American Flag cake then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

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American Flag Cake

This moist vanilla cake is filed with fresh berries and topped with a light and creamy mascarpone whipped cream. 

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 14 people

Calories 594 kcal

Author John Kanell

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS:

For the Cake

• 2 1/4 cups cake flour 300g, plus a pinch for the berries
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 342g
• 1 tsp baking powder heaping
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 cup whole milk 240ml, room temperature
• 1/4 cup sour cream 60ml, room temperature
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 6 egg whites room temperature
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter 176g, room temperature
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 18 oz raspberries
• 18 oz blueberries

For the Frosting:

• 3 cups heavy whipping cream 720ml, cold,
• 1 cup confectioners sugar 125g
• 8 oz mascarpone cheese 225g, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

For the Cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare a 13" x 9" sheet cake pan by adding parchment paper.

2. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and granulated sugar. Give it a whisk and set aside.

3. Add egg whites, milk, vanilla, almond extract, and sour cream. Whisk together.

4. Attach a paddle attachment to the stand mixer. Add in room temperature butter and beat until creamy. 

5. On medium speed, beat for the dry into the butter until you get a crumby mixture. Add 1/2 of the wet mixture. Mix, then scrape the bowl down and add the remaining. Beat until combined. 

6. Cut the raspberries in half. Squeeze a little bit of lemon juice over the berries. Add some flour and toss until they're coated.  Gently fold the raspberries and blueberries into the batter by hand.

7. Pour the batter into the prepared sheet cake pan.

8. Throw in a few more berries. 

9. Bake for 35- 40 minutes and/or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

10. Let the cake cool to room temperature on a cooling rack.

For the Frosting:

1. In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, add heavy whipping cream and confectioners sugar.

2. Beat on high until whipped.

3. Add vanilla extract. Give it another whip on high.

4. Fold in mascarpone by hand using a spatula. Switch to a whisk and beat.

For the Assembly:

1. I trimmed the sides of the cake. You don't have to do this, but I wanted a nice fresh edge.

2. Use an ice cream scooper to add the frosting.

3. Smooth with an offset spatula.

4. Using a ruler, I sketched out my flag, then transferred the design to the buttercream.

5. If you’re making an American flag, add blueberries to the top left side of the cake. Add raspberries in lines. Repeat until the flag is finished. 

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

This cake keeps really well in the fridge for a few days but as always I loved it most at its freshest, just after frosting it. If you do refrigerate the cake allow it to come to room temperature before eating for best results.

I used raspberries and blueberries for this cake but you can substitute any of your favorites in. Make sure to cut up larger berries and toss with some flour before folding into the batter.

This cake is LOADED with moisture so it will need to bake for a longer time. Everyone's oven is a bit different so keep an eye on the cake's center. I will use a skewer and the spring test to make sure the cake is not under-baked.

Nutrition Facts

American Flag Cake

Amount Per Serving (1 piece)

Calories 594 Calories from Fat 342

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 38g 58%

Saturated Fat 23g 115%

Cholesterol 116mg 39%

Sodium 230mg 10%

Potassium 230mg 7%

Total Carbohydrates 57g 19%

Dietary Fiber 4g 16%

Sugars 36g

Protein 7g 14%

Vitamin A 27.3%

Vitamin C 16.7%

Calcium 11.4%

Iron 3.2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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