Star Spangled Cake Recipes

STAR-SPANGLED CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 24 cupcakes. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Use the star tip that comes on the Betty Crocker™ Cupcake Icing can to frost each cupcake. If desired, smooth top with offset spatula.
• Arrange 8 blue gems in upper left area of cupcake to create field of stars. Starting at top, place 3 red gems in a row, second row 4 red gems, third row 7 red gems and bottom row 5 red gems to create stripes. Repeat with remaining cupcakes.

STAR-SPANGLED PARFAITS

Steps:

• Place strawberries and blueberries in separate bowls. Drizzle each with 2 teaspoons vinaigrette; toss to coat. In a small bowl, mix yogurt and mint., Spoon strawberries into 4 parfait glasses. Layer each with yogurt mixture and blueberries. If desired, top with coconut.

STAR SPANGLED RECIPES

Steps:

• PATRIOTIC PUNCH: Place strawberries in ice cube tray, add water. Freeze. Add frozen blueberries in your glassware, add water, then place strawberry ice cubes on top. Enjoy you're stripped beverage!
• FIRECRACKER DONUTS: Fill donut with jelly mixed with edible sparkles. Mix 2 cups powdered sugar together with 1 tbsp milk then divide into 3 bowls, add red and blue coloring to one bowl each then drizzle this into the bowl of white frosting, dip donuts in. Add more white on top if the frosting starts to turn purple.
• STARS & STRIPES SANGRIA: Cut a quarter out of a watermelon, then remove some of the fruit. With an immersion blender blend the watermelon until you have a juice and add amber rum and white wine to taste. Serve in glasses with ice cubes and additional fruit. If you're feeling really festive, carve the front of your watermelon into an American flag, using blue berries and honey dew stars for the accent.
• RED, WHITE & BERRY-MISU: Add a little water to blueberry and strawberry jam, dip ladyfingers in the jams and line them in a 9x13 glass baking dish. Start with a layer of strawberry-coated ladyfinger, then add the sweet mascarpone cream, followed by blueberry-coated ladyfingers then more cream. Finish with raspberries for the stripes and blueberries for the stars.
• STAR-SPANGLED WATERMELON CAKE: Cut watermelon into rounds and remove the skin. Place on a cake stand, then add whipped cream and fruit. Repeat until you have 4 layers of watermelon and top with additional cream, fruit, and honeydew stars.
• FLAG DOGS: Slice cheddar and jack cheese slices into thin strips, line them up in a pan to create stripes, take you're pre-grilled hot dogs and roll them in the cheese once it's melted. Place in a hot dog bun then stack on a serving dish to create the stripes of the American flag. Place a dish of purple potato salad in the upper left hand corner to act as the stars. Add cut out jack cheese stars for additional flare!

STAR-INSIDE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a half sheet pan or jelly roll pan with cooking spray.
• For the red-and-blue cake: Combine the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. Beat the sugar and butter with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in the vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until fully incorporated. Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth.
• Divide the batter between two medium bowls. Use food coloring to tint one bowl red and the other blue. Transfer each of the colored batters to plastic piping bags or resealable plastic bags. Snip the end of each bag, and pipe your batter into the half sheet pan or jelly roll pan in 1/2-inch-thick rows, alternating colors.
• Bake the sheet cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 12 to 15 minutes. Let the cake cool to room temperature. Once cool, use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the striped cake.
• For the white cake: Combine the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. Beat the sugar and butter with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in the vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until fully incorporated. Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth. Transfer the batter to a piping bag or resealable plastic bag. Coat an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Pipe a thin layer of the white batter, about 1 inch deep, into the bottom of the pan.
• In the loaf pan, stand the star cakes upright and press them into the batter, creating two rows, side by side. Pipe the remaining white batter into the pan, covering the stars.
• Bake the loaf for 35 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then unmold it and cool to room temperature.
• For the buttercream frosting: Beat the butter until it is light and fluffy, preferably in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, 1 to 2 cups at a time, allowing each batch to incorporate with the butter. (Use less confectioners' sugar for a slightly more buttery, looser frosting; use more confectioners' sugar for a slightly sweeter, stiffer frosting.) Increase the speed to medium, and add the salt, vanilla extract and cream. Beat until smooth, an additional 3 minutes.
• Use a serrated knife to level the cake and to carve off any dark brown spots. Place the cake on a serving plate.
• Frost the cake with an initial thin layer of buttercream. Place the cake in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to allow the frosting to harden. (Note: This first layer doesn't need to look perfect, as the next layer of buttercream will cover it up.)
• Using an offset spatula, and working in an upward direction around the cake, add a second layer of frosting, approximately 1/2 inch thick. Add the remaining buttercream to a piping bag or resealable plastic bag fitted with a star tip (such as a Wilton #32 tip). Working in rows, pipe small dollops of frosting onto the top of your cake.
• Sprinkle with the red, white and blue sprinkles.

STAR-SPANGLED FLAG CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Reserve 3 Tbsp. of each flavor of dry gelatin mix. Add 1/2 cup boiling water to remaining cherry gelatin mix in medium bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Repeat in separate bowl with remaining boiling water and berry blue gelatin mix. Pour each flavor gelatin into separate 9x5-inch loaf pan. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.
• Meanwhile, spray 2 (13x9-inch) pans with cooking spray; cover bottoms with waxed paper. Spray with additional cooking spray. Prepare cake batter as directed on package; spread 2 cups batter onto bottom of one prepared pan. Measure 2 cups of the remaining batter into medium bowl; stir in reserved dry cherry gelatin mix until blended. Spread onto bottom of remaining prepared pan. Place both pans in oven.
• Bake 15 to 17 min. or until tops of cake layers are lightly browned and cakes begin to pull away from sides of pans. Cool 15 min.; remove cakes from pans to wire racks. Discard waxed paper. Cool cakes completely.
• Meanwhile, spray 8x4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray; line with waxed paper. Spray with additional cooking spray. Stir reserved dry berry blue gelatin mix into remaining cake batter; pour into prepared loaf pan. Bake 25 to 28 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 min.; remove from pan to wire rack. Discard waxed paper. Cool cake completely.
• Assembly
• Dip bottoms of gelatin-filled pans in warm water about 15 sec.; cut gelatin into small stars. Reserve trimmings for snacking or another use. Spoon frosting into medium bowl; whisk in COOL WHIP until blended. Cut each 13x9-inch cake layer lengthwise in half. Cut rounded top off loaf cake; reserve top for snacking or another use. Cut remaining loaf cake lengthwise in half.
• Reserve 1-1/3 cups frosting for icing final assembled cake. Place 1 red cake layer on platter; spread with some of the remaining frosting. Cover with 1 white cake layer; frost. Arrange blue cake strips, end-to-end, down 1 long side of frosted white cake layer, trimming as necessary to fit top of cake. Frost inside edges of blue cake strips. Cut remaining red and white cake layers lengthwise in half; place 1 red cake piece next to blue cake strips. Frost. Top with 1 white cake piece. Reserve remaining cake pieces for snacking or another use. Frost top and sides of cake with reserved frosting. Decorate with sprinkles and JIGGLERS stars.

STAR SPANGLED CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter,flour an 18 by 13 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan. Or, I like to use parchment paper.
• 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 strawberries for the red stripes, and icing for the white stripes, until the flag is completed. Pipe stars on top of the blueberries.
• You can serve this cake right in the pan, or, if you want to turn it out onto a board before frosting, use parchment paper when you grease and flour the pan.

STAR-SPANGLED ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheets. Line each with parchment, leaving an overhang on two long sides; butter parchment. Whisk together flour and salt.
• In another bowl, whisk together butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk in flour mixture until smooth. Divide batter evenly between sheets; bake until dry to the touch, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks; let cool completely.
• Using a 1 1/2-inch star cutter, stamp out 12 evenly spaced stars (3 rows of 4, about 3 inches apart) from one cake; discard or reserve for snacking. Beat ice cream and sorbet separately until spreadable; spread ice cream over uncut cake in an even layer. Dollop sorbet over ice cream; swirl with the tip of a knife. Top with stamped cake, top-side up.
• Wrap in plastic (still in sheet); freeze at least 8 hours and up to 1 week. Transfer cake to a cutting board; cut into 12 sandwiches with a serrated knife. Serve immediately.

STAR-SPANGLED BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Mix ground beef, red pepper, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl; divide and form into 16 patties. Place 1 ounce blue cheese in the center atop each of 8 of the patties. Top each cheese-topped patty with an unadorned patty, pressing the sides together so the cheese doesn't fall out.
• Cook on the preheated grill until the burgers are cooked to your desired degree of doneness, 7 to 10 minutes per side for well done. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the meat should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

STAR-SPANGLED SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Combine flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add butter; use a pastry cutter or two knives to incorporate butter until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Blend 2 cups heavy cream into flour mixture using a fork. Turn out onto a clean work surface; press away from you with the heel of your hand just to combine dough. Add 1 tablespoon cream if the dough is too dry to combine.
• Prepare egg wash: Place egg and 2 tablespoons cream in a small bowl, and whisk to combine. Set aside.
• Press dough into a 7-by-10-inch rectangle, 1 inch thick. Use a 3 1/2-inch star cutter to cut out six biscuits. Press three of the stars to flatten slightly. Form into a ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet, alternating flattened stars with unflattened stars, using egg wash to join them along common edge. Gather remaining dough; cut out four more stars for additional servings, if desired. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Remove dough from refrigerator. Brush top of star ring and individual stars with egg wash, and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Bake for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees; continue baking until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Combine raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, red currants (if using), and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a large bowl, and toss to combine. Allow berries to macerate for at least 30 minutes, until very juicy. Whip remaining 1 1/2 cups cream to soft peaks.
• Use a serrated knife to cut star ring in half crosswise. Cut the four extra stars as well. Use two large offset spatulas to carefully lift the top half of the ring, and set aside, leaving the spatulas in place. Set aside tops of stars as well. Transfer bottom of ring to a serving platter. Transfer bottoms of stars to plates, if desired. Spoon macerated berries, juices, and whipped cream over star ring and additional stars. Place the tops on the star ring and stars using the spatulas, and dust with confectioners' sugar, if using. Serve immediately.