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You are here: Home / Recipes / Fourth of July Patriotic Cupcakes

Desserts Holidays Recipes Summer
Published: July 1, 2020 | Last Updated: July 1, 2020 | Author: Lois

Fourth of July Patriotic Cupcakes

Patriotic Cupcakes are the perfect way to celebrate summer and the Fourth of July with these fun red, white and blue cupcakes. Made with homemade red velvet cake and homemade cream cheese frosting, these are sure to be hit for any entertaining you do this summer.

Patriotic Cupcakes in blue cupcake liners and homemade cream cheese frosting.

Let’s celebrate the Fourth of July with these really pretty Patriotic Cupcakes! You’re going to want this delicious recipe if you’re hosting a party or maybe you need to bring dessert to a party.

These cupcakes are red, white and blue and the perfect way to show your love for our country.  The cake part of the cupcakes is red.  While the frosting is white and the fun cupcake liner is blue.  All the colors of our flag in one cute little dessert.

Incidentally, if you love patriotic desserts, you’re going to really love this Flag Fruit Pizza made with a Sugar Cookie Crust that is really popular on the site. 

Let's Celebrate Summer with Patriotic Cupcakes in blue cupcake liners.

Homemade Red Velvet Cake Cupcakes

This is a homemade red velvet cake and homemade cream cheese frosting recipe.  But you can definitely substitute a red velvet cake mix with cream cheese canned frosting.  Hey, I get it…we’re all busy, so no stressing out over baking something yummy from scratch.

Adding red food coloring to the batter really gives you a deep red colored cake.  Be careful you don’t get any food coloring on your clothing!

Helpful Kitchen Tools

This post contains affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but I earn a commission when you shop through them. For more information, click here.

Check out the kitchen tools I used to help put this recipe together:

  • Cupcake/Muffin Pan
  • Blue Cupcake Liners – I like to use two sets of cupcake liners to help make the cupcakes look extra special. 
  • Cookie Scoop – this is really the easiest way to fill a muffin or cupcake pan. I actually have cookie scoops in a few different sizes. 
  • Star Sprinkles
  • Wilton Decorating Tool

Ingredients

Exact measurements are listed below in the recipe card. Make sure you scroll down to print and save the recipe for later!

Ingredients for the Cupcakes:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Sugar
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Cocoa powder
  • Vegetable oil
  • Buttermilk
  • Eggs
  • Red food coloring
  • White vinegar
  • Vanilla extract

Ingredients for the Frosting:

  • Cream cheese; softened
  • Butter; softened
  • Vanilla
  • Powdered sugar

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder.

In a separate bowl, mix together oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing well until combined.

Cupcake Liners in Muffin Pan with Cake Batter for Patriotic Cupcakes

I always spray my cupcake liners with non-stick cooking spray before adding the batter.  That way the cupcake comes out clean!  It really does work! Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full.

Patriotic Red Velvet Cupcake Batter in Cupcake Pan before Baking

How do you know when cupcakes are done?

Bake the cupcakes in a preheated 350 degree oven for 18-20 minutes.

There are two ways you can tell when a cupcake is done. The first is by inserting a toothpick into the center of one of the cupcakes.

If the toothpick comes out dry, the cupcake is done. If the toothpick comes out with a little of cake batter or is wet, you need to continue baking for a few more minutes.

The second way is to gently touch the top of one of the cupcakes. If it springs back, you know the cupcakes are baked completely.

Red Velvet Patriotic Cupcakes Baked

Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting

Allow the cupcakes to cool while you prepare the homemade cream cheese frosting.

If you’d like more detailed information on how to prepare this frosting, check out my post on Easy Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting. There’s step-by-step photos included as well!

In a large bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Slowly add the powdered sugar until all the ingredients are combined and the frosting is formed.

Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting in mixer.

Helpful Tips for Frosting Cupcakes

  • Use a piping tool – disposable pastry bags work just as well.
  • Make sure the frosting is room temperature before starting.
  • Once your done, place the cupcakes inside another cupcake liner so they look really professional.
Closeup of Frosting for Red Velvet Patriotic Cupcakes

Add the sprinkles and your cupcakes are ready to be placed on a serving platter for your family and friends! How pretty and patriotic do these cupcakes look?

Red Velvet Patriotic Cupcakes with vanilla frosting and red and blue star sprinkles

More Delicious Patriotic Recipes and Ideas: 

  • No Bake Mason Jar Desserts are so easy to make and take with you to a family celebration. 
  • These Berry Trifle Dessert with Angel Food Cake only have FIVE WEIGHT WATCHER Points! 
  • Flag Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza will help you make a statement at your celebration this year! 
  • And it’s always fun to make something yummy for the kids with these Star Shaped Patriotic Cereal Treats.
  • Let’s Celebrate with Patriotic Desserts! 
Patriotic Cupcakes FEATURED photo from Walking on Sunshine Recipes

Patriotic Cupcakes

Yield: 24 cupcakes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Patriotic Cupcakes are the perfect way to celebrate summer and the Fourth of July with these fun red, white and blue cupcakes. 

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 ½ tsp cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ½ tbsp red food coloring
  • 1 ½ tsp white vinegar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 3 ½ cups powdered sugar

Instructions

For the Cupcakes

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix together oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.
  4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing well until combined.
  5. Fill cupcake liners ⅔ full.
  6. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  1. Meanwhile, in a large bowl mix together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla.
  2. Slowly mix in powdered sugar until ingredients are combined and frosting is formed.
  3. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
  4. Add the frosting to your cake decorator or piping bag with an icing tip, and frost the cupcakes.
  5. Finish with patriotic red, white, and blue star sprinkles

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Stainless Steel Cookie Scoop for Baking
    Stainless Steel Cookie Scoop for Baking
  • Nonstick Bakeware 12-Cup Muffin Pan
    Nonstick Bakeware 12-Cup Muffin Pan
© Lois
Cuisine: American / Category: Desserts

This post contains affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but I earn a commission when you shop through them.  For more information, click here.

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Celebrate the 4th of July Patriotic Cupcakes from Walking on Sunshine Recipes


1 Comment

About Lois

Originally from Queens, NY, Lois now calls northeastern PA home. You can find her blogging over at Walking on Sunshine where she shares a little of her life, but more importantly what’s for dinner at her house tonight.

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Comments

  1. Jenny says

    June 26, 2018 at 7:37 am

    Cute Cupcakes! They look scrumptious. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday. Hope to see you at the party next week!

    Reply

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