Get ready to celebrate in style with these show-stopping Patriotic Cupcakes!
Made from scratch with a red velvet cake batter and topped with a swirl of homemade cream cheese frosting, these festive treats are perfect for any patriotic holiday or gathering.
With their vibrant colors and irresistible flavors, these cupcakes are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. So let's bake up some red, white, and blue deliciousness!
Check out the full 4th of July Foods menu to help you find even more delicious recipes!
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Table of Contents
- Homemade Red Velvet Cake Cupcakes
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Step-by-Step Directions
- Baking Tip
- How do you know when cupcakes are done?
- Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting
- Helpful Tips for Frosting Cupcakes
- Decorate the Cupcakes
- More Delicious Patriotic Recipes and Ideas:
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 🗒️Shopping List
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
This recipe uses a homemade red velvet cake recipe unlike my Red Velvet 4th of July Cake that starts our with a cake mix. You could use a cake mix as well for this recipe if you prefer.
If you love patriotic desserts, you're going to really love my Flag Fruit Pizza made with a Sugar Cookie Crust that is really popular on the site. Or my newest Patriotic Cupcake Cake recipe!
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!
Main Ingredients Needed
Below is a quick preview of the ingredients you’ll need. For exact amounts, check the recipe card below. You can also use the "Shopping List button" to create a printable shopping list, or the "Get Ingredients button" in the recipe card to order groceries online.
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Cocoa powder
- Vegetable oil
- Buttermilk
- Eggs
- Red food coloring
- White vinegar
- Vanilla extract
- Cream cheese
- Butter
- Powdered sugar
Step-by-Step Directions
This section includes step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: 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. Add the batter to the cupcake liners using a cookie scoop. Fill the cupcake liners ⅔ full.
Step 2: Add the batter to the cupcake liners using a cookie scoop. Fill the cupcake liners ⅔ full.
Baking Tip
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!
Step 3: Bake the cupcakes in a preheated 350 degree oven for 18-20 minutes.
How do you know when cupcakes are done?
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.
Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting
Step 4: Allow the cupcakes to cool while you prepare the Easy Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting. 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.
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.
Decorate the Cupcakes
Step 5: 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?
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!
- Try my Red, White and Blue Cupcakes!
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🗒️Shopping List
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📖 Recipe Card
Patriotic Cupcakes
Video
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon cocoa powder
- 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ tablespoon red food coloring
- 1 ½ teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 oz. cream cheese softened
- ½ cup butter softened
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- 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.
- Fill cupcake liners ⅔ full.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl mix together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla.
- Slowly mix in powdered sugar until ingredients are combined and frosting is formed.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
- Add the frosting to your cake decorator or piping bag with an icing tip, and frost the cupcakes.
- Finish with patriotic red, white, and blue star sprinkles
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2018 with new photos, information and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
Jenny says
Cute Cupcakes! They look scrumptious. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday. Hope to see you at the party next week!