Red, White & Blue Drip Cake

Learn how to make a patriotic cake for the Fourth of July? 

This Red, White & Blue Drip Cake is made with fluffy vanilla cake layers, filled with patriotic vanilla buttercream and chocolate ganache dripping down the sides of the cake. 

The bright red and royal blue buttercream are alternated with white for the full effect. Then the combination of patriotic sprinkles and navy blue chocolate ganache completes this cake. 

This cake uses a simple vanilla cake and buttercream recipe so you can practice and hone in your skills. Through this, you’ll gain confidence and become a better baker. The fun part comes in when you’re decorating. I’ll walk you through all the steps so you can easily replicate this cake at home!   

This Red, White & Blue Drip Cake is perfect for the Fourth of July. It’s bright and patriotic while tasting delicious!  

Tips for success:

• Read through all the ingredients and instructions so you can get a better idea of how much time and what you need to make this cake.
• In this cake recipe, you need 1 cup buttermilk; if you don’t have any buttermilk on hand, you can easily use 1 cup whole milk mixed with 1 Tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar to make your own. 
• You can bake the cake layers ahead of time. Wrap the cake layers in plastic wrap and freeze up to one month. 
• You can make the buttercream a day ahead and refrigerate it overnight. Then take them out to come back to room temperature. Make sure the buttercream is at room temperature before re-whipping.
• A single batch of this cake recipe makes three, 6-inch round cake layers or two 8-inch round cake layers. Double the cake recipe to make enough cake batter for three, 8-inch cake layers.
• Food coloring gets darker over time, so it’s best to gradually add the food coloring, which is best for lighter colors.  
• Serve cake at room temperature. 

What Tools You’ll Need to Make This Cake: 

• 5-quart, Stand Mixer with mixing bowl & paddle attachment
• 3, 6-inch cake pans or 2, 8-inch cake pans
• Offset spatula 
• 8-inch or 10-inch white cake board 
• Serrated knife or cake leveler 
• Turntable 
• Cake scraper or bench scraper
• Whisk or sifter
• Rubber Spatula
• Non-Stick Cooking Spray and Parchment Paper
• Ice Cream Scooper with Trigger Release (for dividing cake batter evenly)
• Cake Stand, optional
• Piping bag (I use reusable silicone bags)
• 3 Piping tips – Ateco #844 star tip
• Squeeze bottle
• Baking sheet pan 
• Super red gel food coloring
• Royal blue gel food coloring
• Patriotic (red, white & blue) sprinkles mix
• Navy blue candy melts

Here’s how to make this Patriotic Red, White & Blue Drip Cake for the 4th of July! 

Let’s Get Baking! 

How to Make Fluffy Vanilla Cake Layers

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Spray three 6-inch round cake pans with non-stick spray, line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper and spray again. Set aside.
2. In a medium-size bowl, whisk and stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. 
3. In the stand mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, oil, and sugar on medium-high for 5 minutes.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time to the stand mixer bowl and beat on medium until well incorporated.
5. Turn the mixer on low and add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until fully incorporated. 
6. Pour in the buttermilk and vanilla extract. Mix on medium for another 30 seconds and scrape down the sides of the bowl. 
7. Evenly distribute the cake batter among the three cake pans and bake for about 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
8. Remove cakes from the oven and let cool in pans for 10 minutes before inverting onto cooling racks to cool completely. Wrap cakes in plastic wrap and place them into the freezer to chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour. 

Creamy Vanilla Buttercream 

1. In the stand mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
2. Turn the mixer to low and add the salt and vanilla. 
3. Next, gradually add powdered sugar, followed by the cream. Mix on medium-high speed for about 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. 
4. Divide the buttercream into two parts then save one half from staying white. Then divide the remaining half into two parts and color each half with super red and royal blue gel food coloring. 
5. Place ½ cup of each buttercream into a piping bag fitted with #844 star tip. 
6. Please note, before using, turn the mixer on low and mix for 2 minutes to push out any air bubbles or use a rubber spatula to push out the air bubbles. (You may need to repeat this step when frosting the outside of the cake). 

Simple Blue Chocolate Water Ganache Drip

1. In a medium glass bowl, melt navy blue chocolate candy melts and water in the microwave. Heat for 30 seconds at a time until the chocolate candy melts have mostly melted. 
2. Then mix with a rubber spatula. Continue to mix until the chocolate and water are well combined and streak-free. If there are chunks of chocolate, melt for 10 seconds at a time until the chocolate is fully melted or pour the chocolate into a fine mesh sifter to remove any chocolate lumps. 
3. Pour the chocolate into a squeeze bottle for a comfortable grip for decorating. If chocolate drip becomes too cold and hardens, then heat in the microwave for 5-10 seconds, shake or stir to make sure it’s all the same temperature. Don’t overheat or chocolate will separate, and you’ll have to remix with a hand whisk. 

Putting It All Together

1. Remove the cake layers from the freezer and unwrap the cake layers. Next, use a serrated knife to cut off the dome of the cakes to make the layers flat and even. 
2. Add a small amount of buttercream onto the center of the cake board. Layer the chilled vanilla cake, cut side up onto the cake board. 
3. Then pipe a ring of blue buttercream in the center followed by a ring of white and red buttercream. Continue to add a ring of white buttercream then use an offset spatula to smooth it.
4. Place another cake layer cut side down over the top. Repeat the process for another layer — Crumb coat the whole cake with white buttercream and freeze for 30 minutes.
5. Starting from the bottom, while spinning the cake, squeeze consistent pressure on the piping bag with white buttercream, pipe two rows. 
6. Next, pipe two rows of red buttercream followed by two rows of white buttercream and repeat until the sides are fully covered. Then add white buttercream on top of the cake. 
7. Use a cake scraper to make the cake smooth on the top and sides. Use the offset spatula to add more buttercream to fill in any gaps. Repeat the process until the sides are smooth. 
8. Place the cake on top of a baking tray then add patriotic sprinkles to the bottom third of the cake. 
9. Add the blue ganache drip to a squeeze bottle and drip the ganache over the sides and on top. 
10. Finally, pipe red, white, and blue buttercream swirls on top of the cake. Sprinkle patriotic sprinkles on top of the cake. Serve the cake at room temperature. 

You May Also Enjoy: 

• Red, White & Blue Rosette Cake (recipe)
• How to Make Perfect Cake Pops (free training) 
• How to Decorate Your First Cake (free course) 
• Cake Decorating Tool Kit (24-piece kit with free shipping) 
• Cake Decorating Creator Program (ultimate bundle)

Now that you know how to replicate this red, white & blue drip cake at home, you’ll have a great time making it. Make the cake and buttercream ahead of time so it can save time and get the whole family involved for a great time! 

Please feel free to email me here at xokatierosario@gmail.com with any questions you may have. I’m here to help! 

Happy Baking! 

Hey, if you liked this tutorial, you really should check out, Cake Decorating Creator Program, my online cake course. I coach you on everything I teach on these cake tutorials so that you can uplevel your baking and decorating skills. We 10x it so you get the results you want most. Like any new skill, it’s important to learn from the ground up to build a foundation, so take on any cake challenge. It is an investment your future self will thank you for. Check it out at XOKatieRosario.com/online-cake-course. I will see you there.

Watch The How-to Video Below: 

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