Name: Red White and Blue Cupcakes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened); 1 cup granulated sugar; 3 egg whites (room temperature); 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract; 2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 1/2 cups cake flour *see substitution in notes; 1/2 cup milk (room temperature); Red food coloring; Blue food coloring; 3 cups confectioner's sugar; 1 cup butter (softened); 1 tsp vanilla extract; 2-4 tbsp milk (as needed)

Red white and blue cupcakes are the perfect patriotic cupcakes for Memorial Day, 4th of July, or during the summer.

These cupcakes are light and moist and decorated and ready for a party! Topping these cupcakes is a vanilla buttercream frosting that is very easy to make and only takes four ingredients to make.

Red white and blue cupcakes topped with vanilla buttercream and patriotic star sprinkles.

Patriotic Cupcakes

These red white and blue cupcakes are perfect for the holidays and they are the perfect addition to any summer potluck, BBQ, or party. Especially perfect for Memorial Day and the 4th of July!

The base for these cupcakes is a classic white cake that has been divided into three equal parts. Two of the bowls of batter are then dyed blue and red, while the 3rd batter remains undyed.

Top view of patriotic cupcakes on red baking sheet.

Ingredients in Red White and Blue Cupcakes

Very common ingredients are used in this recipe and the ingredients come together quickly and easily especially when using room temperature ingredients when directed.

Cake Flour - cake flour makes the most fluffy and springy cakes. If all you have on hand is all-purpose flour - adjust the recipe by spooning and leveling the all-purpose flour and then removing three tablespoons of the all purpose flour and adding in three tablespoons of cornstarch for this recipe.
Baking Powder
Salt
Milk - room temperature
Egg whites - using an egg separator makes this easy and mess free.
Vanilla extract
Unsalted butter - room temperature
Granulated sugar
Red and Blue food coloring

RELATED: Summer Sugar Cookies

Red white and blue cupcakes in red baking sheet with white jar with decorations.

Ingredients in Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Only 4 ingredients are needed to make this classic vanilla buttercream frosting. The consistency can be controlled by the amount of milk that is added at the end.

Confectioner's sugar - also known as powdered sugar
Unsalted butter - room temperature
Vanilla extract
2-4 tablespoons of milk (add a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached

Red white and blue cupcake on white plate with wrapper peeled.

How to Make Red White and Blue Cupcakes

These cupcakes are simple to make and they don't take a long time to put together. The first step to making these patriotic cupcakes is to cream together the room temperature butter and the granulated sugar until it is creamy.

TIP: Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to blend the cake batter easily and quickly.

The egg whites and vanilla extract are added and beat until the batter becomes frothy from the eggs.

In a separate bowl, the cake flour, salt, and baking powder are sifted together. If all-purpose flour is used instead of cake flour, spoon and level the flour and take out three tablespoons of all-purpose flour. Scoop three level tablespoons of cornstarch and add it back into the all-purpose flour mixture and then add in the baking powder and salt.

Slowly add in the dry ingredients into the white ingredients and slowly alternate with the room temperature milk.

Once the ingredients are well incorporated and the batter is smooth, scoop one cup of batter into a separate bowl to color blue and scoop another cup of batter into a different bowl to color red.

Cupcake with bite taken out of it with red white and blue center.

Add the desired amount of food coloring to reach the color you want for the red white and blue cupcakes.

Like a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners and divide the red cake batter equally into 12 cupcake liners. This should work out to be about 1 tablespoon of cake batter for each liner.

Repeat the process with the white and again with the blue.

Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick entered into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.

Allow these red white and blue cupcakes to cool completely before frosting with the vanilla buttercream frosting.

Patriotic cupcakes with white frosting on round and white decorative plate.

How to Make Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

To make the vanilla buttercream frosting for these cupcakes, start with room temperature ingredients.

Start with the room temperature butter and beat until the butter is smooth and creamy. Add in the vanilla extract and slowly start beating in the confectioner's sugar.

Once the ingredients are all added and beaten together add the milk one tablespoon at a time until your desired consistency is reached. For a creamier frosting add more milk and for a pipeable frosting, use just enough milk for the frosting to easily glide through a frosting tip.

To pipe the cupcakes, use a decorating bag fitted with a piping tip.

Close up of red white and blue cupcakes decorated with red white and blue star sprinkles.

📖 Recipe

Dana

Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.

Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.