Flag Cupcakes
Festive, delicious, and surprisingly simple to make, these flag cupcakes are a perfect addition to any patriotic celebration. Whether you’re celebrating Independence Day, Memorial Day, or just feeling particularly patriotic, these cupcakes are sure to be a hit with both the kiddos and adults.
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These cupcakes are a hit in my house because they combine everything we adore about cupcakes with a patriotic twist. The light, chocolatey cake pairs beautifully with the creamy vanilla buttercream frosting. Plus, the red and blue gel food coloring makes decorating them so much fun. Bonus points for getting the kids involved!
If you love themed treats like these, you might also want to try these Patriotic Star Sugar Cookies or these Patriotic Oreo Balls next. They’re all great options to pair with these cupcakes for a full-on celebration spread!
Ingredients
Here’s a quick breakdown of the ingredients needed to whip up a batch of these flag cupcakes! The full list of ingredients and measurements is available in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Chocolate cake mix: Use any boxed chocolate cake mix you prefer as the base. Don’t forget to grab the ingredients listed on the box, such as water, oil, and eggs, to prepare it. Follow the instructions on the box for the best results.
- Butter: Make sure the butter is at room temperature so it’s soft and easy to mix. This will help create a smooth and creamy texture for your frosting. Unsalted butter works best to control the sweetness.
- Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla enhances the overall flavor of the frosting. Use pure vanilla extract for a richer taste. It pairs perfectly with the chocolate cake.
- Powdered sugar: This is the key ingredient for making the frosting sweet and fluffy. Sift it beforehand to avoid any lumps in the mix. Add gradually to control the consistency.
Instructions
Making these easy flag cupcakes is straightforward and loads of fun. Here’s an overview of the steps to guide you. Full instructions are available in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Prepare the cupcakes according to box directions. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely.
Step 2: For the frosting, beat the butter until smooth. Add the vanilla extract and the powdered sugar a little at a time, mixing until well combined.
Step 3: Use the blue frosting and make the blue section of the flag over 1/4 of each cupcake. Use the white frosting to add stars to the blue area.
Step 4: Add the red frosting to a piping bag and pipe the red and white stripes onto the cupcake.
Hint: If you’re not feeling confident about piping, you can use a small offset spatula to create easy-colored layers instead.
Storage
- Storage – Keep your decorated cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Freezing – Need to prep in advance? Freeze the undecorated cupcakes in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before frosting.
- Reheating – Cupcakes taste the best when fresh, but if you want the flavor to pop after storing, warm them up slightly in the microwave (just 5-10 seconds, without frosting!).
Wendy’s Tips
- Use room-temperature butter for the frosting. It makes mixing so much easier and results in a smoother consistency.
- Stick with gel food coloring instead of liquid food coloring. It helps you get those vibrant red and blue colors without watering down the frosting.
- Practice piping on a piece of parchment paper before frosting your cupcakes to get the hang of using the star tip!
What To Serve With Flag Cupcakes
Since these cupcakes are typically served at festive gatherings, I recommend pairing them with other easy favorites, like Air Fryer Pretzel Dogs, a refreshing Autumn Pasta Salad, and watermelon slices. For dessert lovers, a classic Instant Pot Patriotic Cheesecake or some simple Patriotic Blondies would complement these cupcakes perfectly.
FAQs
To achieve a bold red, start by adding a small amount of pink gel food coloring, then layer on red gel food coloring. This base helps you use less product while still achieving a bright, vibrant look.
Absolutely! If you prefer vanilla-flavored cupcakes, simply swap out the chocolate cake mix for vanilla. The decorating process stays exactly the same.
Flag Cupcakes
Equipment
- Frosting tips- Wilton #32 for the blue and white and red stripes, and a #13 for the stars
- 2 Large bowl
- Wisk
- Cupcake Pan
- 2 piping bags
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix plus ingredients from the directions (water, oil, eggs)
- 1 cup unsalted butter near room temperature
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- Red gel food coloring
- Blue gel food coloring
Instructions
- Prepare the cupcakes, according to box directions.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely.
- For the frosting, beat the butter until smooth.
- Add the vanilla extract, and the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing until well combined.
- Add the #13 tip to a piping bag, and add about 1/4 cup of the frosting.
- Add about 3/4 cup of the frosting to a separate bowl. Add a generous amount of blue gel color, and mix until the color is incorporated.
- Add to a piping bag with a #32 tip.
- Use the blue frosting and make the blue section of the flag over 1/4 of each cupcake.
- Use the white frosting to add stars to the blue area.
- Take half of the remaining white frosting, and add to a piping bag with a #32 tip.
- Add a generous amount of red gel color to the remaining half, and mix until color is incorporated.
- Add the red frosting to a piping bag with #32 tip.
- Pipe the red and white stripes onto the cupcake.
Disclaimer:
Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.
Nutrition
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