These Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes are the perfect patriotic treat for summer celebrations like the 4th of July or Memorial Day. With vibrant layers of color, fluffy cake, and festive decorations, they’re as fun to make as they are to eat.
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Why This Recipe Works:
- Eye-Catching and Festive: The bold red, white, and blue colors make these cupcakes a standout at any patriotic party.
- Light and Fluffy Texture: The soft, moist cake paired with creamy frosting creates an irresistible bite every time.
- Easy to Make and Decorate: Whether using boxed mix or homemade batter, the steps are simple and kid-friendly.
- Perfectly Portable: Ideal for cookouts, picnics, or potlucks—no slicing needed!
Looking for more 4th of July tasty food? Make sure to check out my candied bacon, mandarin orange salad, buffalo wing dip, candied jalapenos, and these tasty wagyu burgers for more party-ready foods!
What You Need For This Recipe:
- Box of White Cake Mix- In a pinch, you can use yellow cake, but I love the White for the contrast!
- Additional Cake Mix Ingredients: I like to doctor my cake mix with a little Sour Cream, Heavy Cream, and extra Egg Whites, but you can just follow the box instructions!
- M&Ms: Red, White, and Blue colored. I add these to the batter for extra fun, but they are optional
- Frosting: Unsalted Butter, Powdered Sugar, Heavy Cream, Red and Blue Food Coloring, Sprinkles ( I used red, white, and blue Jimmies and Stars)
- Equipment: Cupcake Liners, Cupcake Pan, Large Round Icing Tip (Wilton 1A- optional but helpful), Piping Bags
How to Make Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes?
- Step 1: Mix together the oil, vanilla, sour cream, heavy cream, and egg whites. Then stir in the white cake mix and M&Ms.
- Step 2: Pour into a lined cupcake tin. Only fill your cupcake liners ¾ full for uniform, rounded cupcakes that don’t spill over!
- Step 3: Bake cupcakes until a toothpick stuck in comes out clean. Once done baking, allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
How to Make Frosting and Decorate Cupcakes?
- Step 4: Whip your butter on high until light and fluffy. Then mix in the vanilla and salt.
- Step 5: Add the heavy cream and powdered sugar, alternating between the two, mixing on medium/low. Once everything is incorporated, turn the mixer to med/high and mix for 30 seconds to have volume.
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- Step 6: Divide frosting into 3 bowls, mix in blue coloring to one, red to another, and leave the third white. Place your piping tip in the bags and then put one color of frosting into each bag.
- Step 7: Layer the colors any way you like! Add stars and sprinkles, then enjoy!
Expert Tip
You can just cut the end off a piping bag or ziploc baggie to pipe the frosting. I cut 1 ½ inches off a piping bag so I didn't have to use piping tips! (Cut less off a ziploc baggie since the corner isn't as long as a piping bag!)
Variations of 4th of July Cupcakes:
Batter: Try coloring the cupcake batter and layering it with blue on the bottom, white in the middle, and red on top, then baking!
Sprinkles: Instead of coloring the frosting just add a bunch of fun red, white, and blue sprinkles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Boxed cake mix is such an easy way to make this recipe. I love to doctor the mix by adding sour cream, heavy cream, and extra egg whites, and with these additions, you won’t believe how good this cake is!
Yep! You can make these cupcakes 1-2 days in advance.
Store in the refrigerator, ideally in an air-tight container to keep unwanted food odors from being absorbed.
More Related Recipes
For more delicious and easy 4th of July Recipes, make sure to check out my Toll House cookie pie, bacon jalapeno deviled eggs, smoked chicken thighs, and this tasty pepperoni pasta salad! For more cupcake recipes, make sure to check out my easy lemon cupcakes, strawberry shortcake cupcakes, chocolate cream-filled cupcakes, and these funfetti birthday cupcakes.
Video
Red White and Blue Cupcakes
Equipment
- 3 Large Round Icing Tip Wilton 1A* (optional)
- 3 Icing Piping Bags
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1 box of white cake mix
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tbs vanilla
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 4 egg whites
- ¾ cup M&Ms red, white, and blue optional
Red White and Blue Frosting
- 2 cups Unsalted Butter slightly softened*
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tbs vanilla I like to use clear vanilla for this recipe
- 10 cups powdered sugar
- 10 tbs heavy cream ½ cup plus 2 tbs
- 1 teaspoon Red Food Coloring I like to use gel
- ½ teaspoon Blue Food Coloring I like to use gel
- Star Sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line your cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
- Mix together, either by hand or in a stand mixer, the oil, vanilla, sour cream, heavy cream, and eggs. Then mix in the boxed cake mix and M&Ms.1 box of white cake mix, ½ cup vegetable oil, 2 tbs vanilla, ¾ cup sour cream, ¾ cup heavy cream, 4 egg whites, ¾ cup M&Ms
- Scoop the batter into your cupcake liners ¾ full. I like using a measuring cup.
- Bake for 14 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
Red White and Blue Frosting
- In a stand mixer, whip your butter on medium-high speed until the butter is light and fluffy. Then mix in the vanilla and salt.2 cups Unsalted Butter, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 tbs vanilla
- Alternating between 1 cup powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon heavy cream, mix each in until fully incorporated. I recommend mixing this on medium-low, then once all the heavy cream and powdered sugar are added, turn the mixer on medium/high and whip for 30 seconds to add volume.10 tbs heavy cream, 10 cups powdered sugar
- Divide the frosting into three separate bowls. Fold in red food coloring to one bowl, blue to another, and leave the third white.1 teaspoon Red Food Coloring, ½ teaspoon Blue Food Coloring
- Place your piping tips in the piping bags (or cut the corner off a piping bag*), then add each color frosting to its own bag. Pipe on the frosting in a circle, then repeat with the other colors. I like to alternate the colors, then add sprinkles and stars.Star Sprinkles
Notes
- *If you need to soften your butter fast, place it on a microwave-safe dish in the microwave, turn your microwave to 30% power, and microwave for 15-second intervals until soft.
- *If the frosting is too runny, add more powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, to thicken it. If it’s too thick, add more heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it’s at your desired consistency.
- *Instead of dealing with 3 of the same piping tips, I just cut 1 ½ inches off of 3 separate piping bags.
Katie says
how cute! I would totally make these for any holiday!
Jenni LeBaron says
What a fun surprise to fun inside. I love that there's a bit of hidden treasure in these.
georgie says
these are so cool! I love surprise cupcakes like these!
Sandi says
Such a cute idea. I love the surprise middles!
Emily Hill says
Holy moly! These cupcakes are amazing!
Lisa says
Thanks!