Keep it patriotic this summer with these American Flag Cupcakes that are perfect for the 4th of July, Flag Day, or Memorial Day. They’re an easy red, white and blue dessert that you can decorate in just minutes!
With minimal effort, you can have a stunning dessert that’s certain to be eye-catching with its vibrant colors and enticing decorations, perfect for celebrating Independence Day. When you’re busy making all the other food for holiday parties and cookouts, this cupcake recipe is ideal for a crowd-pleasing sweet treat that you can have ready with little to no work. If you have kids, they’ll also love helping with the decorations.
Plus, I’ll show you a few shortcuts that will shave even more time off of making these American Flag Cupcakes! You can turn these cupcakes into a no-bake effort if need be and have these assembled and decorated in record time! What could be easier?
Ingredients Needed
Prepared Cupcakes – Use your favorite white or vanilla boxed cupcake mix and make them according to the package instructions or you can make the cupcakes from scratch.
White Frosting – I use white store-bought frosting but feel free to make your own.
Twizzlers Pull-n-Peel Licorice – To create the red stripes of the flag.
Blue Chocolate Pearl Candy (Blue sixlets) – To create the stars of the flag.
How To Make American Flag Cupcakes
STEP 1: Frost the baked and cooled cupcakes with the vanilla frosting.
STEP 2: Place 6 blue candies on the top left corner of each frosted cupcake.
STEP 3: Pull apart the red licorice so the licorice strings are individual. Cut five pieces to fit across one cupcake. The top two pieces will be slightly shorter. Place them so you have white frosting in between each layer.
STEP 4: Repeat step 3 for the remaining cupcakes.
Shortcuts
- Skip baking: Skip baking and frosting the cupcakes and purchase them pre-made and iced. Most grocery store bakery departments offer standard vanilla cupcakes with white frosting. Just pick up a dozen or more and take them home to decorate. If they happen to have swirled frosting, just take a knife and smooth the top out so that it’s ready for the “stars and stripes” decoration.
- Bake ahead: You can always bake a batch of vanilla cupcakes a day or so before and ice them with pre-made white frosting. They’ll be ready to decorate when you need them.
Variations
Cupcakes: While vanilla or white cupcakes are called for in this recipe, you can certainly use red velvet or even chocolate for the base. Keep the frosting white, though, for the background of the flag, and let the flavor and color of the cupcake be a tasty surprise.
Red Stripes: While this recipe calls for red licorice Twizzlers strings, you can use red leather fruit roll-ups, cut into thin lines. You could also draw on red stripes using red candy melts in a piping bag with a straight tip.
Blue Stars: While this recipe calls for blue chocolate pearl candy, you could also use fresh blueberries, blue M & Ms, or blue Jelly Belly jelly bean candy.
Cupcake Liners: Use any patriotic-themed liners or solid red, white, or blue liners.
Can I Make This Into A Sheet Cake?
Absolutely! Just make a white or vanilla sheet cake using your favorite boxed cake mix, bake it, and cool it completely before frosting it with your favorite white icing. Make sure you purchase enough red licorice pulls and blue candy to create the stars and stripes since you’ll be decorating a much larger canvas.
If you’re looking for a stunning 4th of July Cake, consider my Red White, And Blue Cake with a No-Bake Cheesecake Layer.
Storage
These cupcakes will keep in an airtight container on the countertop or in the fridge for up to 4 days.
More Easy Decorative Cupcake Ideas
Nutella Nest Cupcakes
Bunny Ear Cupcakes
New Year’s Eve Countdown Cupcakes
Polar Bear Cupcakes
Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Digging for Carrot Cupcakes
American Flag Cupcakes
Keep it patriotic this summer with these American Flag Cupcakes that are perfect for the 4th of July, Flag Day or Memorial Day. They're an easy red, white and blue dessert that you can decorate in just minutes!
Ingredients
- Prepared Cupcakes
- White Frosting
- Twizzlers Pull-n-Peel Licorice
- Blue Chocolate Pearl Candy (Blue sixlets)
Instructions
- Gather all of the ingredients
- Frost cupcakes with vanilla frosting.
- Place 6 blue candies on the top left corner of the cupcakes.
- Pull apart the licorice so the licorice strings are individual. Cut five pieces to fit across one cupcake.
- The top two pieces will be slightly shorter.
- Place them so you have white frosting in between each layer.
- Repeat step 3 for the remaining cupcakes.
- Serve and Enjoy!!
Notes
Shortcuts:
- Skip baking: Skip baking and frosting the cupcakes and purchase them pre-made and iced. Most grocery store bakery departments offer standard vanilla cupcakes with white frosting. Just pick up a dozen or more and take them home to decorate. If they happen to have swirled frosting, just take a knife and smooth the top out so that it's ready for the "stars and stripes" decoration.
- Bake ahead: You can always bake a batch of vanilla cupcakes a day or so before and ice them with pre-made white frosting. They'll be ready to decorate when you need them.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Eoonfirst Foil Metallic Cupcake Liners Standard Baking Cups 100 Pcs (Navy Blue) -
M&M’S Dark Blue Milk Chocolate Candy, 2lbs of M&M'S in Resealable Pack for Candy Bars, Birthday Parties, Graduations, Congrats Celebrations & DIY Party Favors -
Duncan Hines, Classic White Cake Mix, 16.50oz Box (Pack of 2) -
White Frosting
Nutrition Information
Yield
12Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 50Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 2mgSodium 34mgCarbohydrates 8gFiber 0gSugar 6gProtein 0g