4th of July Cupcakes with a Frosting Trick You Need to Know!

4th of July Cupcakes are the life of the holiday! With a special trick these red white and blue frosted cupcakes are SO easy too!

You might dismiss this recipe as something you don’t need until July. But WAIT!

This is a perfect 4^th of July dessert recipe BUT what makes it special is an easy frosting trick for three-color frosting you won’t want to miss.

So, whether you are looking for 4^th of July Cupcakes, patriotic cupcakes for Memorial Day or a hack to create awe-inspiring cupcakes all year long, you have to read this post!

4^th of July Cupcakes

There is something exciting about creating recipes (and eating them) for festive holiday food. Fourth of July recipes are no different.

The red, white and blue always feels like summer, fireworks, picnics, friends and family.

Want to know what makes THESE 4^th of July Cupcakes different?

They are SO easy…. but from looking at them you’d never guess it.

Cake Mix Cupcakes

These 4^th of July Cupcakes are made with a mix. No shame in that.

Holidays are busy and a little shortcut never hurt anyone.

Use your favorite mix (I used white cake mix for the July 4^th color palette). Can be a regular or gluten-free mix too.

If you have a favorite from-scratch cupcake recipe you prefer, use that!

If you are wanting red white and blue all the way, try this 4th of July cake recipe but make cupcakes instead!

Three Color Frosting TRICK

A beautifully frosted cupcake always grabs attention. It also usually leaves me thinking ‘I could never do that’.

You absolutely CAN make this red white and blue frosting. You’ll never guess how easy it is.

Red and blue gel food coloring are spread in a stripe inside a piping bag fit with a star tip.

Space is left between them.

When the white buttercream frosting is added to the bag, red white and blue frosting is piped onto the cupcakes!

It seriously couldn’t be easier.

Ingredients in 4^th of July Cupcakes

The ingredients for this recipe are really focused on the buttercream frosting which is made from scratch.

Either a regular or gluten-free white cake mix can be used.

• Box white cake mix, (with ingredients specified on the box for preparation)
• Unsalted butter
• Confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
• Heavy whipping cream
• Vanilla extract
• Red and blue gel food coloring
• Sprinkles (optional)

Supplies needed:

• Cupcake liners
• Piping bag with a star tip (a gallon plastic zipper bag can be substituted for the piping bag)

NOTE: I used Wilton 1M tip.

Finding Gluten-Free White Cake Mix

Believe it or not, white cake mix is the unicorn of the gluten-free cake landscape. 

After searching when needing a gluten-free white cake mix, I found Bob’s Red Mill YELLOW cake mix has instructions for making a white cake that works great.

How to Make 4th of July Cupcakes – Step by Step:

Refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post for recipe details.

• Add cupcake liners to a muffin pan. Prepare the box cake mix per the instructions on the package (photos 1-4).

• Scoop batter into the prepared pan (photos 5-6). Bake per package instructions.
• After baking, cool cupcakes for 5 minutes in the pan (photo 7)  then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely (photo 8).
• Prepare the buttercream frosting as described in the recipe card below.

• Spread some red gel food coloring along one side of the piping bag.
• Repeat with blue gel food coloring on the opposite side leaving clean space in between
• Add in the white buttercream into the prepared piping bag.

• Pipe a generous amount of frosting on each cupcake in a spiral.
• Top with sprinkles if desired.

If you need some frosting ‘how to’ guidance this video should help!

How to Store Buttercream Frosting cupcakes

Store the 4th of July cupcakes in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

If storing longer or in hot or humid conditions, store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 1 week. 

Cupcakes can dry out in the refrigerator which is why their life span is short!

More Recipes You’ll Love

• Patriotic Fruit Salads
• American Flag Fruit Cookie Dessert Pizza
• All American Berry Buttermilk Shortcake
• Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes for Easter!

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4th of July Cupcakes

These red white and blue frosted cupcakes are a win every time. A simple trick makes them SO EASY to make you'll never believe it! Can be adapted with different colors for other occasions.

5 from 24 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 4th of july cupcakes, red white and blue cupcakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 24 cupcakes

Calories: 265kcal

Author: Toni Dash

Ingredients

• 1 box white cake mix with ingredients on box for preparation
• 1 ½ cups (3 sticks) Unsalted butter at room temperature
• 4 cups confectioners sugar
• 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• Red and blue gel food coloring
• Piping bag with a star tip a plastic zipper bag can be substituted
• Sprinkles optional

Instructions

Baking the Cupcakes

• Add cupcake liners to a muffin pan.
• Prepare the cupcake batter according to the mix instructions. Bake as directed.
• After baking, cool cupcakes for 5 minutes in the pan then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• While the cupcakes are cooling prepare the frosting.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer (or using a hand mixer) beat the butter until light and fluffy.
• Add the vanilla. Beat to mix in.
• Add in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating to completely combine.
• Add in the heavy whipping cream. NOTE: If the frosting is too thick add more cream 1 tablespoon at a time.
• Once all ingredients are combined, mix on high speed for 4-5 minutes.

Preparing the Piping Bag & Frosting the Cupcakes

• Using a food-safe brush or dining spoon, spread some red gel food coloring along one side of the piping bag.
• Repeat with blue gel food coloring on the opposite side leaving clean space in between (refer to photo)
• Add in the white buttercream into the prepared piping bag.
• Test pipe some frosting onto a paper towel until the red and blue color come through on the frosting.
• Pipe a generous amount of frosting on each cupcake in a spiral.
• Top with sprinkles if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 152mg | Potassium: 17mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 375IU | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 0.4mg