Fluffy July 4th Desserts with Cream Cheese Frosting
A light, airy cake paired with smooth cream cheese frosting, perfect for summer celebrations and backyard gatherings. This recipe balances fluffy texture with creamy, tangy frosting for a festive yet approachable dessert.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (310 grams)
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (227 grams), softened
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar (350 grams)
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk (240 ml)
- ½ cup buttermilk (120 ml)
- 8 oz cream cheese (225 grams), softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter (113 grams), softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar (360 grams), sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
- Fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries) for decoration
- Edible red, white, and blue sprinkles or star-shaped decorations
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour your baking pans or line them with parchment paper.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Using a mixer, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Alternate adding the dry ingredients and milk to the batter, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Fold gently with a spatula to maintain airiness.
- Stir in the buttermilk carefully.
- Pour the batter evenly into prepared pans and smooth the tops.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes for round pans or 40-45 minutes for a sheet pan, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the cream cheese frosting by beating cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Gradually add sifted powdered sugar on low speed, then increase speed and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in vanilla extract and lemon zest.
- Frost the cooled cake evenly on top and sides if layered. Decorate with fresh berries and patriotic sprinkles if desired.
Notes
Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Do not overmix batter after adding flour to keep cake light. If frosting is too soft, chill for 15 minutes before spreading. For gluten-free, substitute flour with almond or oat flour. For dairy-free, use vegan cream cheese and plant-based milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of c
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
Keywords: July 4th dessert, cream cheese frosting, fluffy cake, summer dessert, patriotic dessert, easy cake recipe