How to Make a July 4th Berry Cake

These red, white and blue berry cakes are perfect for the fourth of July or any summer celebration.

By: Zoë François

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July 4th Berry Cakes

The ultimate July 4th meal is eaten outside. It doesn't matter where — sitting on your front porch, on a picnic blanket in the park, on a city roof or beachside — so long as you're enjoying a warm summer night under the stars (and if you're lucky, watching fireworks). These red, white and blue cakes are the perfect ending for your festive meal. In addition to having the star-spangled palette, the cakes' brown butter icing will hold up well at your alfresco gathering.

Click here for the printable recipe ingredients.

Get the Recipe: Fourth of July Berry Cake

To Make the Cake

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Grease three 6-inch cake pans (or a 9-by-12-inch rectangular pan) with butter. Cut parchment circles to fit into the pans, and then butter the parchment.

Whisk together the cake flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, cream together 1 3/4 cups of the sugar and the stick of butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn down the speed to medium low and slowly drizzle the oil into the creamed butter. Add the yolks one at a time, then the whole eggs, mixing after each. Add the vanilla and blend. Alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk into the batter, starting and ending with the flour.

In a separate, very clean bowl, whisk the 2 egg whites until foamy, then slowly sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup sugar over them as you whip the whites to medium peak. Fold the whites into the cake batter.

Divide the batter evenly among the pans. Bake until a tester comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Allow to cool completely before removing from the pans.

To Make the Brown Butter Icing

In a saucepan, melt the butter. Cover the pan and allow to cook over medium-low heat.

Cook until the butter starts to turn golden brown, about 5 minutes.

Strain the browned butter through a fine-mesh sieve.

Allow the butter to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour (this can be done the day before and left out at room temperature).

Sift the powdered sugar to make sure there are no lumps.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, cream the brown butter with the powdered sugar. Add the vanilla and salt. If the icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar. If it is too thick, add a tablespoon of heavy cream or milk.

Using a sharp, serrated knife, cut off the top crust of the cake layers. Slice each layer into 2 even layers.

Cover the first layer with a 1/8-inch-deep layer of icing. Cover with blueberries and raspberries and then cover with another 1/8-inch-deep layer of icing.

Repeat this with another layer of cake, icing, berries and icing, then top with a third layer of cake. Repeat these steps to assemble the second cake.

Ice the outsides of the cakes and then decorate the tops of the cakes with berries.

Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. (Allow the cakes to come to room temperature before serving.)

These berry-topped cakes make the perfect, festive dessert for your outdoor July 4th party or any alfresco summer event.

Get the Recipe: Fourth of July Berry Cake