Description
Nothing says summer celebrations quite like a batch of festive cupcakes, and when those cupcakes burst with the vibrant red, white, and blue of the American flag, the party spirit truly ignites! These easy 4th of July cupcakes are perfect for any Independence Day gathering, with fluffy vanilla bases and swirled buttercream frosting that’s fun to decorate and irresistible to eat.
Ingredients
Scale
- Cupcakes:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large egg whites
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ounces white chocolate (optional, for added richness)
- Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2–3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- Red, white, and blue gel food coloring (gel colors work best for vibrant hues)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line cupcake pans with paper liners.
- Cream softened butter with granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Whisk egg whites in a separate bowl until soft peaks form.
- Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda in another bowl.
- Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to butter mixture, starting and ending with flour mixture.
- Fold in vanilla extract and melted white chocolate if using.
- Gently fold whipped egg whites into batter using a spatula to keep it light and fluffy.
- Spoon batter into liners about two-thirds full.
- Bake for 19-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool cupcakes completely on a wire rack before frosting.
- Beat butter until creamy and smooth for frosting.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition.
- Add vanilla extract and whipping cream, beat until fluffy and spreadable.
- Divide frosting into three bowls; leave one plain (white), color others with red and blue gel food coloring.
- Lay plastic wrap on counter, spread stripes of each color side-by-side lengthwise.
- Roll plastic wrap into a log and twist ends to secure.
- Cut one end and place frosting “rope” into a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
- Pipe red, white, and blue swirl frosting onto each cupcake, creating a festive swirl pattern.
- Sprinkle with edible stars, glitter, or patriotic sprinkles for extra flair.
Notes
Use gel food coloring for the brightest colors. Double the recipe for large gatherings or freeze extras for later. Kids love helping decorate with edible stars and glitter.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg