Hamdi Saidani This Pioneer Woman American Flag Cake is a moist and patriotic recipe, which is made with a tender honey and yogurt cake, and decorated with fresh berries to look like the American flag. It’s the perfect dessert for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or any summer celebration.
Pioneer Woman American Flag Cake Ingredients
A fresh, festive, and wholesome combination for a patriotic dessert.
For the Honey Yogurt Cake:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup honey
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt, at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups white whole wheat flour (or all-purpose)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons milk, at room temperature
For the Frosting and Decoration:
- 12 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), at room temperature
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 ⅓ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 2-3 cups sliced fresh strawberries
How To Make Pioneer Woman American Flag Cake
A step-by-step guide to this stunning and delicious patriotic sheet cake.
- Prep Oven and Pan: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Generously grease and lightly flour an 11×17-inch half-sheet pan.
- Mix the Cake Batter: In a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the honey, then the eggs and vanilla. The mixture may look curdled, which is normal. Beat in the Greek yogurt.
- Combine and Bake: In a separate bowl, whisk together both flours, the baking soda, and salt. On low speed, alternate adding the dry ingredients and the milk to the main batter, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Bake the Cake: Spread the batter in a thin, even layer in the prepared pan. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Make the Frosting: While the cake cools, beat the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, yogurt, and vanilla together in a clean mixer bowl on medium speed until smooth and combined.
- Decorate the Flag: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the completely cooled cake. Arrange the blueberries in a neat square in the top left corner to create the “stars” section of the flag. Line the sliced strawberries in horizontal rows to create the red “stripes.”
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the decorated cake until you are ready to serve.
Recipe Tips
For the most beautiful and delicious flag cake.
- How to get a moist, tender cake? The combination of honey, buttermilk, and Greek yogurt in this recipe creates a wonderfully soft, moist, and tender crumb. Using room temperature ingredients is also key for a smooth, well-emulsified batter.
- Can I make this ahead of time? Yes! This is a great cake to prep in stages. The unfrosted cake can be baked and stored, tightly covered, at room temperature for up to a day. The frosting can also be made a day ahead and refrigerated. Just let the frosting come to room temperature for easier spreading and decorate the cake a few hours before serving.
- How to get clean stripes with the strawberries? For the neatest “stripes,” try to use strawberries that are similar in size. Slice them evenly and pat them dry with a paper towel before arranging them on the frosting. This prevents the red juice from bleeding onto the white frosting.
- Can I use different fruits? For the flag design, blueberries and strawberries (or raspberries) are the classic and most effective choice. If you’re not making a flag, any combination of fresh berries would be delicious on this cake.
What To Serve With American Flag Cake
This festive cake is the star of the dessert table.
This patriotic cake is a centerpiece dessert perfect for any summer holiday gathering. It is perfect served on its own, but also lovely with:
- A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream
- A dollop of extra whipped cream
- A glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade
How To Store American Flag Cake
Keeping your beautiful creation fresh.
- Refrigerate: Due to the cream cheese frosting and fresh fruit topping, this cake must be stored in the refrigerator. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap. It is at its best within the first 3 days.
Pioneer Woman American Flag Cake Nutrition Facts
An estimated guide per slice.
- Calories: 232 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Fat: 10 g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Can I use all all-purpose flour?
Yes. The recipe notes that you can substitute the 1 1/4 cups of white whole wheat flour with an equal amount of all-purpose flour. If you do this, you should reduce the amount of milk slightly.
My cream cheese frosting is runny. How can I fix it?
A runny cream cheese frosting is usually because the cream cheese or butter was too soft. You can fix this by chilling the frosting in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to help it firm up. You can also beat in a little more powdered sugar to thicken it.
Can I bake this in a different pan?
Yes, but you will need to adjust the baking time. A standard 9×13-inch pan would work, but the cake will be much thicker, so it will need to bake for longer, likely around 30-35 minutes.
Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
- Pioneer Woman Texas Sheet Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Fruit Cake Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Eggnog Cake Recipe
Pioneer Woman American Flag Cake Recipe
Description
A moist and tender honey-yogurt sheet cake topped with a light cream cheese frosting and decorated with fresh blueberries and strawberries to create a beautiful and delicious American flag.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour an 11×17-inch sheet pan.
- Cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the honey, then the eggs, vanilla, and yogurt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flours, baking soda, and salt.
- Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the milk to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 18-22 minutes. Cool completely.
- For the frosting, beat the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, yogurt, and vanilla until smooth.
- Spread the frosting over the cooled cake.
- Create the flag design by arranging the blueberries in a square in the top-left corner and the sliced strawberries in rows for the stripes. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- u003cliu003eUsing room temperature ingredients (butter, eggs, yogurt, milk) is key for a smooth cake batter.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eThis is a perfect make-ahead cake; the unfrosted cake and the frosting can be prepared a day in advance.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eFor the neatest flag design, pat the sliced strawberries dry before placing them on the frosting to prevent the juice from bleeding.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eStore the finished cake, covered, in the refrigerator.u003c/liu003e
