Firecracker Cake

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Firecracker Cake will be the star of your 4th of July celebration. Make this red white and blue bundt cake with 5 ingredients, then bake, decorate, and celebrate!! The perfect holiday dessert!

fireworks themed July 4th cake


 

A simple, delicious treat gets a holiday twist with this firecracker cake recipe. It’s so tender and moist that no one will know it was made with a box mix!

ingredients to make firecracker cake

Firecracker Cake

Instant pudding adds plenty of flavor, while fresh egg whites and a can of Sprite create an irresistibly fluffy texture.

Want to create a stunning display of desserts? Place this 4th of July cake in the center of your table along with a big bowl of cheesecake fruit salad and these gorgeous red white and blue popsicles.

Triple Berry Parfaits are a great option for guests who want something healthier, and you could even add a tray of Stars and Stripes layered shots for the adults to indulge in.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Cake Mix – White cake mix is a must for your 4th of July dessert to turn out right. Any other flavor will affect the colors of the batter.
  • Pudding – Any brand of instant pudding will work for red white and blue bundt cake, but it needs to be vanilla, white chocolate, or cheesecake flavor.
  • Sprite – You’ll want a clear lemon-lime variety like Sprite, 7-Up, or Sierra Mist. Avoid Mountain Dew — it’s the wrong flavor and has added color. 

    If you only have mini cans (7.5oz), just make up the difference with water.
3 bowls of cake batter, one colored red and one colored blue

Red White and Blue Cake Tips and Tricks

  • Skip the yolks. Again, anything that isn’t clear or white will affect the color of the batter, making it impossible to get a red white and blue cake.
  • Tip for coloring batter: Mix in a small amount and let it rest for 10-15 minutes before deciding if you need to add more.

    Gels will deepen over time, so aim for a shade or two lighter than you want the finished firecracker cake to be.
  • Let it cool. If the red white and blue bundt cake is too hot when decorating, it will simply absorb the icing altogether.

    It should be slightly warmer than room temperature for best results.
red, white, and blue cake batter swirled in bundt pan

What You’ll Need For This 4th of July Cake

  • Bundt Pan – This is one of my favorite brands because the special nonstick coating means you don’t have to spray or flour your pan first!
  • Stand mixer or large mixing bowl with a hand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment
  • Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
  • Gel Food Coloring creates vibrant hues without affecting the consistency of the batter. The Wilton Color Performance line is another great option and may be available in stores.
  • Cookie Scoops – These make it easier to alternate the different colors and cause fewer drips than using a spoon.

4th of July Dessert FAQ

Can I change the colors in firecracker cake?

You sure can! What’s great about this recipe is that it can be adapted for any holiday celebration.

Having one bowl of batter remain white adds a nice contrast, but feel free to color all three bowls with whichever combination matches your theme.

Can I do solid red white and blue cake layers instead?

While I haven’t tried it myself, I don’t see why not!

Because the base of the pan is wider than the top, you may want to use a little less batter for whichever color you will be pouring in first.

Otherwise, the layers of your 4th of July cake may be different heights once baked.

colorful bundt cake topped with icing and sprinkles

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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slice of red white and blue bundt cake with frosting and sprinkles

slice of red white and blue cake

Firecracker Cake

Donna Elick
Firecracker Cake is the star of any 4th of July celebration. Make the batter with 5 ingredients, then decorate with icing and sprinkles!
5 stars from 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Method Oven
Servings 12

Ingredients
 

  • 15 ounce box white cake mix
  • 3.4 ounce box instant pudding mix, can use vanilla, white chocolate, or cheesecake flavor
  • 4 large egg whites
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 8 ounces Sprite
  • Red food coloring
  • Blue food coloring

Icing

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons Sprite
  • Red white, and blue sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
  • In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, mix together the cake mix, pudding, and egg whites.
  • Beat in the vegetable oil until combined.
  • Gently mix in the soda on low speed until smooth.
  • Divide the batter into three separate bowls and color one them with red food coloring and one with blue and leave one plain.
  • Grease a 10-cup bundt pan (I used this one: https://amzn.to/2SCLsLD) and use small or medium cookie scoops or tablespoons or portion out the dough in the pan, alternating to try to put the different colors next to each other.
  • Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a cake tester comes clean from the thick part of the cake.
  • Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before flipping onto a cooling rack or plate to cool completely, about another 40 minutes before icing.
  • To make the icing, simply whisk together the sugar and soda until the desired consistency is reached. Then pour over the top of the cooled cake and top with sprinkles.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 357cal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 318mg | Sugar: 38g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled image (and shown): Firecracker Cake

Originally published June 2021. Updated and republished May 2023

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4 Comments

  1. Love this cake recipe! Cannot wait to try it for July 4th this year! Thank you Slow Roasted Italian for offering such terrific recipes and your expert advice on making them. I truly love your newsletters and Social Media posts!!

  2. Oh, MERCY! This cake looks delicious & an eye catcher as well! Thank you soooo much! God bless! 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    This cake impressed my family when I brought it over for a 4th of july bbq! Everyone was excited about it and it was gone so fast. It tasted just as good as it looked!

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