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slice of fireworks cake
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5 from 4 votes

Fireworks Cake

Make a Fireworks Cake for a patriotic Fourth of July Dessert. Layers of Red Velvet Cake and cream cheese frosting mixed with homemade funfetti cake and vanilla frosting make this the perfect patriotic dessert recipe!
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time2 hours
Servings: 20 servings
Calories: 720kcal
Author: Dorothy Kern

Ingredients

Red Velvet Cake (or use a cake mix):

  • 1 ⅔ 206g cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup 198g granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup 237ml buttermilk
  • 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon red food coloring

Funfetti Cake (or use a cake mix):

  • 1 cup 124g all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup 113g unsalted buter, melted
  • ¾ cup 154g granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ 7ml tablespoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup 166 ml buttermilk
  • ½ cup sprinkles any colors

Cream Cheese Frosting (or use canned):

  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup 113g butter, room temperature
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups 452g powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Vanilla Frosting (or use canned):

  • 1 cup 227g unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups 452g powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon 15 ml vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2-5 tablespoons 30-75ml heavy whipping cream
  • 24 ounces Sprinkles any color, for coating

Instructions

Make the red velvet cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 9-inch cake rounds.
  • Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa, and salt in a large bowl.
  • Whisk buttermilk, oil, vinegar, and vanilla in a large measuring cup and whisk into dry ingredients until combined. Stir in food coloring carefully.
  • Pour batter into one of the prepared pans. Bake for 20-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

Make the Funfetti Cake:

  • Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
  • Mix butter and sugar on medium speed in a large bowl using a hand or a stand mixer until smooth. Mix in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla.
  • Add the buttermilk alternately with the dry ingredients, mixing between each, starting and ending with the buttermilk, and mixing just until the batter comes together. Stir in sprinkles.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs sticking too it. Cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • Beat butter and cream cheese with a hand mixer in a large bowl until smooth, then mix in salt.
  • Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time and beat in between each addition. Add vanilla and continue mixing a smooth frosting forms.

Vanilla Frosting:

  • Beat butter with a hand or a stand mixer until creamy. Slowly add in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until a crumbly mixture forms.
  • Mix in vanilla and salt, then add 2 tablespoons heavy cream. Mix until smooth, adding more cream until you reach your desired consistency.

Assemble Cake:

  • Torte each cake layer.
  • Place red velvet cake layer on cake plate. Frost with half the cream cheese frosting. Top with half the funfetti cake and frost with one quarter of the vanilla frosting. Repeat layers.
  • Frost the entire cake with a light layer of vanilla frosting.
  • Place the cake so one side of it is over the kitchen sink. Use your hands to press handfuls of sprinkles into the sides and all over the top of the cake.
  • Chill until set. Serve room temperature.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 720kcal | Carbohydrates: 114g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 387mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 84g