4th of July Layer Cake

Prepare vanilla cake batter, divide into three bowls—leave one white, color one red, and one blue using gel food coloring.

Gently fold in the colorings without overmixing.

Bake each layer in 8-inch pans at 350°F for 20-23 minutes, then cool completely.

Beat cold butter for 5-7 minutes until pale and creamy, add powdered sugar gradually, alternating with vanilla and cream, then beat for an extra 3-5 minutes.

Level the cake layers and stack: blue at the bottom, then buttercream, white layer, more buttercream, and the red layer on top.

Apply a thin crumb coat and chill the cake for 20-30 minutes.

Create a tricolor ombre frosting effect by piping red, white, and blue stripes using plastic wrap in a piping bag fitted with a star tip.

Decorate with red, white, and blue sprinkles and piped stars or swirls for a playful finish.

Store at room temperature in a cake carrier or refrigerate if it’s hot, bringing to room temperature before serving.

For clean slices, dip your knife in hot water and wipe between cuts.