American Flag Cupcakes

These patriotic American Flag Cupcakes are the perfect treat for the 4th of July or Memorial day!

There are so many creative patriotic party treats to celebrate our country, like these American Flag Cupcakes! It's such a delicious recipe and the decorating is easy, but will look like you hired professional. These decadent chocolate cupcakes are frosted with a rich and colorful buttercream frosting. American Flag Cupcakes are pretty much our go-to for Memorial Day and 4th of July get-togethers, and I'd guess that they are a fan favorite since we never have any extra to bring home! I hope you get inspired to give this recipe a try!

These American Flag Cupcakes are are easy to make, and are a great patriotic dessert to share with your family or with friends at a Memorial Day or 4th of July party. Here's what you'll need:

(Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are found below)

For the chocolate cupcakes:

sugar: white granulated sugar helps the cupcakes to be as sweet as they can be!
all-purpose flour: gives cupcakes that cake-like consistency.
cocoa powder: a good quality dutch cocoa is going to give you a more rich and decadent chocolate cupcake
baking powder: this helps the cupcakes to rise while baking. Definitely do not skip this ingredient!
salt: this balances everything out to prevent an overly sweet cupcake.
eggs: egg helps the cupcakes to have a moist, soft crumb. 
milk: any milk will work, but I think whole milk helps to make an extra moist cupcake.
vegetable oil: 
vanilla extract: using a good quality vanilla is always recommended for a rich and pronounced flavor.

For the buttercream:

• powdered sugar: unlike granulated sugar, this is the right consistency to blend with the milk and, of course, sweetens the icing. 
• salted butter: for best results, the butter should definitely be room temperature.
• milk: any kind of dairy milk or even heavy cream for the icing will work to make the frosting creamy and smooth.
vanilla extract: using a good quality vanilla is always recommended for a rich and pronounced flavor.
• gel food coloring: be sure to gel food coloring, and not liquid. The gel is thicker and more concentrated to create bold red and blue colors. Liquid food coloring may not give you the same result.

You will also need a hand/stand mixer, mixing bowls, muffin tin, patriotic cupcake liners, piping bags, Wilton #13 tip and #32 tip, and nonstick spray.

Mix up the cupcake batter until all of the ingredients are combined. If you're feeling creative, you can add in additional surprises, like chocolate chips, nuts, or even mini marshmallows! Use a large scoop to fill cupcake liners about ¾ full and bake according to recipe directions.

Once baked, allow the cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack. After the cupcakes are cooled, use a toothpick to mark each section for decorating the cupcakes. The top 1/4 will be blue, just like the American flag. Next, mark equally-spaced lines to show where each stripe on the flag should go. You should be able to fit 6-7 stripes on each cupcake.

While the cupcakes are baking, whip up the vanilla buttercream frosting. Once mixed, separate the frosting into four bowls. In the first bowl, add about ¼ cup of frosting. Add ¾ cup of frosting to the second bowl, and then add blue gel food coloring. Set the remaining frosting aside for now.

Fill a piping bag fitted with a #13 star decorating tip with the ¼ cup white frosting from the small bowl. In another piping bag, add a #32 star decorating tip and fill it with the blue frosting.

Follow the marked guideline to pipe small blue stars to fill in the top left quarter of the cupcake. Next, pipe small, white stars inside the blue area.

*If you don't want to pipe the white stars, you can use star sprinkles instead.

Split the remaining frosting in half, and place in separate bowls. Leave one of the halves as-is (white), and then add some red food coloring to the other half. Mix the coloring in well and add more, if necessary, to get a vibrant red color.

Get two piping bags and fit a #32 tip into each one. Fill one bag with white frosting, and the other with red.

Pipe stars along each previously marked section to add the alternating red and white horizontal stripes on the cupcakes.

Once you've finished piping the frosting on the cupcakes, they are ready to be served at your patriotic parties! If you’re traveling or need to wait to serve the cupcakes, keep them fresh and contained in a cupcake carrier with a lid.

American Flag Cupcakes

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Chocolate Cupcake Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 ½ cups flour
• ¾ cups cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cups milk
• ¾ cups warm water
• ¼ cup oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Chocolate Cupcake Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F.
2. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners or spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
4. Add in liquid ingredients and combine well for about 2 minutes until smooth.
5. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling approximately ⅔ - ¾ full.
6. Bake 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before decorating.

Buttercream Frosting Ingredients:

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup butter, room temp
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• blue and red food coloring

Buttercream Frosting Directions:

1. Add the butter to a large mixing bowl and mix on high speed until creamy.
2. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk and beat until fluffy.
3. Separate ¼ cup of frosting in a small bowl.
4. Add ¾ cup of frosting to a separate bowl. Add blue gel food coloring and mix well until the color is incorporated. Set aside.
5. Add half of the remaining frosting into another bowl. Add red gel food coloring and mix well. Add more coloring, if necessary, to get a vibrant red color. Set aside.
   

Cupcake Decorating Directions:

1. Add a #13 star decorating tip to a piping bag, and fill it with the ¼ cup white frosting from the small bowl.
2. Fill another piping bag fitted with a #32 star decorating tip with the blue frosting.
3. Pipe about 9 stars of blue frosting to cover the top left ¼ of each cupcake.
4. Use the white frosting to add stars within the blue area.
5. Fill a piping bag fitted with a #32 tip with the remaining white frosting.
6. Add the red frosting to a second piping bag that has also been fitted with a #32 tip.
7. Pipe 6-7 alternating red and white stripes onto the cupcakes.
   *Tip: before piping the stripes, it helps to mark where you want them to go using small lines or dabs of frosting.

Tips:

• Storage: Refrigerate cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freeze: Cupcakes can be frozen for up to 3 months! Be sure that the cupcakes are completely cool, unfrosted. Wrap the cupcakes in plastic wrap and then place in a freezer bag. Thaw cupcakes in the fridge overnight or for a couple of hours at room temperature before frosting and serving.

These patriotic American Flag Cupcakes are going to be a hit at Memorial Day and 4th of July parties! Not only are they fun and simple to make, but they are SO yummy and the decorating looks professional. If you decide to give this recipe a try, I'd love to hear all about it! Please share your creations on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest!! 

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