Trader Joe's Flag Cake Hack (Easy 4th of July Dessert)
This easy Trader Joe's Patriotic Cake is the ultimate no-bake 4th of July dessert! Simply combine two Trader Joe's Mini Sheet Cakes, smooth the frosting together, and decorate with fresh blueberries and raspberries to create a festive American flag. Perfect for BBQs, potlucks, and summer parties.
Ingredients
- 2 18 ounce Trader Joe's Mini Sheet Cakes, (Strawberry or Vanilla)
- 1 pint fresh blueberries
- 1 pint fresh raspberries
Equipment
- 1 large platter to hold 2 small sheet cakes
Instructions
- Place a large serving platter or tray on your work surface. Wash the blueberries and raspberries, drain well, and pat dry.
- Run a knife around the edges of each mini sheet cake. Use a spatula to gently loosen and lift each cake from its container.
- Place the cakes side by side on the platter, pushing them together to create one large cake.
- Using an offset spatula or frosting knife, spread the frosting evenly over the center seam until the cakes look like one continuous sheet cake.
- Arrange the blueberries in the upper left corner to form the "stars" section of the American flag (about 6 berries across and 5 rows down).
- Place the raspberries in horizontal rows across the cake to create the flag's red stripes, gently pressing the berries into the frosting.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Slice and serve chilled. Delicious on its own or with a scoop of Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.
Notes
Sandy's Tips and Substitutions:
- Use any Trader Joe's Mini Sheet Cake flavor. Strawberry is perfect for the 4th of July, but vanilla, chocolate, lemon, or seasonal flavors all work beautifully.
- Not a fan of extra frosting? Before removing the cakes from their containers, use a knife or offset spatula to remove about half of the frosting. You'll still have plenty to smooth the cakes together and hold the berries in place.
- Add whipped cream. For an extra festive touch, pipe whipped cream between the raspberry rows for bright white "stripes" on your American flag cake.
- Pat the berries dry. Dry blueberries and raspberries stick better to the frosting and help prevent the colors from bleeding.
- Make it ahead. Assemble the cake a few hours before serving, cover, and refrigerate until party time.
- Switch up the fruit. If raspberries aren't available, sliced strawberries make beautiful red stripes, and blueberries are a must for the stars section. You can also use blackberries in place of blueberries.