The outside of this cake was gorgeous but the unexpected treat awaited inside. The first cut revealed layers of blue and red velvet sandwiched between cream cheese frosting.
A few months ago, my husband became an American citizen. He has lived here for years but rather than continuing to renew his green card, he made it official and got a blue passport to add to his collection. He already has Dutch and Greek passports so he added the American one to the pile calling it his “Jason Bourne” passport.
Americans tend to be quite patriotic and through my husband’s naturalization process, I saw the best of the American spirit. When I announced that I would be hosting a big BBQ to celebrate, my talented friends came out of the woodwork with generous offerings. I am fortunate to know a designer who can design personalized plastic beer cups, a floral expert who delivered gorgeous red, white and blue arrangements, an event planner who supplied tables and patriotic linens and a very talented chef/baker who suggested a flag cake.
My friend Kathy writes the blog Stresscake. Like me, she finds baking terrifically relaxing. Unfortunately, some of her baking skills were perfected in the middle of the night when she couldn’t sleep. She would often show up at work with fruit tarts and flakey pastries. It was hard not to feel entirely excited when her baked goods made my mouth sing with pleasure… part of me knew it was at the cost of a sleepless night.
When Kathy offered to make a flag cake, I suspected that we were in for a treat. She is the type of person who always pulls through, is there when you need her and goes above and beyond, not to mention she has never made a baked good that is short of spectacular. (side note: check out these mini cookies that she makes every holiday)
With over 70 guests attending, Kathy planned for a half sheet cake. She brought it over about an hour into the party so anticipation and excitement for the much talked about cake was building. I anxiously awaited as she drove up to the house in her cute, vanilla colored Mini Cooper and popped the back hatch. When she pulled the cake out, I nearly lost my breath. Neat rows of picture perfect raspberries were divided by piped cream cheese stripes. Carefully placed blueberries sat atop the nearly 4 inch high beauty. As she carried her masterpiece into the backyard, the crowd parted making way for the flag cake of all flag cakes.
As I gathered a knife and utensils to cut the cake, one of our 5-year-old guests announced that he had recently learned the words to the national anthem and thought this might be an appropriate occasion to sing it. I concurred. After I quieted the crowd and said a few words, I noticed that the little fellow had taken a stance in front of the cake, shoulders back, chin up, ready for song. He led the group in a stirring rendition of our national tune. Just writing about it plucks my patriotic heart strings again.
As if the fruit decor, mounds of cream cheese frosting and unexpected anthem were not enough, we were in for the final surprise. Cutting into the cake revealed that Kathy had layered up red & blue velvet cake with additional cream cheese frosting. Fireworks of excitement buzzed through the crowd. The flavor was delectable, the design impeccable and the love contagious.
With 4th of July just around the corner, I thought you might find some inspiration from Kathy’s cake. Keep your eyes on her blog for the recipe here. My new all-American family is looking forward to the upcoming holiday weekend. I will be especially thankful this year. Despite the many problems this country has, I am so thankful for all of our freedoms and opportunities. And, I am thankful that my life is filled with the type of people who help me throw awesome parties, who teach their kids to proudly sing the national anthem and who make the best flag cakes of all time.
June 29th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
[...] hey! Be sure to click over to Caroline’s post on the wonderful [...]
June 30th, 2010 at 5:49 am
Wow, it looks like the kid had the right idea. Three layers? Red AND blue velvet? Extra layers of cream cheese frosting…in a sheet cake?! I would definitely salute this thing too.
Congratulations to your husband! What an exciting event. :)
June 30th, 2010 at 5:58 am
LOVED this post! You “plucked my patriotic heart strings” as well. What a sweet day you must have had.
June 30th, 2010 at 11:56 am
I love the creativity of concocting a blue velvet to go with the red velvet and be complimented by the white as well! Truly patriotic!
July 1st, 2010 at 7:38 am
That looks yummy and beautiful!!!
July 1st, 2010 at 12:37 pm
what an awesome story, caroline! and yes – great connections you have :).
the cake looks amazing, and it doesn’t hurt that red velvet is may favorite cake of all time. congrats to you and your husband for a big accomplishment :)
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:11 am
It was an amazing party and the flag cake was by far the best cake I have ever tasted. Also, Eero would like to stand corrected on his age. As Eero says it he is 4 and a quarter.
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:54 am
This looks so freaking good I’m salivating at my desk!!!
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:27 pm
[...] The Flag Cake of All Flag Cakes [...]
July 6th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
what a perfect way to ring in your husband’s new blue passport!
July 6th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Jeez, at first I thought that you baked this along with everything else you have going on, and again I was going to praise your Wonder Woman-ness. Nice to know you let someone else bake dessert. Not that you couldn’t have done it all. Have any suggestions for Penelope’s first birthday cake? (No, I’m not shying away from the beauty of sugar.)
July 7th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
noooooooo way!!! that’s so cool! give seals a good ol’ American punch in the arm from me and say “Yankee doodle dandy”.
July 7th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Awesome awesome post, as usual sweets :) You cats are the best. I was more than pleased, no make that honored, to do this one silly little thing to celebrate Seals big day. You rock.
July 9th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Hmmmm…I’m planning on a similar party for my husband and this cake would be perfect. Love it.
August 30th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
too bad valerie pelis husband is an illegal immigrant. lets make him a cake!
December 20th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Thanks for idea Caroline. I know this is long after you posted it, but I saved this back in the summer and am excited to have an occasion for a flag cake now that DT is home! Happy Holidays.
July 3rd, 2011 at 8:02 am
Ultimate Red White and Blue American Flag Cake…
Anyone can make an American flag cake with icing or fruits on top to create the red, white and blue design. But it takes a little next level thinking and cake skills to make one that not only has the flag design on top but also has a layered red, white…