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Home » Fourth of July

Patriotic Mini Cakes

Published: Jun 30, 2021 · Modified: Jun 15, 2022 by Kristina Tipps · This post may contain affiliate links for which I earn a small commission.

Jump to Recipe

Make star-shaped Patriotic Mini Cakes for your 4th of July and Memorial Day parties. They are especially fun for kids to help make and decorate. Instructions are included for the oven, air fryer, and pressure cooker. So whether you're home, travelling, or living it up in your camper, you'll be able to make these quick and easy mini cakes!

red white and blue patriotic mini cakes on a white plate with vanilla glaze and sprinkles

Patriotic Mini Cakes are such an easy, fun, and delicious dessert to bring to barbecues during the summer. It's always fun to add some red, white and blue foods to your 4th of July and Memorial Day parties!

They are incredibly simple to put together. All you need is a box of white cake mix, food coloring, a homemade vanilla glaze and sprinkles, plus star-shaped silicone molds.

I use these molds that resemble bundt pans with holes in the center. These types of holders cook the mini cakes quicker than traditional muffin cups.

I also use the shaped molds that resemble fireworks, like you see in the picture below.

star shaped red white and blue mini cakes on a cooling rack
Mini Patriotic Cakes

Make them in your air fryer, Instant Pot, or oven. No matter which method you choose, they'll be done in less than 30 minutes.

Mix the cake batter, dye it red and blue, cook and add glaze. A perfect little treat, and one of the cutest desserts, for your 4th of July party.

Baking Times

Air Fryer: 5 minutes at 350 degrees F

Instant Pot: 10 minutes at high pressure

Oven: 10 minutes at 350 degrees F

You can also use star-shaped (or other shapes) muffin cups without holes in the center, but you'll likely need to increase the cook time a bit.

And get the kids to help! They will love mixing the batter and loading them up with sprinkles!

close up of a red star mini cake
Patriotic Mini Star Cake

More Patriotic Recipes You'll Love

  • Patriotic Charcuterie Board
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  • Summer Berry Salad with Yogurt Dressing
  • Red White and Blue Bundt Cake

Directions

The steps for making, baking, and decorating these mini cakes is the same whether you are using the air fryer, pressure cooker, or oven.

Only the cook time will change.

  • red white and blue cake batter in separate bowls
  • star shaped red white and blue mini cakes on a cooling rack

Follow these steps:

  1. Mix the cake batter according to the package instructions.
  2. Divide into 3 bowls. Add blue and red food coloring to 1 bowl each of batter, using enough to obtain the shade that you want.
  3. Pour the batter into the molds filling half way.
  4. Bake using the suggestions cooking times for your method below.

Air Fryer

  1. Set to air fry on 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.
  2. Check with a toothpick and if done, remove with tongs and cool for 5 minutes before removing from the molds. If not done, continue cooking in 1 minute increments.

Instant Pot

  1. Add the correct amount of water for your size pot to the inner pot. Insert a trivet and place filled molds on trivet. Cover with foil.
  2. Close and seal the lid. Set to pressure cook on high for 10 minutes.
  3. Quickly release the pressure and remove molds using tongs.

Oven

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Arrange molds on a baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes. Use a toothpick to check for doneness. If not done, continue cooking in 2 minute increments.
  2. Remove from oven and let cool before popping cakes out of the molds.

Making the Glaze

  1. While the cakes cool, melt butter until very hot. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, stirring until combined. Add milk and vanilla extract, and blend until smooth.
  2. Pour onto the mini cakes in any pattern you'd like. Immediately add sprinkles on top of glaze, before it hardens.
mini patriotic cakes on a white plate with vanilla glaze and sprinkles

Then serve and enjoy!

Storing

Keep your glazed cakes in the fridge until ready to serve. They will keep up to 3 days covered. Don't leave them on the counter- the glaze will soften.

I hope you enjoy these delicious patriotic mini cakes! Please let me know what you thought in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to give it a star rating and let me know what you thought in the comments! And follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for more delicious recipes!

Recipe

mini patriotic cakes on a white plate with vanilla glaze and sprinkles

Patriotic Mini Cakes

Kristina Tipps
Make star-shaped Patriotic Mini Cakes for your 4th of July and Memorial Day parties. They are especially fun for kids to help make and decorate. Instructions are included for the oven, air fryer, and pressure cooker. So whether you're home, travelling, or living it up in your camper, you'll be able to make these quick and easy mini cakes!
5 from 11 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes minutes
Cooling Time 5 minutes minutes
Total Time 20 minutes minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 30 mini cakes
Calories 110 kcal

Equipment

  • silicone star molds

Ingredients

  • 1 box of white cake mix + ingredients in instructions
  • red food coloring
  • blue food coloring
  • patriotic sprinkles
  • 4 tablespoon melted butter
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl make the cake mix according to the package instructions. Remove 1 cup of batter to a bowl and add blue food coloring, stirring and adding more until it reaches your desired shade of blue. Remove 1 more cup to a separate bowl and repeat the above steps with the red food coloring.
  • Pour different color batters into the molds, filling half way. Follow the below instructions for your chosen cooking method.
  • Air Fryer: Set to air fry on 350 degrees F for 5 minutes. Put the molds into the air fryer. When time is up, check with a toothpick and if done, remove with tongs. If not done, continue cooking in 1 minute increments.
    Instant Pot: Add the correct amount of water for your size pot to the inner pot. Insert a trivet and place filled molds on trivet. Cover with foil. Close and seal the lid. Set to pressure cook on high for 10 minutes. Quickly release the pressure and remove molds using tongs.
    Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Arrange molds on a baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes. Use a toothpick to check for doneness. If not done, continue cooking in 2 minute increments.
  • Make the glaze. While cakes cool, melt the butter in a large bowl until very hot. Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing until combined. Add milk and the vanilla extract. mix until smooth.
  • Pop the cakes out of the molds and transfer to a plate. Drizzle glaze over the cakes and top with sprinkles immediately, before glaze hardens. Serve immediately or keep cakes in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Video

Notes

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 
Make sure to use mini molds that resemble bundt pans with holes in the center for the quickest cooking time. These types of holders cook the mini cakes quicker than traditional muffin cups.

Nutrition

Serving: 1mini cakeCalories: 110kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 134mgPotassium: 13mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 49IUCalcium: 40mgIron: 1mg
Did you try this recipe?Give a shout out to @tastyovenrecipes or tag #tastyovenrecipes!

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Comments

    5 from 11 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Addie

    July 01, 2021 at 9:39 pm

    5 stars
    So fun and festive! And yummy too!

    Reply
  2. Anaiah

    June 30, 2021 at 9:57 pm

    5 stars
    These little star shaped mini cakes were so cute and fun to make! My son loved them.

    Reply
  3. Jeannie

    June 30, 2021 at 9:56 pm

    5 stars
    so cute and colorful!

    Reply

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