These 4th of July cupcakes are festive and delicious! This easy cupcakes recipe is patriotic, fun, and simple, but they look like a professional made them. Your family and friends will love these 4th of July cupcakes. Rich frosting, soft cake, and fun and festive toppers…this is the ultimate and most American easy cupcakes recipe!

4th of July Cupcakes

A 4th of July BBQ just wouldn’t be the same without a tasty and festive dessert–like these easy & delicious 4th of July cupcakes!

Save time and use a boxed cake mix to make these flavorful, tender cupcakes, topped with the creamiest homemade buttercream frosting that melt in your mouth. These easy 4th of July cupcakes are the perfect way to celebrate other holidays like Memorial Day or any special occasion you need festive recipes that include red frosting, blue desserts, and fancy white icing.

These cupcake recipes are simple to make and so good after a BBQ. So don’t eat too many hot dogs, you don’t want to be too full for dessert. What I like about this recipe is that it doesn’t have blue cupcakes, or blue icing, red icing, or a ton of dye which makes me happy. Yet, they’re not too plain, tasty, a fun way to be patriotic and they stand out on the dessert table.

Related: Family Picnic Activities

How To Make 4th of July Cupcakes

If you’re on the hunt for a 4th of July easy dessert that everyone will love, go with cupcakes to celebrate America’s birthday. They are always a safe bet, and these perfect cupcakes are so fun to make with simple ingredients and decorate, too! 

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These July 4th Cupcakes

• Serves: 24
• Prep Time:  20 minutes
• Cook Time: 12-15 minutes

Ingredients – 4th Of July Cupcakes

Vanilla Cupcakes:

• 1 box vanilla or white cake mix
• 1 cup buttermilk or milk **see notes
• 1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 4 large egg whites or 3 large whole eggs, room temperature

Buttercream Frosting:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream or milk
• 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract **see notes 

Decorations (Optional):

• ¼ cup dark blue candy melts
• ¼ cup red candy melts 
• Strawberries
• ½ pound white almond bark 
• Sprinkles – I love the white star sprinkles
• Red and blue food coloring
• Paper flags 
• Plastic decorator bag, pastry bag or piping bag
• #1M decorator tip or your favorite 

Instructions – 4th Of July Cake Recipe

Let’s start making the cupcakes first with this easy cupcakes recipe.

Cupcakes

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

STEP 2

Fill cupcake pan with paper liners.

STEP 3

In a large bowl, add cake mix, buttermilk, egg whites, and oil.

STEP 4

Mix with electric mixer on low speed for 2-3 minutes, increase speed and mix until well blended, about 5 minutes.  You can also use a stand mixer for this step.

STEP 5

Divide cupcake batter into prepared cupcake pan.

STEP 6

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

STEP 7

Remove from oven to wire rack to cool completely.

How to Make Homemade Frosting

STEP 1

In a mixing bowl, cream butter until fluffy and smooth.

STEP 2

Sift powdered sugar into a medium bowl – this step is optional, although it makes the frosting smooth and easier to mix.

STEP 3

Gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with heavy cream.

STEP 4

Add vanilla extract and beat well.

(OPTIONAL) STEP 5

If you want to make blue frosting, set aside a small bowl of the finished recipe of white frosting and add some blue colors for your blue patriotic cupcakes and blue treats. You can repeat for red too! This will let you create swirl frosting as well.

**Use immediately or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Let come to room temperature before using

How To Decorate Fourth Of July Party Cupcakes

Frosting

STEP 1

Fit a plastic pastry bags with a #1M tip or your favorite tip.

STEP 2

Fill with frosting.

STEP 3

Pipe frosting onto cupcakes.

How To Make Candy Melt Sparklers

STEP 1

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

STEP 2

Add blue candy melts to a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds.

STEP 3

Stir and continue heating for 10 seconds at a time until chocolate is almost melted, stir until smooth. 

STEP 4

Repeat with red candy melts.

STEP 5

Fit 2 decorator bags with a small round tip (I used #5).

STEP 6

Add melted chocolate to bag, being careful as it may leak out.

STEP 7

Pipe zigzag lines of the chocolate to create the sparklers.

STEP 8

Let set about 10 minutes to harden.

STEP 9

Break apart in pieces and set aside until ready to frost cupcakes and then add top of the cupcake decor!

Dipped Strawberries for Fun 4th of July Cupcakes

STEP 1

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

STEP 2

Add 4 blocks of white almond bark to a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds.

STEP 3

Stir and continue heating for 10 seconds at a time until chocolate is almost melted, stir until smooth.

STEP 4

Add sprinkles to bowls so they are ready to use.

STEP 5

Dip strawberries in melted chocolate and allow excess to drip off.

STEP 6

Immediately add sprinkles.

STEP 7

Place on prepared baking sheet.

STEP 8

Let set about 10 minutes to harden and then they are ready to add to the top of my cupcakes.

American Flags for July 4th Celebration

STEP 1

Add sprinkles to frosted cupcakes.

STEP 2

Add paper American flag.

Notes:

Milk – by using milk or buttermilk instead of water in the cake mix, it makes the cupcakes taste more homemade. I have found though that store bought buttermilk is sometimes a bit too thick. To make your own buttermilk – Add 1 tablespoon white vinegar to a measuring cup and fill with milk, let set 2-3 minutes. 

Frosting – Using clear vanilla extract will keep the buttercream super white. You can also use regular vanilla extract. 

Depending on consistency, add more powdered sugar or more heavy whipping cream

Don’t like buttercream? You can always make a cream cheese frosting, however, it may not be super white like the buttercream. But the secret to getting rid of that yellow tint is a drop or two of purple food coloring. (Suggest reading this post before attempting as this is a more advanced method.)

How To Make Gluten Free 4th Of July Cupcakes

Are you ready for the EASIEST gluten free cupcake baking hack, ever? 

Go to the store and buy a box of gluten free box cake mix. The end. {giggle}

Make sure all of your other packaged ingredients (including frosting and decorating ingredients) are gluten free, as well. And yep, that makes it the perfect dessert! I love July dessert recipes!

Want something to color while the cupcakes are baking? Check out these fun cupcake coloring pages.

4th Of July Activities & Recipes From Kids Activities Blog

• 4th of July sugar cookie bars are ALWAYS a hit! 
• Amuse kids by making 4th of July shirts at your BBQ.
• It doesn’t get any cuter, or more festive, than The Nerd’s Wife‘s patriotic pies in a jar! 
• Make 4th of July dessert trifle, and it will double as a pretty table decoration! 
• How cute are these 4th of July chocolate covered strawberries?! 
• Decorate for the 4th with fireworks art!
• Continue your fourth celebration with 4th of July coloring pages.
• We have a big list of favorite red white and blue desserts you can make!
• And so many fun 4th of July activities for kids.

Did your celebration enjoy the 4th of July cupcakes?  Did you serve the festive treats with vanilla ice cream?  <–Yum!