All-American Flag Cake

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 pint fresh blueberries
• 1 quart whipping cream
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 pints fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 pint fresh blueberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 2 cups of sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk.
4. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pans before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.
5. In a medium bowl, stir together the condensed milk, lemon juice and 1 pint of blueberries. Set aside.
6. In a large bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and the teaspoon of vanilla, and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Fold the blueberry mixture into the whipped cream.
7. To assemble the cake, place one of the cooled cake layers onto a plate. Spread with the blueberry-whipped cream mixture. Place the second layer of cake on top, and frost the entire cake with the remaining whipped cream. Decorate the top of the cake with the sliced strawberries and blueberries in the pattern of the American flag.
8. Refrigerate the cake until ready to serve.

Interesting Facts

• The first recorded American flag cake was made in 1885.
• The 4th of July is the most popular day to eat All-American flag cake.
• The traditional red, white, and blue color scheme for the flag cake is symbolic of the colors found on the American flag.