Red White and Blue Bundt Cake

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This fun and patriotic Red White and Blue Bundt Cake is a great Memorial Day or 4th of July dessert. It's made with boxed cake mix, blue and red food coloring and a delicious homemade vanilla glaze topped with red, white and blue sprinkles.

red white and blue bundt cake sliced on a white plate

This easy yet stunning red white and blue bundt cake recipe will impress your guests and family with its vibrant colors and delicious taste. This is a holiday barbecue dessert that has become one of my family's favorite, and I hope that it will become part of your summer parties too. We love a bundt cake as a change from our usual favorite- cupcakes. Like this red, white and blue sprinkle filled cupcakes!

Using a boxed cake mix makes this recipe super simple and adding food coloring to the batter creates swirls of festive color. When glazed with homemade vanilla frosting and bright colorful sprinkles, this cake becomes out-of-this-world delicious.

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Ingredients and Equipment Needed

Boxed white cake mix: plus the ingredients on the package, which are usually egg and oil.

Red and blue food coloring: you can use both liquid food colorings or gel food colorings.

Patriotic sprinkles: or use a combination of red, blue and white jimmies and sugar crystals.

Powdered sugar: also known as confectioner's sugar, it's used to make the glaze.

Milk: also used to make the glaze. Substitute with heavy cream for a richer and thicker frosting if desired.

Vanilla extract: another flavor extract, like almond, lemon or cinnamon, can be used too.

Unsalted butter

You also need cooking spray, a whisk, three small mixing bowls, a 9 inch bundt pan and a mixing bowl with a pour spout.

red white and blue bundt cake on a white plate

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Making The Bundt Cake

Make the cake batter according to the package instructions. Equally separate the mixed batter into 3 smaller bowls. Add red food coloring to one bowl and blue food coloring to another bowl, leaving the third bowl undyed. Stir the food coloring into the batter, adding more drop until you've reached the shades of red and blue that you'd like.
Spray the entire bundt pan liberally with cooking oil or grease generously with butter. Pour the blue cake batter into the greased bundt pan. Add the white batter next, and then the red batter. Glide a butter knife back and forth gently through the batter to create swirls.
Bake in the preheated oven at the temperature and for the time that the package indicates. I bake mine for about 40 minutes in a large bundt pan, and the cake mix I use states 38-46 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake to check for doneness.
Once the cake is done, cool in the bundt pan for 10 minutes. Then remove the cake from the bundt pan and cool on a serving plate for at least 30 minutes before glazing.

Step 2: Glazing The Bundt Cake

When the cake has cooled, in a large microwave safe bowl with a pour spout melt the unsalted butter in the microwave. Remove from the microwave and mix in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Stir well with each addition of sugar. Once all powdered sugar has been mixed with the butter, add the milk and vanilla extract. Whisk until a smooth glaze has formed.
With the bundt cake on a serving dish, drizzle half of the glaze over the top of the cake. Rotate the cake as you pour the glaze over for an even finish. Sprinkle jimmies and sugar crystals over the glaze and set in the fridge for 2 minutes. Repeat with the remaining glaze and more sprinkles.

Then slice, serve and enjoy your delicious red white and blue bundt cake!

How To Store

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also store it in the fridge and bring to room temperature prior to serving.

Recipe Tips

To make the best red white and blue bundt follow these tips:

Grease the bundt pan with spray oil or butter immediately before pouring in the batter. Any earlier and the oil will fall to the bottom of the pan and then you run the risk of the cake sticking to the pan instead of sliding out easily.
Make sure to grease the inside of the pan's center and be generous. You really can't grease the bundt pan too much.
Don't pour the white batter into the bundt pan first. It will turn golden while baked and you'll end up with a red, brown, and blue cake instead!
Cool the cake in the pan for only 10 minutes before removing. Any longer and it may stick to the pan.
Cool and glaze the cake on the platter you intend to serve it on. By doing this, the icing will remain completely intact and undisturbed. A bundt cake is fragile when being moved, so the less transferring from one place to another, the better!
Add the sprinkles prior to the icing setting. If you do it after, less sprinkles will stick to the glaze.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Get Colorful Swirls In A Bundt Cake

Once the colored batters have been poured into the pan, move a butter knife or handle side of a spoon or fork gently through the batters in a swirling motion. This will pull the different color batters around each other.

When Should I Glaze A Bundt Cake?

Cakes should be completely cool before they are glazed. If they are warm the glaze will not stick to the top of the cake as well and will drip down the sides too much.

Can I Use Mini Bundt Cake Pans Or Mini Loaf Pans?

Yes, you can use mini bundt pans or loaf pans. Cooking time will decrease.

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