My Mini Chefs

  • Browse Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Snacks
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Browse Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Snacks
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Browse Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Snacks
  • Subscribe
ร—
Home ยป Memorial Day and Fourth Of July

Red White and Blue Cupcakes

Published: Jun 7, 2022 ยท Modified: Sep 29, 2024 by Maddy ยท This post may contain affiliate links for which I may earn a small commission.

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

Red White and Blue Cupcakes are a fun patriotic cupcake for Memorial Day and 4th of July dessert, or any summer barbecue. Fun to make and eat, these cupcakes are dyed blue and red and filled with yummy sprinkles for a sugary bite!

These delicious red white and blue cupcakes are made with blue and red cupcake batter and are stuffed with sugar sprinkles.

I also call them "firecracker cupcakes" because when you get to the center, it's like a pop of sugar in your mouth! They are made complete with a homemade cream cheese frosting and patriotic sprinkles.

Red white and blue cupcakes make a fantastic 4th of July or Memorial Day dessert and compliment healthier barbecue foods, like a red, white and blue charcuterie board or refreshing lemon and mint potato salad.

Ingredients and Tools Needed

In addition to the ingredients below, you will need red and blue food coloring, patriotic sprinkles, 3 piping bags and piping tips, and muffin liners. I recommend using an electric hand or stand mixer when making the frosting.

Cupcakes

You have 2 options when making these patriotic cupcakes: using boxed cake mix or homemade cupcake batter.

The recipe I am sharing with you makes a fantastic moist cupcake, but if you find it easier to pop open a box of cupcake mix and make the batter that way, that's great too.

To make the homemade cupcake mix, you need: flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla extract, eggs, butter, sugar, and milk.

Frosting

You also have 2 options for the frosting: using store bought or making a homemade frosting. I make patriotic cupcakes with the cream cheese frosting this recipe includes, but feel free to make your favorite frosting recipe or use packaged frosting for simplicity.

To make the cream cheese frosting, you need: cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and confectioner's sugar.

Step By Step Instructions

STEP 1: Mix the homemade cupcake batter in a large mixing bowl. Alternatively, use a vanilla or white boxed cake mix.

STEP 2: Divide the batter into 2 bowls and add red or blue food coloring to each bowl. Start with 4-5 drops of dye, mix, and add as needed for the color you like.

STEP 3: Once you have the red and blue batter mixed thoroughly, pour it into piping bags. Make sure to secure the end of the bags with rubber bands. If you don't, you risk the batter coming out the top and making a giant mess.

red cupcake mix and blue cupcake mix in piping bags

STEP 4: Line the muffin tin and squeeze a few tablespoons of each color batter into the cups until they are โ…” of the way full.

red and blue batter in muffin tins

STEP 5: Bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let them cool for 15 minutes before filling with the sprinkles and icing.

cooked red white and blue cupcakes on a cooling rack

STEP 6: Once those delicious red, white, and blue cupcakes have cooled, it's time to insert the sprinkles!

To make a hole in the center of each cupcake, insert a straw and twist it just a little bit. This will either push the insides down a little or pull them out with the straw, making room for the sprinkles.

a straw being inserted into a cupcake

Put a funnel into the hole and dump some sprinkles in.

a funnel being inserted into a cupcake

Shake the funnel a little bit to help them slide down.

sprinkled filled into a hole in a cupcake

STEP 7: Make the cream cheese frosting. Make the cream cheese frosting. Beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract on medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the confectioner's sugar 1 cup at a time and beat until smooth. Put the frosting into another piping bag with your choice of piping tip and cover the cupcakes with the icing.

cupcakes frosted on a cooling rack

And the very last step, add the sprinkles.

a frosted and sprinkled red white and blue cupcake

And they are ready to eat!

Storing

They can be made ahead of time and stored at room temperature or in the fridge. You can ice them ahead of time too, and store them in the fridge for about 3 days before eating.

MORE RED WHITE AND BLUE RECIPES

  • Patriotic Mini Star Cakes
  • Red White and Blue Vanilla Glazed Bundt Cake
  • Patriotic Charcuterie Board

Recipe

fourth of july cupcakes dyed red white and blue with homemade cream cheese frosting and patriotic sprinkles

Red White and Blue Cupcakes

Red White and Blue Cupcakesย are a fun patriotic cupcake for Memorial Day and 4th of July dessert, or any summer barbecue. Fun to make and eat, these cupcakes are dyed blue and red and filled with yummy sprinkles for a sugary bite!
5 from 44 votes
Pin Share Tweet SaveSaved! Print
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 372 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 standard size muffin tin
  • 12 cupcake liners
  • 3 piping bags
  • electric hand mixer

Ingredients
  

Homemade Cupcakes

  • ยฝ cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • ยฝ cup milk
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 โ…“ cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ยผ teaspoon salt
  • blue food coloring
  • red food coloring
  • red white or blue sugar sprinkles

Packaged Cupcakes

  • 1 ย package white cake mix, plus package ingredients

Frosting

  • ยฝ cup butter, softened
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 3 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • patriotic sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to temperature indicated on cake mix package. Line muffin tins. If making homemade cupcakes, preheat oven to 350ยฐF.
  • For packaged cupcakes,ย make cake mix according to package.ย For homemade cupcakes,ย beat the sugar and butter on high for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla extract, and milk and beat for 2 minutes. Add flour, salt, and baking powder and beat until just combined, about 1 minute.
  • Divide the batter between 2 bowls. Dye 1 bowl red and 1 bowl blue with food coloring. Use 3-4 drops to start, adding more to reach your desired hue. Transfer icing to piping bags and secure end with a rubber bands. Alternate adding drops of blue and red icing to each cup until they are โ…” full.
  • Bake for time indicated on package, or 15 minutes for homemade cupcakes. Let cool 15 minutes before stuffing with sprinkles and frosting.
  • Fill cupcakes with sprinkles by inserting a straw into the center of each cupcake to form a hole. Use a funnel to pour sprinkles into the hole.
  • Make the cream cheese frosting. Beat the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract on medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the confectioner's sugar 1 cup at a time and beat until smooth. Transfer icing to a piping bag.Frost cupcakes in the pattern you'd like. Alternatively, use a knife to spread on icing. Top with red and blue sprinkles.

Nutrition

Serving: 5ozCalories: 372kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 5gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 181mgPotassium: 97mgFiber: 1gSugar: 58gVitamin A: 348IUCalcium: 81mgIron: 1mg
Did You Try This Recipe?Mention @myminichefs or tag #myminichefs!

RELATED RECIPES

  • cinnamon ice cream in an ice cream tub
    Cinnamon Ice Cream
  • milkshake cookie topped with icing, whipped cream and sprinkles
    Crumble Funfetti Milkshake Cookies (copycat recipe)
  • bitten Oreo brownie on a white plate
    Oreo Brownies
  • sliced smores pie in a pie plate
    S'mores Pie

More Memorial Day and Fourth of July Recipes

  • strawberry brownies featured image
    Strawberry Brownies
  • homemade low sugar lemonade in a mason jar
    Low Sugar Lemonade
  • lemon bars image
    Creamy Lemon Squares
  • coconut cream cheese dip with pretzels in a clear bowl
    Coconut Cream Cheese Dip
  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • X
  • Threads

Comments

    5 from 44 votes (34 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Bernice says

    April 17, 2023 at 1:11 pm

    5 stars
    These are cupcake perfection. The first thing I want to do is take a big lick of that frosting peak! Seriously though, I really love that you included instructions for boxed mix and making them from scratch. Not everyone loves to bake but for those that do, this is a great basic recipe.

    Reply
  2. Gloria says

    April 17, 2023 at 2:29 pm

    5 stars
    Cupcakes are a hit with kids and adults. Love the colours. Very festive for the day.

    Reply
  3. Marta says

    April 17, 2023 at 4:31 pm

    5 stars
    These Red, White, and Blue cupcakes are so fun to make and even more fun to eat. I'll be sharing these with friends and family for Independence Day and Labor Day for sure.

    Reply
  4. Sean says

    April 17, 2023 at 9:09 pm

    5 stars
    I love cupcakes like this and with the summer holidays just around the corner this red white and blue cupcakes will be a hit.

    Reply
  5. Lauren Michael Harris says

    April 21, 2023 at 9:50 am

    5 stars
    These cupcakes are so pretty and absolutely perfect for the upcoming holidays. My kids will love helping me make these!

    Reply
  6. Jenny Graves says

    April 23, 2023 at 4:11 am

    5 stars
    These patriotic cupcakes are moist and delicious. I love the frosting. Theyโ€™re great to have around the house for any occasion.
    Enjoy!

    Reply
  7. Enriqueta E Lemoine says

    April 23, 2023 at 12:36 pm

    5 stars
    I made these cupcakes with no coloring because that was unnecessary. But on this coming Fourth of July, I'll make them in technicolor. They are simply delicious, and the kids loved them.

    Reply
  8. Dani says

    April 23, 2023 at 5:41 pm

    5 stars
    Loved how it easy it was to make these Red White and Blue Cupcakes. Especially the frosting was to die out of this world. They are a must make for Memorial Day weekend and of course 4th of July!

    Reply
  9. Hayley Dhanecha says

    April 24, 2023 at 4:30 am

    5 stars
    These are super cute cupcakes, perfect for 4th of July celebrations! Thanks for sharing a such a bealtiful recipe.

    Reply
  10. Ramona says

    April 25, 2023 at 11:05 am

    5 stars
    These cupcakes are so pretty and they look super delicious. I cant wait to try this recipe out, thank you for sharing!

    Reply

Welcome to My Mini Chefs! Me and my two kids are here to give you lots of great cooking inspiration and recipes - food made with kids in mind! Whether you've got a picky eater or a little one who will try anything once, you'll find something delicious here.

More about us โ†’

New Recipes

  • cinnamon ice cream in an ice cream tub
    Cinnamon Ice Cream

  • milkshake cookie topped with icing, whipped cream and sprinkles
    Crumble Funfetti Milkshake Cookies (copycat recipe)

  • bitten Oreo brownie on a white plate
    Oreo Brownies

  • sliced smores pie in a pie plate
    S'mores Pie

Trending Now

  • cheese quesadilla cut into slices on a white plate with guacamole and salsa
    Cheese Quesadilla

  • mini pizzas on a white plate
    Easy Mini Pizzas

  • pizza popper being pulled off a plate
    Pizza Poppers

  • buttered spaghetti image
    Butter Spaghetti

  • air fryer frozen chicken nuggets in a basket
    Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets

  • baked ziti without meat on a gray plate
    Meatless Baked Ziti

  • carrot raisin muffins in a stack
    Carrot Raisin Muffins

  • 3 ingredient banana pancakes in a stack topped with banana and blueberry
    3 Ingredient Banana Pancakes

Footer

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Stuck on what to say? Here are some suggestions:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this recipe! We can't wait to make it again.
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. It turned out great!
I made a few modifications, but it still turned out wonderful.

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.