🎂 Ina Garten’s Famous Flag Cake: A Patriotic Dessert for Memorial Day & Beyond 🇺🇸
Nothing says “Happy Memorial Day” quite like a beautiful, homemade American Flag Cake—and when the Barefoot Contessa herself, Ina Garten, shows you how to do it, you know it’s going to be both elegant and delicious. Ina’s famous flag cake has become a staple of summer celebrations, from Memorial Day and July 4th to Labor Day picnics and family reunions.
In this post, we’ll break down exactly how to make Ina Garten’s iconic American Flag Cake, why it went viral again in 2025, and how you can recreate it for your next gathering. We’ll also provide pro baking tips, ingredient swaps, and SEO insights to help you blog about or share this recipe with your audience.
🎉 Why Ina Garten’s Flag Cake Went Viral Again in 2025
Every year around Memorial Day weekend, Ina’s Flag Cake resurfaces on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, generating millions of views and shares. In 2025, it trended again after Ina posted a charming throwback photo of herself baking it with Jeffrey in East Hampton.
Here’s why it still captivates foodies every year:
- ✅ Visually stunning – A giant American flag made with fresh berries & whipped frosting
- ✅ Crowd-sized – It serves a dozen or more—perfect for gatherings
- ✅ Easy to decorate – Even beginner bakers can nail the look
- ✅ Make-ahead friendly – Bake the cake a day early, decorate before serving
- ✅ Classic Barefoot Contessa style – Rich, buttery cake and silky frosting
🧁 The Famous Flag Cake Recipe (Barefoot Contessa Style)
🍰 Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 ¼ sticks (1 ⅛ pounds) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 cups sugar
- 6 extra-large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
For the Frosting:
- 1 pound cream cheese (room temp)
- ¾ pound unsalted butter (room temp)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ pounds powdered sugar (sifted)
For the Decoration:
- 1 pint fresh blueberries
- 1½ pints fresh raspberries (or sliced strawberries)
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Preheat and Prepare
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Grease and flour a half-sheet pan (13×18 inches) or line with parchment paper.
2. Make the Cake Batter
- In a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 4–5 minutes, until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
- Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet until just combined.
3. Bake
- Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 20–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool completely in the pan.
4. Make the Frosting
- In a stand mixer, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla on medium-high speed until smooth.
- Slowly add sifted powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
5. Decorate the Flag
- Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake.
- Create a rectangle in the top left with blueberries for the “stars” section.
- Use rows of raspberries or strawberry slices to create red “stripes.”
- Leave the white frosting visible as the white stripes.
📝 Tips to Make It Perfect Every Time
- Use room temp ingredients for smooth batter and frosting.
- Don’t overbake – check at 25 mins and use a toothpick test.
- Decorate just before serving for the freshest berry appearance.
- Swap fruits if needed: strawberries for raspberries, or blackberries for blueberries.
- Cut with a warm knife for clean slices (rinse under hot water, wipe between cuts).
📦 Make It Ahead
This cake is ideal for prepping ahead:
- Bake the cake up to 2 days in advance, wrap tightly and refrigerate.
- Frost and decorate the same day you serve it, ideally within 4 hours of eating.
- Store leftovers in the fridge (covered) for up to 3 days.
📸 Social Media Power: Why This Cake Goes Viral Every Year
Ina Garten’s Flag Cake isn’t just tasty—it’s visually stunning. Social media loves anything:
- Patriotic
- Berry-laden
- Easy to assemble
- Large enough to feed a crowd
Add in Ina’s name and you’ve got the perfect Pinterest pin, Instagram reel, or TikTok tutorial. This cake is an influencer favorite for a reason.
Top Social Tags:
lessCopyEdit#InaGarten #FlagCake #4thOfJulyDessert #MemorialDayRecipe #SummerBaking #AmericanFlagCake #PatrioticDessert #BarefootContessa
📈 SEO Optimization Guide
Want your blog post or recipe page to rank well? Here are SEO keywords and strategy tips integrated into this post:
🎯 Primary Keywords:
- “Ina Garten Flag Cake”
- “American Flag Cake recipe”
- “Memorial Day desserts”
- “4th of July cake ideas”
🔍 Secondary Keywords:
- “Barefoot Contessa cake”
- “Patriotic sheet cake”
- “Easy flag cake with berries”
- “Red white and blue dessert”
💡 Meta Description Example:
Make Ina Garten’s famous Flag Cake for Memorial Day or the 4th of July! This American flag sheet cake is topped with cream cheese frosting and fresh berries—perfect for patriotic parties and summer BBQs.
🧩 Blog Structure Tips:
- Use H2 headers for steps and ingredients
- Include alt-text for images: “American Flag Cake with blueberries and raspberries”
- Embed a short how-to video for higher engagement
🎯 Final Thoughts: A True Celebration Cake
Whether you’re honoring our heroes on Memorial Day, celebrating freedom on the 4th of July, or just enjoying a sweet summer moment with loved ones, Ina Garten’s Flag Cake is a recipe that always delivers.
It’s easy enough for beginner bakers, impressive enough for Instagram, and nostalgic enough to remind you why patriotic baking brings people together. One slice, and it becomes a tradition.
So grab your berries, preheat the oven, and get ready to bake a little bit of red, white, and blue joy!
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