Red, White, and Blue Firecracker Cake Recipe
Celebrate any patriotic occasion with this vibrant Red White and Blue Cake, also known as Firecracker Cake! This festive Bundt cake features layers of colorful batter made from white cake mix, instant pudding, and fizzy Sprite for a light, moist texture. Finished with a sweet lemon-lime icing and patriotic sprinkles, it’s a showstopper dessert perfect for Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or any fun summer gathering.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cake Batter
- 15 ounce box white cake mix
- 3.4 ounce box instant pudding mix (vanilla, white chocolate, or cheesecake flavor)
- 4 large egg whites
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 8 ounces Sprite (or other lemon-lime soda)
- Red food coloring
- Blue food coloring
Icing and Decoration
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons Sprite (or more as needed)
- Red, white, and blue sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease a 10-cup Bundt pan generously with baking spray or butter and flour. Set aside to ensure the cake doesn’t stick.
- Mix the Batter: In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the white cake mix, instant pudding mix, and egg whites. Beat in the vegetable oil until well combined and smooth.
- Add the Soda: With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour in the Sprite and continue mixing until the batter is smooth and slightly bubbly, creating a light texture.
- Divide and Color: Evenly divide the batter between three separate bowls. Tint one bowl with red food coloring, one with blue food coloring, and leave the third plain for the white layer.
- Layer the Batter: Using small cookie scoops or spoons, alternate scoops of red, white, and blue batter into the prepared Bundt pan. Place the colors adjacent to each other to create a firecracker-style burst pattern inside the cake.
- Bake the Cake: Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the cake is fully baked.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 20 minutes to set. Then carefully invert it onto a wire rack or serving plate and cool completely, about 40 more minutes, to ensure the icing won’t melt.
- Make the Icing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and 4 tablespoons of Sprite until smooth and pourable. Add more Sprite if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Decorate: Drizzle the icing evenly over the cooled cake and immediately sprinkle with red, white, and blue sprinkles for a festive finishing touch.
Notes
- Use a bundt pan with at least 10-cup capacity to accommodate the batter.
- Egg whites help create a lighter texture; do not substitute with whole eggs for best results.
- Adjust food coloring amount to reach vibrant colors of your preference.
- Soda not only adds flavor but also contributes to a moist, tender crumb.
- Make sure the cake is completely cool before icing to prevent melting and runny icing.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
