When I was in Montana visiting my fiancé's family, I came across something I had never seen before: A bear steering a speedboat across a lake, his family in the back, the USA colors flying in the breeze, and a sober, concentrated look resting on his brow in oils on canvas. I had never seen a speedboating bear with such gravitas before.
This, to me, is possibly the most American thing I've come across... ever. Not Thomas Jefferson American, or Abraham Lincoln American, or even FDR American, but more like, Western Europe's perception of us American: brash, fast moving, proud, and with little self awareness.
I freaking love this painting.
I can't paint my own speedboating bear, but I can express my patriotism in the best way I know how. Courage? Fidelity? Fighting for justice? Pursuing freedom for all? Impacting those around me for the greater good with my creativity and tenacity?
The answer is obviously Flag Cake.
So be grateful to the founding fathers for the freedoms we continue to fight for and try to live up to, be gracious to those who share this wonderful land with you, and lean back to enjoy the fireworks bursting in air, with a big slice of star spangled pride.
NOTE: This flag cake is a fun spin on the classic. I lightened things up by using an airy sponge cake as my base, and made the most addicting cream cheese frosting ever by folding whipped cream into it. This is the perfect summer dessert with a big scoop of ice cream.
FLAG CAKE
INGREDIENTS
[NOTE] For one 9 x 13 inch cake
2 half pint blueberries
1 half pint raspberries
1 half pint strawberries
1 half pint currants or plums or other read fruit
1 recipe Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
1 9 x 13 inch sponge cake
DIRECTIONS
Place the cake on a serving platter. Spread the frosting over the cake with a spatula or butter knife, coating it about a 1/2 inch thick. Add the blueberries in a square in the top left corner to represent the stars, and the red fruit in a pretty row to represent the stripes.
INGREDIENTS (SPONGE CAKE)
[NOTE] For one 9 x 13 inch pan or two 10 inch round cake pans
1 3/4 cups cake flour, sifted then measured
2 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup eggs whites (about 9 large eggs)
1 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest, packed
9 egg yolks
1/3 cup water
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350F. Adjust rack in the lower third of oven.
Grease or spray 2 nonstick 9 x 13 pans and line the bottom with wax paper. Grease the paper as well. Sift flour, half of the sugar (1 cup and 2 tablespoons), and salt into a bowl; set aside.
Whisk egg whites in bowl of a heavy-duty mixer just until frothy. Add cream of tartar; whisk until soft peaks form. Add 3/4 cups sugar in a steady stream, whisking until thicker, stiffer, glossy peaks form - about 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Scoop white into a VERY large bowl (trust me, you'll need it) and set aside.
In the same bowl you used for the whites, beat the egg yolks with remaining sugar until thick and pale yellow, about 2-3 minutes. Add water and beat until thickened, about 4 minutes. It should be very thick and pale. Pour yolk mixture over whites and gently fold together with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle a third of the flour mixture over the egg mixture; fold to combine. Repeat two more times just until ingredients are incorporated. Gently pour batter into the pans and level tops with a spatula.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until top springs back slightly when lightly touched and a toothpick comes out clean. Invert pan onto a cooling rack, and cool for about 45 minutes.
To remove cake from pan, slip a butter knife down one side of pan and slowly trace perimeter to release the cake. When sides are free, cover cake with a rack and invert. Remove cake pan and the wax paper. Let the cakes cool completely.
INGREDIENTS (WHIPPED CREAM CREAM CHEESE FROSTING)
3 cups heavy whipping cream
16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature and soft
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
Chill a metal or glass bowl in the fridge, then use this bowl to whip your heavy cream to stiff peaks. Careful not to over beat the cream though, as it will curdle if over worked. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese (I used an electric mixer with a paddle attachment), salt, sugar, and vanilla, until very smooth. Add the whipped cream a third at a time, folding in to combine.
If not using right away, keep in the fridge and thaw for 20 minutes on the counter before using.
For more recipes like this one, check out my blog The Kitchy Kitchen.