4th of July Cake Roll

Show off your red white and blue with this festive 4th of July Cake Roll. Your guests will be amazed when you cut into it, revealing the patriotic colors.

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Is anyone else wondering how it is that the 4th of July is already less than 2 weeks away? I couldn’t hardly believe it when I looked at the calendar last week, and realized just how close it is. And how unprepared I am.

The truth is – this year is going to be a little different than years past. Our normal tradition is to go to the balloon festival early in the morning, followed by the parade. Then, that evening, we meet up with my family and watch a fireworks show where we sit so close that we are covered in ashes by the time we leave. (It really is amazing, and the best way to watch a fireworks show!!)

But this year, we’re not even sure if Easton will be well enough to be out in the crowds. Or if he’ll even have the energy. And half of my family will be out of town, so the fireworks show won’t be quite the same.

If you can’t tell, I like tradition. But even though things will be a little different this year, it doesn’t mean that it’s going to be any less fun or less exciting. Because I love the 4th of July, and as long as I’m with my little family, I know we are going to have a great time.

And cake. We are also going to have cake. I actually saw this 4th of July Cake Roll in a Food Network Magazine a year ago. I didn’t have a chance to make it last year, but I also knew I didn’t want to forget about it this year. So it has been sitting on a shelf next to my desk for the last year. I almost didn’t get to it this year (time has not been on my side lately) but I managed to make it last week. And I’m so glad I did, because how fun is this 4th of July Cake Roll? The colors weren’t as saturated as they were in the magazine, but I actually ended up loving the color because they ended up matching my sprinkles. 🙂

This 4th of July Cake Roll is the perfect patriotic dessert, and one that all of your guests or family will go crazy over. Friends, family, fireworks… and cake. That’s what it’s all about!

More 4th of July Favorites:

4th of July White Chocolate Fudge
4th of July Breakfast Toast
Flag Cake
Jello Poke Cupcakes
Red, White and Blue Baked Donuts

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4th of July Cake Roll

5 from 2 votes

Author: Deborah Harroun

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 -12 servings

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

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Show off your red white and blue with this festive 4th of July Cake Roll.  Your guests will be amazed when you cut into it, revealing the patriotic colors.

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Ingredients

Cake:

• ▢ 1/2 cup vegetable oil, plus more for the pan
• ▢ 1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for the pan
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 1/2 cup milk
• ▢ 3 large eggs
• ▢ 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 teaspoon red gel food coloring
• ▢ 1 teaspoon blue gel food coloring
• ▢ powdered sugar, for dusting

Frosting:

• ▢ 1 1/2 cups 3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ▢ pinch of salt
• ▢ 3 cups marshmallow creme
• ▢ 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• ▢ 2-4 tablespoons milk

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF.  Brush vegetable oil on the bottom on the sides of a half sheet pan (18”x13”)*.  Line with parchment paper, then brush vegetable oil on the parchment paper.  Sprinkle flour over the pan, then tap out the excess, coating the oil with the flour.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.  In another bowl, whisk together the 1/2 cup of oil, sugar, milk, eggs and vanilla.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk just until the mixture is combined.  Pour half of the batter into another bowl (about 1 1/2 cups of batter).  Add the red food coloring to one bowl and the blue to the other.  Stir just until combined.
• Spread the red and blue batter in the pan in alternating stripes, 3 of each color.  (I transferred the batter to ziplock bags and then cut off the tip.  I think this made less of a mess for me, but you can also pour the batter!)  Each stripe will be about 2 inches wide. Don’t worry if they aren’t completely straight.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the top springs back when pressed, about 15 minutes.  Let the cake sit for 3 minutes, then loosen the edges  from the pan with a knife, if needed.  Generously dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar, then place a kitchen towel over the top. DO NOT use a terry cloth towel.  Place a cooling rack on top, then invert the cake over onto the towel and rack.  Remove the parchment paper, then roll the cake up with the towel, rolling the long end of the cake.  Let the cake cool completely, at least 1 1/2 hours.
• To make the frosting, beat the butter and the salt in a stand mixer until light and creamy, about 1 minute.  Add the marshmallow cream and vanilla and continue to beat for 2-3 minutes longer.  Add in the powdered sugar, then start adding the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach a spreadable consistency.
• Gently unroll the cake and spread half of the frosting over the entire surface of the cake, all the way to the edges.  Re-roll the cake (without the towel).  Trim the edges.  Using the remaining frosting, frost the outside of the cake.

Recipe Notes:

slightly adapted from Food Network Magazine July/August 2015

Keywords: 4th of july, cake roll