Cherry Almond Cupcake Flag Cake

Our Festive Cherry Almond Cupcake flag cake adds a touch of patriotism to a party table. This cupcake flag is easy to make, It’s a perfect centerpiece for a party themed for Memorial Day, Veterans Day Presidents Day, or Fourth of July. 

Featuring an American flag cupcake cake is a great way to bring the patriotic theme of your event to the forefront of the party, in a tasty way.

These cupcakes are made from scratch using fresh ingredients including buttermilk and almond extract for a rich, fluffy texture that has a wonderful flavor profile. The buttercream combines butter, heavy cream, and a dash of cherry and almond extracts for a beautiful flavor combination that everyone will love.

Summer is the season for a patriotic cupcake flag cake. It gives the perfect dessert for your guests to enjoy as they walk by and grab a cupcake. It makes a fun centerpiece that everyone enjoys.

If you need some help in how apply your buttercream to your cupcakes, check out our video tutorial below

Be sure to explore more of our delicious scratch made cupcakes

We absolutely love cupcakes. They are easy to transport and serve, they can be decorated in so many ways to fit your occasion, and they make a delicious treat that everyone enjoys. Some of our favorites include our Twix cupcakes, chocolate eclair cupcakes, and our rich homemade vanilla cupcakes.

You can click on any of the featured cupcakes below to explore those too!

Amongst all of the fun and festivities, find a moment to reflect on those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to our nation, and honor those disabled veterans who came back changed forever. 

My husband and I are both veterans of the USAF.  My husband deployed three times, and I worked in a military hospital, stateside, as a surgical technician for years assisting in many surgeries on servicemen and women who suffered injuries overseas.

A lot of those injuries were life changing and challenging. Their valor and bravery astonishes me. It was a humbling experience that I will never forget.

Please take a moment this Memorial Day to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation.

This cupcake flag cake marries together the iconic flavor duo of almond and cherry. We love the bright pop of cherry, and the lingering sweet almond flavor.

Why do cherries and almonds go together?

Cherry and almond flavor is well loved because they balance and compliment one another so well. Almonds bring a nutty, slightly sweet flavor; while cherry is bold and unmistakable. Almond is a rich enough counterpart to the bright, sweetness of cherry flavor that it makes a scrumptious partner.

How do you make moist cupcakes?

We all love soft, fluffy cupcakes with a rich texture. There are some basic baking techniques that you need to follow to achieve the best possible bake, as well as some other tips and tricks that we are sharing with you

Warmed ingredients will mix to a smoother consistency with fewer lumps, which in turn creates a delicate and light crumb. This will also require less mixing which will in turn, add air into the mixture with minimal time and effort. Plan ahead and set out any cold ingredients like eggs, butter, milk, and sour cream.

Mixing on a gentle low speed is also important. High speed mixing will be too harsh and will collapse any air bubbles that have been created. You also want to stop mixing when the ingredients have combined, which is again why warm ingredients matter so much.

Fresh ingredients will go a long way in flavor of course, but they also matter in the quality of the bake and texture of the crumb. Fresh eggs, milk, baking powder, and flour will yield a higher moisture content than old ingredients that are past their prime.

Uniformity is important to avoid over or under baked cupcakes. Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full to ensure the cupcakes bake evenly and do not rise and spill over the edges. We always recommend using an ice cream or cookie scoop to drop the batter into the tins.

Bake cupcakes at the lowest temperature called for, and be sure to keep an eye on them. Cupcakes will bake quickly and burn in a matter of seconds. It is important to check them often and remove them from the oven when they turn slightly golden brown.

Using additional ingredients that add moisture can also help soften the texture and improve the cakes. Whole milk, sour cream, yogurt, and buttermilk will yield spongy cupcakes because the added fats make the cake lighter yet stronger. The proteins found in these dairy products will also activate the leavening agents like baking soda and baking powder, giving a better rise to the mini cakes.

Are cupcakes better with oil or butter?

It is believed that using oil, rather than butter, in your cupcake recipes will yield fluffier cakes that will stay moist longer. Oil will slow down the the development of the gluten which is how they remain soft. We use a light olive oil in this cupcake flag cake, and they are certainly light and airy.

How do I make the best American buttercream?

Our cupcake flag cake uses a fresh cherry almond American buttercream that is light and fluffy. American buttercream is made from butter, cream, and sugar! Add in a few flavor extracts and you have yourself a delicious buttercream that is easy to make and store.

Be sure to warm the butter to room temperature for a smooth, creamy consistency. Cold butter will leave tiny lumps throughout the buttercream that will not only affect the texture, but also the flavor.

Heavy cream brings a thick richness to the buttercream, and also lightens the texture to a fluffy whipped consistency. Add the cream slowly to avoid thinning out the buttercream too much, and be sure to whip it for a good while. This gives the cream the ability to lighten and bulk up.

For a super smooth buttercream we recommend sifting the powdered sugar at least once, twice is better. Sifting the sugar will remove any lumps and will lighten the texture that it adds.

Make sure to whip the buttercream on high speed for at least 5 minutes; longer if needed. Buttercream will become lighter the faster and longer it is whipped because of the air being incorporated in.

Using high quality extracts will really elevate your buttercream, so be sure to use pure extracts of the highest quality possible. Almond extract and cherry extract are particularly important to prioritize because the processing of these flavorings are often filled with artificial add-ins.

How can I serve cherry almond cupcakes?

We love using this recipe for our cupcake flag cake, but there are so many ways you can decorate and display these scrumptious mini cakes. Here are some ideas for you to try.

• Color the buttercream a soft pink hue to play on the cherry
• Garnish with thinly sliced almonds
• Top with a fresh or maraschino cherry
• Garnish with a silk cherry blossom
• Use decorative liners to bring a sophisticated finish
• Use themed sprinkles to convey your event theme
• Make them white chocolate cherry cupcakes by adding in white chocolate chips

Cherry Almond Cupcake Flag Cake Recipe

This cupcake flag cake is really so yummy. The cake is almond flavored and the frosting is smooth, silky cherry buttercream. It’s a wonderful combination.

The flag centerpiece is simple to make and very festive on your patriotic party table. You will love this recipe. Just change out the frosting colors to theme this cupcake recipe for any event.

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