Moist and fluffy homemade red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. A perfect red white and blue dessert for the 4th of July or any patriotic occasion!

Now that it’s July, everyone here is finally healthy, out of school and ready to enjoy summer! Seriously though, only a few days out of school and all three kiddos got sick. One right after the other. What a way to start summer break! Thankfully it was short lived for each of them. Fingers crossed we’re all healthy straight through the rest of summer!

And finally, summer weather has hit! Of course, this year it’s meant super strong storms and a roller coaster of temps to get where we are. Last night alone, I we were woken up from sound sleeps to an intense storm with lightning flashes every 1-3 seconds. I’ve never in my life experienced a storm like that before. It was fascinating and a bit intense. Fingers crossed for sunny weather for the week ahead! It’s a big one… and my favorite of the year!

4th of July has and always will be one of my absolute favorites. But then my oldest decided to make her debut on the 4th! Every year I’m always thrilled she’s still in love with the 4th and all things red, white and blue. We’ve always joked that the country is celebrating her birthday, along with the country’s of course. Who wouldn’t love fireworks for their birthday?!

This year’s birthday cake won’t be red, white and blue so I had to fit in a little something to share here ahead of time. Everyone loves a fun and festive treat for a party!

These classic red velvet cupcakes are light and fluffy, with the perfect pop or festive color and topped off with the silkiest cream cheese frosting. Absolutely heavenly and a guaranteed favorite with friends and family! Don’t forget a few fresh blueberries on top! A perfect touch of tasty red, white and blue for any 4th of July party.

Easy, moist, fluffy and 100% delicious!

Be sure to add these to your 4th of July menu! You’ll be glad you did!



Tips tricks and questions answered…

What does red velvet taste like?
It is a very mild chocolate taste. If paired with cream cheese frosting, you’ll experience a sweet and tangy flavor from the frosting and sweetness from the cupcake, balancing each other out perfectly.

What if I don’t like cream cheese frosting?
Cream cheese frosting is a classic addition to red velvet cake, but if you prefer something lighter or with a different pop of flavor, try one of these instead:

Help! I need more cupcakes than this recipe makes.
No problem! Double or triple the ingredient quantities until you reach your desired number of cupcakes. However, you may have an easier time following the recipe as is, and making it as many additional times as you need.

Do I need to use liquid color or can I substitute with gel color?
For this particular recipe, use liquid color. Altering the overall liquid ingredient amount will change the outcome of the recipe.

Can I make substitutions to the ingredients?
Yes and no. Baking is a science. This recipe works with the exact measurements listed. Altering one or several of those can cause the recipe to fail. If you’re familiar with baking substitutions, go for it! For specific substitution questions, ask in the comments below.

How do you pipe the frosting to look like that?
Using a piping bag fit with a jumbo round piping tip, hold your tip just above the center of your cupcake top. Squeeze frosting out with steady pressure, creating a large dollop. Stop piping when the desired frosting dollop has been reached.

How should I store these cupcakes?
With cream cheese frosting, it will absolutely depend on the temperature of your environment. If your home or location is air conditioned, they can absolutely be stored at room temperature for up to a day or two. If your home is warmer or they need to be stored longer, they would be best chilled in the refrigerator, where they can be stored for up to 4-5 days. The frosting will firm up a bit when chilled. If you prefer softer frosting, bring the cupcakes back to room temperature prior to eating.

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Red Velvet 4th of July Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 12 cupcakes
Moist and fluffy homemade red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. A perfect red white and blue dessert for the 4th of July or any patriotic occasion!

Ingredients
 

Cupcakes:

  • 1/3 C vegetable oil
  • 1/3 C granulated sugar
  • 1/3 C light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 Tbsp red food coloring, liquid
  • 1 3/4 C all purpose flour
  • 1/2 C milk
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp white vinegar

Frosting:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/3 C unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 C powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a standard cupcake pan with paper liners. 
  • In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine vegetable oil with sugars. Mix in egg and vanilla, followed by salt, baking powder, cocoa powder and red food coloring. Scrape bowl as needed. Mix in flour, followed by milk. In a small bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar. Stir to combine and immediately add to cake batter. Mix until just combined and no streaks remain. 
  • Divide batter equally between prepared liners using a large cookie scoop. Liners should be roughly 2/3 full. 
  • Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan for several minutes or until easy to handle. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 
  • When cupcakes have cooled completely, prepare frosting. In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add in vanilla, followed by 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time. Beat until fully combined and desired consistency is reached. Transfer frosting to a piping bag fit with a piping tip. Frost and decorate with fresh blueberries or as desired. 
  • Enjoy immediately. If making ahead, cupcakes can be stored at room temperature or chilled in the refrigerator for up to several days. 

Notes

A jumbo round piping tip was used for this recipe.
An original recipe from Baked by Rachel

Nutrition

Calories: 442kcal, Carbohydrates: 68g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 34mg, Sodium: 285mg, Potassium: 84mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 52g, Vitamin A: 428IU, Calcium: 71mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most accurate data, use your preferred nutrition calculator with the actual ingredients you used to make this recipe.
Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see it! Snap a picture and tag @bakedbyrachel on Instagram!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keywords: 4th of July, Cupcake, Dessert

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Red velvet 4th of July cupcakes with cream cheese frosting recipe from @bakedbyrachel