Make a 4th of July American flag cake with your kids

Credit: Creative Daw Copyright: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/salingpusa

It's still raining in Rochester, but in theory it will be nice for the Fourth of July.  Start preparing for your cookouts today, by making one of these American flag cakes with your kids!

American Flag Ice Cream Cake

Things You'll Need: 

~~At least 3 half gallons of vanilla ice cream, softened.
~~1/2 pint of blueberries
~~1/2 pint of red raspberries
~~1/2 lb. strawberries, hulled and sliced
~~Whipped cream in a can

How to make it:

1. Soften the vanilla ice cream to a spreadable consistency.

2. Fill a large, rectangular cake pan with the softened vanilla ice cream. Use more ice cream if you wish to make a thicker cake.

3. To make the star field of the American flag, line up the blueberries in a small rectangular in the upper-left corner of the cake, leaving small spaces for stars. The real flag has 50 stars.

4. Make alternating rows of white and red by starting with red on the top and bottom. The real American flag has seven red stripes, alternated with six white stripes, to represent the Thirteen Original Colonies. Use a mix of the raspberries and strawberries to make the red stripes.

5. Spray the whipped cream from the can between the blueberries to make the stars, and between the strawberries and red raspberries to make the white stripes.

6. Put the completed dessert back into the freezer until ready to serve.

American Flag Cake

Things You'll Need:

~~Use the same ingredients listed above, except add a white cake mix box, with all ingredients listed for it.  Or, look up your favorite white cake recipe to make from scratch.

1. Make two American flag cakes by starting with a white cake mix (or your favorite white cake recipe that you make from scratch).

2. Divide the batter into two large rectangular cake pans. The baking time will be cut down by 1/3-1/2.

3. Let the cakes fully cool.

4. Top with softened vanilla ice cream and follow the above steps. Because you are decorating two cakes here, you will require double the amount of berries and whipped cream.

You can find delectable berries at your local grocery store or your farmers market.  If you have time and can dodge the raindrops, go strawberry picking with your kids!