Here is a fantastic family recipe for a flag cake you can bring to this year's July Fourth parties. It serves a lot of people and it's easy recipe to make. The little secrets that make this cake taste extra good are the instant potato flakes which keep the cake tender and moist, and the mini chocolate chips that give you little bursts of chocolate with every bite. The colorful fruit on top not only adds great flavor, but it turns this cake into a show stopper that has guests "oohing" and "ahhing" in delight!
Independence Cake (Makes 20 servings)
1 cup water
1 cup instant mashed potato flakes
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
4 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
2 cups (12-ounce package) Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels
1 container (8 ounces) frozen lite whipped topping, thawed
2 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 cup blueberries
PREHEAT oven to 350∞ F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking pan; line with wax paper.
HEAT water to boiling in small saucepan; remove from heat. Stir in potato flakes until moistened. Cool to room temperature. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl.
BEAT sugar and butter until crumbly. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat in potatoes. Gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with milk. Stir in morsels. Spoon into prepared baking pan.
BAKE for 45 to 55 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 15 minutes. Invert onto wire rack; remove wax paper. Cool completely. Transfer to serving platter.
FROST sides and top of cake with whipped topping. Just prior to serving, arrange strawberry slices and blueberries on top of cake to represent the American flag.
Jenny Harper is Senior Culinary Specialist for the Nestle Test Kitchens and VeryBestBaking.com. For more Independence Day recipe ideas to help you celebrate, visit www.verybestbaking.com.
