Build-You-Own Independence Day Cupcakes Recipe

This is a really fun Fourth of July dessert recipe! Why? Because your guests get to be creative, and build their very own desserts. You just set out all the fixins, and watch creativity (and maybe a little hilarity!) ensue. Be sure to have a camera ready! You can even turn this fun July 4th dessert into a Fourth of July party game-- make it a contest to see who can decorate the best patriotic cupcake!

Cupcakes are also very portable-- it's easy to walk around eating them! So they can be a good choice if you want to help with overall mixing and mingling at your Independence Day party.

The recipe here makes about a dozen large vanilla cupcakes. But you can use any recipe you like, or a few different ones for your guests to choose from. You can even use a mix if you like... the sky's the limit!

You'll find ideas for fixins below.

Cupcake Ingredients:
2 c. sifted flour
1-1/2 c. white sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. shortening
1 c. milk
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. lemon zest (opt.)
4 egg whites

Choice of Cupcake Fixins (see Below)

Instructions: 1. Set your oven at 350 degrees. Put red, white and blue cupcake liners in your cupcake pans, if you've got 'em. Otherwise, use the regular kind.

2. Mix together all the ingredients except for the eggs. It will take about 2 minutes to get everything incorporated.

3. Now add the egg whites, beating on high for another 2 minutes. Pour the batter into the cupcake liners until they're 2/3 full.

4. Bake for about 25 minutes (a toothpick will come out clean when they're done). Cool.

Arranging Your Build a Cupcake Bar

Now the fun part of this Fourth of July dessert recipe begins! Put these (or a variety of different cupcakes) out on a sideboard at your party along with little dishes filled with various frostings and cake toppers. Let people make their own creations!

Some great ideas for cupcake toppings are:





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