Festive Flag Cake

We had this for the 4th of July weekend. Wow, was it yummy! We'll be making this again even if it's not for the 4th and putting fresh fruit on top. If you make it, you won't be disappointed. You can tell that I was so excited to dig in and then forgot to take a picture of the masterpiece so use your imagination and think of those other two pieces fitting nicely into the pan. :)

1 prepared angel food cake, sliced
2 cups whipping cream
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup milk
8 oz. cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
2 pints raspberries* (or 1 pint strawberries)
1 pint blueberries

Combine whipping cream, vanilla, granulated sugar, and ¼ milk in a bowl. Beat until soft peaks form. In a separate bowl combine cream cheese and powdered sugar. Fold into whipping cream mixture. In a 9x13 pan, spread 1/3 of the whipped cream mixture, a layer of cake slices, and repeat, ending with the remaining 1/3 of the whipped cream mixture on top. Top with raspberries and blueberries in the shape of a US flag. Refrigerate overnight before serving

Strawberry Shortcakes

2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. baking powder
5 Tbsp. sugar, divided
1/2 cup butter, frozen
1 egg, beaten
1 egg white (optional)
1/2 cup half-and-half

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat to 425 degrees. Mix flour, salt and baking powder and 3 Tbsp. sugar in a medium bowl. Grate 2 Tbsp. of butter into dry ingredients; toss to coat. Repeat grating and tossing with remaining butter. Combine egg and half-and-half; pour into flour mixture. Toss with a fork to form large clumps. Add a tsp. more of half-and-half to dough if it won't come together.
Press dough into an 8 by 4 inch rectangle. Cut into 6 squares and place 1 inch apart on small baking sheet. Before baking, brush tops with optional egg white. Sprinkle with remaining 2 Tbsp. sugar. Bake until golden brown about 12-14 minutes.
Split each cake crosswise; spoon a portion of berries over cake bottom. Top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Finish with cake top and serve immediately!

Buttercream Frosting

Here is a photo of some cupcakes we took to Trejan's preschool to celebrate his birthday. I received so many compliments on the frosting. It is so yummy and so easy.

4 sticks (1 pound) butter
6 cups sifted confectioner's sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
pinch of salt

Beat butter on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium; add sugar 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well, about 5 minutes total. Add vanilla and salt. Raise speed to medium-high; beat until smooth, about 1 minute more.