We are meeting at my Mom's for Fourth of July weekend for a cookout and fireworks display so I wanted to make something sweet, easy and patriotic. I saw this cute idea on the Taste of Home website.
I just got a box of white cake mix and divided the batter into three different bowls. I used food coloring gel in red and royal blue and mixed each color into the divided cake batter. I then layered each color of the batter into the cupcake liners. Topped with almond cream cheese frosting, these cupcakes scream Happy Birthday U.S.A.!

Adapted from Taste of Home:

Patriotic Cupcakes

1 box white cake mix
1/2 tsp. almond extract
Red food coloring
Blue food coloring

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare cake mix according to directions on box. Mix in 1/2 tsp. of almond extract.
Divide batter into 3 bowls, one bowl for red color, one bowl for blue color and leave the white batter in mixing bowl. Color batter to desired shade of red and blue. Spoon batter into cupcake liners layering each color. Bake according to directions on box.

Almond Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick of butter, softened
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 box powdered sugar

Blend cream cheese, butter, and almond extract. Mix in powdered sugar. Spread or pipe onto cooled cupcakes.