Red White Blue Poke Cake
Updated
Updated
With a box cake mix, two types of Jello, and whipped cream, this Red White and Blue Poke Cake is the perfect dessert for your 4th of July get-together! It’s flavorful, super moist, and festive!
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Poke cakes are one of my favorite ways to turn a box mix into something a bit fancy and festive. I love making things from scratch but I find no shame in taking a few shortcuts, when the end result is just as delicious!
For this Red White and Blue Jello Poke Cake, I turned boxed white cake mix and jell-O into a multi-color, fun and flavorful dessert! The jell-O comes through not just in color but in flavor too, adding hints of berry and cherry to a vanilla cake. The jell-O also helps make the cake super moist, and when you serve it chilled, it’s a refreshing dessert for 4th of July or a summer picnic!
Helpful Tips
- Use white cake. Be sure to use white cake to get the truest red and blue colors.
- Jello-O colors. Berry Blue jello-o adds the blue color. I use cherry jell-o for the red color, but strawberry or raspberry work just as well.
- Ignore the Jell-O box instructions. Be sure to follow the instructions in this recipe for preparing the jell-O, as you use less cold water than the box directs.
- Prepare the night before. I recommend letting the cake chill for at least 6 hours but overnight is best! It gives the jell-O time to set and infuse into the cake.
- Box white cake or homemade. This recipe uses white boxed cake mix, but if you have a homemade white cake recipe that you love, you can certainly use that.
- Cool Whip Topping. If you can’t find Cool Whip or don’t want to use it, you can make our homemade whipped cream instead.
Red White Blue Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 15 once box white cake mix + ingredients to make it, (such as eggs, oil, etc – whatever it lists on the box. Or use a from scratch white cake, if preferred.)
- 3 ounce box Berry Blue Jello
- 3 ounce box Cherry Jello
- 8 ounce tub Cool Whip, thawed (or use homemade whipped cream – see note below)
- patriotic sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare white cake mix according to package directions, baking in a greased 9×13 pan. Allow cake to cool for about 25 minutes.
- Using a straw or the handle of a small wooden spoon, poke holes all over the surface of the cake.
- Prepare each box of Jell-o using 1 cup of boiling water + 1/2 cup of cold water. (This is 1/2 cup less cold water than what is called for on package instructions.)
- Carefully pour or spoon the blue Jello over a portion of the cake, making sure to get the liquid into the holes.
- Carefully pour or spoon the red Jello over the other portion of the cake, making sure to get the liquid into the holes.
- Refrigerate the cake for at least 6 hours or ideally overnight – this allows the Jell-o to set up within the cake.
- Spread the top evenly with the Cool Whip.
- Add red, white, and blue patriotic sprinkles and/or stars on top.
- Cut into squares and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!
What is Poke Cake?
Poke cakes have actually been a thing since the 1970s, but in recent years have become a fad again. A poke cake is simply a cake that you poke holes into, then pour something – usually, a liquid or semi-liquid – over it and into the holes. The most popular poke cake additions are pudding and jello.
The end result is a super easy cake that’s extra flavorful and moist, and if you start with a white cake, you can even play around with colors, like we do in this 4th of July poke cake.
Want to try a different poke cake? Check out our Coconut Cake and Chocolate Poke Cake.
Serving Suggestions
- Wait to add the Cool Whip and sprinkles to this cake just before cutting and serving.
- I typically cut this cake into squares, with the size varying depending on how many I’m serving. Cut into normal-sized pieces, you’ll end up with about 10 slices of cake but you can easily double or triple that by making smaller slices.
- Take care not to leave the cake at room temperature or outside in the heat for too long, due to the jell-O and whipped topping.
How to Store & Freeze Leftover Cake
Store any leftover red white and blue cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Due to the jell-O and whipped topping, it should not be left out on the counter.
You can freeze this poke cake in a tightly sealed container for up to a month. Thaw in the fridge before serving. You should freeze it without the whipped topping and sprinkles.
More 4th of July Recipes:
- Red White Blue Fluff
- Dessert Fruit Kabobs
- Red White Blue Oreos
- 4th of July Muddy Buddies
- Red White and Blue Cheesecake Parfaits
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
This cake was a huge hit with everyone! Easy to make, tasted great, and so pretty. Perfect patriotic cake for a novice baker. Thank you for such a fun recipe!