Red, White And Blue Poke Cake Recipe

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This Red White and Blue Poke Cake Recipe is a fun and festive dessert filled with patriotic colors. It’s an easy and absolutely delicious cake that will be an eye-catching centerpiece for your Memorial Day or Fourth of July festivities!

Slice of red white and blue poke cake
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With several patriotic holidays coming up, this poke cake recipe is the perfect addition to all your celebrations. It’s a super easy and yummy cake recipe that’s loaded with sweet and tangy flavor.

Did I mention how gorgeous it is too? Red and blue jello is streaked throughout the white cake, making a very impressive dessert that your guests are going to love! 

Fourth of July Poke cake from above

What Is A Poke Cake

If you’ve never heard of a poke cake, you may be wondering exactly what they are! Poke cakes start with a regular cake, either a box mix or homemade. Once baked, rows of holes are poked in it with the end of a wooden spoon or straw. The holes are filled with a liquid, in this case we used jello, then the cake is topped with a frosting or cool whip and decorated with colorful sprinkles or fresh fruit.

While poke cakes are a fun, festive holiday dessert, let’s face it, they are delicious any time of year! There doesn’t even have to be a holiday to enjoy this Banana Pudding Poke Cake, Strawberry Poke Cake or this Oreo Poke Cake.

Why We Love This Recipe:

  • With a boxed cake mix and a few other simple ingredients this poke cake recipe makes an easy dessert that comes together quicky.
  • The beautiful patriotic colors of this dessert really makes a statement on any holiday dessert table. It’s perfect for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day or anytime you want to a dessert with colors that will represent the American flag.
  • Great make-ahead dessert because the cake is even better the next day after it’s had time to absorb all the flavors of the jello.

What’s Needed For Red White and Blue Jello Poke Cake?

Ingredients for Fourth Of July Poke Cake
  • Box white cake mix, plus ingredients from the box (usually, water, oil and eggs)
  • Strawberry jello
  • Berry blue jello
  • Boiling water
  • Cold water
  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Cream cheese
  • Powdered sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Patriotic sprinkles

How to Make this Patriotic Jello Poke Cake

Step 1. Spray a 9×13 pan with non-stick spray and set aside. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2. Prepare cake according to the package directions on the box.

Ingredients for cake mixed in bowl

Step 3. Pour cake batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for the required time. Let the cake cool completely.

Cake batter poured into a baking pan

Step 4. Using a straw or the end of the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes in rows throughout the top of the cake.

Baked cake with holes poked in it

Step 5. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup boiling water, and the red jello mix, until dissolved. Stir in 1 cup cold water. Set aside.

Red jello combined with boiling water

Step 6. Using a drinking straw, add 1/2 of the red jello mixture into half of the holes. To draw the liquid into the straw, just put the end of the straw in the liquid and then place your finger over the other end.

Red jello in straw

Step 7. In another bowl, repeat the same process to mix the berry blue gelatin.

Blue jello combined with water

Step 8. Using a clean straw, add 1/2 of the blue jello mixture to the remaining holes.

Blue jello in straw

Step 9. If you want to drizzle more of the jello over the top of the cake, be sure not to mix the two colors.

Blue jello going into poke cake

Step 10. After you’ve added the jello, cover with plastic wrap and place cake in the fridge to chill for 4-6 hours, or for best results, overnight. Before serving, make the frosting.

Poke cake with red and blue jello

Step 11. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until smooth.

Step 12. Add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, and mix on low speed in between each addition until combined. Add the vanilla extract and mix for about one minute.

Powdered sugar in cream cheese

Step 13. In a separate bowl, add the heavy whipping cream, and mix with a hand mixer for several minutes, until whipped topping thickens with stiff peaks.

Step 14. Add the whipped cream to the cream cheese mixture. Mix on medium speed until everything is well combined.

Whipped cream added to cream cheese mixture

Step 15. Spread the frosting over the cake and smooth out evenly over the surface

Cake with cream cheese frosting

Step 16. Top with red and blue jimmies or patriotic sprinkles. Enjoy!

4th of July cake topped with sprinkles

Red White and Blue Poke Cake Recipe Variations

  • Frosting: This easy poke cake recipe calls for a whipped cream cheese frosting. lf you want something a little lighter, you can just top it with Cool Whip then add the decorative sprinkles
  • Cake: A classic white cake mix gives you the best colors for Red White and Blue patriotic poke cake. You can also use an angel food cake mix. If you prefer a vanilla cake mix, you can certainly use it. It will still taste amazing, but it will be an off-white color.
  • Decorations: You can use fresh fruit to decorate the top of the cake instead of using sprinkles. You can even use rows of fresh berries like raspberries, blueberries and fresh strawberries to create an American flag design.
  • Jello: You can use any flavor of red and blue jell-o you prefer. We used strawberry gelatin, but raspberry and cherry jello are also great options with the berry blue jello.
  • Additional Filling: For an added touch of decadence, you can add a can of strawberry or cherry pie filling to the top of the cake before adding the topping. If you’d like to try this option, you may want to use a simple cool whip topping with red and blue sprinkles instead of the cream cheese frosting.
Red White And Blue Poke Cake in glass baking pan

How Do I Store Jello Poke Cake?

Because this cake has a dairy topping and jello filling, it will need to remain in the fridge. Keep it covered and chilled so it will stay fresh for at least 4 days.

You can also freeze this red white and blue jello cake for up to about 3 months. To do so, just allow it to cool and add the jello mixture to the holes. Wait to add the frosting right before you’re ready to serve it. Wrap it in the pan it was baked in with a couple of layers of plastic wrap, then a layer of foil.

To thaw, place the cake in the fridge, then add frosting and sprinkles.

Red White And Blue Poke Cake with blue napkin

Tips for the Best Red White and Blue Cake

  • Ignore the instructions on the back of the box of jello. You’ll want to use the directions in this recipe when making the jello mixture.
  • Instead of using a straw to fill up the holes, you can add the jello to a squeeze bottle or suck it up with a large syringe and squirt it in the holes.
  • Since you won’t use all of the jello for this recipe, you can use the rest to make layered jello cups! (Or maybe some yummy jello shots! 😉)
  • If you’re making a homemade white cake, be sure to use clear vanilla extract to help keep the color really white.
  • Make it the night before if you can, letting the cake chill overnight, or for at least 6 hours. This really allows the jell-o time to infuse into the cake, making it a perfect dessert to make in advance.
  • You can get creative and make any pattern with the red and blue jello you like. I did every other hole a different color. If you have extra, drop a little extra around the top of your cake. Keep the blue and red gelatin as separate as possible because when they are mixed, you’ll get purple!
Red White And Blue Poke Cake on white plate
Can I Make This Recipe Into Red White And Blue Cupcakes?

Absolutely! Just add the batter to a lined muffin tin. Bake them using the same method as you do the cake. Poke holes in the cooled cupcakes, add the jello mixture and frost.

Red White And Blue Poke Cake on white plate with blue napkin

Want More Recipes for Red White and Blue Desserts?

Red White And Blue Poke Cake square
5 from 3 votes

Red, White And Blue Poke Cake


Course Desserts & Sweets
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Additional Time 4 hours
Total Time 5 hours
This eye-catching Red White and Blue Poke Cake Recipe is the perfect dessert for any patriotic holiday! It's easy, delicious and always a crowd pleaser!

Ingredients
 

  • 16.25 ounces white cake mix (1 box) plus ingredients listed on box oil, eggs, water
  • 1 box Strawberry Jello 3.4 ounce size
  • 2 cups boiling water divided
  • 1 cup cold water divided
  • 1 box Berry Blue Jello 3.4 ounce size
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • red, white & blue sprinkles

Instructions

  • Spray a 9×13 pan with non-stick spray and set aside. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  • Prepare cake according to the package directions on the box.
    16.25 ounces white cake mix (1 box) plus ingredients listed on box
  • Pour cake batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for the required time. Let the cake cool completely.
  • Using a straw or the end of the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes in rows throughout the top of the cake.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup boiling water, and the red jello mix, until dissolved. Stir in 1 cup cold water. Set aside.
    1 box Strawberry Jello, 2 cups boiling water, 1 cup cold water
  • Using a drinking straw, add 1/2 of the red jello mixture into half of the holes. To draw the liquid into the straw, just put the end of the straw in the liquid and then place your finger over the other end.
  • In another bowl, repeat the same process to mix the berry blue gelatin.
    2 cups boiling water, 1 box Berry Blue Jello, 1 cup cold water
  • Using a clean straw, add 1/2 of the blue jello mixture to the remaining holes. If you want to drizzle more of the jello over the top of the cake, be sure not to mix the two colors.
  • After you’ve added the jello, cover with plastic wrap and place cake in the fridge to chill for 4-6 hours, or for best results, overnight. Before serving, make the frosting.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until smooth.
    8 ounces cream cheese
  • Add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, and mix on low speed in between each addition until combined. Add the vanilla extract and mix for about one minute.
    2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • In a separate bowl, add the heavy whipping cream, and mix with a hand mixer for several minutes, until whipped topping thickens with stiff peaks.
    1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • Add the whipped cream to the cream cheese mixture. Mix on medium speed until everything is well combined.
  • Spread the frosting over the cake and smooth out evenly over the surface
  • Top with red and blue jimmies or patriotic sprinkles. Enjoy!
    red, white & blue sprinkles

Notes

  • If you'd like something a little lighter than the whipped cream cheese frosting. lf you want something a little lighter, you can just top it with Cool Whip then add the decorative sprinkles.
  • You can use any flavor of red and blue jell-o you prefer. We used strawberry gelatin, but raspberry and cherry jello are also great options with the berry blue jello.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 460kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 432mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 51g | Vitamin A: 691IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used.

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You state 1c boiling water with the strawberry jello but then you have the total amount of boiling water being 2c. Which is it?

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