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4th of July Poke Cake: Red, White & Delicious

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Make a 4th of July poke cake featuring America’s colors as perfect treat for your Independence Day celebrations. This fun patriotic cake will be the centerpiece of your cookout and huge hit with all your guests. And it is easy to make using a boxed cake mix, Jello, and just a few other ingredients.

This is a show-stopping dessert that looks complicated but doesn’t take much effort at all! A white cake is poked and filled with red and blue Jello. Top it off with whipped frosting and make a flag out of fruit.

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The Jello drips down into the cake to provide bursts of red and blue color in the white cake. It is the ultimate patriotic poke cake, and everyone will think you are an expert baker! Keep reading for the step-by-step instructions, serving ideas and all my best tips for a 4th of July poke cake.

Looking for more Red, White and Blue Desserts for a patriotic holiday celebration? Check out my Sugar Cookie Bars, Patriotic Rice Krispies Treats, and No-Bake Cheesecake Parfaits.

🎇Key Ingredients

For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below

Box of White Cake Mix – Use your favorite! I prefer Duncan Hine’s mix.

Water, oil, and egg whites – The cake will be baked following the directions on the box, and these are the typical ingredients.

Jello – Use cherry or strawberry Jello for the red color and blueberry for the blue color.

Whipped topping – Whipped topping, like Cool Whip, is used for a simple frosting.

Strawberries and blueberries – The fruit is arranged to make the flag pattern on top.

🥣How to Make 4th of July Poke Cake

  1. Bake the Cake: Bake the cake mix as directed on the box in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Let it cool, in the baking dish, for 20 minutes.
  2. Make the Gelatin: In a mixing bowl, combine the red Jello with 1 cup of boiling water and stir until it is dissolved. Then stir in 1/2 cup of cold water and set it aside. Repeat the process with the blue Jello in a separate bowl.
  3. Fill the Cake: Use the end of a wooden spoon or a large straw to poke holes evenly all over the top. Then fill the holes with the jello mixture, alternating red and blue. You can use a spoon to add the liquid Jello or a small syringe, like a child’s medicine syringe.
  4. Chill: Once all the holes are filled, put it in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours so the Jello can set.
  5. Decorate: Spread the whipped topping, like Cool Whip, over the top to cover the holes. Then slice the strawberries and arrange them with the blueberries to make a flag pattern.
cake before baking
Bake Cake
making cherry jello
Make jello
cake with jello poured in
Fill Cake with Jello
Adding blueberries to the 4th of July Poke cake.
Decorate cake

🍴Serving Ideas

Serve this red, white and blue poke cake any time you want a patriotic dessert! Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Flag Day – there are plenty of holidays to choose from! 

I like to add extra blueberries and strawberries for serving to make the cake even more delicious.

flag cake with berries and cool whip

💭Does Jello Poke Cake Have to be Refrigerated?

Yes, this definitely has to be refrigerated because of the whipped topping. If you are serving it at a picnic, keep it in a cooler until it is time for dessert. If you have leftover cake, it will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

🧊Can you Freeze Jello Poke Cake?

The poke cake can be frozen, but do it before it is frosted. To freeze, wrap it in plastic wrap and then add a layer of aluminum foil. Or, use an airtight container if you have a large enough one.

It will keep for up to 2 months in the freezer. To thaw, leave it on the counter overnight. Then frost and decorate it.

🎉Use Up Any Extra Ingredients

You will probably have extra Jello. Just add it to dessert cups or a shot glass to make a cute red and blue layered Jello dessert.

cutting the 4th of july poke cake

⭐Tips

  • Give this dessert a funfetti look by adding red, white, and blue sprinkles to the batter before it is baked.
  • Note white cakes usually specify using just egg whites, not the entire egg. This helps keep the batter bright white, so the Jello shows up better.
  • Skip the flag pattern and cover the whipped topping in sprinkles. Or you can use sprinkles to make the flag pattern.

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jello poke cake for 4th of july
4.98 from 40 votes

4th of July Poke Cake Recipe

Published By Anne
This 4th of July poke cake is perfect for your Fourth of July or Memorial Day celebration! And it is easy to make using a boxed cake mix and Jello.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Chilling Time3 hours
Total Time4 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 16
Print Save Rate Pin

Ingredients
 

  • 1 box (15.25 ounce) white cake mix
  • Water, vegetable oil and eggs use what is called for on the cake mix box (mine called for 3 egg whites, ½ cup of oil, and 1 cup of water)
  • 1 box (3 ounce) cherry or strawberry gelatin
  • 1 box (3 ounce) blueberry gelatin
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1 cups cold water
  • 1 container (8 ounces) whipped topping thawed
  • 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
  • ½ cup blueberries

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Prepare the cake mix following the package instructions.
    1 box (15.25 ounce) white cake mix, Water, vegetable oil and eggs
  • Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Let it cool for 20 minutes.
  • To make the Jello in a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of boiling water with cherry jello and stir until dissolved. Whisk in ½ cup cold water to the cherry gelatin and set aside.
    1 box (3 ounce) cherry or strawberry gelatin, 2 cups boiling water, 1 cups cold water
  • In another bowl, repeat the above with the blue Jello and set it aside.
    1 box (3 ounce) blueberry gelatin, 2 cups boiling water, 1 cups cold water
  • Use the end of a wooden spoon or a large straw to poke rows of holes all over the entire cake.
  • Spoon the Jello in the holes. Alternate red and blue until they are all filled.
  • Refrigerate the dessert, covered, for 3-4 hours to allow the gelatin to set.
  • Frost with the whipped topping.
    1 container (8 ounces) whipped topping
  • Slice the strawberries. Then arrange your blueberries in one corner as stars and make rows of strawberries for a flag pattern on top.
    1 cup sliced fresh strawberries, ½ cup blueberries

Notes

Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Either spoon in the Jello or use a little food syringe to get the Jello into the holes evenly. 
Add red, white, and blue sprinkles to the batter mix for a funfetti look.
You can also add festive sprinkles to the top and skip the flag pattern!

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Nutrition Information

Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 284mg | Potassium: 52mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 14IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition facts are estimates.

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slice of cake on a plate with flag in the background

anne

Hi, I’m Anne!

I love to cook and I want to share my recipes with you. I believe cooking should be approachable and fun, not a chore. I want to make simple recipes using everyday ingredients that you can make again and again, whether it is for a busy weeknight, a summer cookout or a special dessert. Read more...

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