Patriotic Poke Cake Recipe | Red White And Blue Jello Poke Cake

Patriotic Poke Cake is a fun and flavorful dessert to make for any summertime celebration! Light, fluffy, and delightfully decorated, this red, white, and blue poke cake is just as fun to make as it is to eat.

No matter where you live in the United States, Independence Day is guaranteed to be a cause for celebration. This rings especially true for the tiny little town that I grew up (and still live) in. We close down the streets, pack the town square with food vendors, local musicians, and lots of fun. The highlight of the whole day is our Fourth of July Parade! It is one of the longest-running Independence Day Parades in the US. This year is the 144th year!

Needless to say, this holiday is packed with nostalgia for us, so we go all out when it comes time to celebrate with food. This Patriotic Poke Cake recipe is the perfect simple dessert that is fun, flavorful, and easy to make–so you still have plenty of time to BBQ!

What Makes This The Perfect Patriotic Dessert

• Easy to Make. Use some prepackaged ingredients for a quick and easy dessert.
• Perfectly Patriotic. With layered elements of red, white, and blue, there is no question that this dessert screams “America”!
• Completely Customizable. Use a variety of cake mixes or flavors of jello to switch up the colors and flavors to be perfect for any occasion.

Whether you’re creating the perfect dessert for your next summer celebration or just want something fun and flavorful to enjoy with your family, this Patriotic Poke Cake is sure to please.

Why Is It Called Poke Cake?

This cake gets its name from the tiny little holes that are poked into it. The holes are then filled with flavored gelatin to create little pockets of flavor that leave the cake bursting with flavor.

Why Is My Poke Cake Soggy?

Poke cake can become soggy when the poked holes are overfilled with too much liquid. Luckily, the liquid that is poured into the holes in this poke cake solidifies over time, so you don’t have to worry about it making your cake soggy.

The only other things that may cause this cake to become soggy are underbaking the sponge cake or storing it for too long. Read over the rest of the article for proper baking and storage times.

Ingredients To Grab

Patriotic poke cake is a festive dessert made for a variety of summer holidays. Here’s what you need to grab before you get started for a super simple dessert:

• White Cake Mix– This is the base for the poke cake. It has a neutral flavor that can be easily colored with the Jello to achieve a patriotic look.
• Vegetable Oil– Adds moisture and helps keep the cake tender.
• Eggs– Provide structure and stability to the cake. They help the cake rise and give it a light, airy texture.
• Water– Water is used in both the cake mix and the jello.
• Jello– Red (cherry) and blue (mixed berry) Jello are used to create the patriotic colors. They not only add vibrant colors but also infuse the cake with flavor.
• Cool Whip– Whipped topping is used for the frosting for the cake. It provides a light, fluffy, and creamy topping.
• Sprinkles– Patriotic-colored sprinkles (red, white, and blue) are used as a decorative topping. They add a festive touch and a bit of crunch.

How To Make Patriotic Poke Cake

Combine the ingredients for the cake. First, combine the cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs, and water in a large mixing bowl. Stir until there are no lumps remaining.

Bake the cake. First, pour the cake mix into a prepared 9×13 baking dish. Place the cake mix into an oven preheated to 350F for 34-38 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and comes out clean.

Poke the holes. Then, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 30-45 minutes. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to gently poke holes in the top of the cake approximately 1/2″ apart. They don’t have to be perfect. You won’t be able to tell after it is decorated.

Create the jello. Next, prepare the two varieties of jello. Bring 1 cup of water to boil in two different saucepans on your stovetop. Thoroughly whisk the cherry jello mix into one pot of boiling water and the mixed berry jello into the other boiling pot of water. Remove them from heat. Whisk 1 cup of cold water into each of the saucepans of jello mixture.

Fill the poke cake. Carefully spoon the liquid jello into the holes you created in the poke cake. Alternate the red and the blue jello so that you get a variety of patriotic colors in each bite. Cover and place the unfrosted jello poke cake in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours, or until the jello is set.

Frost and serve! Finally, use defrosted Cool Whip or other whipped topping to frost the top of our chilled Patriotic Poke Cake. Decorate the top of the frosted jello poke cake with patriotic red, white, and blue sprinkles, cut, and enjoy!

Tips And Tricks

This simple dessert is pretty straight-forward, but here are a few tips and tricks to read over before you get started to ensure your time in the kitchen is a breeze:

• Let the cake cool. Allow the cake to cool after baking before you poke the holes. If you try to poke the holes before the cake cools, the sponge can crumble and tear, making for less defined pockets of color.
• Poke big enough holes. You can poke holes as big or small as you prefer and as close or far apart as you wish. Keep in mind that the more holes you poke, the higher the concentration of color and flavor you’ll have from the jello. The more jello you use, the denser the cake will be.
• Use a condiment bottle. Pouring the liquid jello into small, clean condiment containers can make filling the poke cake holes much easier! Just be careful when placing the jello liquid into the condiment container so you don’t burn yourself.

Variations

It’s hard not to love this Patriotic Poke Cake recipe, but the color scheme isn’t always perfect for all occasions. Here are some ways to adjust the recipe to adjust the colors and flavors for any party:

• Swap the frosting. Cool whip is a light and refreshing option for frosting, but buttercream or cream cheese frosting is also delicious on top of this cake.
• Get creative with garnish. Add as much flair as you when frosting your cake! Use a variety of berries to create a flag, change the color of the whipped topping with food coloring, or pipe some patriotic phrases on top with colored icing.
• Fill with different flavors. Switch up the flavor of the jello poke cake by using different combinations of jello! Keep in mind the colors of your cake will change with the different flavors.

Make Ahead and Storage

If you have an action-packed holiday planned, you can make this Patriotic Poke Cake in advance. The important thing to remember is to wait until the last minute before serving to frost and garnish your cake. Cool whip can separate once it is defrosted and can lead to an unappetizing appearance and mouth feel. Also, the dye in the sprinkles can bleed and create a less vibrant and fresh look.

For the best flavor and texture, store any leftover Patriotic Poke Cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I wouldn’t suggest freezing this delicious dessert.

More Delicious Desserts

If you’re searching for more tasty treats to serve this summer, check out some of these other amazing sweets to make for your next celebration:

• Strawberry Cobbler with Cake Mix
• Cherry Pie Bubble Up
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
• Fruit Pizza Cookies
• Banana Pudding Poke Cake

If you love this Patriotic Poke Cake recipe as much as we do, make sure you share it with your friends on social media so they can try it too! Don’t forget to save it so you can make it again next Independence Day!