This 4th of July Poke Cake is fun, festive, and the star of any patriotic celebration. It is moist, delicious and as beautiful as our American flag.
My grandmother would make this every fourth of July for our family picnic. It is a memory that keeps this recipe in our hearts.
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email below and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
Why this 4th of July Poke Cake Recipe is a Keeper
This Patriotic Jello Poke Cake is so easy to make, so delightful to display and don’t forget the best part, so tasty. Always moist and inventive. So celebrate with something delicious.
- 30 Minute: This is a great cake to make ahead of time and it only takes about thirty minutes.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry and easy to make.
- Family Friendly: This is a fun cake that everyone will love, especially with it’s patriotic theme.
If you’re looking for more inspired recipes, try these
Why do they call it a poke cake?
It is named, of course, by the action of poking the holes in the cake. Poking the cake creates channels for the liquid filling, usually flavored gelatin or pudding, to seep into the cake. This infuses the cake with extra moisture and flavor.
Ingredient Notes for the 4th of July Cake
You do not need much to make this dessert. A cake mix and jello and some easy ingredients for the frosting to top the cake. And a spoon or straw to poke holes into the cake.
- White Cake Mix: A standard box of white cake mix. Any variety that you enjoy for the 4th of July cake. You will also need the ingredients to prepare the cake mix as directed .
- Red and Blue Jell-O: Red jello and Blue jello for the cake. The red can be cherry jello, strawberry, raspberry or even watermelon and the blue can be berry blue or blue raspberry.
- Frosting: Whipping cream, vanilla, powdered sugar.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for the Patriotic Poke Cake
Of course, there are always so many creative ways to create a fun, patriotic cake for your celebrations.
- Box Cake Mix: You can use any type of white cake mix for the dessert. Try a sponge cake or angel food cake.
- Fruit for a 4th of July flag: Decorate the top with strawberries and blueberries in a flag pattern.
- Whipped topping: Use cool whip in place of the frosting.
- Memorial Day: This cake is perfect for other patriotic holidays too.
- Filling: Along with the red and blue jello, you can use white chocolate instant pudding for a creamy element.
Cake Pro Tip
When poking the cake, resist the urge to go overboard. Aim for even distribution of holes, about 1 inch apart.
How to Make a Jello Red White and Blue Poke Cake
This cake is super easy to make. the poke cake is the perfect holiday treat.
These are the basic steps for making fourth of july poke cake. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Prepare the Cake Mix and Bake
First, mix together the cake mix according to package directions, then bake cake in a 13×9 inch pan. Allow the cake to cool completely. Second, use the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes almost to the bottom of the cake. Do the entire cake.
2. Prepare the Red and Blue Liquid Jello and Fill the Cake
Next, dissolve the blue Jello powder in ¾ cup of boiling water. Pour the jello into the holes in every other row with the dissolved blue Jello. Repeat with red jello mixture. Then cover the cake with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for several hours to set and cool.
3. Mix the Frosting
Begin with a chilled bowl and then cream together cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar until mixed and then slowly pour in the whipping cream. Turn the mixer to high and whip until stiff peaks form.
4. Frost the Cake and Decorate the Easy 4th of July Poke Cake
Finally, spread evenly across the top of the cake or pipe it on with an icing bag. Sprinkle with red white and blue sprinkles. Keep covered and refrigerated until ready to serve.
Recipe FAQs to Make 4th of July Dessert
It is best to poke the holes when the cake has cooled slightly. If it is too hot or cold you will get more crumb. So warm is best.
Traditionally, the back of a wooden spoon is used. Alternatively, you could use a dowel, straw, chopstick or the back of any kitchen utensil the correct shape.
Sometimes more is not better, you do not want it too moist that is falls apart. Ideally about an inch or so apart is perfect.
Bake the cake layers a day or two in advance, assemble the cake the day before serving, and add fresh toppings just before serving.
Expert Tips for Making This July 4th Jello Poke Cake Recipe
You can switch up this classic poke cake using a cake from scratch if you have a great recipe. This poke cake is perfect for the 4th or July or memorial day.
- 4th of July dessert ideas: Feel free to use cool whip and cream cheese for the icing.
- Variation tip: Use different jellos for any occasion, this is really a great way to make cake more special.
- Freeze Cake: Make the cake and let it cool and then you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Make sure you wrap it well so it is airtight.
- Alternate tip: Use vegan jello for the red white and blue cake if you are worried for your vegetarian friends.
- Dietary consideration for jello poke cake: Sugar free jello and low fat cream cheese can be used to make the cake lower in calories.
- Decorations: There are so many things to place onto the cake. Such as red, white and blue candies, sprinkles, or fun paper toppers.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email below and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
Patriotic Jello Poke Cake
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe to your inbox.
Ingredients
- White Cake, prepared
- 3 ounces Blue Jello, 1 box
- 3 ounces Strawberry Jello, 1 box
- 1 ½ cup Water, 3/4 cup for each color of Jello
- For the Frosting
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese, cold
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream, cold
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- Red White & Blue Sprinkles
Instructions
- Bake cake according to package directions in a 13×9 inch pan. Allow to cool.
- With a , back of a wooden spoon or drinking straw, poke even rows of holes across the cake.
- Dissolve the blue Jello in ¾ cup of boiling water. Fill the holes in every other row with the dissolved blue Jello. You can carefully pour or spoon it in or use a dropper or syringe to be more precise.
- Repeat with the red Jello filling the empty rows of holes.
- Cover the cake and place it in the fridge overnight or for at least 8-10 hours.
- Once the cake has cooled it is time to make the frosting.
- This frosting is like a thick and sturdy whipped cream. It is light and creamy like whipped cream but will hold up on a frosted cake in the fridge for a few days.
- Like whipped cream it need to be made with cold ingredients and works best if the bowl it is being made in is cold too. You can place the mixing bowl in the freezer for about 15-30 minutes before making the icing.
- In the chilled bowl cream together cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar until well mixed and light and fluffy. With the mixer on low/med slowly pour in the whipping cream and mix until well incorporated and smooth.
- Turn the mixer to high and whip until stiff peaks form.
- Spread evenly across the top of the cake or pipe it on with an icing bag. Sprinkle with red white and blue sprinkles.
Christina’s Notes
- Add Fruit: Top the Cake with Strawberries and Blueberries, or Raspberries.
- Short cut tip: Feel free to use cool whip and cream cheese for the icing.
- Variation tip: Use different jellos for any occasion, this is really a great way to make cake more special.
- Freeze Cake: Make the cake and let it cool and then you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Make sure you wrap it well so it is airtight.
- Alternate tip: Use vegan jello if you are worried for your vegetarian friends.
- Dietary consideration tip: Sugar free jello and low fat cream cheese can be used to make the cake lower in calories.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Delightful post
Thanks