Patriotic Jello Poke Cake

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Jello Poke cakes offer a cute surprise to you dessert table. To make a patriotic version is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday. The fruity cake is super moist and so irresistible.

Patriotic Poke Cake Square with sprinkles and whipped cream on a white plate.

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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 delcious.

Who invented the poke cake? Find out more here.

  • 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.
  • Makes Great Leftovers: Great leftovers because it is so moist.
Clear glass dish wuth a red and white stripped napkin. Cake dish has 1 square of cake missing.

What You Need to Make Jello Poke Cake

Ingredients

  • White Cake Mix
  • Oil
  •  Eggs
  • Blue Jello
  • Strawberry Jello
  • Cream Cheese
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Heavy Whipping Cream 
  • Vanilla
  • Red White & Blue Sprinkles
Cake mix, jello boxes, eggs and ingredients to make jello poke cake.

Equipment

How to Make Jello Poke Cake – Step by Step

Making a cake in four steps. two in mixing bowl and two in baking dish.

Cake:

  • Bake: First, bake cake according to package directions in a 13×9 inch pan. Allow to cool completely.
  • Holes: Second, poke holes in cake.
  • Fill: Next, dissolve the blue Jello in ¾ cup of boiling water. Fill the holes in every other row with the dissolved blue Jello. Repeat with red.
  • Cover: Then cover and place in the fridge for several hours to set and cool.
4 shots of the cake after it has been competed with wholes being created and then the wholes being filled with Jello.

Frosting:

  • Chilled Bowl: 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.
  • Peaks: Turn the mixer to high and whip until stiff peaks form.
  • Spread: 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.
Making the frosting for the patriotic poke cake in mixer and then in bowl ready to use on the cake.

LOOKING FOR MORE POKE CAKES? TRY THESE FAVORITES:

Check out all of the Easy Dessert Recipes on It Is a Keeper.

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Common Questions About Jello Poke Cake

WHY IS IT CALLED A POKE CAKE?

While many jokes can be made about the 70″s the reason it is called a poke cake is the obvious holes that are “poke” in the cake to allow the jello to be poured in.

WHAT DO YOU USE TO POKE THE HOLES WITH?

Traditionally, the back of a wooden spoon is used. Alternatively, you could use a dowel or the back of any kitchen utensil the correct shape.

WHEN DO YOU POKE THE HOLES?

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.

HOW FAR APART DO YOU POKE YOUR HOLES FOR JELLO POKE CAKE?

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.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE MADE AHEAD OF TIME?

Because this cake has to set, making it ahead of time is a great idea.

Top shot of jelo poke cake in a glass baking dish with a red and white stripped towel behind it.

Expert Tips for Making Poke Cake

  • 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.

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Patriotic Poke Cake Square with sprinkles and whipped cream on a white plate.
5 from 2 votes

Patriotic Jello Poke Cake

Yield: 12 servings
Prep: 20 minutes
cooling time: 3 hours
Total: 3 hours 20 minutes
Jello Poke cakes offer a cute surprise to you dessert table. To make a patriotic version is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday. The fruity cake is super moist and so irresistible.
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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • White Cake, prepared
  • 3 oz Box Blue Jello
  • 3 oz Box Strawberry Jello
  • 1 ½ cup Water, 3/4 cup for each color of Jello
  • For the Frosting
  • 8 oz 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.

Expert Tips

 
  • 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.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 144mg | Potassium: 58mg | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 837IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

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