Red white and blue poke cake is an easy dessert made with cake mix, gelatin, and whipped topping. It’s quick to put together, colorful, and perfect for 4th of July, Memorial Day, or any summer gathering.
This red white and blue poke cake is an easy way to make a fun, colorful dessert without a lot of work. It starts with a simple cake mix, then gets filled with red and blue gelatin for color and added flavor.
It’s a great option when you need something quick that still looks festive. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert that’s always a hit at parties, BBQs, or summer get-togethers.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Cake mix: You can substitute a homemade (scratch) white cake for the boxed cake mix if you prefer. Just be sure to use white cake as yellow won’t give you the same color effect.
- Red Jell-O: You can use any flavor of red Jell-o that you like.
- Blue Jell-O: Similarly, you can use any flavor of blue Jell-O.
- Whipped topping: Whipped topping, like Cool Whip or TruWhip, or homemade whipped cream will work. Homemade whipped cream, while delicious, doesn’t hold up as well as whipped topping. You could also use whipped cream frosting if you prefer.
- Sprinkles: I recommend using patriotic sprinkles to keep the color scheme.
How to make red white and blue poke cake
Here you’ll find instructions and step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including ingredients, is given below.
Step 1: Make cake in a 9×13 inch baking pan, according to the instructions on the back of the box mix.
Step 2: After baking and while cake is still warm, use a thick skewer, chopstick, handle of a wooden spoon, or similar tool to poke holes in the top of the cake.
Step 3: Allow cake to cool completely. Remove cake from the pan and place on a large serving platter.
Step 4: Stir together red Jell-O and ¾ cup boiling water until the Jell-O has dissolved. Stir in ½ cup cold water.
Step 5: Pour red Jell-O mixture in every other row of holes.
Step 6: Stir together the blue Jell-O and remaining ¾ cup boiling water in a separate small bowl until Jell-O has dissolved. Stir in ½ cup cold water until combined.
Step 7: Whisk boiling water and gelatin together until fully dissolved. Pour over the top of the cake.
Step 8: Place cake in the fridge to set for at least 4 hours.
Step 9: Spread thawed whipped topping over top of the cake. Decorate with sprinkles.
Recipe Tips!
- Poke holes while the cake is still warm: This helps the gelatin soak into the cake more evenly.
- Don’t make the holes too close together: Space them out so the colors stay distinct instead of blending.
- Pour gelatin slowly: This gives it time to soak in rather than pooling on top.
- Chill before adding topping: Letting the cake set helps the texture and makes it easier to frost.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve: This cake is best served chilled.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The cake will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored in the fridge.
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Red White and Blue Poke Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounce box white cake mix
- Ingredients needed to make cake like eggs water, and vegetable oil
- 3 ounce package red jell-o
- 1 ½ cups boiling water divided
- 1 cup cold water divided
- 3 ounce package blue jell-o
- 8 ounce container frozen whipped topping thawed or homemade whipped cream
- Red white and blue sprinkles
Instructions
- Make cake in a 9×13 inch baking pan, according to the instructions on the back of the box.15.25 ounce box white cake mix, Ingredients needed to make cake like eggs
- After baking and while cake is still warm, use a thick skewer or back of a wooden spoon to poke holes in the top of the cake.
- Allow cake to cool completely. Remove cake from the pan and place on a large serving platter.
- Stir together red jell-o and ¾ cup boiling water until the jell-o has dissolved.3 ounce package red jell-o
- Stir in ½ cup cold water.
- Pour red jell-o mixture in every other row of holes.
- Stir together the blue jell-o and remaining ¾ cup boiling water in a separate small bowl until jell-o has dissolved.3 ounce package blue jell-o
- Stir in ½ cup cold water until combined.
- Whisk boiling water and gelatin together until fully dissolved. Pour over the top of the cake.
- Place cake in the fridge to set for at least 4 hours.
- Spread thawed whipped topping over top of the cake. Decorate with sprinkles.8 ounce container frozen whipped topping thawed or homemade whipped cream, Red white and blue sprinkles
Notes
- Cake mix: You can substitute a homemade white cake for the cake mix if you prefer. Just be sure to use white cake as yellow won’t give you the same color effect.
- Red Jell-O: You can use any flavor of red Jell-o that you like.
- Blue Jell-O: Similarly, you can use any flavor of blue Jell-O.
- Whipped topping: Whipped topping, like Cool Whip or TruWhip, or homemade whipped cream will work. Homemade whipped cream, while delicious, doesn’t hold up as well as whipped topping. You could also use whipped cream frosting if you prefer.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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