Looking for a festive Fourth of July dessert that’s easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser? This Red, White and Blue Poke Cake is perfect for patriotic parties, Memorial Day barbecues, Labor Day or any summertime celebration. With vibrant streaks of red and blue Jello running through a fluffy white cake and topped with a layer of cool whipped topping, this cake is equal parts fun and delicious.
You can make it ahead of time, store it in the fridge, and let the Jello do its magic while you prep the rest of your spread. It’s a nostalgic, perfect summer dessert that everyone—from kids to grandparents—will love.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Patriotic Poke Cake
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Red White and Blue Poke Cake
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Store a Patriotic Poke Cake
- What to Serve with a Red White and Blue Poke Cake
- Top Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions About a Patriotic Poke Cake
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Red, White and Blue Poke Cake Recipe
We love whipping up festive desserts, and if you're looking for more patriotic treats, check out our Red, White and Blue Dump Cake, Patriotic Poke Cupcakes, Red, White and Blue Trifle, Layered Cheesecake and Red, White and Blue Fruit Cups. And for something to sip on, don’t miss our Bomb Pop Cocktail—a fun and colorful party drink!
Why You Will Love This Patriotic Poke Cake
- Festive and Fun: The red and blue colors make this a showstopper for patriotic holidays.
- Super Simple: Using a boxed cake mix and store-bought whipped topping for minimal fuss.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Perfect for prepping the day before your event.
- Kid-Approved: Sweet, colorful, and easy to eat—what’s not to love?
Ingredients
Run to the grocery store to grab some simple ingredients and you will be ready to make this perfect dessert.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- White Cake, Box Mix: We use a box of white cake mix for our “white" color for this patriotic cake.
- Blue Jello Mix: Provides sweetness and is our “blue" color.
- Red Jello Mix: Gives our vibrant red color.
- Boiling Water: Dissolves the Jello.
- Cold Water: Helps to start the setting process of the Jello.
- Cool Whip: An easy way to frost the cupcakes.
For this Fourth of July poke cake recipe, you'll want to have on hand a 9x13 casserole dish, hand mixer, mixing bowls, spouted measuring cups, spatula and a kettle.
Substitutions and Variations
Love this recipe but want to make it your own? Here are some helpful ideas for you to change this poke cake recipe.
- Cake Mix: Use a homemade white cake if you prefer, but boxed works great for convenience.
- Jello Flavors: Swap in different colors or flavors for other holidays—green and red for Christmas, orange and purple for Halloween.
- Whipped Topping: Use homemade whipped cream if desired, but make sure it’s stabilized.
- Frosting: Make a homemade buttercream frosting or cream cheese frosting for a sweeter profile.
- Toppings: Mix it up and top with crushed cookies, patriotic sprinkles, or a variety of fresh fruit for an extra layer of fun.
How to Make Red White and Blue Poke Cake
See how quick and simple it was to make this patriotic poke cake recipe in a few steps.
Combine cake mix with the ingredients on the back of the box and bake cake according to the box directions in a large bowl.
Let the cake cool for about 30 minutes, then poke holes with a small wooden spoon or something similar. Poke holes close, but not so close that they blend into each other (about 1 inch between), and only about ¾ of the way down.
Prepare blue Jello in a small bowl or spouted measuring cup by adding 1.5-ounce Jello mixture (half of a small box), followed by ½ cup hot water. Stir until dissolved then add ¼ cup cold water.
Repeat for the red Jello.
Carefully spoon Jello mixtures into alternating holes, pouring one color into each hole. Set in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
Add Cool Whip and any fresh berries desired to the top of the cake when ready to serve.
Hint: Use the end of a wooden spoon (about a centimetre or slightly large in diameter) to poke your holes. The thicker holes help the Jello soak into the cake for those colorful stripes.
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How to Store a Patriotic Poke Cake
Here is how to best store a poke cake.
- Refrigerator: Once the cake is cool and still without any frosting, cover casserole dish tightly in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can add the Jello or not at this point. If you. have individual slices that are frosted you can store them in an airtight container for a couple days, but the frosting texture may change.
- Freezer: Alternatively, you can place it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
What to Serve with a Red White and Blue Poke Cake
- Simple Berry Salad: Keep the patriotic theme going with a light, fresh side that’s bursting with color and flavor.
- Pies: Serve up a classic blueberry pie, strawberry pie, or go all-in with both for a red, white, and blue pie. Try it with our homemade pie crust for an extra special touch.
- Summer Fruits: Fresh strawberries and other summer fruits make a naturally sweet, lighter option. Fourth of July fruit cups are also a perfect match.
- Ice Cream Cake: Stick with the festive vibe and serve a red, white, and blue ice cream cake for a cool treat.
- Homemade Cool Whip: Add a light and airy contrast with a dollop of homemade whipped topping.
- Bomb Pop Cocktail: A patriotic cocktail that’s as colorful and fun as it is delicious.
- Homemade Lemonade: Our honey strawberry lemonade brings bright, citrusy refreshment to the table.
- Strawberry Hennessy Lemonade: A bold, fruity cocktail perfect for adults at your gathering.
- Other Poke Cakes: Try some other fun flavors like a chocolate poke cake, banana pudding poke cake, lemon poke cake, strawberry poke cake or a chocolate caramel poke cake!
Top Tips
Here are some of our best tips to help you make the best red, white and blue Jello poke cake.
- Let It Cool: A cooled cake prevents the Jello from melting into the crumbs and losing its shape.
- Don’t Over-Pour: Carefully spoon or using a spouted measuring cup add the Jello into the holes to avoid a soggy bottom and the colors from blending too much.
- Chill Thoroughly: Let the cake rest in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or overnight) to allow the Jello to set.
- Add Any Toppings Before Serving: Cool Whip is best added fresh to keep its shape and texture so be sure to add it closer to when you are ready to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Patriotic Poke Cake
Do you have questions about making our red white and blue poke cake?
Yes. Making a poke cake the day before will allow the flavors to really sink in and the Jello to set properly. Garnish with any topping when you plan to serve it for the most freshness.
Yes, you need to keep it in the fridge when it is setting, but also it should stay cold until you are ready to serve. This allows it to stay fresh and the Jello to maintain its best texture.
If you do not allow the Jello to fully set it will be wet and the cake will get soggy. Additionally, if you use too much Jello the same can occur.
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Check out some more of our recipes you will want to try!
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Red, White and Blue Poke Cake Recipe
Equipment
- 9x13 casserole dish
- Mixing Bowls
- Hand Mixer
- Spatula
- Spouted Measuring Cups
Ingredients
- 1 14.5- ounce box white cake mix plus box ingredients
- ½ 3- ounce package red Jello
- ½ 3- ounce package blue Jello
- 1 cup boiling water divided
- ½ cup cold water divided
- 1 tub frozen cool whip thawed
Instructions
- Combine cake mix with the ingredients on the back of the box and bake cake according to the box directions in a large bowl.
- Let the cake cool for about 30 minutes, then poke holes with a small wooden spoon or something similar. Poke holes close, but not so close that they blend into each other (about 1 inch between), and only about ¾ of the way down.
- Prepare blue Jello in a small bowl or spouted measuring cup by adding 1.5-ounce Jello mixture (half of a small box), followed by ½ cup hot water. Stir until dissolved then add ¼ cup cold water.
- Repeat for the red Jello.
- Carefully spoon Jello mixtures into alternating holes, pouring one color into each hole. Set in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
- Add Cool Whip and any fresh berries desired to the top of the cake when ready to serve.
- Prepare and bake cake according to the box directions.
- Allow the cake to cool for about 30 minutes, then poke holes with a small wooden spoon or something similar. Poke holes close, but not so close that they blend into each other (about 1 inch between), and only about ¾ of the way down.
- Prepare blue Jello in a small bowl or spouted measuring cup by adding 1.5-ounce Jello mixture (half of a small box), followed by ½ cup hot water. Stir until dissolved then add ¼ cup cold water.
- Repeat for the red Jello.
- Carefully spoon Jello mixtures into alternating holes, pouring one color into each hole. Set in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
- Add Cool Whip and any garnishes desired when ready to serve.
Notes
- Use the end of a wooden spoon (about a centimetre or slightly large in diameter) to poke your holes. The thicker holes help the Jello soak into the cake for those colorful stripes.
- A cooled cake prevents the Jello from melting into the crumbs and losing its shape.
- Carefully spoon or using a spouted measuring cup add the Jello into the holes to avoid a soggy bottom and the colors from blending too much.
- Let the cake rest in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or overnight) to allow the Jello to set.
- Cool Whip is best added fresh to keep its shape and texture so be sure to add it closer to when you are ready to serve.
Nutrition
We would be so grateful for you to leave us a rating and review on any recipes you try. If you make any alterations, let us know how they turned out.
Stephanie says
This poke cake is just perfect for Memorial Day, plus it's super simple to make!
Eva Filer says
We hope you enjoyed it!
Abi says
Poke cakes are always fun to make, me and my daughter are planning to make them this memorial day weekened, thanks for sharing this delicious cake recipe 🙂
Eva Filer says
You’re welcome! They are so fun. Enjoy it.
Eva Filer says
This poke cake is so simple to make but still has so much flavor!