If you’re looking for an easy peasy patriotic dessert, this Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake can’t be beat! Since this cake is moist, filled with patriotic spirit, and bursting with flavor, it will be the star of your celebration.

There are plenty of reasons to love poke cakes, including:

• Can be made in advance
• Are super easy to make
• Feed a crowd
• Available in tons of flavors
• Practically fail-proof

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. It’s all fun and no pressure! For this holiday we do things like have a cookout, go to Water World or a Rockies baseball game, and we LOVE roasting s’mores in the backyard as we watch fireworks around the city (we live on a hill).

I love that it’s all about spending time outside, enjoying the outdoors, and making memories with loved ones and friends.

What’s not to love about that?

If you love the 4th as much as we do, try making a Sugar Cookie American Flag Fruit Pizza to go with this delicious poke cake.

And do them while you make this fun Fireworks Painting Craft Tutorial.

Happy 4th of July!!! Well, not yet but hopefully you’ll be reading this on the day you’re making our poke cake recipe for a Fourth of July BBQ. There’s nothing better than a jello poke cake when it’s hot outside and you’re trying to enjoy your guests instead of being trapped in a kitchen. 

If you love poke cake, check out my Cheesecake Strawberry Poke Cake and Homemade Banana Pudding Poke Cake recipes!

The Wonder Of Red White And Blue Poke Cake

If you’ve never made a poke cake before, you have to try it!  They are SUPER easy to make and taste amazing. The Jello works wonders at keeping the cake extra moist!

It probably comes as no surprise that every incredible poke cake starts with …cake! The cake acts like a delicious sponge to absorb the colorful Jello 🙂

Although I used a regular ol’ white cake mix from a box, you can totally feel free to bake your favorite cake from scratch. Either way you do it, it’s going to look – and taste – delicious!

How To Make Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake

Here’s what you’ll need and the process for making this delicious jello poke cake!

Ingredients

• White cake mix (plus ingredients to make the cake)
• 3 oz. box of Blueberry Jello
• 3 oz. box of Cherry Jello
• 8 oz. tub of cool whip thawed
• Red and blue food coloring optional
• Patriotic sprinkles

Red, White, And Blue Jello Poke Cake Instructions

Follow this process!

Step 1 – Make The Cake

Mix and bake the cake according to box directions in a 13 x 9 baking dish.  Let the cake cool completely before the next step.

Step 2 – Prepare The Jello

Prepare box jello with one cup of hot water and ½ cup of cold water.

Step 3 – Poke The Holes

Use a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the cake.

Step 4 – Add The Jello To The Cake

Use a spoon and pour the red jello into holes all over, then do the same with blue jello.  Make sure not to pour both jello colors in the same hole or you will end up with purple cake instead of Red and blue.

Step 5 – Refrigerate

Refrigerate the cake for 3-4 hours or overnight for the jello to set up.

Step 6 – Frost And Decorate The Cake

Then top the cake with the whipped topping. Feel free to use homemade whipped cream if you want (it’s SUPER easy and tastes better!).

Step 7

Use a toothpick and swirl the red and blue food coloring all over the top of the whipped cream if you want to!

Step 8

Use different Red White and blue sprinkles to decorate the cake.

Step 9

Cut and serve the cake and refrigerate the rest.

Recipe Tips

• Although you could technically use yellow cake, white cake works much better for red, white, and blue poke cake so you can really see the colors!

• When you mix up the boxes of blue Jello and red Jello (in separate bowls), don’t forget to use ½ cup less cold water than the instructions call for.

• I like to use a spoon to direct the Jello where I want it in the cake so that I can get those clear red and blue areas. Concentrate on getting the liquid into the holes which makes those splashes of color in the white cake.

• Another option is to put the Jello in a squeeze bottle which will give you more control over where the liquid Jello goes.

• Ok, the cake is going to look pretty wet and soupy after you pour in the Jellos. But trust me – the refrigerator will transform it as the jello sets! The liquid Jello will firm up and make probably the softest, most delicious cake of all time.

• Have fun decorating! The whipped cream on top of your Red, White & Blue Poke Cake is a blank canvas. Add berries (blueberries and strawberries or raspberries), swirls of food coloring, maraschino cherries, or fun patriotic sprinkles!

Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake FAQs

Here are some common questions I see readers ask.

What do you use to poke holes in a cake?

To poke holes in the cake just use:

• handle of a thin wooden spoon
• dowel
• end of a chopstick
• double tonged fork

I prefer using something that is around 1/2″ thick.

When is the best time to poke holes in the cake?

I recommend poking holes in the cake while it’s still warm because otherwise you can crack the top of the cake.

How do I keep the colors separate?

Be sure that you pour the jello carefully into each hole or it will spill over the cake and the colors will combine to make a mess of your red, white, and Blue Poke Cake. 

Using a spoon or a squirt bottle can help make the process easier and faster.

Can you make a Jello poke cake ahead of time?

Yes! You can make a poke cake up to 2 days ahead of time. Be sure to keep it fresh by wrapping it tightly with plastic wrap and keeping it in the fridge.

Wait to add the whipped cream and decorations until just before you’re ready to serve.

How do I store this Red White and Blue Jello Poke Cake?

After you decorate your poke cake, it will be better to store it in a pan with a lid in the fridge rather than covering it with plastic wrap (which will ruin it).  

Does Red, White, And Blue Poke Cake need to be refrigerated?

Yes, yes, yes! Always keep Jello poke cake in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it. 

Can Poke Cake be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze this Red, White, and Blue Jello Poke cake if you do it before adding whipped cream. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. It will keep in the freezer for 1 month.

Don’t the swirls and patriotic sprinkles on this red, white, and blue poke cake give you fun fireworks vibes?

More Red, White, And Blue Inspiration

• Berrylicious Red, White, and Blue Trifle
• Festive Red, White, And Blue Cake Balls
• Jello Jigglers: Patriotic Red, White, and Blue
• Patriotic Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes
• Festive Patriotic Red, White & Blue Vanilla Fudge Recipe

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