Web Admin / Saturday, July 2, 2022

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Red White and Blue Jello Poke Cake [+Video]

The most popular 4th of July recipe is this Red White and Blue Jello Poke Cake! It’s a moist, white cake, red and blue jello and whipped topping!

A piece of red, white and blue poke cake on a blue and white dessert plate. The cake is frosted with white frosting and sprinkled with red, white and blue sprinkles. You can see the red, white and blue portions of the cake where holes have been poked and jello poured in.

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.

A piece of red, white, and blue poke cake. It is frosted with white frosting and sprinkled with red, white and blue sprinkles. The cake is white with areas of red and areas of blue.

Every year I grew up anticipating the 4th of July. It’s still one of my absolute favorite holidays because it’s about the people and not about presents or craziness.

I love that generally the time is spent sitting around outside, enjoying the beauty and peace of the outdoors all while laughing and making memories with loved ones.

A piece of red, white and blue poke cake on a white dessert plate with a fork resting next to the cake. There is a red and white checkered napkin in the background.

How to Make Jello Poke Cake

Prepare the Cake – A white cake mix makes for the best jello poke cake, especially for our red white and blue jello poke cake as it allows you to see the colors of the jello more easily. We’ve found that Duncan Hines bakes up flatter than a Betty Crocker cake mix.
Prepare the Jello – While the cake is finishing up in the oven, prepare the jello. It is not the regular jello preparation so be sure to check the recipe.
Poke the Holes – Remove the cake from the oven and poke holes all over the cake.
Add the Jello – Carefully pour the red jello in every other hole, then the blue in the opposite holes.
Refrigerate – Refrigerate for 2 hours or up to overnight until the jello has set. If you wait overnight, please cover in plastic wrap.
Frost – Top with fresh whipped cream and and sprinkles and serve.

A piece of red, white and blue poke cake on a dessert plate. The cake is frosted with white frosting and sprinkled with red, white and blue sprinkles.

Oh Sweet Basil Pro Tips on Jello Poke Cakes

What do You Use to Poke Holes in a Cake?

To poke holes in the cake just use the handle of a thin wooden spoon, double tonged fork or even a dowel will work fine. I prefer something about 1/2″ thick.

How do you Make Jello Poke Cake from Scratch?

Many of you have expressed not wanting to use a boxed cake mix, which I totally understand. If you need to make a white cake from scratch instead of a boxed cake here’s the white cake recipe I recommend.

Poke When Warm

The top of the cake can crack if you allow the cake to cool, so always poke the cake when it’s still warm.

How to 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.

Can You Make a Jello Poke Cake Ahead of Time?

You can make a poke cake up to 2 days ahead of time if you cover it tightly with plastic wrap in the fridge. Never add the whipped cream and sprinkles until you’re ready to serve.

A piece of poke cake with a fork resting next to the cake. The cake is red, white and blue and is topped with white frosting and red, white and blue sprinkles. It is sitting on a red and white checked napkin.

How to Store Red White and Blue Jello Poke Cake

Before topping the cake you can store it wrapped in plastic for 2 days in the fridge. Once it has been topped with cool whip then you will do much better to use a cake pan lid to avoid touching the topping to the plastic and ruining it.

Does Jello Poke Cake Need To Be Refrigerated?

Yes, Jello poke cake should be kept in the refrigerator, especially once it has been topped with a whipped topping.

Can Poke Cake Be Frozen?

Jello Poke cake should be covered tightly and frozen before adding whipped cream.

It will keep in the freezer for 1 month.

Red, white and blue cake with a slice removed exposing the red, white and blue inside of the cake. The cake has white frosting and red, white and blue sprinkles on top.

More Jello Recipe Ideas

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