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Red, White and Blue Poke Cake

Red white blue poke cake is a patriotic sheet cake with vivid red and blue Jell-O stripes soaked all the way through a tender white cake. After baking and poking, you pour two Jell-O colors into separate halves, chill until fully set, then top with whipped frosting and star sprinkles.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Chilling 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 15 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

White cake and baking ingredients
  • 1 box white cake mix Use ingredients listed on the box (such as eggs, water, and oil/butter).
  • ingredients on box Include the specific ingredients called for on your white cake mix package.
Jell-O layers
  • 3 oz strawberry Jell-O
  • 3 oz berry blue Jell-O
  • 2 cups boiling water Divided as 1 cup + 1 cup.
  • 1 cup cold water Divided as 1/2 cup + 1/2 cup.
Topping
  • 8 oz whipped topping (Cool Whip) Thawed.
  • 1 red and blue star sprinkles For garnish.
  • 1 fresh strawberries For garnish.
  • 1 fresh blueberries For garnish.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Bake and cool
  1. Heat and bake the white cake in a 9x13 pan according to package directions, then let it cool for 15 minutes so the top is set.
Poke holes
  1. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the cake about 1 inch apart, keeping the holes consistent for even soaking.
Make strawberry Jell-O and pour
  1. Dissolve the strawberry Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, stir in 1/2 cup cold water, then pour slowly over the left half of the cake so the liquid sinks into the holes.
Make blue Jell-O and pour
  1. Dissolve the berry blue Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, stir in 1/2 cup cold water, then pour over the right half of the cake to create separate red and blue stripes.
Chill to set
  1. Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours until the Jell-O is fully set inside the cake (a jiggle-free look when you gently nudge the pan).
Frost and garnish
  1. Spread the whipped topping evenly over the top of the chilled cake so it fully covers the surface.
  2. Decorate with red and blue star sprinkles and fresh strawberries and blueberries before serving for a bright, festive finish.

Notes

Pro tip: Pour the strawberry Jell-O and blue Jell-O slowly so they stay mostly on their respective halves and soak cleanly into the holes. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days; freezing is not recommended because the Jell-O texture can weep after thawing. For a lighter option, use a reduced-fat whipped topping in the same amount.