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Red, White and Blue Poke Cake

Red, white and blue poke cake is a patriotic Jell-O sheet cake with vivid red and blue stripes soaked deep into a white crumb. Baked as a 9x13 cake, it’s chilled to fully set, then topped with whipped topping, stars, and fresh berries.
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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
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

White cake
  • 1 white cake mix (plus ingredients on box) Use the package directions ingredients for eggs, oil, and water.
Jell-O soaking layer
  • 3 oz strawberry Jell-O
  • 3 oz berry blue Jell-O
  • 2 cup boiling water Divided: 1 cup for strawberry and 1 cup for blue.
  • 1 cup cold water Divided: 1/2 cup for strawberry and 1/2 cup for blue.
Toppings
  • 8 oz whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed
  • 1 red and blue star sprinkles for garnish
  • 1 fresh strawberries and blueberries for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Bake the white cake
  1. Bake white cake in a 9x13 pan according to package directions, then let it cool for 15 minutes.
  2. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cake about 1 inch apart.
Soak with strawberry and blue Jell-O
  1. Dissolve 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 it soaks into the holes.
  2. Dissolve 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.
Chill, frost, and finish
  1. Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours until the Jell-O is fully set inside the cake.
  2. Spread whipped topping evenly over the top of the chilled cake, then decorate with red and blue sprinkles and fresh strawberries and blueberries before serving.

Notes

For clean slices and the most vivid Jell-O stripes, chill the poke cake at least 2 hours before topping. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; freezing is not recommended because the Jell-O and whipped topping texture can change. If you want a lighter option, use a reduced-fat whipped topping while keeping the same Jell-O soak ratio.