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Red, White and Blue Poke Cake

Red, white and blue poke cake with a white sheet cake soaked through with vivid strawberry and berry-blue Jell-O. A cool, fluffy finish of whipped topping, patriotic sprinkles, and fresh berries makes it ideal for Independence Day.
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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: 330
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

white cake mix
  • 1 box white cake mix, plus ingredients on box
strawberry jello
  • 3 oz strawberry Jell-O
  • 1 cup boiling water, divided Use 1 cup total boiling water for dissolving strawberry Jell-O.
  • 0.5 cup cold water, divided Use 1/2 cup total cold water for dissolving strawberry Jell-O.
blue jello
  • 3 oz berry blue Jell-O
  • 1 cup boiling water, divided Use 1 cup total boiling water for dissolving berry-blue Jell-O.
  • 0.5 cup cold water, divided Use 1/2 cup total cold water for dissolving berry-blue Jell-O.
whipped topping
  • 8 oz whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed
garnish
  • 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. Heat oven to the temperature on the white cake mix box and bake the cake in a 9x13 pan according to package directions. Let the cake cool for 15 minutes.
Poke and add the Jell-O
  1. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the cake about 1 inch apart.
  2. Dissolve the strawberry Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, then stir in 1/2 cup cold water until smooth. Pour slowly over the left half of the cake so it soaks into the holes.
  3. Dissolve the berry blue Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, then stir in 1/2 cup cold water until smooth. Pour over the right half of the cake.
Chill and finish
  1. Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours until the Jell-O is fully set inside the cake.
  2. Spread the whipped topping evenly over the top of the chilled cake. Decorate with red and blue star sprinkles and fresh strawberries and blueberries before serving.

Notes

For the cleanest red-and-blue stripes, pour the strawberry Jell-O over the left half slowly, then pour the blue over the right half without mixing at the center. Refrigerate covered up to 3 days; freeze is not recommended because whipped topping and fresh berries lose texture after thawing. If you want a lighter option, use a reduced-fat whipped topping and fresh fruit garnish only.