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4th of July Cake with red and blue Jello topped with frosting, strawberries and blueberries.
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5 from 11 votes

4th of July Cake (Patriotic Poke Cake)

This 4th of July Cake is the perfect chilled dessert for your Independence Day celebrations. It is festive and fun with the red, white, and blue colors inside.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Refrigerate1 hour
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 4th of July Cake, Cake, Jello Poke Cake, Poke Cake
Servings: 15
Calories: 367kcal
Author: Emily Walker

Equipment

Ingredients

Cake

  • 15 ounces white cake mix (unprepared)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 ounces raspberry Jell-O gelatin or any red color flavor
  • 3 ounces berry blue Jell-O gelatin or any blue color flavor

Frosting

  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup sugar (white, granulated)
  • 12 ounces cold whipped topping (cool whip)

Topping Options

  • Fruit raspberries, strawberries, blueberries
  • Sprinkles red, white, and blue

Instructions

For the Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the cake ingredients and mix for 2 minutes by hand or with a mixer. Follow baking instructions on the box for a 9x13 pan.
    Mixing bowl of cake batter for 4th of July Cake.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely.
    Baked cake in a baking dish for 4th of July Cake.
  • While cake is cooling, mix together the first jello package with 1 cup boiling water, then stir in 1/2 cup cold water. The Jell-O mixture needs to remain in liquid form for dispensing, so don't refrigerate before adding to cake. Make a bunch of holes in the cake using the handle end of a butter knife.
    Mixing grape and berry blue Jello in a bowl for 4th of July Cake.
  • Use the handle of a wooden spoon or a butter knife to poke holes in the cooled cake.
    Holes in a baked cake for 4th of July Cake. Butter knife on the side.
  • Using a child's medicine dispenser, add about 1 to 2 teaspoons of the Jello into every other hole.
    Injecting red Jello into a cake for 4th of July Cake.
  • When finished, repeat steps with the second color of Jell-O. Cover cake and refrigerate until ready to serve (at least 1 hour).
    Unfrosted 4th of July Cake with jello in the holes.

For the Frosting:

  • Using a hand mixer, thoroughly blend the frosting ingredients.
    Mixing bowl with cream cheese and Cool Whip frosting for 4th of July Cake.
  • Once the cake is cold, spread the frosting evenly over the cake.
    Frosting 4th of July Cake with a spatula.
  • If topping with fruit, wash and dry fruit well. Slice strawberries.
    Slicing strawberries and a bowl of blueberries for decorating 4th of July Cake.
  • Just before serving, top with fruit or sprinkles.
    Placing a sliced strawberry on top of 4th of July Cake.

Video

Notes

To make this cake in advance:

  • Prepare and bake the cake. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to a day ahead.
  • Prepare the frosting. Keep it in a covered bowl in the fridge.
  • Just before serving, stir the frosting well, then frost the cake. Add toppings and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 333mg | Potassium: 95mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 340IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 1.2mg