Red White and Blue Poke Cake with Sprinkles

Make a red white and blue poke cake for the 4th of July and other patriotic celebrations. This is an easy 4th of July poke cake topped with whipped cream and red white and blue sprinkles.

I've loved Jello cake ever since I was a little girl. It was Mom's go to dessert back in the day, and I remember the excitement I felt as I watched her cover it and place it in the fridge to chill for dessert.

slice of red white and blue poke cake with whipped cream and sprinkles on white plate with fork

This 4th of July poke cake is made with a white cake mix. Once it's baked, you poke a few holes and turn it into a red white and blue Jello cake by alternately pouring blue and red Jello over the tiny holes, so it soaks down into the cake.

I like to spread whipped topping all over the top of the cake and then chill it overnight so everything really melds together to create a cold, refreshing, flavorful dessert.

Then when it comes out of the fridge, sprinkle a few patriotic sprinkles on top, and you've got a beautiful 4th of July dessert.

Another one of my favorite red, white, and blue desserts is strawberry Jello flag cake covered in whipped cream, strawberries, and blueberries.

sliced 4th of July poke cake in blue baking dish

Why You'll Love This Recipe

There are many reasons to love this red blue and white cake…

A patriotic poke cake is the perfect way to celebrate Independence Day with friends and family. It also works wonderfully for Memorial Day, Veterans Day, or any other type of patriotic remembrance or celebration.
Red white and blue Jello cake is such a refreshing dessert; there's really no other way to describe it. And this 4th of July Jello cake is the perfect summer dessert.
It's so easy to make, especially with a cake mix. Even creating the red white and blue parts of the cake is as simple as pouring liquid Jello over the cake.

Ingredient Notes:

White cake mix – I also love using a French vanilla cake mix. You can also make this gluten-free with a gluten-free cake mix. Just be sure to check all your other ingredients to make sure they're truly gluten-free.
Oil – I just use canola oil.
Blue Jello – I use Berry Blue.
Red Jello – I use strawberry, but you can use cherry or raspberry too.
Cool Whip – You can also make Dream Whip or homemade whipped cream.
Fourth of July Sprinkles – I used these mini star sprinkles.

Remember, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

How to Make Red White and Blue Poke Cake

Before you get started, go ahead and pre-heat your oven to 350° F, or whatever temperature it says on your cake mix box.

Then just follow these steps…

Mix together the cake mix, water, eggs, and canola oil.

mixing cake mix with water, eggs, and canola oil in metal KitchenAid mixing bowl

Pour the cake batter into a greased 9×13 baking dish or cake pan, and bake according to the package directions on your cake mix.

white cake batter in 9x13 baking dish on white marble countertop

When the cake is fully baked, remove it from the oven, and allow it to cool for 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix half of the blue Jello mix (1.5 ounces) with 1/2 cup boiling water 'til the Jello mix dissolves. Then add 1/4 cup cold water, and mix well.

stirring berry blue Jello in glass Pyrex measuring cup with fork

Then mix half of the red Jello mix (1.5 ounces) with 1/2 cup boiling water 'til the Jello mix dissolves. Add 1/4 cup cold water, and mix well.

stirring red strawberry Jello in funnel pitcher with fork

Poke holes all over the top of the slightly cooled but still warm cake with a fork. I find that a fork works really well, but you can also use the handle of a wooden spoon or a wooden skewer if you want bigger holes.

poking poke cake with fork in 9x13 baking dish

Carefully and slowly pour the blue and red Jello mixture alternately over the entire cake. To keep the colors separate, I skip around with the red Jello, and then I fill in the rest of the cake with the blue. A funnel pitcher works great for this. Because of the random poke holes, there will always be parts of the cake that are left without color, so you'll end up with red white and blue.

red white and blue Jello cake with red and blue Jello soaking into cake in baking dish

Allow the cake to cool completely.
Then spread Cool Whip or whipped topping over the top of the entire cake.

spreading Cool Whip whipped topping with spatula over top of patriotic poke cake in baking dish

Chill the cake for at least 4 hours, or better yet overnight, before serving.
Before serving, sprinkle red white and blue sprinkles all over the top of the cake, as many or as few as you want. Then slice and serve the cake. Just a note: I like to wait until after chilling to add the sprinkles, so they don't bleed into the whipped cream and ruin the look of the cake.

4th of July poke cake covered in whipped topping and mini star sprinkles, sliced in blue baking dish

FAQ's and Expert Tips

What do you use to poke holes in a cake?

If pouring Jello or a thinner liquid over the cake, you can just use a fork to poke holes all over the top of the cake. However, if pouring a thicker liquid like pudding over it, you might want to use something bigger, like the end of a wooden spoon handle.

How can I make Jello poke cake from scratch?

If you'd rather make the white cake from scratch and not a box mix, try this recipe for homemade white cake.

Can you make this ahead of time?

You can definitely make Jello cake ahead of time, and the whipped cream, as well. Of course, be sure to store it all in the fridge 'til you're ready to serve it. And don't forget to add the sprinkles when it's ready to serve.

How should you store Jello cake?

Definitely keep it in and airtight container in the fridge. This will keep the cake fresh for at least 3-4 days.

Can you freeze poke cake?

Yes, you can. However, I would freeze the cake without the topping and sprinkles, and just add those on when it's thawed and you're ready to serve it.

What to Do with Leftover Jello Mix

I just take my leftover Jello mixes, put them together in a bowl, and make Jello according to package directions. It makes a mixed berry Jello that almost tastes like grape, and my boys love it.

You can also use it to make a batch of Jello Jigglers, or make festive layered Jello cups.

slice of red white and blue patriotic poke cake on white plate with fork

How to Change Jello Cake to Fit Other Holidays

Poke cake opens up a whole new world of possibilities for other holidays too. It's a way to add some festive fun to your holiday dessert table, no matter what you're celebrating.

Here are a few ideas that will hopefully spark your imagination…

Valentine's Day – Make it with red Jello and cover with pink whipped cream and Valentine sprinkles.
St. Patrick's Day – Use green Jello, and sprinkle the top with edible gold confetti and shamrock-shaped sprinkles, or better yet Lucky Charms type cereal marshmallows. You can also make lime vanilla poke cupcakes or use all the rainbow colors of Jello and make a rainbow Jello cake.
Easter – Think pastels… Lemon, Berry Blue, Strawberry, Lime, and Grape Jello, along with Easter sprinkles, will make a beautiful Easter poke cake.
Halloween – Use orange and purple Jello, or use green and purple Jello, combining forces to make it fit whatever theme you're going for. You can add Halloween sprinkles and candy corn too, and you can even color the Cool Whip to make it purple, green, or orange.
Christmas – Go with red and green Jello, and top it off with Christmas sprinkles galore.

red white and blue Fourth of July poke cake with bite taken out with fork on white plate

More 4th of July Desserts:

If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!