Perfect Red White and Blue Poke Cake Recipe Easy Jello Layer Dessert
A festive and easy poke cake featuring distinct red, white, and blue Jello layers combined with a moist white cake and a creamy middle layer, perfect for patriotic occasions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- White cake mix (about 15.25 oz box)
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
- 1 small package (3 oz / 85 g) red Jello (cherry or strawberry flavor)
- 1 small package (3 oz / 85 g) blue Jello (berry blue or blue raspberry)
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) whipped topping, thawed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, combine white cake mix, eggs, water, and vegetable oil. Mix until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
- Pour batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool completely, about 1 hour.
- Use a wooden spoon handle or skewer to poke holes about 1 inch apart all over the cake, going halfway through.
- Dissolve each Jello package separately in 1 cup boiling water. Stir until dissolved, then add 1 cup cold water to each. Chill in fridge for 15-20 minutes until warm but not set.
- Slowly pour red Jello over one-third of the poked holes. Refrigerate for 20 minutes to set.
- Mix sweetened condensed milk, whipped topping, and vanilla extract until smooth. Spread evenly over the cake, filling the next third of the holes. Chill for 20 minutes.
- Pour blue Jello over the remaining holes. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until fully set.
- Optionally garnish with fresh berries or powdered sugar before serving. Cut into squares and enjoy.
Notes
Use cold water for preparing Jello to help it set firmly. Cool cake completely before poking to avoid crumbling. Chill each layer before adding the next to prevent colors from bleeding. For gluten-free, use gluten-free cake mix and sugar-free Jello. For dairy-free, substitute whipped topping with coconut whipped cream and use dairy-free condensed milk alternative.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of c
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Protein: 3
Keywords: poke cake, red white and blue dessert, Jello poke cake, patriotic dessert, easy summer dessert, layered poke cake