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This 4th of July Jello Cake is my go-to dessert for Memorial Day celebrations and the Fourth of July get togethers. It’s creamy, has a bright fresh flavor, and this cake is so easy to make. Plus, it’s festive with red white and blue colors throughout.
I just love Holiday themed food! Be sure and also try my Red White and Blue Strawberries and these Red White & Blue Crinkle Cookies. These treats make for a very festive & patriotic dessert spread.
4th of July Jello Cake Recipe (Red White Blue Poke Cake)
If you’re wanting the most festive, easy to make, and really delicious dessert for Memorial Day or 4th of July, then do I have a treat for you today!
A white cake mix is the base of this jello cake that’s poked with holes and then filled with red jello and blue jello. Top it off with fluffy & light cool whip and decorate with festive patriotic sprinkles.
It’s a dessert that looks really good on a dessert spread with the bright blue and red colors that match the Holiday.
Why We Love This Patriotic Dessert
- This cake is so much fun to make for any Holiday. Simple switch out the colors of Jello that you use, and switch out the sprinkles on top to match the Holiday.
- Simple ingredients is all it takes! I love those complicated, lots of time, homemade cakes but sometimes you just want something quick, easy, tasty, and that appeals to the masses.
- This cake is so festive with its red, white, and blue colors thanks to the white cake mix and jello. It’s always fun to have themed food to celebrate the Holidays with.
Ingredients Needed
- White Cake Mix – For a true white color use a white cake mix and don’t substitute with another cake mix.
- Red Jello – Raspberry or Cherry Jello are the best choices to use for a true red color.
- Blue Jello – I think there is only one blue color and it is Blue Raspberry Jello.
- Boiling Water – The hottest water from the sink tap won’t be hot enough. So get out a tea kettle, pot, or whatever to boil water.
- Cold Water – Use chilled water straight from the fridge or add ice to water to make it really cold. Don’t use the ice cubes, but rather just the cold water.
- Cool Whip
- Patriotic Red White & Blue Sprinkles – I love the look of using two different shapes of patriotic sprinkles with this cake.
How To Make a Patriotic Red White & Blue Jello Cake
- Prepare the white cake according to the package directions on the back of the box. Make it in a 9×13 cake pan. Allow the cake to cool completely when done baking.
- Poke holes all over the top of the cake using a straw or a thin diameter handle of a spoon or chopsticks end. You want the holes big enough that you can easily get one color of Jello down it but not so big that the colors just off all over once you put it into the hole. I think a straw is the best thing to use.
- Mix the red jello powder with 3/4 cup boiling water and stir until it has dissolved. Add 1/2 cup of ice cold water and stir to combine. Set the red jello aside and repeat this same process for the blue jello.
- Pour a small amount of jello into each hole, alternating between the red and blue color. I find it’s easiest to put the jello liquid into a condiment squeeze bottle. That way you can accurately fill the holes with each color.
- Cover the cake pan with a lid or plastic wrap and allow the cake to chill for at least 4 hours.
- When ready to serve, top the cake with the Cool Whip and patriotic sprinkles. Once the cake is frosted, you can also cover it again, and let it refrigerate until it’s time to serve it.
FAQ’s + Tips For Success
- Leftovers : Store leftover cake inside the fridge for up to 3-4 days. The cake does get softer and softer the longer it’s in the fridge. I think the cake is best served within 24 hours after the 4 hour chill time. Cover the cake pan with a lid or plastic wrap, alternately you can put the leftover pieces inside airtight container, before storing in the fridge.
- Chill Time : The 4 hour chill time is really important! If you don’t chill it for long enough then the cake will be soggy because the jello won’t have time to set up properly. The chill times ensures that the Jello sets properly and thickens.
- Condiment Bottles : I find it easiest to use condiment squeeze bottles to pour the jello liquid into the holes of the cake. You can find these fairly cheap on Amazon or at stores like Walmart. You can also just use a spoon to do it, although it’s harder to accurately get the jello only in the hole if using a spoon.
- Cake Mix Tip : For a richer and tastier cake replace the water (that’s called for on the back of the cake box) with whole milk or half and half.
4th of July Jello Cake
This 4th of July Jello Cake is my go-to dessert for Memorial Day celebrations and the Fourth of July get togethers. It's creamy, has a bright fresh flavor, and this cake is so easy to make. Plus, it's festive with red white and blue colors throughout.
Ingredients
- 1 box (15.25 oz) white cake mix (plus ingredients called for)
- 1 box (3 oz) raspberry or cherry Jello
- 1 box (3 oz) berry blue Jello
- 1½ cups boiling water (divided)
- 1 cup ice cold water (divided)
- 8 ounces Cool Whip thawed
- red white & blue patriotic sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare the cake according to the directions on the back of the box. Bake the cake in a 9×13 cake pan. Allow the cake to cool completely once done.* I always like to replace the water that's called for with whole milk (or half and half). It's an easy swap that makes the cake taste better.1 box (15.25 oz) white cake mix
- Once the cake is completely cooled, use the end of a wooden spoon or a straw to poke holes all over the top of the cake. Take a few minutes and do it in a uniform pattern (columns and rows) rather than random pokes everywhere.
- In a small bowl mix together the red jello powder with 3/4 cup boiling water. Stir until dissolved. Stir in 1/2 cup of ice cold water and mix to combine. In a separate bowl mix together the blue jello powder with 3/4 cup boiling water. Stir until dissolved. Stir in 1/2 cup of ice cold water and mix to combine.* Fill a large cup with ice and then water. Let it sit. Use the ice cold water from the cup. Boil water on the stove top, or a tea kettle, for the boiling water. The hottest water from the tap won't be hot enough.1 box (3 oz) raspberry or cherry Jello, 1 box (3 oz) berry blue Jello, 1½ cups boiling water, 1 cup ice cold water
- Pour a small amount of jello into each poked hole in the cake, alternating between red and blue. Cover the cake pan with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours. * It's much easier to fill the holes by putting the jello liquid into a condiment squeeze bottle.
- When ready to serve, evenly spread the Cool Whip over top the cake and decorate with the patriotic sprinkles.* Once you spread the Cool Whip on you can cover the cake again and let it refrigerate for several hours before serving it. Wait to add the sprinkles until right before serving (to avoid them bleeding into the white cool whip).8 ounces Cool Whip, red white & blue patriotic sprinkles
Nutrition
Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 331mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 33IU | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 1mg
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