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Best Red White and Blue Poke Cake for Labor Day

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This red, white, and blue poke cake is the perfect Labor Day dessert—festive, easy, and made with simple ingredients. A boxed white cake mix is poked and soaked with strawberry and berry blue Jell-O, then topped with whipped topping and fresh fruit for a cool, creamy, and crowd-pleasing treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box white cake mix (plus ingredients called for on the box—usually eggs, oil, and water)
  • 1 (3 oz) box strawberry Jell-O
  • 1 (3 oz) box berry blue Jell-O
  • 2 cups boiling water (divided—1 cup for each Jell-O flavor)
  • 1 cup cold water (divided—1/2 cup for each Jell-O flavor)
  • 1 (8 oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • Fresh strawberries, sliced (about 1 cup)
  • Fresh blueberries (about 1 cup)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
  2. Prepare the white cake mix according to package directions. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15-20 minutes (cake should be warm but not hot).
  3. While the cake cools, prepare the Jell-O mixtures. In a small bowl, dissolve strawberry Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, stirring for 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup cold water and stir. Repeat with berry blue Jell-O in a separate bowl. Set both aside to cool slightly.
  4. Using the handle of a wooden spoon (or a chopstick or skewer), poke holes all over the warm cake, spacing them about 1 inch apart and poking all the way to the bottom.
  5. Slowly pour the strawberry Jell-O over one half of the cake and the berry blue Jell-O over the other half, letting the liquid soak in before adding more.
  6. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably 4 hours or overnight, until the Jell-O is set.
  7. Once the cake is fully chilled, spread the thawed whipped topping evenly over the entire cake using a rubber spatula.
  8. Arrange sliced strawberries on the red side of the cake and blueberries on the blue side. Refrigerate for another 30 minutes before serving for cleaner slices.

Notes

For best results, chill the cake overnight. Use a straw to poke cleaner holes. If you can’t find berry blue Jell-O, substitute blue raspberry or make your own with unflavored gelatin and blueberry juice. For a lighter version, use sugar-free Jell-O and light whipped topping. The cake can be frozen (without fresh fruit) for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: poke cake, red white and blue cake, Labor Day dessert, Fourth of July cake, berry poke cake, easy dessert, summer dessert

Find it online: https://zestynora.com/best-red-white-and-blue-poke-cake-for-labor-day/