Last updated on May 13th, 2024 at 11:20 am
Jump to RecipePatriotic Poke Cake Recipe [video]
This patriotic poke cake will be the perfect dessert if you plan a Fourth of July or Independence Day party. It looks like it came from a fancy bakery and tastes fantastic, too, but it is easy to make. It consists of a boxed cake mix with some food coloring, vanilla pudding with white chocolate for the filling, and whipped cream with berries for the topping. You can have it done in less than an hour.
Table of contents
As a family obsessed with good food, we love to celebrate any holiday or occasion with food. But even if it is not a celebration, this cake will make it feel like one. Although it would be irresistible for a Fourth of July party, you could also serve it for a spring picnic, winter get-together, or a nice snack any time of the year.
This Patriotic Poke Cake is the ideal dessert to celebrate Independence Day. Not only does it look amazing with the American Flag colors on it, but it tastes just as good. There are many desserts out there that you can make for this particular day, but this one will stand out.
First of all, it is super flavorful and moist. Unlike other desserts, this one is “poked” and filled with a creamy sauce, making it unique and tasty. You can rest assured that it will be moist, tender, and flavorful.
Also, it is not overly sweet but rather has the right balance. It is quite affordable as well because it is made simply with cake mix and then filled with white chocolate mixture. The red, white, and blue colors make this dessert the perfect sweet candidate to celebrate the 4th of July!
Since the topping is just whipped cream, it is easy to pipe on the stars around the sliced strawberries and blueberries. Just use a simple star tip on your piping bag, and you can do it in just a few minutes. But wait to put on the topping until you are ready to serve it. Cover it with a thin layer of whipped cream and let it chill until then.
What you’ll need to make patriotic poke cake:
Special items:
- Cake pan – I used a 9×13-inch cake pan.
- Mixing bowls – Different sizes for different jobs.
- Wooden spoon – Mix the cake, make the holes, and spread the whipped cream.
- Piping bag – With a star tip for making the stars.
Cake ingredients:
- White cake mix – Any white cake mix will work, but I prefer Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines.
- Eggs – Large eggs at room temperature so they blend more easily.
- Water – To add moisture to the cake.
- Vegetable oil – To add extra moisture to the cake to keep it moist.
- Vanilla – I prefer 100% pure vanilla extract because it has a better flavor.
- Food coloring – Red and blue gel food coloring for dying the cake batter.
Filling ingredients:
- Sweetened condensed milk – To make the thick and creamy white chocolate filling.
- White chocolate chips – Use the best high-quality white chocolate because taste is everything.
- Vanilla pudding mix – I like the Jello brand, but you can use your favorite.
- Milk – Whole milk is best for the richest and creamiest filling.
Topping ingredients:
- Whipped cream – Try my easy whipped topping recipe, or you can use store-bought.
- Strawberries – I recommend fresh strawberries because frozen ones will be too soggy to cut after they thaw out.
- Blueberries – Fresh ones are better, but frozen ones will work, too.
How to make Patriotic Poke Cake?
- Bake the cake mix: Since this recipe utilizes red, white, and blue colors for the blend, use a few drops of gel food coloring. Use an essential vanilla cake mix for the base. Then, add the rest of the ingredients and separate the batter into 3 bowls. Next, add the food coloring and spoon the batter into a baking dish. Ensure to use a nonstick pan when baking. Follow the box instructions to bake it. After baking, let it cool for about 10 minutes.
- Poke it: When the cake is still hot, use a wooden spoon to make holes. Try to make a uniform and even holes throughout.
- Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, stir condensed milk and white chocolate and microwave until melted. Next, spread the mixture evenly over the cake.
- Pudding: Prepare the pudding per package directions and spread it on top. Let the cake cool.
- Whipped Cream: Add a layer of whipped cream.
- Decorate: Garnish it with strawberries and blueberries on top to resemble the American flag. Also, add whipped cream between rows to resemble stars.
- Refrigerate: Once assembled, cover it with plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Expert tip
Poking a cake
I have made hundreds of poke cakes over the years and have tried many different ways to make them. The end of a wooden spoon is the perfect size for any kind of poke cake. In addition to being the right size, the holes also have to be the right depth and the right distance apart.
Although I use the end of a wooden spoon handle, I have also tried chopsticks, wooden skewers, and my stainless-steel drinking straw. If you use any of these, stir it around slightly to make the hole bigger. It should be about the size of a pinky fingertip to absorb the filling. Of course, this also depends on what you are using as a filling.
An extra-thick filling may require larger holes, and a thin filling may need smaller holes. But one thing never changes, and that is the distance. The holes should always be about one and a half inches apart. Too close together, it will all run and make a soggy cake. Also, it would be best not to make the hole all the way through, or it will leak out the bottom.
Recipe variations and add-ins:
- Different cake mix: I have used this recipe with other cake flavors, such as yellow, butter, white chocolate, and even strawberry. They all turn out delicious.
- Other topping: Instead of whipped cream, you can make it with your favorite frosting.
- Chocolate chips: Add some chocolate chips to the batter for an extra bit of chocolate.
- Pudding flavors: Instead of using vanilla pudding, experiment with other flavors, such as chocolate, strawberry, and blueberry.
- No fruit: If fruit is not fresh in your area right now, use Skittles or M&M’s for the decorations.
Make it for other holidays.
I have used this recipe without all the fancy patriotic topping. I just topped it with whipped cream and some rainbow sprinkles for a birthday, and for Easter, I topped it with jellybeans.
This dessert is fantastic and versatile because you can change the colors and utilize this recipe for other holidays.
- For example, you can easily make it for St. Patrick’s Day by replacing the red and blue colors with green.
- Also, make it for Halloween using various color mixtures, like orange and purple.
- For Christmas, you could use cherry or lime and sprinkle the top with green sprinkles.
- Similarly, make it for Valentine’s Day with red velvet cake mix and top it with freshly sliced strawberries. The possibilities are endless!
Serving suggestions:
Whether you are making this for a family dinner or party, there are many ways to serve it.
- All cakes go great with ice cream, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream would be a perfect choice.
- Top each slice with a tiny American flag you can buy from a cake shop or the party section at your local department store.
- Another way to serve this is with my easy and delicious red, white, and blue frozen yogurt bark made with just two ingredients. Break the bark and stick it into the slices right before serving.
- No matter how you want to serve it, this poke cake will also be one of your favorites. You can make it a patriotic party theme by serving this with my red, white, and blue cheesecake salad, Patriotic Cupcakes, and American Flag Fudge.
- This is the perfect sweet treat for a barbecue, where traditional American staples like hamburgers and hot dogs are served.
Are you looking for more Poke Cakes?
- Banana Pudding poke cake
- Pumpkin poke cake
- Oreo poke cake
- Key Lime Pie poke cake
- Strawberry poke cake
- Tres leches poke cake
- Lemon curd poke cake
Frequently asked questions
What is poke cake made of?
A traditional poke cake is just a cake made from a box with holes poked in it. After it cools, some liquid or filling, such as pudding, jello mix, or sauce, is poured on top. Chocolate sauce is my favorite, but strawberry jello is a close second. Sometimes, it is left plain on top, but most of the time, it has whipped cream or frosting spread on it.
Why is my poke cake soggy?
If the holes are too close together, the filling will all run together and cause a soupy mess in the middle. They need to be at least one and a half inches apart. This can also happen if you pour too much liquid filling on top. Always measure correctly and only add enough to fill the holes. Another issue is that your cake may still need to be finished baking. Check it with a toothpick first.
When and how do I poke the holes in a poke cake?
You don’t have to wait until the cake is completely cool, it is better to poke holes into a still hot cake. Then, using the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes about one and a half inches apart. But don’t push it all the way through. You don’t want the cream leaking out the bottom of the cake. After, let it cool for one hour before topping it, and then let it chill again for another hour.
Can I make this with natural food coloring?
You can use natural food coloring instead. Using blueberries and strawberries would make this cake taste amazing. However, you could also use red cabbage and baking soda for blue and raspberries or cherries for red. There are also natural organic food colorings on the market.
Can I make poke cake in advance?
Absolutely! This Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake is the perfect dessert to make in advance. To be more exact, we highly recommend storing it in the fridge 1-2 days ahead. This way, the flavors are well mixed, and the liquids will get properly soaked, resulting in a perfectly moist, tender cake.
Please remember to adequately cover it with plastic when refrigerating.
How long will poke cake last at room temperature?
Since the filling is dairy-based and has cream cheese, it is best to serve it at room temperature for up to 2 hours. I recommend consuming it only if it’s being left out for less than 2 hours. The reason is that food bacteria can grow at temperatures between 40°F and 140°F, which you want to avoid.
How to store:
- Refrigerate: Remove the topping before storing leftovers in an airtight container. They can be refrigerated for up to three days.
- Freezing: Freezing is not recommended.
More patriotic themes recipes:
Recipe tips:
- Along with the baking spray, you can use parchment paper to ensure the cake does not stick.
- Make sure your cake is baked by sticking a toothpick in the center. It is finished if it comes out dry or with a few crumbs.
- Do not make the holes too deep, or the filling will run out the bottom of the cake.
- Keep the holes at least one and a half inches apart so the pudding does not run together.
- Let your cake cool for at least an hour before frosting. Then chill until ready to decorate and serve.
Patriotic Poke Cake
Patriotic Poke Cake is a super moist, simple, and colorful dessert made with a cake mix, topped with whipped cream and fresh berries. It is the perfect cake to celebrate the 4th of July.
Ingredients
Cake:
- 1 package white cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Blue Gel Food Coloring
- Red Gel Food Coloring
Filling:
- 2 cups condensed milk
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
- 1 3.4 oz vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups milk
Topping:
- 16 ounces whipped topping or homemade whipped cream
- 1 pound strawberries
- 1 cup blueberries
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Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with baking spray and set aside.
- Whisk cake mix with eggs, water, oil, and vanilla until smooth.
- Divide the batter evenly into three bowls. Stir blue food coloring into one bowl, red food coloring into the second, and leave another one without color.
- Alternating colors, drop heaping spoonfuls of batter randomly into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes clean. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes. Next, using the end of a wooden spoon, poke large holes all over the cake.
Filling:
- Add condensed milk and white chocolate to a medium bowl, microwave for 1 minute, and stir until melted. If needed, microwave for 30 more seconds.
- After holes are made, pour the mixture on top of the cake evenly and distribute the chocolate mixture all over the cake.
- Prepare the pudding mixture per the package directions by mixing it with the milk until it begins to thicken. Then, immediately pour the pudding over the cake, filling the holes.
- Let the cake COOL completely.
Topping:
- Frost cake with whipped topping, leaving about 2 cups for later. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve.
- Garnish with blueberries and strawberries to resemble the American flag. Add the remaining whipped topping to a piping bag fitted with a star tip and pipe cream stars between the strawberry rows.
- Keep refrigerated.
Nutrition Facts
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