Can I make this cake with a homemade white cake instead of a box mix?

Absolutely! Any standard white cake recipe that yields enough batter for a 13x9 pan will work beautifully. Just make sure the cake has a somewhat firm structure to hold up to the jello infusion. A very delicate homemade cake might become too soggy.

Why did my gelatin not soak in properly?

The most common reason is that the cake wasn't poked deeply enough or the holes were too small. Make sure to use something that creates substantial holes, and poke all the way to the bottom of the cake. Also, ensure your gelatin mixture isn't too hot when you pour it in, or it can seal the top of the holes.

Can I use sugar-free gelatin and light cream cheese to make this dessert lower in calories?

Yes! This recipe works well with sugar-free gelatin and light cream cheese. You can also use light whipped topping. The texture will be slightly different, but the visual impact and overall flavor profile will remain delicious.

How far in advance can I make this cake?

This cake actually improves with time! You can make it up to 2 days in advance, keeping it refrigerated. Add any fresh fruit toppings just before serving for the best appearance. The jello infusion keeps the cake moist, and the flavors meld beautifully over time.

Easy 4th of July Cake Recipe

Description

This Easy 4th of July Cake is a simple and festive dessert perfect for patriotic celebrations. It’s a poke cake filled with vibrant red cherry and blue berry gelatin stripes, topped with a creamy frosting, and decorated with fresh fruit or sprinkles.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Cake

- 1 box white cake mix
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 small box, 3.4 oz cherry gelatin – you will use 1/2 the package
- 1 small box, 3.4 oz berry blue gelatin – you will use 1/2 the package
- 1 cup boiling water, divided
- 1/2 cup cold water, divided

Frosting

- 1 8 oz container whipped topping, thawed
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional Toppings

Sprinkles
Fresh fruit

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F and coat a 13×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Prepare the cake: In a large bowl, whisk together the cake mix, eggs, buttermilk, and oil until smooth. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish. Bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for 15 minutes.
Prepare red gelatin: While the cake is cooling, combine ½ of the package of cherry gelatin (about 2 tablespoons) with ½ cup boiling water. Stir for about 2 minutes until dissolved, then add ¼ cup cold water and stir to combine. Transfer the mixture into a squeeze bottle.
Prepare blue gelatin: Repeat the same steps with ½ of the package of berry blue gelatin. Combine it with ½ cup boiling water, stir for 2 minutes until dissolved, then add ¼ cup cold water and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into a separate squeeze bottle.
Poke and pour: Using a wooden skewer or a large fork, poke holes in the cake about every ½ inch. Carefully pour the red and blue gelatin in alternating holes to create a striped effect.
Refrigerate: Cover the cake with foil or plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight to set.
Make the frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth using a stand mixer or hand mixer. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until well combined. Fold in the whipped topping until fully incorporated.
Frost the cake: Spread the prepared frosting over the cooled and set cake. Top with fresh fruit or sprinkles if desired.
Chill and serve: Store the finished cake in the refrigerator, covered with foil or plastic wrap, until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Notes

You can use any flavor of Jello to customize this cake to match any theme! For example, try strawberry and lemon for a different flavor combination.
Make sure to give the cake enough time to chill in the refrigerator for the Jello stripes to set properly.
If you don’t have squeeze bottles, you can use a spoon to carefully pour the gelatin into the cake holes.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 320
Sugar: 30g
Sodium: 200mg
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 55mg