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Easy Firecracker Poke Cake Recipe with Fresh Strawberries and Blueberries for Perfect Summer Dessert

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A quick and easy summer dessert featuring a moist vanilla cake poked with vibrant red and blue gelatin, topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and creamy frosting. Perfect for last-minute gatherings and crowd-pleasing occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box white or yellow cake mix (Betty Crocker recommended)
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
  • 1 (3 oz) package strawberry or raspberry gelatin (Jell-O brand)
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
  • Optional: sprinkle of sugar for macerating berries
  • 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2–3 tablespoons milk (as needed for spreadability)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter or non-stick spray.
  2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, water, and oil. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes until smooth.
  3. Pour batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  4. Let cake cool for about 10 minutes in the pan until warm but not hot.
  5. Use a wooden spoon end or thick skewer to poke holes about 1 inch apart all over the cake surface.
  6. Dissolve gelatin packet in 1 cup boiling water, stir until dissolved. Add 1 cup cold water and mix well.
  7. Pour gelatin evenly over the cake, filling the holes slowly to avoid overflow.
  8. Refrigerate cake for at least 2 hours or until gelatin is fully set.
  9. While cake chills, beat softened cream cheese and butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until smooth. Add milk a tablespoon at a time until desired frosting consistency is reached.
  10. Spread cream cheese frosting evenly over the set gelatin layer.
  11. Arrange sliced strawberries and whole blueberries on top. Optionally sprinkle a pinch of sugar over berries.
  12. Slice and serve immediately or keep chilled until ready to serve.

Notes

Use room temperature eggs for better batter consistency. Pour gelatin when warm but not boiling to avoid melting cake surface. Chill cake at least 2 hours for best results. For dairy-free, substitute cream cheese and butter with vegan alternatives. Frozen berries can be used if thawed and drained well. Adding extra gelatin mixture or berry juice can restore moisture if cake feels dry. Adjust milk in frosting for desired spreadability.

Nutrition

Keywords: poke cake, summer dessert, strawberries, blueberries, easy cake, firecracker cake, cream cheese frosting, gelatin cake, quick dessert

Find it online: https://sweetstirring.com/easy-firecracker-poke-cake-recipe-with-fresh-strawberries-and-blueberries-for-perfect-summer-dessert/