Perfect Patriotic Flag Poke Cake Easy 4th of July Dessert Recipe
A simple, colorful poke cake featuring a moist vanilla sponge soaked with sweetened condensed milk and decorated with fresh berries arranged as a patriotic flag. Perfect for summer celebrations and easy to make.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box white cake mix (about 15.25 oz)
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 cup whipped topping or whipped cream
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your 9×13-inch pan lightly with butter or non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the white cake mix, 3 large eggs, 1 cup water, and 1/3 cup vegetable oil. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly using a spatula.
- Bake the cake for 30 to 35 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes.
- Using a wooden skewer or fork, poke holes evenly across the cake about 1 inch apart.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour the glaze evenly over the cake, focusing on the holes. Let it soak in for 10 minutes.
- Spread the whipped topping evenly over the cake using a spatula.
- Arrange the blueberries in the top left corner to represent the stars. Create red stripes by placing sliced strawberries in rows alternating with the whipped cream.
- Chill the cake in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
Use firm, ripe berries for a crisp flag design. Frozen berries can be used if thawed and patted dry. For dairy-free, substitute sweetened condensed milk with coconut condensed milk and use dairy-free whipped topping. Avoid overbeating the batter to prevent a dense cake. Chill the cake well before serving to keep the topping firm and flavors melded. Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean slices.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of the
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 4
Keywords: poke cake, patriotic dessert, 4th of July dessert, berry poke cake, easy summer dessert, vanilla poke cake