July 4th Fresh Berry Red, White & Blue Poke Cake: A Naturally Sweet Southern Celebration

Made with real strawberries and blueberries, this cool and creamy cake brings patriotic flavor to your summer table — without the artificial dyes

Natalie C. Frank, Ph.D July 3, 2025

flickr [CC BY 2.0]

Servings: 12–15

Prep Time: 35 minutes\

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Chill Time: 4 hours

Total Time: ~5 hours 15 minutes

The Heart of the Cake

Poke cake — born in the 1970s thanks to a Jell-O advertising campaign — was a creative way to keep boxed cake mix exciting and moist. It quickly became a Southern staple, appearing at potlucks, family reunions, and summer cookouts. The “poke” refers to holes poked in the baked cake, allowing colorful gelatin, sauces, or cream to seep inside for a delicious surprise with every bite. In Southern kitchens, fresh berries have long been used in shortcakes, cobblers, and jams — this cake draws on that legacy in a modern form.

This Southern Red, White & Blue Poke Cake puts a festive and flavorful twist on this nostalgic dessert. Bursting with vibrant layers of strawberry, blueberry, and creamy whipped topping, this patriotic cake is both eye-catching and irresistibly rich. Plus, it’s easy to make and feeds a crowd — making it perfect for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or any celebration of Americana.

A farm-fresh twist on a Southern classic, this recipe skips the boxed gelatin and uses real macerated berries to infuse the cake with color and flavor. Rooted in the simple, Southern tradition of using seasonal produce, this poke cake pays homage to summer’s bounty with vibrant fruit and a light cream topping that’s perfect for warm-weather celebrations.

The combination of real fruit and cream topping evokes the timeless tradition of “fruit and cream desserts” served on porches and at picnics across the South.

Continue reading here to get the complete recipe.