The two best parts about the Fourth of July are the delicious barbecue food and sitting outside to watch the fireworks.
If you've ever been to an Independence Day barbecue, you know how important the food is — from hotdogs and hamburgers, to corn on the cob, to potato salad, to popsicles, every food has to scream "America!"
Not only do the foods have to be delicious, they get bonus points if they're red, white, and blue, just like the rest of the party decorations.
Although everyone knows what to serve for the meal part of a Fourth of July party — anything grilled — what should you serve for dessert?
Some people go with cupcakes, while others go with ice cream to beat the heat. This year, try a delicious, fireworks poke cake. Not only is it red, white, and blue, it also makes fireworks go off in your mouth!
Print out the recipe card below if you're excited to try this cake!
Fireworks Poke Cake
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- Boxed red velvet cake and required ingredients
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Red food coloring
- Vanilla extract
- Milk
- Raspberry extract
- Blue food coloring
- Purple food coloring
- White chocolate instant pudding mix
- Frozen whipped topping, thawed
- Strawberry Pop Rocks
Instructions
- Make cake batter according to directions on box
- Stir in cocoa powder, red food coloring, and vanilla
- Bake (according to temperature on boxed cake) for 30-40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean
- Using the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cake
- In a separate bowl, mix milk, raspberry extract, and blue and purple food coloring
- Add pudding mix and stir to thicken
- Pour the pudding mixture over the cake, and spread it into the holes
- Frost cake with whipped topping
- Refrigerate one hour
- Sprinkle with pop rocks, serve, and enjoy!
Follow along with the photos below for more in-depth instructions!
Ingredients
- 1 Package boxed red velvet cake and required ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 Bottle red food coloring
- 2 Teaspoons vanilla extract
- 6 cups milk
- 2 Teaspoons raspberry extract
- 30 Drops blue food coloring
- 10 Drops purple food coloring
- 3 Packages white chocolate instant pudding mix
- 1 Container frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 1 Package strawberry Pop Rocks
Step #1: Mix Boxed Cake
To begin making this incredible fireworks poke cake, gather all your ingredients.
Once you have your ingredients, make the boxed cake batter according to the instructions on the box.
Step #2: Stir In Cocoa Powder, Red Food Coloring, And Vanilla
Add cocoa powder, red food coloring, and vanilla extract to your batter.
Stir to combine.
Step #3: Bake 30-40 Minutes
Bake the cake for 30-40 minutes according to the temperature on the box, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Step #4: Poke Holes In Cake
Take the cake out of the oven and let it cool a bit.
Once the cake is cool enough to touch, poke holes all over the cake with the back end of a wooden spoon.
Step #5: Make Milk Mixture
In a separate bowl, mix together milk, raspberry extract, and blue and purple food coloring.
The color should end up being a vibrant light blue.
Step #6: Mix In Pudding
Next, add the three packages of pudding mix to the milk, and stir it until it is a consistent texture.
Step #7: Pour Pudding Over Cake
Once you're happy with the texture of the pudding, pour it over the cake.
Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to spread the pudding over the cake, pressing it into all the holes.
Step #8: Frost Cake
After you've spread the pudding over the cake, frost the cake using your whipped topping — it should be a pretty thick layer.
Step #9: Refrigerate Cake
Once the cake is totally frosted, put it into the refrigerator for an hour to set.
Step #10: Sprinkle With Pop Rocks
After an hour, take the cake out of the fridge and sprinkle Pop Rocks all over the surface of the cake
Step #11: Serve And Enjoy!
Slice the cake, serve it, and enjoy!
All your friends will absolutely love this fireworks poke cake, so make sure to SHARE this article with them!
