How to make patriotic Jell-O poke cake

Prepare to make and bake the cake by gathering the ingredients: a white cake mix, eggs, oil and water.  Gather a mixing bowl and mixer with inserted beaters. Gather a 13 x 9 pan preferrably a glass pan that will show off the beauty of this dessert.  Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Make the cake batter by following the instructions on the cake mix. Pour the white cake batter into the 13 x 9 pan which has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Bake according to instructions on the package usually around 40 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely at room temperature, preferrably a couple hours.

After the cake has cooled, then it is time to prepare the cake  for the gelatin. For smaller holes use a fork.  For bigger holes use the handle of a wooden spoon. It depends on the preference of the baker. Make sure there are plenty of holes but not so many that it crushes too much of the cake.

Gather two bowls.  One for the red gelatin and one for the blue gelatin.  Open the packages of gelatin and pour in separate bowls. Boil 2 cups of water. Add one cup of boiling water to each bowl and stir each until the gelatin is dissolved in the water. Then add 1/2 cup of cold water to each bowl and stir. Do not allow the gelatin to set.  You may want to make one color and then come back and make the second color.

The next step is to pour the gelatin over the cake trying to insert the gelatin in the poked holes.  The gelatin must be spooned over the cake batter.  Make sure to vary the placement of the colors of gelatin so that each piece of cake will have some blue and some red gelatin in it. Do not poor from the bowl or hurry this process as the gelatin will then go down the sides and underneath the cake instead. The gelatin should be runny at this stage and not thick.

 It will only take 1/2 of the bowl of each kind of gelatin. The remaining gelatin can be used on a second cake if preparing for a crowd or can be placed in a bowl for eating. The gelatin must be spooned over the cake batter.

Cover and chill the cake in the refrigerator to allow the gelatin to set. At least one hour is preferred.

After allowing the cake with the gelatin to cool and set, remove from the refrigerator and uncover.  Spread one 8 ounce tub of whipped topping over the top of the dessert. Be careful not to pick up some of the gelatin or cake with the whipped topping. Cover again and refrigerate until serving.

Cut the cake into 3 x 3 pieces for serving.  Garnish the cake as desired before serving.  Some options include topping each with a sliced fanned strawberry, fresh raspberries or blueberries, or an American flag pick.

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