Red White and Blue Poke Cake

Cake Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9x13" glass baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside.
2. Using a stand or hand mixer, combine the cake mix, eggs, butter, milk and vanilla bean paste and mix on medium speed until fully mixed.
3. Pour batter into baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes (or until a toothpick comes out clean).

Jello Instructions:

1. Combine cherry Jello with 3/4 cup boiling water, stirring until dissolved.
2. Add 1/2 cup cold water to cherry Jello.
3. Allow to rest for 2 minutes, then stir to mix.
4. Repeat the above steps for the blue Jello.Pour each Jello into their own plastic squeeze bottle.

How to Make a Poke Cake

1. Once cake is cool, use the bottom of a wooden spoon handle to poke holes into the cake, about 1-2" apart.
2. Use the squeeze bottles you prepared to squirt blue Jello into the top row of holes. Repeat this using the red Jello in the next row. Continue alternating Jello colors until all rows are filled.
3. Allow cake to set in fridge for at least 4 hours (or overnight if time allows).

To prepare the frosting:

1. Combine all frosting ingredients (except food colorinin a large bowl and mix on medium speed using a hand mixer or stand mixer.
2. If your frosting still has any clumps after a couple minutes, add another tablespoon of heavy whipping cream. Continue mixing until you have creamy frosting with stiff peaks.
3. Separate the frosting into three small bowls. Add the red food dye into one bowl and mix until smooth and even-colored. Add the blue food dye into the second bowl and stir to mix. Leave the third bowl white.

Decorating Instructions:

1. Use a tricolor frosting coupler to easily achieve the triple-colored frosting effect or pipe each color of frosting separately to create a flag on top of your cake.
2. Allow to cake chill for about 30 minutes in the fridge before cutting and serving.