Make a Splash! Swimming Bears Poke Cake Cupcakes
Dive right in – these Swimming Bears Poke Cake Cupcakes are making a splash! If you’ve ever wondered what teddy graham bears do on summer vacation, it turns out they cannonball into pools of blue icing! With fluffy white jello cupcakes as the base, each cupcake is like a mini pool party where the bears are the guests of honor (and the lifeguards are nowhere in sight!). These treats are so cute, even the Olympic swim team would trade their gold medals for a bite. So grab your floaties and let’s bake up some cupcakes that are adorable and delicious!
Why these cupcakes are so great:
- So cute and EASY! Plus everyone will love them!
- Perfect for kids’ parties, pool parties, summer BBQs, or any time you want a swimmingly delicious cupcake.
- Made with boxed cake mix, jello, and premade icing – saving you time and energy.
Swimming Bear Poke Cake Cupcakes
Makes 22 cupcakes
Prep time: 30 minutes / Chill time: 1 hour
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 ounce box white cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare it
- 1 3-ounce package blue Jello
- 1 ½ cups boiling water
- 1 16-ounce container white icing
- Blue food coloring
- 44 bear graham crackers
- 11 peach gummy rings
- 11 rainbow sour belt bites
Instructions
Prepare the white cake mix and bake 22 cupcakes. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely, then use a wooden skewer to poke holes all over each cupcake.
Whisk together the blue Jello and boiling water until all the gelatin is dissolved.
Spoon the prepared Jello into the holes in the cupcakes, then place the cupcakes in the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour.
When ready to serve, beat together the white icing with three to four drops of blue food coloring. Continue mixing until the icing is your desired shade of blue.
Spread the icing over the top of each cupcake. Place one bear graham in the center of each of the peach rings and place them on half the cupcakes.
Then, place the rainbow sour belt on top of each of the remaining cupcakes.
Spread a small amount of icing on the bottom of 11 bears and place them on top of the sour belts.
Press the remaining bears into the top of each cupcake next to the bears on rafts.
FAQ
Can I use a different flavor of jello for the poke cake?
Absolutely! While blue jello gives the cupcakes a fun pool look, you can use any flavor or color you like.
Do I need to make the cupcakes from scratch?
Nope! A boxed white cake mix works perfectly for this recipe, but you can use your favorite homemade recipe if you prefer.
How do I keep the teddy grahams from getting soggy?
Add the teddy graham bears just before serving to keep them crisp and ready for a swim!
Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time?
Yes! You can bake and assemble the cupcakes a day in advance, but wait to add the bears and final decorations until right before serving for the best results.
