Swimming Pool Cake {Gluten Free}
This swimming pool cake is going to stun everyone at your summer bbq’s and picnics! This version is gluten-free, dairy-free and fun to make.
Table of contents
If you need a showstopper dessert to bring to a BBQ, picnic or summer birthday party, you just found it! This swimming pool cake is fun to make, and even more fun to serve. It’s completely customizable to skill level and dietary preference, but this recipe is completely gluten-free, dairy-free, and artificial dye-free.
Why you’ll love this jello swimming pool cake!
I didn’t grow up in a cake-decorating family, but I was always fascinated by it. When I was probably 8-9 years old, I saw a summer food magazine with a swimming pool cake on the cover. It was a basic sheet cake topped off with a jello swimming pool, candy for various pool toys, and swimsuit-clad teddy grahams enjoying their day at the pool.
When I say that was a core memory for a budding foodie like me, I mean it. Because here I am at 34 and I still never got that image out of my head. It totally changed my outlook on how food wasn’t just for eating, but it could be fun. You could play with you food, and it could bring joy and delight to your loved ones!
That’s why I finally had to make my own version of this iconic pool cake. I took some extra thinking to figure out how to make this gluten-free and without corn syrup or food dye, but the look on my 5-year-olds face was worth it!
Recipe Ingredients & Substitutions
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Cake mix. Since the rest of the cake was so intricate, I took a big shortcut with simple mills cake mix and you can just use any basic cake recipe that you prefer! I have a recipe for gluten-free white chocolate raspberry cake or gluten-free chocolate cake that would also be great options.
- Frosting. Again, you can use any frosting you prefer! I just recommend sticking with white or another light color.
- Apple juice & blue spirulina. This makes the pool!
- Gummy bears and gummy rings. You can use store-bought or a recipe like my Peach Ring Gummies and Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies!
- Unreal gems and fruit leather. I used a fruit roll up to make a pool siding, and unreal gems to add extra color and dimension to the cake.
- Paper umbrellas. A must!
How to make a Jello pool cake
Here are the simple steps, with photos, to make this recipe. Find full instructions in the recipe card.
Step one. Combine the apple juice, gelatin, and blue spirulina. Heat on the stove until liquid and pour into a 2 cup container. Allow to set in the fridge.
Step two. Place the jello pool on top of the prepared and frosted cake.
Step three. Gather all of your decorations like gummy bears and rings.
Step four. Decorate the cake with your desired scene and enjoy!!
Tips & Tricks
- Carefully remove the Jello pool. I find it helpful to gently insert a kitchen utensil into the sides of the container to pull it away. The cake is forgiving since you do windup decorating most of the pool, so no worries if there are little imperfections!
- Keep the cake chilled. This cake needs to be chilled to make sure the colors don’t run, and that everything stays firm. It’s definitely best fresh, you can easily keep it in the fridge for several hours.
If you tried this Swimming Pool Cake or any other recipe on my blog please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Other Gluten-Free Gummies to Try…
Swimming Pool Cake {Gluten Free}
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Ingredients
- ½ cup apple juice
- 2 tsp gelatin
- ¼ tsp blue spirulina
- 1 box simple mills cake mix, prepared, see notes for other options
- 1 container Frosting, sub homemade
- 3-4 gummy rings, like this, or store-bought
- 3-4 gummy bears, like this, or store-bought
- Unreal gems
- Fruit leather, like this, or store-bought
Equipment
- 2-3 paper umbrellas
- 2 cup glass pyrex container
Instructions
- To prepare the jello pool, add the apple and blue spirulina to a pot and whisk well. Sprinkle the gelatin over the juice mixture and lightly mix. Allow to harden for 2 minutes.
- Transfer the pot to the stove and heat over low heat for 3-4 minutes or until fully liquid.
- Pour the liquid into a 2 cup glass container (you can also use a silicone container for easier removal) and transfer to the fridge for at least 3-4 hours or until fully set.
- Prepare the cake as instructed in 9" cake pan. Allow to cool fully before frosting on all sides.
- Carefully remove the jello pool from the glass container and place it in the center of the cake.
- Decorate the pool with fruit leather to make a barrier around the pool, add gummy rings with gummy bears, and unreal gems for beach balls. Finish the cake with paper umbrellas.
- Carefully slice and serve chilled! Store in the fridge for a few hours if making ahead of time.
