Jello Poke Cake is a white sheet cake that’s poked full of holes, and then infused with liquid gelatin to produce bright, fruity streaks of jello running through it. It’s an old fashioned cake recipe that may bring back sweet childhood memories for some. This is a cake that is budget friendly, easy to make and feeds a crowd. The most popular version is a strawberry poke cake using strawberry jello gelatin. You can use any flavor of Jello!
If you love simple cake recipes, you may wish to try our recipes for gooey butter cake, chocolate pudding cake and lemon sour cream cake.
The History of Jello Poke Cake:
Jell-O poke cake has its roots in 1960s–1970s American home cooking, when boxed cake mixes, instant gelatin, and convenience desserts were all the rage. By the 1950s and 60s, brands like Jell-O and Duncan Hines were running major ad campaigns encouraging homemakers to create “fun,” colorful desserts with store-bought mixes. The technique of poking holes in a cake and pouring something over it existed earlier (for example, tres leches cake), but Jell-O marketers took the idea and adapted it to fit the gelatin trend. By the early 1970s, recipes for “Jell-O Poke Cake” were appearing in magazine ads, women’s club cookbooks, and community recipe cards. Poke cake recipes became a popular choice for kids’ birthdays, potlucks, and summer picnics (along with things like ambrosia and dump cake). Today, poke cake is considered to be a nostalgic, no fuss dessert and it’s become trendy again!
Ingredients Needed:
- Jell-O: We’re using raspberry flavored for our recipe here. But you can use any flavor of Jello Gelatin you’d like.
- Raspberries: We’re using fresh raspberries for a garnish because we’re using raspberry Jell-O. If using strawberry Jell-O, use fresh strawberries. You get the idea!
- Vanilla Cake Mix: It’s traditional to use a white or vanilla cake mix to make Jell-O Poke Cake, but you can certainly use another flavor such as yellow cake mix. NOTE: You’ll need the ingredients that are outlined on the box to prepare the cake (usually eggs and oil).
- Hot and Cold Water: (for making the liquid gelatin)
- Cool Whip: This is used for the “frosting.”
- Mint Leaves: These are optional. These look pretty with the berries for garnish.
How to make Jello Poke Cake:
The complete, printable recipe is in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Prepare the cake according to the box instructions, using a 9×13-inch pyrex pan. Let it cool for a few minutes. Then use the handle of a wooden spoon (or a wooden skewer) to poke holes all over the top of the cake.
- Combine the powdered gelatin with hot water. Whisk it together until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Then stir in the cold water. Pour the gelatin over the cake, and let it sink into the holes. Chill for at least one hour (longer is better), giving the gelatin a chance to set.
- When ready to serve, frost the top of the cake with the Cool Whip, garnish with berries and fresh mint leaves, cut and serve!
Recipe Tips:
- Use a cake made from scratch, a box mix or a store-bought unfrosted cake. White cake or yellow cake are the most common flavors used for making poke cake.
- Try using a chocolate cake mix and then using black cherry Jell-O gelatin to create a chocolate cherry poke cake. You can even make a snickerdoodle poke cake!
- Some people use cold 7-Up or Sprite in place of the cold water when making this cake (and swear by it)!
- Make homemade whipped cream (directions below) in place of the Cool Whip, if you’d like.
- Garnish your jello poke cake with fresh fruit to match the flavor of the Jello used.
- Plan ahead. Give the cake a few hours in the refrigerator to allow the gelatin to soak into the cake.
- To get clean slices of poke cake, use a warmed knife, and wipe off the knife with a paper towel between slices.
- Store leftover poke cake in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Poke cake may also be frozen in a well sealed container (or wrapped well) for up to 3 months.
Good Reasons to make Jello Poke Cake:
- It’s a cool and creamy, easy to make cake that is perfect for any occasion.
- Kids love this cake, and it tends to be a family favorite dessert.
- It’s a crowd favorite dessert when served at a party or potluck.
How to make homemade whipped cream:
You can use homemade whipped cream to top your cake instead of Cool Whip. To a chilled bowl, add 1 cup of heavy whipping cream, 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Use a hand mixer to beat the cream to medium peaks, where it holds its shape but the tips curl slightly when the beaters are pulled from the cream. Spread the homemade whipped cream on top of the cake just as you would the Cool Whip.
What You’ll Love About Jello Poke Cake:
- It’s easy to customize. Use any flavor of Jello gelatin for your poke cake! Think cherry poke cake, lime poke cake, strawberry poke cake or orange poke cake!
- This cake can be made into cupcakes too! Just poke the cupcakes instead of the full cake.
- It’s a quick and easy dessert that can be made ahead of time.
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Prepare the vanilla cake mix batter, and bake as a 9×13-inch cake in a glass pyrex pan, using the instructions on the back of the box.
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Remove the cake from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Then use the handle of a wooden spoon (or a wooden skewer) to poke holes all over the top of the cake.
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In a large bowl, stir together the powdered jello with the hot water for 2 minutes, or until dissolved. It’s important that it’s dissolved. Then you can stir in the cold water until well-combined. Pour the jello mixture evenly over the cake. Chill for at least one hour.
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Before serving, spread the Cool Whip evenly over the top of the cake. Store it in the refrigerator until serving time. Serve individual slices topped with fresh raspberries. Garnish each slice with a mint leaf.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.