Published: Last updated: by Shelby Law Ruttan · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
A retro cake from the 70's made with a white boxed cake mix and a variety of flavored gelatin and frosted with cool whip.
This Jello Poke Cake Recipe is a deliciously moist retro recipe that's sure to be a hit at your next special occasion! This easy recipe transforms a white cake mix into the perfect treat. The cake layers are drizzled with black cherry and lime gelatin, and frosted with a layer of whipped topping, making this delectable dessert a favorite for all ages!
Not only is this Jello Poke Cake Recipe an easy-to-make favorite, but a beautiful surprise emerges when the cake is cut into. When the jello floods the poke holes a pretty design is created within the cake layers making this easy cake recipe one that will surely impress!
Jump to:
- ❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
- 🥘 Ingredients
- 🔪 Instructions
- 🙋 Recipe FAQ's
- 💭 Tips
- 📖 Variations
- 🍽 Equipment
- Serving Suggestions
- Storage
- Related Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
✔️ Jello Poke Cake is a budget-friendly dessert!
✔️ The entire cake feed 24, making it perfect for birthday parties!
✔️ Jello Poke Cakes are super simple to whip together!
🥘 Ingredients
Box cake mix: Preferably white cake mix for better color contrast with the jello. This is the mix I used.
Black cherry gelatin: provides the Jello Poke Cake with fruity, dark cherry flavor.
Lime gelatin: provides the Jello Poke Cake with citrus, lime flavor that compliments the cherry flavor.
Whipped topping: acts as the frosting.
🔪 Instructions
- Make the white cake mix in a large bowl per box directions, following directions forbaking in round cake pans. Let cakes cool completely.
- Poke holes in the cooled cakeusing the wide end of a chopstick. Push the chopstick through thecake all the way to the bottom of the cake. Repeat several times on the cakelayer. Set cakes aside.
- Place the black cherry jello powder and lime gelatin powder in two separatemixing bowls. Pour 1 cup hot boiling water over each bowl of jellopowder, stirring until gelatin has dissolved. Let cool for 10 minutes.
- Using a tablespoon, pour jello over 1 round of cakeand then the lime gelatin over the second round. Cover cake with plasticwrap and store overnight in the refrigerator to allow gelatin to set.
- At least 1 hour before serving, layer and frost cake with cool whip.Keep the cake in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Store any leftovers inrefrigerator.
🙋 Recipe FAQ's
What can I use to poke holes in my cake?
For poke cakes made with gelatin, the best thing to use to poke holes in the top of the cake would be the thinner end of a chopstick, a wooden skewer, or the tines of a dinner fork.
Do I need to refrigerate the jello poke cake?
Yes, because of the gelatin in the cake, to keep the cake from getting soggy, it should be refrigerated and consumed within 3 days.
💭 Tips
- Prepare this Jello Poke Cake Recipe ahead of time to ensure the jello had had enough time to set properly.
- Pour jello using a large tablespoon over the holes to ensure each one is covered with the Jello mixture.
📖 Variations
There are so many different poke cake variations you can make with this simple recipe!
- Enhance the flavor of your Jello Poke Cake by adding a layer of cherry pie filling between the cake and lime zest to the cool whip.
- Or change it up the flavors by using a combination of different flavors of jello in place of the cherry and lime
- Substitute strawberry gelatin and add a layer of fresh strawberries between the cake layers.
- Substitute your favorite flavor instant pudding for the jello and poke larger holes in the top of your cake with the end of a wooden spoon
🍽 Equipment
Round cake pans: two, 8" or 9" pans like these cake pans.
Chopsticks: used to poke holes in the cake.
Small mixing Bowls: two are needed, one for each flavor of jello.
Wire whisk: to stirring the jello.
Tablespoon: for spooning the jello over the cake.
Plastic wrap: to cover the Jello Poke Cake while the Jello sets.
Frosting knife: for frosting the cake with whipped cream.
Serving Suggestions
Cake always goes great with ice cream! Try this recipe for Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream!
Storage
Store leftover Jello Poke Cake up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Banana Pudding Poke Cake
Pistachio Poke Cake
Easy Tres Leches Cake | Three Milk Cake
German Chocolate Bundt Cake
Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products!
When you make these raisin filled cookies, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Jello Poke Cake
Shelby Law Ruttan
A retro cake from the 70's made with a white boxed cake mix and a variety of flavored gelatin and frosted with cool whip.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save
Prep Time 12 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 42 minutes mins
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 216 kcal
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounces white cake mix
- 3 ounces black cherry gelatin
- 3 ounces lime gelatin
- 2 cups hot boiling water
- 8 ounces frozen whipped topping
Instructions
Make the white cake mix in a large bowl per box directions, following directions forbaking in round cake pans. Let cakes cool completely.
Poke holes in the cooled cakeusing the wide end of a chopstick. Push the chopstick through thecake all the way to the bottom of the cake. Repeat several times on the cakelayer. Set cakes aside.
Place the black cherry jello powder and lime gelatin powder in two separatemixing bowls. Pour 1 cup hot boiling water over each bowl of jellopowder, stirring until gelatin has dissolved. Let cool for 10 minutes.
Using a tablespoon, pour jello over 1 round of cakeand then the lime gelatin over the second round. Cover cake with plasticwrap and store overnight in the refrigerator to allow gelatin to set.
At least 1 hour before serving, layer and frost cake with cool whip.Keep the cake in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Store any leftovers inrefrigerator.
Nutrition
Calories: 216kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 3gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 329mgPotassium: 44mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 33IUCalcium: 100mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Jello Poke Cake, Jello Poke Cake Recipe
Tried this recipe?Mention @grumpyshoneybunch or tag #grumpyshoneybunch!
More Dessert Recipes
- Best Carrot Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Chocolate Kahlua Bundt Cake: Easy Boozy Cake from Scratch
- German Chocolate Bundt Cake
- Chocolate Bundt Cake with Peanut Butter Caramel Drizzle
About Shelby Law Ruttan
Shelby is the author/owner of Grumpy's Honeybunch. Established in 2007, she shares and preserves family recipes as well as recipes for cooking light and keto. She has authored the One-Pot Paleo Cookbook and The Pescatarian Keto Cookbook. She is an experienced, self-taught home cook who loves to share recipes with others. She also authors the websites Honeybunch Hunts and The Best Vegetarian Recipes. You can see her work on websites such as Veal Made Easy, Parade, Community Table, SoFab Food, Yummly, and FoodGawker.
Subscribe
for your weekly recipe fix.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Julie
How fun!!!
-Julie @ Texan New Yorker
Reply
Lauren Everson
I've never had a poke cake before, but this looks like such a fun way to color coordinate for any party!
Reply
Bobbi Burleson
I can't believe I have never had a poke cake!! Yours is so pretty I just want to grab it off my screen 🙂
Reply
Nora@SunnyDaysWithMyLoves
I haven't had poke cake since I was a kid- I bet my daughter would love this!
Reply
Valerie Cathell Clark
I helped my mom make this cake a few times! Brings back memories and it's still a light and refreshing dessert! Great post!
Reply
Mary Ellen
I love a good poke cake and I shouldn't be surprised that Grumpy does too. LOL. Had a great time with you last weekend!
Reply
Cindy Kerschner
Great colors, gives me hope for spring!
Reply
Laura Hunter
I have never heard of jello poke cake. Bet my daughter would love to help make this.
Reply
Wendy Klik
I like how you used two different flavors of gelatin on your cake. Very pretty.
Reply
Sue Lau
Jello cake brings back many memories working as the Baker's assistant. This kind of cake was always popular, and we liked that because it was very easy too!
Reply
Diana @DandelionGreens
How fun... and pretty! Loved desserts like this when I was young.
Reply
Heather King
Poke cakes are so much fun because of the colors and flavors.
Reply
Camilla Mann
I had never heard of a poke cake till I lived in Oklahoma for a year. I don't think I've ever seen one though. I LOVE the colors.
Reply
Laura Dembowski
What a pretty, colorful cake! I'm all about things with bright colors.
Reply
Deanna Samaan
My mom never made a poke cake! I did not know what one was until Paula Deen! Now I know I really missed out as a kid! This looks amazing!
Reply
Stacy
I love your cake with the two layers and the different colors in each, Shelby! I've had this before but it was a sheet cake. Yours is so much prettier!
Reply
Liz Berg
This is such a delicious blast from my past! My mom would bake this one in a 9 x 13 and I think she'd ice it with Cool Whip, too! I think my kids (and hubby) would love your cake 🙂
Reply
Renee
Oh all the fun flavor and color possibilities of this cake. No wonder it has been so popular since it was created.
Reply
Leave a comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
