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Jello Poke Cake is cool, creamy, and perfect for any get-together. Use any flavor of Jello to make this crowd-favorite dessert!
Poke Cake is one of our favorite summer desserts! Be sure to check out some of our other poke cake variations: Banana Pudding Poke Cake and Boston Cream Poke Cake.
Strawberry jello Cake
I have fond memories of family gatherings and parties that involve this long-time-family-favorite dessert – Jello Poke Cake. We love it so much we’ve made so many variations.
It’s perfect for BBQs and summer parties because of its cool and creamy texture. Let’s be honest, I crave it year round.
You can change the flavor of Jello depending on your mood. We almost always make Strawberry Jello Poke Cake, but our other favorites are raspberry and cherry. I’ve also done lime, blue raspberry, and orange before, but those are definitely a little more adventurous!
Jello Poke Cake has been around since 1976, at least that is when it first appeared in print. The General Foods Kitchen printed the recipe in an advertisement booklet and from there it reached kitchens all over the country.
The popularity grew because it was an easy, quick dessert that could be made ahead of time. Not to mention it is easy to customize and delicious.
How to make Jello Cake
This Jello Cake is really so simple, which is probably why we make it ALL the time.
CAKE. Prepare cake mix as directed and bake in a 9×13 pan. Let cool for 15 minutes. Poke holes in the cake with a fork at ½-inch intervals.
JEllO. Prepare Jello as directed. Spoon over the cake mix until the Jello liquid is all gone.
CHILL + ENJOY! Chill for 3 to 4 hours and top with Whipped Cream. Refrigerate until ready to serve. ENJOY!
Make cupcakes
Instead of making a 9×13 cake, make cupcakes according to the directions on the box. Once the cupcakes have cooled, poke them with a fork or skewer. Use a soup spoon to drizzle Jell-o into the holes and chill.
Poke cake Recipe tips
Tips for poke cake:
- Use a cake made from scratch, a box mix, or a store bought cake.
- For a nice clean slice, wipe the knife after each cut.
- Garnish with coordinating fresh fruit. Fresh strawberries are especially delicious.
Setting the Poke Cake. It won’t set up like normal gelatin does, but it will take at least a few hours for the Jell-o to soak into the cake and cool completely. So plan ahead when making this Poke Cake!
Speed up the cooking time.
- Buy a pre-made, unfrosted white cake at a local bakery.
- Stick the cake in the freezer for 30-60 minutes, long enough to set the jello but not freeze the cake.
Flavor variations.
- Use chocolate cake mix. This recipe can be used to make any flavor of cake mix paired with a complimentary flavor. Chocolate cake with raspberry or black cherry jello would be delicious!
- White cake pairs well with all flavors of jello.
- Add a layer of similar pie filling to the top of the cake then top that with Whipped Cream. Strawberry jello would pair well with strawberry pie filling.
more Poke Cake delicious-ness
We love Poke Cake so much and have made several varieties. It’s so easy to change up with any flavor of jello. The possibilities are endless!
Here are some of our favorites on the site:
- Banana Pudding Poke Cake
- Strawberry Shortcake Poke Cake
- Boston Cream Poke Cake
- Lemon Lime Poke Cake
- Red Velvet Poke Cake
Storing Info
STORE. Because of the jello, keep the cake chilled. Tightly cover the cake and keep it in the fridge for 2-3 days.
To FREEZE, wrap the Poke Cake with plastic wrap, then again with aluminum foil. Label and freeze for up to 3 months.
If the cake is frosted, flash-freeze first. Flash-freeze a whole cake by placing individual pieces on a baking sheet, making sure they are not touching.
Freeze for 2-3 hours or until the outside is frozen. Wrap in plastic and foil, label, and return to the freezer.
For more cool cake recipes:
Jello Poke Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box white cake mix plus any ingredients listed on box
- 1 (3-ounce) box strawberry Jell-O (or raspberry or cherry)
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 (8-ounce) tub whipped topping (or 2 cups whipped cream)
Instructions
- Prepare cake as directed on the box and bake in a 9-x-13-inch baking dish. Let cool for 15 minutes.
- Poke cake with a fork at ½–1-inch intervals.
- Use hot and cold water to make Jell-O as directed on the package.
- Spoon Jell-O liquid over the cake gradually until it is all absorbed.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 3–4 hours. Top with whipped topping right before serving.
Video
Notes
Cupcake Version: Instead of making a 9-x-13-inch cake, make cupcakes according to the directions on the cake mix box. Once cupcakes have cooled, poke them with a fork or skewer, drizzle Jell-O into the holes and chill as directed above before adding whipped topping.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made the Strawberry Shortcake Poke Cake with the strawberry pie filling on top of the jello. It was so good and refreshing! I had this and cheesecake available and nearly everyone chose the cake! 🙂
Oh that sounds delicious! Glad to hear the cake was a hit! Thanks for sharing.
If you were in a hurry could you use the Speed Set Method?
I would suggest if you’re in a hurry, you can buy a pre-made cake that is already cool. Also, you can stick the cake in the freezer for 30-60 minutes. Long enough to set the jello, but not freeze the cake.
Delicious!
Thank you!!
My family has made this for years. The only difference is that we put a layer of tapioca pudding down on the cake, then a layer of cool whip- yummo!!!!!!!
Ooh that sounds delicious too!! Such a fun cake to make! Thanks for sharing.
Yummm
Thanks!!
Our Sewing Club in Rockingham ,West Australia does a Charity For Breast Cancer every year and this year it’s on May 27 -We call it .”Breast Cancer Morning Tea “and we have raffles of gifts that we make or buy for it and provide deserts and coffee or tea for those who come .I saw this recipe and it having that pinkish look .I thought the cherry jello would work great for the event. So I’ll let you know what the girls thought of it afterwards
Oh yes, please do! I’d love to hear the response. The event sounds incredible too. Hope it turns out well this year!
I’ve been making the poke cake since he 1960’s except for a health and fitness faze in the late 90’s. The concept of poking the cake top comes from the use of a wooden spoon handle used. A fork doesn’t make a big enough well for the jello to fill. The jello puddles in thew hole and makes pools of color.
How fun that you have been making poke cake for many years! A wooden spoon is a great way to poke the holes too. Thanks for the suggestion.
I like to use cranberry or raspberry jello in the poke cake. Also, a topping of vanilla pudding then the cool whip. Walnuts on top. Yum !
Sounds delicious!! Thanks for sharing!
Most jello cake recipes only call for hot water in jello. Yours calls for both hot and cold. Just was wondering why.
This jello poke cake calls for both hot and cold water as opposed to some others. I liked how the texture turned out with this method. The instructions in the recipe calls for making your jello as you regularly would according to the box. The box directions call for 1 cup boiling water and 1 cup cold water so we just mixed the jello like you would normally. Hope this helps!
I made a white 9″ round cake with lemon Jell-O and my own lemon frosting and it turned out beautifully. I have a total winner at home. I made it Sunday for Easter and it was gone on Monday 😁 wish I could share pictures
That sounds amazing! I’m so glad it turned out so well!
I am always asked to make my cherry poke cake which uses cherry jello, 1 package of cream cheese whipped and then folded into the Cool Whip and topped with can of cherry pie filing.
Sounds like a heavenly combination! Thanks for sharing what you do!