Jell-O Poke Cake is a blast from the past! You just need a few ingredients to create this fun, colorful cake that everyone will love.
We’re heading back to the 1970s with this retro dessert!
Jell-O Poke Cake is a chilled dessert made with white cake (from a box). Holes get poked into the baked cake, and then Jell-O is poured over the cake. After the cake sets in the refrigerator, it’s topped with whipped topping.
It’s a cool and creamy treat that’s very customizable—you can use any flavor of Jell-O that you like. Most vintage recipes are for Strawberry Jell-O Poke Cake.
However, I used raspberry Jell-O to create a similar red cake with a slightly different flavor. Strawberry, cherry, orange, lemon, lime, pineapple, or any other Jell-O flavor all work well!
It’s especially helpful when you need a cake for a color-themed party. The birthday boy loves green? Make a lime Jell-O poke cake! Need something red for Valentine’s Day? Raspberry, cherry, or strawberry Jell-O are perfect. (And so is my Strawberry Crunch Cake!).
This cake is also a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen. They’ll love mixing the cake batter, poking holes in the cake, pouring the Jell-O over the top, frosting the cake, and of course eating it.
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When was Jell-O poke cake invented?
The exact date of the invention of Jell-O poke cake is unknown, but it is believed to have been invented in the early 1970s.
The first known recipe for Jell-O poke cake appeared in a 1976 issue of the Jell-O recipe booklet. The recipe called for a white cake mix, Jell-O, and whipped cream.
The cake was quickly popularized, and soon there were many different variations of the recipe, using different flavors of cake mix, Jell-O, and frosting.
Jell-O poke cake remained popular throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and it has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. It’s easy to see why—it’s colorful, easy and fun to make, and delicious!
Top tips for making Jell-O cake
- Leave enough time for the cake to chill in the refrigerator. It takes about 4 hours for the Jell-O to set up (and that’s after baking the cake!).
- I prefer using white cake mix for this recipe. You can see the contrast between the white cake and the colored Jell-O best that way.
- This is customizable: use any flavor of Jell-O that you like. You can also use real whipped cream instead of whipped topping.
- Some poke cake recipes call for a pudding frosting. To make this, you can whisk together a small box of vanilla instant pudding with 1 cup of milk, let sit for 5 minutes, then fold in a container of Cool Whip. Frost the cake and refrigerate.
Ingredients
- A white cake mix is the base for this recipe. Yellow cake mix works, too, but I like the color contrast between white and the colorful Jell-O.
- You’ll make the cake according to package instructions. Mine called for eggs, oil, and water.
- You can use any flavor of Jell-O that you like.
- Whipped topping, such as Cool-Whip, goes on top. You can also used whipped cream if you prefer.
How to make Jell-O poke cake
Start by preparing a white cake mix according to package directions in a 9×13 inch pan. Be sure to grease the pan with cooking spray or butter first!
While the cake is still warm from the oven, use a drinking straw to poke holes on top of the cake, spacing the holes about one inch apart. If you don’t have a straw, try a fork, a skewer, or the handle of a wooden spoon instead.
Stir the contents of the package of Jell-O into 1 cup hot water (it doesn’t have to be boiling; just hot from the tap is fine). Then add one-half cup cold water. The Jell-O dissolves best into hot water, which is why you add the cold water after stirring.
Pour the Jell-O and water mixture over the cake, making sure to pour it evenly over the entire cake.
Refrigerate the cake for at least 4 hours. During this time, the liquid will firm up and create gorgeous ribbons of color in the white cake.
Spread whipped topping over the top of the cake. I like using an offset spatula to spread the topping evenly.
For the topping, I used Cool-Whip, but you could also use homemade whipped cream to top it instead. Fresh berries on top are nice, too!
After topping the jello cake, cut it into squares and serve.
Can I make Jell-O cake ahead of time?
Jell-O Poke Cake is a great make-ahead cake! You can make the cake 1–2 days in advance, and store it in the refrigerator before serving it. Add the whipped topping just before serving for best results.
I don’t recommend freezing poke cake. The texture of gelatin changes when it is frozen and then thawed, and the cake may end up runny.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jell-O poke cake does require refrigeration at two points: once while the Jell-O sets up and again after the whipped topping is added. It is delicious when served cold.
You can use a drinking straw, a fork, a skewer, or the handle of a wooden spoon to create holes in the cake for the Jell-O to sink into.
It’ll need at least 4 hours in the refrigerator to set.
Yes! Place 1 cup of heavy cream into a large bowl, then mix with a hand mixer or stand mixer until soft peaks form. Add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar and one-half teaspoon vanilla, and mix to incorporate. Use the freshly whipped cream to top the cake.
The only caveat is, the fresh whipped cream won’t last as long in the refrigerator as a cake topped with whipped topping. The fresh whipped cream will begin to get runny after a day or so, whereas the whipped topping stays put for several more days (provided it’s refrigerated, of course!).
Jell-O Poke Cake does not hold up well to freezing and thawing. The texture of gelatin changes when it freezes, and upon defrosting it’ll be slushy.
Serving suggestions
When you’re ready to serve the cake, cut it into slices and garnish the slices with fresh fruit.
Since I used raspberry Jell-O, I garnished the cake with fresh raspberries. Here are a few more ideas for garnishes for other flavors:
- Cherry Jell-O + maraschino cherries or fresh bing cherries
- Strawberry Jell-O + fresh sliced strawberries
- Orange Jell-O + a thinly sliced orange
- Lime Jell-O + a small sliver of fresh lime
- Pineapple Jell-O + a small piece of fresh pineapple (dry it on a paper towel first to prevent liquid from running into the whipped topping)
- Grape Jell-O + halved red or black grapes
More old fashioned cake recipes
I adore making old fashioned cakes in my grandma’s 9×13 inch metal pan.
Ding Dong Cake is a fun, retro cake that everyone loves. And Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is another family favorite at our house.
Strawberry Crunch Cake is another cake that uses Jell-O to make a fun, festive dessert.
Coconut Poke Cake uses the same “poke” technique, but instead of Jell-O, it’s filled with cream of coconut and sweetened condensed milk.
And lastly, Orange Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Coconut is the prettiest layer cake for a celebration.
Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!
📖 Recipe
Jell-O Poke Cake (with Cake Mix)
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix (made according to package directions)
- 1 (3 oz) package raspberry Jell-O
- 1 cup hot water
- ½ cup cold water
- 1 (8 oz) container whipped topping, thawed (such as Cool-Whip)
- To serve: fresh raspberries
Instructions
- Prepare cake mix according to package directions in a 13×9 inch pan.
- When cake is still warm, poke holes 1-inch apart using a drinking straw, fork, or skewer.
- Dissolve the Jell-O in 1 cup of hot water. Stir to combine. Stir in the ½ cup of cold water.
- Pour the Jell-O mixture evenly over the cake. Place the cake in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to allow the Jell-O to firm up.
- Spread the whipped topping evenly over the cake. Cut into squares, and serve topped with fresh raspberries. Store any leftover cake in the refrigerator.
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