Jell-O Poke Cake

Old Fashioned 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.

slice of jello poke cake with red jello, topped with a layer of whipped cream and a raspberry.

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!

If you’d like a layered version, don’t miss my Lemon Poke Cake.

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.

slice of raspberry jello poke cake on a white plate with a fork nearby.
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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. If you only have yellow cake mix, that works, too.
  • 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

ingredients for jello poke cake on a white table.

Be sure to check the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and instructions!

  • 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!

white cake baked in a 9x13 inch pan.

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.

hand using a straw to poke holes in the top of a white cake.

Stir the contents of the package of Jell-O into 1 cup hot water (it doesn’t have to be boiling water; 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.

glass measuring cup with red liquid.

Pour the Jell-O and water mixture over the cake, making sure to pour it evenly over the entire cake.

glass measuring cup pouring red liquid over a white 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.

red poke cake with holes in a 9x13 inch pan.

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.

Make ahead/freezing instructions

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

Does poke cake have to be refrigerated?

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.

What can I use to poke holes for Jell-O poke cake?

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.

How long does Jell-O Poke Cake take to set?

It’ll need at least 4 hours in the refrigerator to set.

Can I used whipped cream instead of whipped topping?

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!).

Can jello poke cake be frozen?

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.

slice of old fashioned poke cake on a blue and white china plate.

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

A reader named Sally has one more idea for cherry lovers. She says, “We bake the cake and add the jello, then after being refrigerated for 2 hours we add cherry pie filling and the Cool Whip. It’s amazing!”

Thanks, Sally, for the tasty idea!

red jello poke cake with a bite taken out.

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

red jell-o poke cake topped with whipped cream and raspberry on a white china plate.

Old Fashioned Jell-O Poke Cake

Published by Kate
This classic cake is fun, colorful, and customizable with your favorite Jell-O flavor!
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Refrigeration time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 15 servings
Calories 236 kcal

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.

Video

Notes

You can use any flavor of fruit Jell-O that you’d like! Cherry, strawberry, orange, and lemon are all delicious in this recipe.
I prefer white cake mix for this recipe, so you can see the contrast between the white cake and the Jell-O. Yellow cake mix works, too. 
You can use homemade whipped cream in place of the whipped topping. You’ll need 1 cup of heavy cream and 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar, whipped until soft peaks form. 
To make a pudding frosting, 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.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 236kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 3gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 261mgPotassium: 122mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 60IUCalcium: 59mgIron: 1mg
Keyword poke cake
Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment below!

This post was originally published in March 2021 and updated in March 2024.

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4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is a great one for kids to help with. Adults liked eating it, too-especially me!

  2. We love the jello poke cake , but we add one more thing to it, cherry pie topping. We bake the cake and add the jello, then after being refrigerated for 2 hours we add cherry pie filling and the Cool Whip. It’s amazing!

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