Colorful Jello Poke Cake

My grandmother first introduced me to Jello poke cake at a Fourth of July celebration when I was seven. The bright red and blue stripes inside the cake seemed magical, and I begged her to teach me how to make it. Now, decades later, I still use her simple technique to create colorful cakes for every occasion. This versatile dessert allows you to match any theme or celebration with the perfect color combination, all while being incredibly simple to prepare.

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Make a fun and festive cake!

The beauty of this cake lies in its simplicity and visual impact. By poking holes in a basic white cake and filling them with liquid Jello, you create vibrant color streaks that reveal themselves with every slice. The gelatin also adds moisture and flavor to the cake, while the creamy whipped topping provides the perfect contrast to the sweet, fruity interior. Because the cake needs refrigeration time, it’s an ideal make-ahead dessert for parties and gatherings.

Jello flavors and colors

Not all flavors of Jell-O are available all year long. Amazon has a good year-round selection, but prices are generally less in your local grocery store.

Jell-O Flavor	Poke Cake Color
Apricot	Warm Orange
Berry Blue	Blue
Black Cherry Jell-O	Dark Red
Blackberry Fusion Jell-O	Maroon Red
Cherry Jell-O	Red
Cranberry Jell-O	Warm Red
Fruit Punch Jell-O	Red
Grape Jell-O	Purple
Lemon Jell-O	Yellow
Lime Jell-O	Light Green
Melon Fusion	Bright green
Peach Jell-O	Orange Peach
Island Pineapple Jell-O	Bright yellow
Raspberry Jell-O	Dark Warm Red
Strawberry Jell-O	Cooler red
Strawberry Banana Jell-O	Red
Watermelon Jell-O	Dark Pink

Ingredients

For the Cake Base

• White cake mix – Creates the perfect neutral canvas for colorful Jello to shine through
• Ingredients listed on cake mix package – Typically eggs, oil, and water that activate the mix

For the Jello Filling

• Jello gelatin packets – Provide vibrant color and fruity flavor throughout the cake
• Boiling water – Activates and dissolves the gelatin powder

For the Frosting

• Cool Whip – Offers a light, creamy topping that balances the sweet cake and tangy Jello

How to make jello poke cake

1. Prepare white cake layers in round 9-inch pans as instructed on the package.
2. Place cooled cake layers top side up in the cake pans.
3. Pierce cake layers with a large fork at ½-inch increments.
4. Stir boiling water into each flavor of Jello in separate bowls for 2 minutes or until dissolved.

5. Carefully pour one color of Jello over one cake layer and the other color of Jello over the second cake layer.

6. Refrigerate cake layers for 3 hours.
7. Dip one cake pan in warm water for 10 seconds then unmold onto a serving plate.
8. Spread whipped topping over the cake layer.
9. Unmold the second layer and carefully place it on top of the first layer.
10. Frost the top and sides of the cake with whipped topping.
11. Refrigerate for one hour before serving.

Jello poke cake frequently asked questions

Enjoy your own holiday poke cake or special occasion cake! If you have made one, let me know the colors you used.

Can’t get enough cake? Try these recipes!

• Pistachio Pudding Cake
• Duncan Hines Sock It To Me Cake
• Angel Food Pineapple Cake
• Chocolate Coca Cola Cake
• Chocolate Pudding Cake
• Mountain Dew Cake
• Pound Cake with Yellow Cake Mix
• Ambrosia Cake
• Rum Cake
• Strawberry Poke Cake

Favorite Jello Recipes

• Layered Jello
• Strawberry Pie with Jello
• Orange Jello Salad
• Lime Jello Salad

Be sure to check out more of my easy cake recipes and the best dessert recipes to make for your family and friends.