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
- Prepare white cake layers in round 9-inch pans as instructed on the package.
- Place cooled cake layers top side up in the cake pans.
- Pierce cake layers with a large fork at ½-inch increments.
- Stir boiling water into each flavor of Jello in separate bowls for 2 minutes or until dissolved.
- Carefully pour one color of Jello over one cake layer and the other color of Jello over the second cake layer.
- Refrigerate cake layers for 3 hours.
- Dip one cake pan in warm water for 10 seconds then unmold onto a serving plate.
- Spread whipped topping over the cake layer.
- Unmold the second layer and carefully place it on top of the first layer.
- Frost the top and sides of the cake with whipped topping.
- Refrigerate for one hour before serving.
Jello poke cake frequently asked questions
Yes, they should be refrigerated. The Jello will dissolve into the cake when left at room temperature for too long.
When you make this cake, you will poke holes in it after you bake it to allow the Jello to have enough room to go into the cake.
Yes.
You can, BUT, the Jell-O stays put, pudding slides around more.
Use a large serving fork, skewer, or wooden spoon handle.
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
Be sure to check out more of my easy cake recipes and the best dessert recipes to make for your family and friends.
Colorful Jello Poke Cake: Easy Customizable Dessert for Any Occasion
Ingredients
- 2 baked 9-inch white cake layers
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 packages Jell-O colors/flavors of choice
- 12 ounces Cool Whip
Instructions
- Place cake layers top side up in two 9-inch round cake pans. Pierce cake layers with a large fork at 1/2 inch increments.
- Stir 1 cup boiling water into each flavor of the gelatin in separate bowls for 2 minutes or until dissolved.
- Carefully pour 1 gelatin over 1 cake layer and the other gelatin over the second cake layer.
- Refrigerate for 3 hours.
- Dip 1 pan in warm water for 10 seconds; unmold onto a serving plate.
- Spread with 1 cup of whipped topping.
- Unmold the second layer and carefully place it on top of the first layer.
- Frost with remaining whipped topping.
- Garnish as desired.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
I made this cake for the holidays. I used strawberry and lime flavored Jell-O. The cake was a winner that year. I plan to make this cake again.
I’m making this tonight in red and blue for Independence Day tomorrow!!!
Happy 4th of July to you!
This so cute! I think it would be cute also to use red and green for Christmas!
This so cute! I think it would be cute also to use red and green for Christmas!