How to Make a Poke Cake recipe shows how to make a jello poke cake with fun colors and flavors, perfect for a rainbow-themed celebration.
I'm pretty obsessed with making simple cake recipes. And in my opinion, poke cakes are at the top of the list. What other dessert out there can have holes poked into it and filled with delicious and tasty flavors and come out looking as beautiful as this.
I love how moist this jello poke cake is and that's probably one of the other biggest reasons that people tend to crave these types of cakes. Not to mention the delicious and light topping - it makes for a fun and tasty treat!
While jello poke cake tend to be really popular during the summer months, they're great to bake up and enjoy all year long! I also love how easily the flavors can be switched out to make it taste new time and time again.
How to Make a Poke Cake
Even though there's nothing really "unicorn" about this cake, it's what it reminds me of so that's where the name comes from. Unicorns are magical and fun and all things beautiful and to me, that encompasses this boxed cake mix recipe.
Not only that but since you get to use a boxed cake mix as the starter, the rest of making and baking this cake is a breeze! Dare I say that it's one of the easiest cake recipes out there?
I could totally see this simple rainbow cake is used for birthday parties, fun overnight guests, or just a fun way to bring a smile to someone's tasty and tummy!
What is a poke cake?
A poke cake is is a cake with holes poked in it right after it comes out of the oven, usually with the thin handle of a wooden spoon or chopstick.
Next, a liquid of some sort, like jello, or a syrup, like chocolate, caramel or strawberry, are added to fill the holes to add a little extra flavor in almost every bite.
This is such a fun activity for the kids to join in on as well. They'll be able to poke holes and pour in the different jello mixtures and see the colors form!
This is such an easy jello poke cake recipe.
Choosing colors to be used in a unicorn or rainbow poke cake can be serious business too. I always laugh remembering how much thought my son would invest in choosing flavors and colors of jello for cakes we would make together.
The great part about poke cake is that there really is no magic way to make it happen. Whatever works for you is going to be the best way to make this cake.
Ingredients Needed to Make Rainbow Cake from a Boxed Cake Mix
- Box white cake mix
- Milk
- Vegetable oil
- Eggs
- Strawberry jello mix
- Grape jello mix
- Blue raspberry jello mix
- Cool Whip or another whipped topping
- Food coloring and sprinkles
Hacks for Making Poke Cake
This jello poke cake isn't hard to do at all but since I've made it a ton, I thought I'd share some of my poke cake tips and hacks.
Make certain that you spray the cake pan really well with cooking spray so that the cake doesn't stick once baked. This will ruin the overall look if it crumbles or sticks when you try to serve.
Once you've baked the cake and allowed it to cool completely, you'll want to use a wooden spoon handle to poke holes in the cooled cooked cake.
Make certain that you leave spaces so that the colors that you're going to add will still separate and not bleed together. Although if they do, it's not the end of the world.
You'll be using a jello mixture that is flavored to add to the poked holes so you can use the ones that I've used in the recipe or branch out and choose your own.
Make certain that you leave a bit of the jello mixture to use in a bit so refrain from pouring all of it into the holes.
Chilling this cake in the fridge is not an option! Super important step so be certain to do it!
The leftover jello can be used to flavor the whipped cream topping or to even make some fun jello jigglers to put on the top of the cake or have as a fun snack option.
More Fun Topping Ideas for Boxed Cake Mix Poke Cake
If you're not a fan of whipped cream, don't force it. You can easily top with a frosting or even powdered sugar as well. I also love to mix in some sweetened shredded coconut as well and have that as a fun topping.
Let the kids dye the shredded coconut with green food coloring and it will look like grass!
How to store poke cake
You're going to have to keep this poke cake stored in the fridge. This cake is meant to be kept cold due to the whipped topping and jello flavoring added.
Just be certain to have a lid on it and keep it stored in the fridge until you're ready to eat.
This cake can be frozen as well if you're unable to eat it within about 3 days of making it.
Enjoy the simplicity of this simple cake recipe. It brings a ton of flavor to the table because of the different flavors of jello mix that you're adding.
Feel free to change up what you're adding to change up the taste and colors. I've done all blue, all green, and all yellow as well! This poke cake is so versatile you can really have fun with it!
More Cake Recipes
- Raspberry Jello Poke Cake Recipe
- Chocolate Mint Poke Cake
- Caramel Infused Chocolate Cupcakes
- Red Velvet Swirl Bundt Cake
- Best Easy Bundt Cake Recipes
- Mini Pound Cakes with Strawberry Glaze
- Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake
Jello Poke Cake
Equipment
- 13 x 9 inch cake pan Must have a 2 inch high edge
Ingredients
- 2 boxes (14.25 oz) white cake mix made according to box directions except use milk instead of water see note below
- 1 pkg (3 oz) red jello mix (½ box or 1.5 oz) made according to package directions
- 1 pkg (3 oz) blue jello mix (½ box or 1.5 oz) made according to package directions
- 1 cup boiling water, divided divided
- ½ cup cold water, divided divided
Topping
- ½ tub (8 oz) Cool Whip thawed
- sprinkles or sparkles
- Fresh strawberries
- Fresh blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9x13 inch baking pan with a light coating of cooking spray. Set aside.
- Prepare cake according to the box directions and bake. Use milk instead of water. Mix until thoroughly combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared CAKE pan with a 2 inch high egde or cake could overflow while baking. Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool for about 30 minutes, then poke holes with a small wooden spoon or something similar. Poke holes close, but not so close that they blend into each other (about 1 inch between), and only about ¾ of the way down.
- Prepare blue Jello in a small bowl or spouted measuring cup by adding 1.5-ounce Jello mixture (half of a small box), followed by ½ cup hot water. Stir until dissolved then add ¼ cup cold water. Repeat for the red Jello.
- Carefully spoon Jello mixtures into alternating holes, pouring one color into each hole.
- Place the cake into the refrigerator and let it cool for at least 2 hours.
- You will have some jello leftover, so be sure to prepare a glass pan for some jello jigglers!
- Spread cool whip on top and garnish when ready to serve with fresh berries, sprinkles or sparkles.
- Enjoy every bite.
Notes
- Store extra Jello poke cake tightly covered or in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
- Wipe the blade of the knife between each slice to get cleaner slices.
- Allow your Jello mixtures to cool slightly so they’re still warm but not hot when you pour them into the cake.
Nutrition
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