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Christmas Poke Cake Recipe

Looking for the perfect dessert to make this holiday season? Look no further than this delicious Christmas poke cake. Made with a simple white cake mix and topped with a creamy, dreamy frosting, this is sure to be a hit at your holiday parties.

If you’re looking for a festive and easy dessert to make this year, look no further than this delicious Christmas poke cake.

This colorful Christmas jello poke cake is rich and moist with all sorts of holiday flavor packed inside. They’re also relatively easy to make, even for those who don’t have much experience baking.

Whether you’re baking a festive dessert for a family gathering on Christmas Eve or a holiday party, this Christmas cake sure to be a crowd favorite.

christmas poke cake

What is a Poke Cake?

A traditional poke cake is one of the best desserts to come out of the 1970s. This nostalgic dessert is making a comeback. 

A simple sheet cake is poked full of holes using the handle of a wooden spoon and then filled with a variety of delicious fillings. Jell-O pudding, fruit juices, and distilled spirits are all fair game. This allows the flavor to seep deep into the cake for an extra moist and flavorful treat.

Poke cake recipes are a real crowd pleaser for any special occasion. Try poke cake recipes like boston cream poke cake or a pistachio pudding cake for a delicious dessert.

christmas poke cake

This Christmas jello poke cake recipe  takes this delicious tradition and gives it a festive twist.

How to Make a Christmas Jello Poke Cake

Ingredients

  • 1 box (15.25 ounce) boxed cake mix – white
  • Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for a cake mix box
  • 1 tablespoon Christmas sprinkles
  • 1 (3 ounce) box red gelatin (Strawberry or cherry jello will work)
  • 1 (3 ounce) box green jello (such as lime gelatin)
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1 container (8 ounces) whipped topping, thawed
  • Christmas peeps
  • Christmas Sprinkles for garnish
christmas poke cake

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  

Prepare the box cake mix according to the box directions and stir in the 1 tablespoon of Christmas sprinkles.

Spray a 9×13 baking dish.

Pour batter in and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  

christmas poke cake

Cool the baked cake for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile make the jello.

In a medium mixing bowl combine 1 cup boiling water with cherry jello and stir until dissolved.  

Whisk in ½ cup cold water to the cherry gelatin and set aside.

In a separate bowls repeat the above with the lime jello and set aside. 

Using the handle end of a wooden spoon or a large straw poke holes all over the top of the cake

christmas poke cake

Spoon the gelatin mixture in the holes, I like to alternate between the red color in one hole and the green color in another until they are all filled.

christmas poke cake

Cover this delicious cake recipe with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3-4 hours to set.

Frost the cake with the whipped topping.

christmas poke cake

Decorate the cake with more sprinkles and Christmas peeps. 

Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

christmas poke cake

Relevant Recipes

Holiday Poke Cake Variations

For the Christmas season, you can get creative with your poke cake recipes. Here are some easy cake recipes to get you started:

christmas poke cake

Christmas Poke Cake with Jello FAQs

Why is my poke cake soggy?

A poke cake can become soggy for several reasons:

1. If you pour too much liquid (such as flavored syrup, pudding, or condensed milk) into the holes poked in the cake, it can saturate the cake layers and make them soggy.

2. If you pour the liquid onto a cake that is still too hot, it may not absorb the liquid properly, causing it to become soggy rather than moist.

3. If the holes poked into the cake are too large or too closely spaced, it can result in excessive liquid absorption and a soggy texture.

4. It’s essential to let the cake cool adequately before adding the liquid filling. Rushing this step can trap steam and moisture inside the cake, leading to sogginess.

5. Improper storage, such as leaving the cake uncovered in a humid environment, can also lead to a soggy texture over time.

Where did the Jello poke cake come from?

The Jello poke cake is a dessert that gained popularity in the 1970s in the United States. It involves infusing a baked and cooled cake with flavored Jello gelatin or other fillings by poking holes into the cake and pouring the liquid over it. This creative and colorful dessert has remained a beloved and nostalgic treat for many, with variations continuing to evolve over time.

christmas poke cake

Christmas Poke Cake Recipe

Yield: 16
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Cooling Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 20 minutes
Looking for the perfect dessert to make this holiday season? Look no further than this delicious Christmas poke cake. Made with a simple white cake mix and topped with a creamy, dreamy frosting, this is sure to be a hit at your holiday parties.

Ingredients

  • 1 box (15.25 ounce) white cake mix
  • Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box, mine called for 3 egg whites, ½ cup of oil and 1 cup water.
  • 1 tablespoon Christmas sprinkles
  • 1 (3 ounce) box cherry gelatin
  • 1 (3 ounce) box lime gelatin
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1 container (8 ounces) whipped topping, thawed
  • Christmas peeps
  • Christmas Sprinkles for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

Prepare the cake mix according to the box directions and stir in the 1 tablespoon of Christmas sprinkles.

Spray a 9x13 baking dish.

Pour in the cake mix and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  

Cool the cake for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile make the jello.

In a medium mixing bowl combine 1 cup boiling water with cherry jello and stir until dissolved.  

Whisk in ½ cup cold water to the cherry gelatin and set aside.

In a separate bowl repeat the above with the lime jello and set aside. 

Using the end of a wooden spoon or a large straw poke holes all over the cake. 

Spoon the jello in the holes, I like to alternate red in one hole, green in another until they are all filled.

Refrigerate the cake covered for 3-4 hours to set. 

Frost the cake with the whipped topping.

Decorate the cake with more sprinkles and Christmas peeps. 

Serve!!

Refrigerate leftovers.

Notes

Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Strawberry or cherry jello will work.

I like to either spoon in the jello or use a little food syringe to get the jello into the holes evenly. 

You can make your whipped topping from scratch or even use a white frosting if you prefer. 

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