I'm a sucker for anything easy, delicious, and a little retro… I love me some 1980's recipes! That's why I've come to adore making this classic Jello poke cake with Cool Whip from my youth!
And while many flavors exist, there's something extra vibrant and fun about the cherry version. It's moist, full of flavor, and that iconic Dream Whip-style frosting makes it all the more charming!
Ingredients and Supplies (printable recipe below!)
Here's the rundown on ingredients and supplies:
- Cake: 1 box white cake mix (vegetable oil and eggs), 1 package (3 oz) cherry Jello, water.
- Frosting: 1 container (8 oz) whipped topping, maraschino cherries for garnish
- Equipment: Measuring cups, mixing bowls, electric mixer (or good old-fashioned arm power), silicone spatula, 9×13 baking pan, skewers or a fork, saucepan, whisk
Let's Bake It! (printable recipe card below)
Cake Time: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease those cake pan edges so nothing sticks!
Mix up your cake batter in a medium bowl according to the box instructions. Slide that pan into the oven and bake for about 35 minutes (or until that trusty toothpick comes out clean).
Poke It Good: Let the cake cool for about 5-10 minutes. Now, the fun part! Grab a skewer, handle of your wooden spoon or large fork and poke holes all over the whole cake, about every half inch. This is crucial for that Jello infusion.
The Jello Magic: Start with 1 cup of boiling water. Whisk that cherry Jello in the hot water until it's fully dissolved. Then add 1 cup of cold water and give it a good whisk for a few minutes. Gently pour the jello mixture over the top of the cake, letting it seep into all those holes.
Chill Out: Pop the cake in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. This gives the Jello time to set and infuse the cake with the flavor of jello!
Frost and Finish: Once chilled, generously dollop on the whipped topping. Adorn with those cheerful little maraschino cherries and voila! A slice of pure nostalgia.
Tips and Tidbits
- Flavors Galore: Get creative! Experiment with different Jello flavors and try the cake with different frosting styles.
- Make-Ahead Marvel: This dessert is best when chilled overnight, so plan ahead for parties or big family meals.
- Keep It Cool: This cake needs to stay refrigerated. It's a cool and creamy treat!
If you haven't tried a Jello poke cake yet, I urge you to give it a go. It's an easy but incredibly satisfying way to take a basic box mix up a level. And trust me, that first bite of moist cake infused with cherry flavor under a cloud of whipped topping will have you hooked!
Cherry Jello Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box (13.25 oz) white cake mix, plus ingredients listed on the box (ours called for 1 ¼ cups water, ½ cup oil, 4 eggs whites)
- 3 oz box cherry Jell-O
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup cold water
- 8 oz whipped topping
- 12 maraschino cherri
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, water, oil, and egg whites for 3 minutes.
- Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven, and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Poke holes all over the cake every ½ inch or so using a skewer stick or large fork.
- Prepare the jello by bringing 1 cup of water to a boil, and stirring in the gelatin until dissolved. Stir in another 1 cup of water, and whisk for 3 minutes.
- Slowly pour the prepared liquid over the cake, allowing it to absorb into the holes.
- Refrigerate for 4 hours.
- To serve, top with whipped topping and maraschino cherries.
Notes
Measuring cups, large bowl and mixer or stand mixer, silicone spatula, 9x13 cake pan, skewer sticks or large fork, medium saucepan, whisk
Storage: store covered in the refrigerator
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 236Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 324mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 1gSugar: 26gProtein: 2g
Customize Your Jello Poke Cake Recipes!
Easy desserts like this boxed cake mix recipe are fun because you can add so many of your own touches once you get started! It is like making a new recipe each time!
- Black cherry jello poke cake – I love black cherry flavored jello so I often make this with black cherry jello and then the dark cherries from the liquor store!
- Strawberry jello poke cake recipe – If you like the color but are looking for a different flavor, you can just swap out the cherry jello and use strawberry jello for a strawberry flavor! Add fresh strawberries for a more glamorous look!
- Lemon jello poke cake recipe – Use lemon jello and add lemon zest to the top!
- Lime jello poke cake recipe – Make a lime jello poke cake for St. Patrick's Day!
- Elevate the recipe – If you are anti Cool Whip (like my Mom was) you can make the frosting with whipped cream or butter cream frosting.
Cherry Jello Poke Cake Recipe Wrapup
My Mom made this for me when I was a little girl and I get a whole nostalgic vibe when I make this for my kids now! The best thing is that it is fast, easy and crowd pleaser!
I find this to be the perfect dessert to make for pot lucks or for family gatherings! It is just a few simple ingredients that I generally have on hand anyways and I can tart it up with fresh berries or even use a grocery store angel food cake if I want to make it even easier!
Here are some more easy cake box recipes you might like!
- White Cake Mix Cookies! I love using cake mix as the base for my baking!
- No Fail Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
- Simple Strawberry Cake Box Cookies
