Description
This Delightful Easter Poke Cake is a festive and colorful dessert perfect for spring celebrations. Featuring a moist white cake infused with your favorite pastel-flavored Jell-O, topped with creamy whipped topping and garnished with shredded coconut and pastel sprinkles or candy eggs, this easy-to-make poke cake combines playful textures and vibrant flavors for a crowd-pleasing treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake:
- 1 box (15.25 oz) white cake mix (or your favorite vanilla cake mix)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
Jell-O Filling:
- 1 (3 oz) box of Jell-O (pastel color/flavor such as strawberry, lime, or orange)
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup cold water
Topping and Garnish:
- 1 (8 oz) tub of Cool Whip or whipped topping
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut (optional, for garnish)
- 1/4 cup pastel sprinkles or mini candy eggs (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Bake the Cake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking dish. Prepare the cake batter by following the instructions on the box, combining the cake mix with eggs, water, and vegetable oil. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
- Prepare the Jell-O Filling: While the cake cools, dissolve the Jell-O powder in 1 cup of boiling water in a medium bowl, stirring until completely dissolved. Add 1 cup of cold water, stir to combine, and set aside to cool slightly.
- Poke the Cake: After the cake has cooled for 10 minutes, use the handle of a wooden spoon or a fork to poke 20-30 holes evenly all over the cake. Poke deep enough for the Jell-O to soak in, but avoid piercing the bottom of the cake.
- Add the Jell-O Filling: Slowly and evenly pour the prepared Jell-O mixture over the entire cake, allowing it to fill all the holes. Refrigerate the cake for at least 3 hours, or until the Jell-O has fully set.
- Prepare the Topping: Once the Jell-O is set and the cake is chilled, spread a layer of Cool Whip or whipped topping evenly over the surface using a spatula.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the cake with shredded coconut to resemble grass and sprinkle pastel sprinkles or mini candy eggs on top for a festive Easter touch. Slice and serve the cake chilled.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the Jell-O is fully dissolved and slightly cooled before pouring it over the cake to avoid melting the cake’s texture.
- Use pastel-colored Jell-O flavors to match the Easter theme, but any flavor can be substituted based on preference.
- Optional garnishes like shredded coconut and sprinkles add festive visuals and texture but can be omitted if desired.
- Refrigerate the cake well to allow the Jell-O to fully set and the flavors to meld.
