Holiday Jello Cake
Dec 19, 2019, Updated Dec 18, 2022
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Holiday Jello Cake is a great addition to any holiday meal. Easy to make, delicious and colorful, this poke cake is always a crowd favorite.
Tis this season for delicious desserts like Holiday Cookie Bars and Easy Chocolate Cherry Cake. This festive poke cake is perfect to bring to any gathering.
Updated 12/19/2019
Jello cakes have been around for along time. I love making them especially for a special occasion. This cherry and lime combination is so fun for the Christmas holiday. The kids love helping me sprinkle the top and of course enjoy eating it!
Ingredients needed
White Cake Mix – Using a white cake mix really makes the green and red color pop. If you are in a pinch, yellow cake mix would work too.
Cherry JELL-O – This brings the red color to the cake. If you are making this for a different holiday or party, feel free to use the color Jello you need.
Lime JELL-O – This is the green color for the cake.
Water – You will need cold and boiling water for this recipe.
Frozen Whipped Topping – I use CoolWhip for this cake because I think it is nice and light. You could also make your own whipped cream or even use frosting.
Holiday Sprinkles
What is poke cake?
Just like the name sounds, once the cake bakes, you poke holes and fill with different toppings, in this case JELL-O.
How to make JELLO cake
Scroll to the bottom for full, printable recipe and ingredients.
- Prepare cake according to the box directions. Let is cool slightly and then poke holes in cake with the back of a wooden spoon.
- Prepare red jello in one bowl and green jello in a separate bowl. Pour red jello mixture on every other row of holes and green jello in the remaining holes. Be sure to use all of the jello mixture.
- Place the cake in the refrigerator and let chill for 4 hours or over night.
- Top cake with whipped topping (I used Cool Whip) and sprinkles.
Recipe tips
- If you don’t have a wooden spoon, use a fork to prick holes in the cake.
- If you don’t have or like white cake, substitute yellow cake mix.
- Change the Jello flavors for different colors if you are making the cake for a different occasion.
- Make sure to let cake chill long enough for Jello to set.
How to store this cake
- Store this poke cake in the refrigerator since it contains JELL-O and cream topping. It will last 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
More easy cake recipes
Enjoy! ~Heather
Holiday Jello Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix (+ ingredients on box)
- 1 3 oz box lime jello
- 1 3 oz box cherry jello
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 16 oz frozen whipped topping
- holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Bake cake according to directions on the box. Bake in a 9x13 baking pan or dish.
- Let the cake slightly cool and poke holes in the cake with the back of a wooden spoon. (You can also use a fork if you don't have wooden spoon.)
- Place red jello mix in one bowl and green jello mix in another bowl. Pour 1 cup boiling water in the red mix and 1 cup of boiling water in the green bowl. Stir until disolved.
- Pour 1/2 cup cold water in with red and 1/2 cup cold water in green.
- Pour red jello in every other row of holes and pour green in remaining holes. Make sure to pour all of the jello mixture.
- Chill the cake for 3-4 hours or over night and then top with whipped topping and sprinkles.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thank you perfect for holidays.
You can also make cake using 2 round cake pans. After spreading on cool whip you can place colored gum drops all over it. Very festive.
Can you freeze this poke cake??
I would not recommend freezing this cake.
What if I only have an 8” square pan? It should work right?
The cake will probably be too thick. You can cut the ingredients in half to fit the 8 x 8 pan.
Could use strawberry and not cherry I don’t like cherry with lime
Yes, you can substitute with strawberry or your favorite JELLO flavor.
What does slightly ccok mean? Your instructions say to Add the jello when cake is cooked slightly. Thank you
Sorry it’s supposed to be slightly cool. Remove the cake from the oven and let cool 3-5 minutes.
At the beginning of the instructions, you say let the cake cook slightly
Or did you mean cool slightly
Yes, sorry cool slightly before adding the jello.
Does it taste like lime and cherry jello?
It does have a cherry and lime flavor. It tastes delicious with the vanilla cake. Hope you enjoy!