Description
This festive Christmas Poke Cake combines a light white cake with vibrant strawberry and lime jello poked into holes for a colorful surprise in every bite. Topped with creamy vanilla pudding and whipped topping, and decorated with red and green sprinkles, this dessert is perfect for holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 (15 oz) box white cake mix, plus ingredients called for on box
Jello
- 1 (6 oz) box strawberry jello
- 1 (6 oz) box lime jello
- 2 cups boiling water
Topping
- 1 (3.4 oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 cup milk
- 1 (8 oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
Decoration
- Red and green sprinkles or decorations
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F or the temperature specified on the cake mix box. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray and set aside.
- Mix and Bake Cake: In a mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix with the ingredients called for on the box. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake according to the package instructions until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool and Poke Holes: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for 15 minutes. Using the handle end of a wooden spoon or a fork, poke holes across the surface of the cake at 1-inch intervals. Allow the cake to cool further while you prepare the jello.
- Prepare Jello Mixtures: In two separate bowls, dissolve each box of jello (strawberry and lime) in 1 cup of boiling water, stirring until completely dissolved.
- Pour Jello Over Cake: Pour the green and red jello alternately in rows over the cake, ensuring that the jello seeps down into the holes. You may not use all the jello mixture. Refrigerate the cake for about 15 minutes to allow the jello to set slightly.
- Make the Topping: Whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix and milk until smooth. Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping until combined.
- Spread Topping and Chill: Spread the pudding and whipped topping mixture evenly over the chilled cake. Place the cake back in the refrigerator and chill for 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and the topping to set.
- Decorate and Serve: Before serving, sprinkle red and green decorations over the cake for a festive touch. Slice and enjoy your colorful Christmas poke cake.
Notes
- You can substitute lime jello with another green-flavored gelatin like green apple for varied flavor.
- Ensure the cake is warm when poking holes so the jello seeps down better, but not so hot that it melts the gelatin.
- If desired, use fresh strawberries or lime zest to garnish instead of sprinkles.
- For a denser cake, you may increase baking time slightly, but watch closely to avoid drying out.
- Make sure the whipped topping is fully thawed for smooth folding into pudding mix.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
