Go Back
A slice of cherry poke cake on a white plate with a silver fork, topped with whipped cream and a fresh cherry.

Classic Rainbow Jello Poke Cake

A vibrant, refreshing, and incredibly moist cake infused with colorful Jello, topped with a creamy whipped frosting. Perfect for parties and guaranteed to bring smiles!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 1 box White cake mix (standard 15.25 oz)
  • 1 1/4 cups Water
  • 1/2 cup Vegetable oil
  • 3 Large eggs
For the Jello Infusion
  • 1 box Strawberry Jell-O (3 oz)
  • 1 box Lime Jell-O (3 oz)
  • 1 box Berry Blue Jell-O (3 oz)
  • 3 cups Boiling water (1 cup per Jell-O flavor)
  • 3 cups Cold water (1 cup per Jell-O flavor)
For the Topping
  • 1 container Frozen whipped topping (16 oz), thawed (e.g., Cool Whip)

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking pan
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Electric mixer (handheld or stand)
  • Whisk
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Small bowls (3-4)
  • Fork or wooden spoon handle

Method
 

Prepare the Cake
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally.
  3. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
  4. Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes. This is crucial before poking holes.
Infuse with Jello
  1. While the cake is cooling, prepare the Jell-O. In separate small bowls, dissolve each flavor of Jell-O (strawberry, lime, berry blue) in 1 cup of boiling water. Stir each thoroughly until the gelatin powder is completely dissolved.
  2. Stir 1 cup of cold water into each bowl of dissolved Jell-O. Set aside.
  3. Once the cake is cool, use the handle of a wooden spoon or a fork to poke holes all over the top of the cake. Make sure the holes are about 1 inch apart and go almost all the way to the bottom of the cake.
  4. Carefully and slowly pour the different colored Jell-O mixtures over the poked holes, alternating colors to create a rainbow effect. Try to pour directly into the holes as much as possible, ensuring each color is distributed evenly across the cake.
  5. Transfer the cake to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2-4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the Jell-O to set properly within the cake.
Frost and Serve
  1. Once the Jell-O is fully set, spread the thawed whipped topping evenly over the top of the cake.
  2. Return the cake to the refrigerator and chill for another 30 minutes to allow the frosting to set. Slice and serve cold.

Notes

For best results, ensure the cake is completely cool before poking holes, otherwise, it may tear. For cleaner Jello lines, you can use a turkey baster or a syringe to inject Jello directly into the holes. This cake is best stored in the refrigerator and consumed within 3-4 days.