Christmas Poke Cake is a colorful holiday party in a pan that is quick and easy to make and always brings festive cheer to family and friends!

When you’re swamped with holiday treat ideas and lots of holiday plans, make life simpler and fun with a Christmas Poke Cake! Pick up your favorite white cake mix, red and green jello, whipped cream, and sprinkles to make a jolly and festive cake that delivers big smiles!

slice of christmas poke cake topped with cool whip and sprinkles with recipe name at the bottom

Seasons Treatings

We never get tired of holiday goodies here, until after the New Year of course, when we have to detox from all of the sugar we ate! Until then we subsist on treats that look and taste like the holidays- sweet, magical, and with sprinkles. Christmas Poke Cake is all of these things and is one of my favorite recipes to make for my family and to bring to holiday parties to spread holiday cheer! Easy, breezy, and oh-so jolly, this poke cake is almost too easy to prepare, using a cake mix, colorful jello, whipped cream, and lots of sprinkles!

Fill the holiday treat table with more festive goodies like fun Cookies & Cream Marshmallow Treats and everyone’s favorite Christmas M&M Cookies!

Other Recipes to Serve with Christmas Poke Cake

Start the party off on a great festive note and serve Spinach Dip Stuffed Crescent Roll Christmas Tree– it’s the perfect appetizer filled with everyone’s favorite spinach dip!
Full of seasonal deliciousness, Crock Pot Cranberry Apple Cider is a great party drink for all ages!

Ingredients

Cake Mix: Pick up your favorite white cake mix, plus the ingredients listed on the back of the box that are needed to make the cake.

Jello: To make this cake festive you will need a box of cherry jello and a box of lime jello, or any flavor of jello as long as it’s red and green! You will also need boiling water to make the boxes of jello.

Whipped Cream: You will need a tub of whipped cream to spread over the top of the cake. If you have a great homemade recipe that makes 3 cups of whipped cream then that can be used.

Sprinkles: What would this cake be without sprinkles?!? Grab your favorite red, white, and green holiday sprinkles to decorate this cake!

How to Make Christmas Poke Cake

STEP ONE: Prepare the cake as instructed on the box in a 9-inch x 13-inch baking pan, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

white cake mix, eggs, oil, and water in a mixing bowl

STEP TWO: Once the cake is finished baking and has cooled, poke 1- 1 1/2 inch holes in the cake, using the end of a wooden spoon or two-pronged fork.

holes being poked into a baked white cake with the handle of a wooden spoon

STEP THREE: Add the red jello to one bowl and the green jello to another bowl and pour boiling water over each. Stir the jello until the powder is dissolved.

cherry jello and lime jello in bowls with spoons

STEP FOUR: Pour the jello over the rows, alternating between red and green. Refrigerate the cake for 3-4 hours.

red and green jello being poured into holes poked into a sheet cake

STEP FIVE: Spread an even layer of whipped topping over the cake and add the sprinkles. Cut and enjoy the cake chilled.

christmas poke cake topped with cool whip an sprinkles in the cake pan

Tips for Success

To poke the holes in the cake, you can use either the end of a wooden spoon, a dowel, or a thick-pronged fork. There is usually a little bit of cake that sticks to the spoon or fork, so make sure you clean it before poking another hole to avoid a lot of cake crumbs on top of the cake.
Once you pour the jello over the cake, it must be chilled for a few hours to allow enough time for the jello to set and soak into the cake. The bottom of the cake may be a little soggy if it doesn’t chill long enough.
White cake is typically used in this recipe because it pairs well with the flavors of the jello, but if you prefer a yellow or other light-colored cake, that can be used instead.

slice of christmas poke cake on a spatula over the cake

Can I make Christmas Poke Cake ahead of time?

When the holidays are hectic it’s nice to know that some things can be done ahead of time to make life easier, like making this poke cake! Making this poke cake the day before is a great idea as the longer you let it sit, the better the jello can set and give the cake not only a great flavor but a wonderful texture as well. Prepare the cake completely the day before or wait to add the whipped cream and sprinkles until you are ready to serve, the choice is yours! If you choose to use homemade whipped cream, wait to make it and spread it on the cake until you are ready to serve so that the whipped cream doesn’t deflate.

side view of christmas poke cake on a small plate

Where did Jello poke cake come from?

The Jello Poke Cake, developed by General Foods Kitchens, was first advertised in the late 1970s but really took off as a popular dessert in the 1980s. The simplicity and few ingredients required made the poke cake not only easy to make but extremely versatile, with so many different options for flavors, fillings, and toppings. Poke cakes were made to make any occasion more fun and colorful, as you can see with this Christmas Poke Cake!

bite of christmas poke cake on a small plate next to the slice of cake

Poke Cakes for Every Occasion!

*This post originally posted on 12/09/2016.