Easter Poke Cake with Gelatin (Printable Version)
Moist vanilla cake soaked in fruity gelatin, topped with whipped cream and colorful sprinkles for spring celebrations.
# Ingredient List:
→ Cake
01 - 1 box (15.25 oz) vanilla cake mix
02 - 1 cup water
03 - 1/3 cup vegetable oil
04 - 3 large eggs
→ Gelatin
05 - 1 box (3 oz) strawberry gelatin
06 - 1 box (3 oz) lemon gelatin
07 - 2 cups boiling water, divided
08 - 2 cups cold water, divided
→ Topping
09 - 2 cups heavy whipping cream, chilled
10 - 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - Assorted pastel sprinkles or jelly beans (optional)
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan thoroughly with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Prepare vanilla cake batter according to package directions using water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 28-32 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
03 - Let cake cool for 15 minutes. Using a wooden spoon handle or skewer, poke holes evenly across the entire surface, spacing about 1 inch apart.
04 - In two separate bowls, dissolve strawberry gelatin in 1 cup boiling water and lemon gelatin in 1 cup boiling water. Stir each until completely dissolved, then add 1 cup cold water to each bowl.
05 - Carefully pour or spoon gelatins over separate halves of the cake, creating alternating colors for a marbled effect. Ensure all liquid is absorbed into the poked holes.
06 - Cover cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until gelatin is completely set.
07 - Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract using electric mixer or whisk until stiff peaks form.
08 - Spread whipped cream evenly over chilled cake. Decorate with pastel sprinkles or jelly beans if desired. Slice and serve cold.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The combination of moist vanilla cake and fruity gelatin pockets creates this incredible texture that keeps people coming back for seconds
- It looks fancy enough for holiday gatherings but comes together with minimal effort, making it perfect for busy celebration days
02 -
- Poking the holes while the cake is still warm helps it absorb the gelatin better, but wait at least 15 minutes or it might collapse
- The cake needs at least 2 hours of chilling time for the gelatin to fully set, so plan ahead and dont rush this step
03 -
- If you want extra vibrant colors, add a drop of food coloring to each gelatin flavor before pouring
- The cake pan size matters, using anything smaller than 9x13 might cause overflow when you add all that gelatin