Wikipedia

Poke cake

Poke cake
A poke cake topped with sliced strawberries
TypeCake
CourseDessert
Region or stateUnited States
  •   Media: Poke cake

Poke cake is an American dessert made with sheet cake and flavored gelatin.

Preparation

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Poke cake is made by baking a sheet cake, often using boxed cake mix. After the cake has been baked, holes are poked into the top using a utensil like a fork, wooden spoon handle, straw, or skewer. A liquid topping such as gelatin, pudding, sweetened condensed milk, syrup or pureed fruit is poured over the top of the cake so that it can seep into the holes.[1][2] The cake is often topped with frosting, whipped cream, or Cool Whip.[3][4]

The most common variation involves combining gelatin mix and warm water, and then pouring the liquid over a sheet cake.[5] The cake is then refrigerated until it has set.[6]

History

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The recipe was introduced by Jell-O in the 1970s as a way to increase sales of its instant gelatin dessert.[7] The earliest versions used white sheet cake covered with various gelatin mixes.[8] They are commonly served at potlucks and pool parties in the United States.[6][9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wyss, Roxanne; Moore, Kathy (November 7, 2017). Delicious Poke Cakes: 80 Super Simple Desserts with an Extra Flavor Punch in Each Bite. St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-250-13584-1.
  2. ^ "11 Poke Cakes You Need In Your Life". Southern Living. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  3. ^ Fertig, Judith M. (August 17, 2023). All-American Desserts: 400 Star-Spangled, Razzle-Dazzle Recipes for America's Best Loved Desserts. Quarto Publishing Group USA. ISBN 978-1-55832-602-6.
  4. ^ Wyss, Roxanne; Moore, Kathy (November 7, 2017). Delicious Poke Cakes: 80 Super Simple Desserts with an Extra Flavor Punch in Each Bite. St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-250-13584-1.
  5. ^ "Strawberry Poke Cake". Southern Living. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  6. ^ a b O'Connor, Jill (May 1, 2019). "Poke Cakes Are Kitschy and Dated, but Still a Heck of a Lot of Fun". The Kitchn.
  7. ^ "Stab This Cake, Then Fill It With Jell-O". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  8. ^ "Chocolate Poke Cake". Southern Living. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  9. ^ O'Connor, Jill (May 23, 2017). Cake, I Love You: Decadent, Delectable, and Do-able Recipes. Chronicle Books. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-4521-5394-0.