Cherry poke cake recipe is so moist and delicious with a ton of cherry flavor. Make this easy dessert for special occasions or to enjoy during the week. The entire family will enjoy this luscious cake.
With just a few simple ingredients, you can make this tasty Cherry Poke Cake Recipe. It is such a fun dessert to make and a great recipe to let the kids help. I have been making easy cake recipes for years and this is a favorite.
You can’t go wrong with poke cakes. If you need more easy ideas, try Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake Recipe and Easy Oreo Poke Cake Recipe. For another fun cherry dessert, make Cherry Chip Cake Recipe.
What's in this post: Cherry Poke Cake Recipe
What is a poke cake?
It’s a sheet cake with holes all over it. Typically, a rich filling is poured over the cake. Each bite is full of favor.
The topping is often whipped cream or icing. Poke Cake Recipes are very easy to make and so delicious. You might also like Fireball Poke Cake.
Ingredients
- white cake mix
- large eggs
- vegetable or canola oil
- buttermilk
- cherry gelatin
Frosting Ingredients
- Whipped Topping (Cool Whip)
- Marshmallow Fluff
- Powdered Sugar
- Almond Extract
Get the complete ingredient list at the bottom of this post.
Variations Ideas
- Use your favorite jello flavors. We used cherry jello but you can try any flavor gelatin mix you prefer. You can use any jello flavor you have on hand or want to try. Some ideas include: raspberry, orange, lemon and more.
- Use your favorite flavor of cake mix. Chocolate cake is also amazing and goes so well with vanilla pudding mix. Get creative and make one of these delicious poke cakes today.
- Use a pudding mix instead of jello. You can use a vanilla pudding mix, lemon pudding mix or a banana pudding mix instead of jello in this poke cake recipe.
- Change up the topping. You can easily top with some other than frosting. This cake would be great topped with whipped cream or a delicious cream cheese frosting.
How to make cherry jello poke cake
Step 1. First, preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat a 13×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2. Combine the cake mix ingredients together.
Step 3. Spread the batter into baking dish. Bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool.
Step 4. Mix together the Jello.
Step 5. Poke holes using a wooden skewer or large fork all over the cake. Carefully pour Jello all over the cake. Place in refrigerator at least 3 hours or overnight.
Step 6. While the cake is chilling, prepare the frosting. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. You may need to add more powdered sugar depending on how thick you want the frosting.
Step 7. Spread the frosting over the cake and then decorate. Serve with fresh cherries, canned cherries or sliced almonds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use a pie filing instead of Jello in this recipe. If you decide to use a pie filling, you’ll need to poke large holes in the cake and push the pie filling down into the cake.
You will still need the chill the cake before frosting it.
You can use a fork to poke the cake or really anything you have. The end of a wooden spoon also works as well.
This is such an easy recipe so just use what you have and make this amazing cake.
Store leftovers in refrigerator covered with plastic wrap. This cake will easily last 5 days in the refrigerator.
You can also freeze this cake for up to 3 months. To freeze, wrap the cake and store in the freezer. Allow the cake to defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
More poke cake recipes:
- Jello Poke Cake Recipe
- Pineapple Poke Cake Recipe
- Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe
- Lime Jell-O Poke Cake Recipe
- Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake Recipe
Go ahead and make this today. You will be so glad you did. Then leave a comment!
Cherry Poke Cake
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- 1 white cake mix
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
- 1 small box 3.4 oz cherry gelatin (any flavor will work)
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup cold water
- Frosting
- 1 8 oz. tub whipped topping thawed
- 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
- ¼ – ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- Topping ideas
- Additional whipped topping
- Fresh Cherries
- Cherry Pie Filling
- Sliced Almonds
Instructions
- Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat a 13×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray
- Combine cake mix, eggs, buttermilk, oil and almond extract until smooth
- Spread evenly into baking dish, bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
- Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes
- Combine gelatin and boiling water and stir about 2 minutes until dissolved, add cold water
- Using a wooden skewer or large fork, poke holes into cake about every ½ inch
- Carefully pour gelatin over the cake
- Place in refrigerator at least 3 hours or overnight
- Frosting:
- In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, starting with ¼ cup powdered sugar and mix until fluffy. You may need to add more powdered sugar depending on how thick you want the frosting.
- Spread over cake
- Store in refrigerator until ready to serve
- Store leftovers in refrigerator covered with plastic wrap
- Serve with fresh cherries, canned cherries or sliced almonds
Where does the buttermilk get added? It’s listed as an ingredient, but doesn’t state when to add it. ??
I’m so sorry for that confusion. The buttermilk is mixed in with the cake mix at the same time as the eggs. I have corrected the recipe and the post. Thank you!
I’m so excited to make this!!
I hope you enjoy it Ashley!
Hi could I use cool whip for the topping and then put cherry’s on top
Yes, I think that would be delicious!
Is the batter supposed to be runny?
It should be a cake batter consistency.