Easter Poke Cake Vanilla Gelatin (Printable Version)

Moist vanilla cake poked with strawberry and lemon gelatin, topped with whipped cream and sprinkles

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 tbsp powdered sugar
11 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
12 - Assorted pastel sprinkles or jelly beans (optional)

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan thoroughly.
02 - Combine vanilla cake mix with water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Beat according to package directions. 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 handle of wooden spoon or skewer, poke holes evenly across entire surface, spacing about 1 inch apart.
04 - In separate bowls, dissolve strawberry gelatin in 1 cup boiling water and lemon gelatin in 1 cup boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved, then add 1 cup cold water to each bowl.
05 - Carefully pour or spoon gelatin mixtures over separate halves of cake. Alternate colors for marbled effect if desired. Use all liquid.
06 - Cover and refrigerate cake for at least 2 hours until gelatin is completely set.
07 - Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract 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 Advice:

01 -
  • Its essentially foolproof even if your cake sinks a little, the gelatin fills in the gaps and nobody will ever know
  • The make ahead nature means you can actually enjoy your holiday morning instead of frantically frosting dessert
  • That first forkful revealing colorful layers never fails to delight everyone at the table
02 -
  • The 15 minute cooling window after baking is not flexible or the gelatin wont absorb properly
  • Use every last drop of the gelatin mixture even if it seems like too much liquid
  • Room temperature whipped cream melts faster than you can say Easter brunch so keep that cake chilled
03 -
  • A chopstick makes cleaner holes than a wooden spoon handle if you want those pockets to look extra tidy
  • Wipe down the sides of the pan immediately after adding gelatin to avoid stubborn sticky residue

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