When I was younger my mom would occasionally make a “poke cake”. It was one of my favorite desserts…light, fluffy, pretty to look at, nice and refreshing in the summer, and….heck, it had a funny name. This can be made quickly the night before or the morning of your celebration. {I LOVE anything that can be made ahead of time!}
I don’t have my mom’s original recipe, but this one from AllRecipes.com will do just fine! I used strawberry jello for one layer and berry blue for the other in keeping with the “Red, White and Blue” theme for Independence Day!
Ingredients:
2 baked 9-inch round white cake layers, cooled
2 cups boiling water
2 pkg. {4 serving size-3 ounces} Jell-O brand jello {again, I used strawberry and berry blue}
1 {8 ounce} tub Cool Whip Free whipped topping, thawed
Directions:
1. Place both cake layers, top-sides up, in clean 9 inch round cake pans. Pierce layers evenly with large fork at 1/2-inch intervals.
2. Stir boiling water {1 cup for each package} into dry gelatin mix in medium bowl at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved {if using 2 distinctly different flavors, mix separately}. Pour evenly over cake layers. Refrigerate 3 hours.
3. Dip one of the cake pans in warm water for 10 seconds; unmold onto serving plate. Spread with about 1 cup of the whipped topping. Unmold second cake layer; carefully place on first cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. Decorate as desired. Store in refrigerator.
Patriotic hugs, mb
MB caveat-This tastes so good-so much better than my pictures would lead you to believe so go ahead and try it-really, yours will be so pretty…just don’t let a 4-year-old keep smiling at you while you’re trying to make it and asking every 10 seconds-Is it done yet??? Can I have some cake NOW? Can I poke the holes here…poke, poke, poke…well, you get the idea!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This cake looks so festive and delicious, I just might have to give it a whirl. I know my kids would LOVE it!! Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend Mary Beth!
.-= Jennifer Schmidt´s last blog ..Oh Say Can You See =-.
We made this today! (actually Maureen did), but I gave her the inspiration. Okay, actually your post gave her the inspiration, but I told her about it…. so I did have something to do with the making of the poke cake.
But…. she used super-duper, double fudge, ridiculously decadent, chocolate cake mix. We didn’t feel it was extra chocolately enough, so in went half a bag of chocolate chips….and finally, our jello of choice was raspberry. All in all, I would say it was a winner!
I don’t remember Grandma making this though? She probably didn’t love me as much as she did you…
Maureen’s rendition sounds soooo good…and not to flaunt it…or brag….but I do believe Grandma loved me a whole bunch….but never more than you! ; )
p.s. If I leave now and make absolutely no stops I can be there in 18 hours…save me a piece, please.