1 christmas poke cake: 350 Calorie Joy

Whew. The holidays are wonderful, but honestly, between the decorating and the juggling of shopping lists, sometimes the thought of a complicated dessert makes me want to hide in the pantry! If you’re anything like me—someone who wants to deliver that ‘wow’ factor without spending hours fussing over layers and frosting—then I have found your absolute saving grace. We are making the **christmas poke cake** today, and trust me, this recipe is pure joy for me.

It’s impossibly easy, ridiculously moist because of the liquid infusion, and the bright red and green Jello layers look like a celebration exploded on your plate. This vibrant dessert is what I pull out when I need something that screams ‘festive’ but requires almost zero brainpower. It’s officially become my staple when it comes to easy entertaining because the payoff is huge for the minimal effort.

Why This Christmas Poke Cake is Your New Holiday Favorite (Easy Christmas Desserts)

I promise you, this isn’t just another cake; it’s practically foolproof holiday magic. When I’m stressed trying to get everything ready, I lean on recipes that always deliver, and this is at the top of the list. It’s the perfect centerpiece for any table because it looks incredibly festive without demanding complex decorating skills from you.

• It brings all the holiday cheer with those beautiful, visible layers of red and green.
• You spend maybe 20 minutes actively working on it before it heads to the fridge. Seriously!
• It holds up beautifully, meaning it’s perfect for making ahead of time.

Ultra-Moist Texture Thanks to Jello Infusion

The biggest complaint about sheet cakes, even during the holidays, is that they can dry out fast. Not this one! The gelatin—that’s the Jello—soaks right down into all those holes we poke. It locks moisture into every single crumb. It keeps the cake tasting fresh and tender long after you’ve baked it, which is crucial when you’re prepping for a party.

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Simple Assembly for Quick Holiday Party Food

Look, we don’t have time in December to sit around fussing over pastry cream consistency or tempering chocolate. This recipe skips all that nonsense. Once the cake is baked and cooled slightly, you poke, pour, and chill. That’s your entire active involvement! It truly is the best of the make ahead holiday desserts because it needs that chill time anyway, freeing up your oven and counter space for the rest of your menu.

Gathering Ingredients for Your Festive Christmas Poke Cake

Okay, let’s talk about what you need to grab from the store. The beauty of this **christmas poke cake** is that most of this is standard pantry fare, which keeps our stress levels way down. We are using a box mix because we are keeping this simple, remember? But the star ingredients are definitely the Jello powders and the pudding mix.

Essential Components for the Jello Poke Cake for Christmas

Here’s the full rundown. Make sure you grab the white cake mix so those red and green layers really shine through—chocolate can get a little muddy, and we want maximum holiday impact!

• 1 box white cake mix (plus ingredients listed on box—usually eggs, oil, and water!)
• 1 cup boiling water (for dissolving the magic!)
• 3 ounces red gelatin (Go for the bright red kind, like cherry or strawberry if you are just buying standard Jello!)
• 3 ounces green gelatin (Lime is traditional here, making that perfect contrast!)
• 1 cup cold water (for each gelatin, so 2 cups total)
• 1 large box (12 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix (Don’t grab the cook-and-serve—we need instant here!)
• 1 1/2 cups cold milk (Use whatever milk you keep on hand!)
• 1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed (Make sure it’s fully thawed, but don’t whip it again!)
• Red and green sprinkles for decoration (The holiday MVP, truly.)

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Moist Holiday Cake Recipes

This is where the magic happens, and honestly, it’s so straightforward you’ll feel like you’re cheating the system! Remember, the goal here is deliciousness delivered with minimal stress, so let’s follow these steps closely. Since this cake is going to be the star of your easy entertaining spread, precision in the cool-down phase is key.

Baking and Initial Poking for the Christmas Poke Cake

First things first, get that cake baked according to the box directions for your 9×13 inch pan. Once it’s out of the oven, don’t walk away! We need to work while the cake is still warm. Let it cool just a tiny bit—say, 15 minutes. If you wait until it’s completely cool, the Jello won’t soak in properly, and we lose that amazing moisture boost we’re aiming for!

Grab a wooden spoon handle, or even a sturdy fork, and go to town poking holes all over the surface. Space them about an inch apart. You want good coverage so when you pour that colorful liquid in, it spreads out beautifully underneath.

Infusing Color: Pouring the Red and Green Gelatin

Now, we prepare the liquids one at a time. For the red gelatin, mix the powder with 1 cup of boiling water until it’s totally clear—no grains left! Then, stir in 1 cup of cold water. Carefully pour this red mixture evenly over the entire, warm, poked cake surface. Watch it disappear into those holes!

Repeat that exact process for the green gelatin, using fresh boiling water and 1 cup of cold water. Pour the green mixture right over the red layer. It should cover everything, filling up any spots the red mixture missed. Don’t worry if they mix a tiny bit; we’re going for festive merging!

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Setting Time and Preparing the Pudding Topping

This part requires patience, but it’s non-negotiable for a perfect **christmas poke cake**. Pop that sheet pan into the fridge and let it chill for a minimum of 3 to 4 hours. You want that gelatin totally firm and set before you top it.

While it’s chilling, get your pudding ready. Whisk that instant vanilla pudding mix with the cold milk for about two minutes until it starts thickening up. Let it sit for five minutes, then gently fold in your thawed whipped topping. Here is my little secret: fold gently! If you overmix the whipped topping, you’ll knock all the air out, and we want that topping light and fluffy, not dense.

Once the gelatin is set hard, just spread that beautiful, creamy pudding mixture right on top. Then, hit it with those red and green sprinkles! That’s it—you’re practically done!

Tips for the Perfect Festive Poke Cake Ideas

I always tell people that the best part about a dessert like our **christmas poke cake** is that you can usually make it the day before the party. That takes so much pressure off hosting, right? If you’re planning for a big event, prepping this a day early actually makes it taste even better because the Jello has time to really sink deep and marry with the cake crumb.

Making This Christmas Poke Cake Ahead of Time

If you can manage it, cover the whole thing—cake, pudding, and sprinkles—tightly with plastic wrap and stick it in the fridge overnight. Honestly, I think chilling for 12 hours is the secret to the ultimate moist texture, making this one of the best make ahead holiday desserts you can find. Just bring it out about 30 minutes before serving so the topping isn’t freezing cold when you cut into it.

Flavor Twists: Beyond Jello for Your Christmas Poke Cake

While the Jello version is fantastic for the color, sometimes you want something a little different for a second holiday dessert, or maybe you just aren’t a Jello fan! The notes section gave me a couple of really fun ideas I wanted to share with you. If you want that minty winter vibe, skip the Jello entirely. After baking, pour sweetened condensed milk right into the holes instead. Top that with whipped cream, and then scatter crushed peppermint candies all over the top for a super satisfying crunch.

Or, if chocolate is calling your name, you can easily turn this into a comforting **Hot Cocoa Cake Holiday** treat. Use chocolate cake mix instead of white cake, and instead of Jello, pour in hot fudge sauce or chocolate pudding mix into those holes. It’s decadent, dreamy, and perfect for cozy nights by the fire!

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Serving Suggestions for Your Red and Green Holiday Treat

The beauty of this **christmas poke cake** is that it’s already so colorful and rich, it honestly doesn’t need much help! Since it’s already super sweet with that Jello and creamy topping, I like to keep accompaniments light. If your gathering is more formal, a small dollop of fresh, lightly sweetened whipped cream on the side works beautifully.

For a lovely presentation, serve cold on small white dessert plates. If you want a little extra visual pop, just sprinkle a few extra red and green sprinkles around the plate rim before placing the slice down. It’s such a simple trick, but it makes this **Red and Green Holiday Treat** look like you spent hours on it!

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Storage and Reheating Instructions for Your Christmas Poke Cake

Because we are dealing with gelatin and a creamy whipped topping, storage for this **christmas poke cake** is pretty straightforward—it has to stay cold. Forget leaving this beauty out on the counter for too long during the party, or you risk sad, melting pudding and loose gelatin!

You absolutely must keep any leftovers covered tightly in the refrigerator. Plastic wrap works well, or you can use an airtight container if you cut the slices first. Because of all that moisture we added with the Jello, this cake stays wonderfully moist for about three to four days in the fridge. We love that it’s one of those **Moist Holiday Cake Recipes** that actually tastes *better* the next day!

Now, about reheating? Don’t do it! Seriously, resist the urge. Warming up this **Festive Poke Cake Ideas** batch would completely wreck the structure we worked so hard to build. The chilled Jello would melt into a watery mess, and the whipped topping would instantly deflate and separate. This cake is designed to be served cool and refreshing, which is perfect for cutting through all those rich holiday meals anyway!

Frequently Asked Questions About This Best Christmas Poke Cake

I know when you’re cooking for a crowd during the holidays, you have a million questions swirling around, especially when dealing with a fun, colorful dessert like this **christmas poke cake**. I’ve gathered up some of the things I hear most often when I bring this to family parties. Hopefully, this helps build your confidence so you can stress less and enjoy the season!

Can I use a different cake flavor instead of white cake mix for my christmas poke cake?

That’s a fantastic question! Technically, yes, you absolutely could try a yellow or even a lemon cake mix if that’s what you have on hand. However, for this specific **christmas poke cake** aiming for that bright holiday look, I really, really recommend sticking to the white cake mix. It’s purely for color contrast! If you use chocolate, for example, the red and green Jello colors get muddy and you lose that super festive look we are aiming for. The white cake lets those vibrant colors truly shine.

What is the best way to get clean slices of this Moist Holiday Cake Recipes?

Oh, this is management for a crowd! If you try to slice this while it’s just slightly chilled, you’re going to end up with a messy situation where the topping slides and the Jello gets gummy on the knife. The absolute key here is patience! Make sure it’s chilled thoroughly—I always stress waiting the full four hours, or even better, chilling it overnight. Then, grab a very sharp knife. My trick? Dip the knife in hot water for a few seconds, wipe it dry, and then make your cut. Wipe the knife clean between every single slice. That heat melts just enough of the topping to let you cut cleanly right through the gelatin layers!

Is this considered a No Bake Christmas Dessert?

This is one of those sneaky ones! While the assembly—mixing the pudding, folding the topping, and pouring the Jello—is completely no-bake, we do start with a fully baked cake layer right out of the oven. So, I’d call this a ‘Minimal Bake Dessert’ rather than strictly no-bake. If you’re looking for desserts that require absolutely zero oven time, you might want to check out some of my chilled pie recipes over on the blog! But for how fast this comes together, it feels like cheating!

Sharing Your Christmas Poke Cake Creations

And there you have it! Our incredibly festive, ridiculously moist, and unbelievably easy **christmas poke cake** is ready to dazzle your guests. See? I told you that incredible holiday dessert didn’t have to involve a panic attack in the kitchen! That’s the whole philosophy behind Pure Cooking Joy—making food that tastes like you labored for hours, when really, you did minimal work and are now sipping that well-deserved glass of wine.

Baking is always better when it’s shared, though. When I bring this to parties, I love seeing the reactions when people realize those bright layers are Jello. It’s just fun food!

If you make this centerpiece for your holiday table—and I really hope you do, because it is the **Best Christmas Poke Cake**—please snap a picture! Tag me on social media. I absolutely adore seeing how my recipes come to life in your homes. Drop a rating or a comment below letting me know if it became a new family tradition for you, too. You can find me over on Facebook right here. Happy holidays, and happy eating!

Estimated Nutritional Data for This Simple Christmas Baking Treat

Okay, let’s talk fuel for the holidays! Since this **christmas poke cake** is loaded with sugar and that creamy topping, it definitely falls into the ‘treat’ category, not the ‘everyday fuel’ category—and that’s totally fine when we’re celebrating!

I always like to include this section for transparency, even though cooking for joy is my main goal. Please remember that these numbers are estimates based on the standard ingredients listed, like the boxed mix and standard gelatin and pudding types. If you use different brands or make substitutions (like reducing the sugar in your topping), these values will change, of course.

• Serving Size: 1 slice
• Calories: 350
• Fat: 15g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 15mg
• Sodium: 310mg
• Carbohydrates: 55g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 45g
• Protein: 4g

For a dessert this fun and colorful, I think 350 calories is a perfectly reasonable indulgence for a slice of this **Simple Christmas Baking** magic. Enjoy it with a clear head, knowing you made something everyone loved!

Easy Christmas Jello Poke Cake Recipe

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Create a moist, festive Christmas poke cake using red and green Jello for bright holiday color. This simple recipe is perfect for family gatherings and requires minimal effort.

• Author: purejoyalex
• Prep Time: 20 min
• Cook Time: 35 min
• Total Time: 4 hours 55 min
• Yield: 12 servings 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking and Chilling
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 box white cake mix (plus ingredients listed on box)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 3 ounces red gelatin (like Jello)
• 3 ounces green gelatin (like Jello)
• 1 cup cold water (for each gelatin)
• 1 large box (12 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 1/2 cups cold milk
• 1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
• Red and green sprinkles for decoration

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Instructions

1. Prepare the white cake according to the box directions, baking it in a 9×13 inch pan. Let the cake cool slightly, about 15 minutes.
2. While the cake is still warm, use the handle of a wooden spoon or a fork to poke holes all over the surface of the cake, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
3. Prepare the red gelatin: Pour the red gelatin powder into a bowl. Add 1 cup of boiling water and stir until completely dissolved. Stir in 1 cup of cold water.
4. Carefully pour the red gelatin mixture evenly over the entire surface of the warm cake, allowing it to soak into the holes.
5. Prepare the green gelatin: Repeat step 3 using the green gelatin powder and the remaining boiling water and cold water measurements.
6. Pour the green gelatin mixture evenly over the red gelatin layer, ensuring it fills the remaining holes.
7. Refrigerate the cake for at least 3 to 4 hours, or until the gelatin is completely set.
8. Prepare the pudding topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix and cold milk for 2 minutes until slightly thickened. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
9. Gently fold the thawed whipped topping into the pudding mixture until just combined.
10. Spread the pudding topping evenly over the set gelatin cake.
11. Sprinkle the top generously with red and green sprinkles before serving.

Notes

• For an extra moist cake, you can substitute the cold water in the gelatin mixture with vodka or clear rum, though this is optional.
• Make this a make ahead holiday dessert by preparing it completely the day before serving.
• If you prefer a peppermint poke cake, skip the Jello and instead pour sweetened condensed milk into the holes after baking, then top with whipped cream and crushed peppermint candies.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 slice
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 45g
• Sodium: 310mg
• Fat: 15g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 55g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 15mg