• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Money
  • About

Midwestern HomeLife

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Lemon Poke Cake

    Published: Jan 21, 2023 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Lemon Poke Cake

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    piece of lemon poke cake on white plate with bowl of lemons and plates of cake in background
    piece of lemon poke cake on white plate with bowl of lemons and plates of cake in background
    piece of lemon poke cake on white plate with bowl of lemons and plates of cake in background
    piece of lemon poke cake on white plate with bowl of lemons and plates of cake in background

    Lemon Poke Cake is a deliciously moist lemon cake bursting with bright lemony flavor. Layers of white cake, lemon Jell-o, lemon pudding, and Cool Whip come together for a light, refreshing, and super moist lemon poke cake.

    piece of lemon poke cake on white plate with bowl of lemons and plates of cake in background
    Jump to:
    • More Delicious Lemon Desserts
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Poke Cake Flavor Variations
    • Step-by-step Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • Get the Stuff I Use
    • More Easy Dessert Recipes
    • Let's Stay in Touch
    • Lemon Poke Cake

    Where are my lemon lovers at? If you're crazy about lemon desserts, this lemon poke cake with lemon pudding AND lemon Jello one has your name all over it!

    This luscious lemon poke cake recipe is jam-packed with bright, fresh lemon flavor.

    It comes together with a simple white cake soaked with lemon Jell-o, layered with creamy lemon pudding, frosted with Cool Whip, and sprinkled with fresh lemon zest.

    More Delicious Lemon Desserts

    • Lemon Blackberry Bread
    • Lemon Blueberry Ice Cream Sandwiches
    • No-Churn Lemon Curd Ice Cream
    • Pumpkin Angel Food Cake with Lemon Cream

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Light and refreshing lemon dessert

    Easy lemon pudding poke cake recipe that starts with a simple box cake mix

    Super moist lemon Jello cake

    Lemon Jello poke cake is the perfect dessert for any special occasion

    Ingredients

    lemon poke cake ingredients

    White cake mix. I love the delicate flavor of white cake, and it looks so pretty with the yellow Jell-o and pudding. You can use any flavor of boxed cake mix like yellow cake mix -- or add even more lemony flavor with a box of lemon cake mix.

    Oil, eggs, and water. Follow the package directions for adding oil, eggs, and water. Some cake mixes will offer "whole egg" and "egg white" options. I use the egg white option to keep the white cake white.

    Lemon gelatin. One 3 oz. box of lemon Jell-o soaks into the cake and makes it super moist and lemony.

    Instant lemon pudding mix. One 3.4 oz. box of instant pudding mix transforms simple cake into this creamy lemon poke cake.

    Lemon juice and lemon zest. Fresh lemon juice and a little lemon zest brighten up the lemon pudding mix. Save some extra zest to sprinkle on top of the cake.

    Cool Whip. A layer of Cool Whip is the perfect creamy and light topping for this easy lemon poke cake. If you're not a fan of Cool Whip, try Truwhip. You can also use freshly whipped cream.

    Poke Cake Flavor Variations

    There are a million flavor combinations you can create with different flavors of cake mix, Jell-o, pudding, Cool Whip and toppings. Here are a few that sound yummy to me -- I haven't tried them, but let me know if you do!

    Strawberry poke cake. White or strawberry cake mix, strawberry Jello, cheesecake pudding. Top with Cool Whip and fresh strawberries.

    Black forest poke cake. Chocolate cake mix, black cherry jello, chocolate pudding. Top with Cool Whip, cherries, and chocolate shavings.

    Peaches and cream poke cake. White cake mix, peach jello, cheesecake pudding. Serve with Cool Whip and fresh peaches.

    Creamsicle poke cake. White cake mix, orange jello, vanilla pudding. Top with Cool Whip and mandarin oranges.

    Step-by-step Instructions

    1. Bake the cake.

    Prepare the cake batter and bake cake in a 9 x 13 cake pan according to the package instructions.

    Let cool for 20 minutes.

    Use a fork, chopstick. or the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes about 1 inch apart in the baked cake.

    2. Make the lemon Jell-o.

    Place the lemon Jell-o mix in a small bowl. Add the hot water and stir for 1-2 minutes until the Jell-o has dissolved. Add the cold water and stir for another minute.

    Spoon or pour the lemon Jello mixture evenly over the cake.

    white cake with holes poked on top and lemon jello poured over the top

    3. Make the lemon pudding.

    In a medium bowl, add the lemon pudding mix, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, and milk. Whisk for 2 minutes until thickened.

    Spread the lemon pudding evenly across the cake.

    white cake withe lemon pudding spread on top

    4. Chill.

    Place the uncovered cake in the refrigerator to cool completely, 3-4 hours.

    5. Frost with Cool Whip.

    Gently and evenly spread the Cool Whip over the pudding layer. Add a sprinkle of lemon zest.

    lemon poke cake in a 9 x 13 pan on black and white napkin

    Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days.

    piece of lemon poke cake on white plate with bowl of lemons and plates of cake in background

    Expert Tips

    For the purest whitest cake, follow the "egg white" instructions on the cake mix box, if available.

    Let the cake cool completely before adding the Cool Whip layer.

    Poke the holes in the cake about an inch apart.

    FAQs

    What is the best way to poke holes in a cake?

    I like to use the handle of a wooden spoon to make nice big holes in the cake. You can also use a fork or a chopstick.

    How long do you cool cake before poking holes for a lemon poke cake with lemon Jello?

    Let the cake cool for 15-20 minutes before poking holes into the cake.

    What can I add to instant lemon pudding to make it taste better?

    Adding a little bit of fresh lemon juice and lemon zest is an easy way to brighten up the flavor of a box of instant lemon pudding.

    piece of lemon poke cake on white plate with bowl of lemons and plates of cake in background

    Get the Stuff I Use

    A fine grater like this one from KitchenAid is perfect for grating citrus, chocolate, ginger, and nutmeg.

    I use a little brush like this to brush off the lemon zest that sticks to my microplane and put it in the dessert instead. It's also great for cleaning.

    More Easy Dessert Recipes

    • Oreo Peanut Butter Pie
    • Easy Chocolate Pudding Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
    • No-Bake Cheesecake with Cool Whip
    • Lemon Blackberry Bread

    Let's Stay in Touch

    Follow Midwestern HomeLife on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and subscribe via email to receive all of the latest recipes!

    piece of lemon poke cake on white plate with bowl of lemons and plates of cake in background

    Lemon Poke Cake

    Cara Lanz
    Lemon Poke Cake is a deliciously moist lemon cake bursting with bright lemony flavor. Layers of white cake, lemon Jell-o, lemon pudding, and Cool Whip come together for a light, refreshing, and super moist lemon poke cake.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24
    Calories 182 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 box white cake mix
    • oil, eggs, and water* per the box instructions
    • 3 oz box of lemon Jello mix
    • ½ cup boiling water
    • ½ cup cold water
    • 3.4 oz box of instant lemon pudding mix
    • 1 ½ cups cold milk
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • 2 teaspoons lemon zest, divided
    • 8 ounces Cool Whip or TruWhip or whipped cream

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare and bake white cake in a 9 x 13 pan, according to the box directions. Let cool 20 minutes.
    • With a fork, chopstick, or the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes into the cake about an inch apart.
    • In a small bowl, combine the lemon Jello mix and boiling water. Stir for 2 minutes until dissolved. Add the cold water and stir for another minute.
      Spoon the Jello mixture over the cake.
    • Add the lemon pudding mix, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest to a medium bowl. Add the milk and whisk for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
    • Evenly spread the lemon pudding over the cake.
      Refrigerate uncovered for 3-4 hours or until completely cooled.
    • Gently and evenly spread the Cool Whip over the pudding. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of lemon zest.
    • Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Store lemon poke cake in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Notes

    *nutrition calculated with ½ cup canola oil and ½ cup egg whites for the cake mix.
    For the purest white-colored cake, follow the "egg white" instructions on the cake mix box, if available.
    Let the cake cool completely before adding the Cool Whip layer.
    Poke the holes in the cake about an inch apart.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 182kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 208mgPotassium: 55mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 32IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 0.4mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Sweet Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn
    Toll House Cookie Bars »
    • Facebook

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love dreaming up easier, and sometimes healthier twists on dishes from the heartland.

    This is where I share my recipes, tips, and inspiration for a happy home.

    Dig in!

    More about me →

    Game Day Appetizers

    • Crockpot Little Smokies with Grape Jelly & BBQ Sauce
    • Cucumber Pico de Gallo
    • The 25 *BEST* Tortilla Pinwheel Recipes
    • Hearty Rotel Dip with Sausage

    Valentine's Day Goodies

    • Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
    • Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Dip
    • Easy Chocolate Pudding Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
    • Red Velvet Mini Cheesecake Bites

    Easy Dinner Recipes

    • Easy Swiss Chicken Casserole
    • Ground Beef Vegetable Soup Recipe
    • Spaghetti with Alfredo Sauce
    • Baked Pork Chops with Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Media Kit
    • About

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 MIDWESTERNHOMELIFE Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme