Cranberry Poke Cake is a delightful dessert. It is perfect for festive occasions. The cake is light and moist. It is punctured with holes that allow the tangy cranberry sauce to seep in.
The cake is topped with a layer of sweet Cool Whip and cranberry frosting. It offers a harmonious blend of tastes. It is a favorite for both kids and adults.
❤️ Why You’ll Love Cranberry Poke Cake All Holiday Season Long
You’ll love this Cranberry Poke Cake. The preparation is straightforward and fun. The tangy, sweet, and creamy flavors combine perfectly.
The vibrant red color of the cranberries makes it visually appealing. It’s perfect for any occasion and holiday celebration.
You can tweak the recipe according to your preference to make the perfect dessert.
🧾 Ingredients
Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.
- White Cake Mix– Of course, you can also make your own cake from scratch. Using a box of cake mix is just to save time. Yellow box mix can be used too.
- Large Eggs, Vegetable Oil, and Milk– These are the ingredients to complete the cake mix, along with the water needed.
- Water– You will need water for the cake mix and for making the Jello.
- Cranberry Jello– The Jello is used to create a sauce to fill the holes in the Cranberry poke cake.
- Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce and Cool Whip– This is combined to make an amazing topping for the cake. You can also use homemade cranberry sauce
🍳 How to Make Cranberry Poke Cake Recipe
Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.
Make the Cake: Combine the 2 cake mixes with the eggs, oil, milk, and water. Beat until no lumps appear. The cake batter will be thin. Add the cake to the cake pan and bake for 60 minutes until a toothpick or cake tester in the center of the cake inserted comes out clean. Let the cake cool on a cooling rack for 20 minutes. Using the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes in the cake.
Combine the Jello: Mix the Jello and boiling water in a medium mixing bowl. Stir until the Jello is dissolved. Using a pourable container, pour the Jello over the cake covering the holes first and then covering the entire surface of the cake. Refrigerate the cake for 4 hours until the Jello is set.
Blend the Frosting: Mix cranberry sauce in a bowl, breaking up any large chunks. Add cool whip and fold together until fully combined, creating a homemade-style cranberry sauce.
Frost the Cake: Frost the top of the entire cake with the mixture. Slice, serve, and enjoy.
🥄 Variations to This Easy Poke Cake
- For a more intense cranberry flavor, add 1/4 cup of frozen cranberries to the cake batter before baking.
- Add some orange zest or lemon zest for extra tang.
- Sprinkle crushed pecans for a crunchy twist.
- Top with Fresh Cranberries.
- Instead of using Cool Whip, try making your own whipped cream with heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar. Cream cheese frosting would also make a delicious topping.
- Want an extra dose of sweetness? Drizzle some honey over the top of the frosted cake before serving.
🍽️ What to Serve With This Cranberry Christmas Cake
Now that you have mastered the art of making a delicious cranberry poke cake, what should you serve it with?
- Hot or Iced Coffee – The rich and creamy flavors of coffee pair perfectly with the tart and sweet flavors of this cake. Serve hot coffee on a cold winter day or iced coffee on a warm summer day.
- Vanilla Ice Cream – The combination of warm cake and cold ice cream is a match made in dessert heaven. The creamy vanilla flavor also balances out the tartness of the cranberry.
- Whipped Cream – For an extra decadent touch, top your cake with a dollop of whipped cream. The light and airy texture will add another layer of deliciousness to your cake.
- Festive Cocktails – For adult-only gatherings, pair this cranberry poke cake with a Christmas cocktail, such as a Cranberry Mimosa or a Cranberry Whiskey Sour. The fruity flavors will complement each other perfectly.
- Fresh Berries – If you want to add even more fruitiness to your dessert, serve the cranberry poke cake with a side of fresh berries, such as raspberries or strawberries. The combination of different fruits will create a burst of flavors in every bite.
- Holiday Cookies – Serve the cranberry poke cake alongside some festive holiday cookies for an extra sweet treat. Gingerbread truffles, sugar cookies, and snickerdoodles all pair well with this cranberry-flavored dessert.
- Hot Cocoa – For a cozy and comforting dessert experience, serve the cranberry poke cake with a cup of hot cocoa. The chocolatey drink will complement the fruity flavors of the cake and make for an indulgent combination.
🍶 Storing
Refrigerator Storage: To ensure that your cranberry poke cake stays fresh and delicious, it’s important to store it properly in the refrigerator. You can keep the cake covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
It’s best to store the cake on a flat surface to prevent any toppings from sliding off. Before serving, let the cake sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes to allow it to soften.
Freezer Storage: If you want to save your cranberry poke cake for longer than 3 days, you can also freeze it. Wrap the cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe container or bag. The cake can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
I like to freeze the cake before I wrap it. This prevents the wrapping from sticking to the frosting. Once the cake is frozen, wrap it well with plastic wrap.
To thaw the cake, place it in the refrigerator overnight or let it sit at room temperature for about an hour. Be sure to remove the plastic wrap before thawing the cake. If not, the wrap will stick to the frosting.
Repurposing Leftover Cranberry Cake
If you find yourself with leftover pieces of cranberry poke cake, don’t let them go to waste! The best part of a cake like this is that there are so many fun and creative ways to repurpose the cake for a delicious dessert.
- Cut the leftover cake into small cubes and use them as a topping for vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.
- Crumble up the cake and mix it with cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk to make a creamy icing. Use this frosting on cupcakes or other cakes for a hint of cranberry flavor.
- Create a layered trifle by placing cubes of cake, whipped cream, and fresh berries in a glass jar. This makes for an impressive and tasty dessert.
- Use the leftover cake as a base for mini cheesecakes. Simply press the crumbled cake into muffin tins and top with your favorite cheesecake filling before baking.
- Transform the cake into cake pops by crumbling it and mixing it with frosting, then rolling it into balls and dipping it in melted chocolate. Decorate with sprinkles for a festive treat.
💭Tip for Making the Perfect Christmas Poke Cake
- Baking Temperature: Do not cook the cake any hotter than 325 degrees. Higher temperatures may result in the cake burning in some areas while remaining raw in others. Slow and steady wins the cake game.
- Cake Size: If you don’t want to make such a thick cake, you can use just one cake mix with a smaller pan and cut the cake part of the recipe in half. You’ll want to adjust your oven temperature to 350 degrees and start checking the cake around 20-30 minutes through.
- Know Your Oven: It’s important to keep in mind that every oven is different. Being familiar with your own oven is helpful in ensuring that you end up with the perfect cake. For example, if you know your oven runs hot, you may want to check your cake a few minutes earlier than the recommended time.
- Proper Cooling: When removing the cake from the oven, be sure to let it cool completely before adding the Jello mixture. This will prevent the cake from becoming soggy and ensure that the Jello sets properly.
- Refrigerate Before Serving: For best results, refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours (or overnight) before serving to allow the Jello to set and fully infuse with the cake.
📖More Christmas Recipes
- Christmas Peppermint Recipes to Make Your Holidays Merry and Minty
- Christmas Tree Cupcakes
- The Best Christmas Toffee Bars
- Peppermint Bark Christmas Cupcakes
Need to change the number of servings? You can click on the number of servings and change the number. This will adjust the ingredient measurements to what you need.
If you love this recipe, come back and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Delicious and Easy Cranberry Poke Cake Recipe
Equipment
- Deep 9×13 Cake Pan
- Hand or Stand Mixer
- Nonstick Cooking Spray
Ingredients
- 2 boxes White Cake Mixes 15.25 ounces each
- 6 large Eggs
- 1 cup Vegetable Oil
- 2 cups water 1 cold, 1 boiling
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 1 box Cranberry Jello 3 ounces
- 1 can Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce 15 ounces
- 1 tub Cool Whip 8 ounces
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and spray a deep 9×13 cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the two cake mixes, eggs, oil, milk, and 1 cup of cold water. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat until no lumps appear. It will seem thin, but this is what you want.
- Pour into your prepared cake pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake (deeper than just the top bit of cake) comes out clean. Let cool for about 20 minutes.
- Add the jello and boiling water to a medium mixing bowl and stir until the jello is dissolved. Place the jello in a pourable container (I use a glass measuring cup).
- Slowly pour the jello over the top of the cake, first covering the holes and then any surface of the cake left after that.
- Place the cake in the fridge, covered with plastic, for 4 hours or until the jello is set.
- Place the cranberry sauce in a medium mixing bowl and use a fork or other utensil to break it up until no large chunks remain and it resembles a homemade style cranberry sauce.
- Add the cool whip to the bowl with the cranberry sauce and fold it together until fully combined.
- Frost the top of the cake with the mixture. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
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