If Your Jell-O Poke Cake Gets Soggy, You May Be Skipping This Important Step

Next to ice cream sundaes and freshly baked cookies, sweet treat lovers rarely pass up pieces of moist and flavorful cake. Especially if you're someone who enjoys baking, besides crafting another multi-layer cake or sheet cake, you can also prepare both boxed and homemade cake recipes that conveniently fit into a rectangular 9x13-inch baking dish.

Speaking of which, if you've been on the hunt for more creative ways to make boxed cake mix taste homemade, besides adding your own blend of spices and moisture-rich fruit purees, why not try making a classic poke cake with a pre-mixed box of Jell-O? Though, keep in mind, while a magical thing happens when you add Jell-O to cake mix, achieving the best consistency in your finished product takes a certain amount of finesse.

To avoid making a soggy Jell-O poke cake, conducting each step at the proper time is extra important. Even though you can make a Jell-O poke cake extra fast with a box of white cake mix, flavored Jell-O, whipped topping, and optional fruit, giving this dessert room to cool at varied points in the preparation process is crucial.

For example, only pour your slightly cooled but liquid Jell-O mixture over your cake once it has also cooled slightly. Then from here, it's important to allow your Jell-O-soaked cake to chill for approximately two to four hours before frosting. Once your cake is completely assembled, allow it to rest in your refrigerator for at least another hour before serving.

In order to achieve even marbled layers of cake and Jell-O in this one-of-a-kind dessert, poke holes in your cake when it's still slightly warm from the oven with the base of a wooden spoon. Space the holes out evenly so you don't end up pouring too much Jell-O in only one section of the pan.

Additionally, to better ensure your leftovers won't turn to mush, don't poke your cake all the way to the base of the pan. Only poke holes halfway down to avoid liquid pooling at the bottom. That being said, as you pour the Jell-O mixture on top of your cake, keep a careful eye on its overall texture. You don't want the liquid to drown certain parts of your cake and leave other sections dry. Try and maintain a nice, balanced pour throughout.

On that note, while it's important to wait for your poke cake to cool slightly before topping it with Jell-O, it's just as important to cool your Jell-O mixture before pouring it onto your cake. Using boiling hot Jell-O can compromise this dessert's structural integrity.

Nevertheless, once you feel comfortable preparing this colorful treat, feel free to add fresh fruit and try different frosting options. Next to using plain whipped topping, canned frosting, or homemade whipped cream, consider topping your next Jell-O poke cake with an easy three-ingredient cake frosting made from instant pudding mix, milk, and whipped topping.