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Cranberry Poke Cake

A Cranberry Poke Cake is a festive and flavorful dessert that adds a burst of holiday joy to your table. This easy-to-make cake involves poking holes into a baked cake and then pouring a cranberry sauce or juice mixture over it.
Servings 14 Servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Resting Time 4 hours
Total Time 5 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 White Cake Mixes 15.25 ounces each
  • 6 Large Eggs
  • 1 Cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1 Cup Cold Water + 1 Cup Boiling Water
  • 1 Cup Whole Milk
  • 1 Box Cranberry Jello 3 ounces
  • 1 Can Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce 15 ounces
  • 1 Tub Cool Whip 8 ounces

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and spray a deep 9x13 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.
  • With the handle of a wooden spoon, or with a similarly shaped object, poke holes in the cake. There should be a hole about every inch and be careful to not go all the way through the cake. Just go a little over halfway through with the holes.
  • Pour jello mix in a medium mixing bowl and add in boiling water. Stir until jello is dissolved. Place jello in a pourable container.
  • Slowly pour jello over the top of the cake, first covering the holes and then any surface of the cake left after that.
  • Place cake in fridge, covered with plastic wrap, for 4 hours or until the jello is set.
  • To prepare the frosting, place 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 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!

Notes

If you prefer not to use cranberry sauce for the frosting in a Cranberry Poke Cake, you have options.
You can choose to skip the cranberry element altogether in the frosting, or you can incorporate a pack of cranberry Jello for both flavor and color.
Mixing cranberry Jello into the frosting can add a delightful fruity taste and enhance the festive appearance of the cake. This allows you to customize the recipe based on your preferences while still enjoying the vibrant flavors associated with cranberries during the holiday season.
Author: Kerry Baked
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American