Dreamy raspberry poke cake is made with only 4 ingredients – Jello, Cool Whip, cake mix, and raspberry pie filling! It’s light, refreshing, and full of sweet-tart raspberry flavor.

Slice of Raspberry Poke Cake on a plate with a bite removed

Why this recipe works

This raspberry poke cake, also known as dreamy raspberry poke cake, is a winner for multiple reasons. For one, it really is dreamy. Raspberry jello poked inside a fluffy white cake, topped with silky Cool Whip and flavorful pie filling – I told you so. Secondly, you only need 5 ingredients (if you’re including water) to make it. And for three, I’ve never been able to take home leftovers whenever I have brought this to a party. I think that says enough!

No joke, this raspberry poke cake was so popular that people were looking for not only seconds, but thirds! It’s crazy easy to make and can be adapted for several different flavors. Let’s get started.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

CAKE – You will need a box of white cake mix, plus the ingredients called for on the back of the box. It does not matter whether your cake mix is 15.25 ounces or 14.25 ounces – both will bake up well in a 13×9 dish.

GELATIN – Grab a 3-ounce box of raspberry jello or dessert gelatin. Other flavors that would rock with this are lemon, similar to our lemon curd poke cake, blackberry, cherry, and even orange works great like myorange and lemon poke cake, a citrus lovers dream. I’m sure you can find other great combinations and flavors too!

TOPPING – Cool whip helps this recipe stick to the quick and easy motto. I wouldn’t suggest regular whipped cream on top, as it will deflate after sitting out for a bit as the air bubbles relax after whipping. However, you can always make some homemade stabilized whipped cream instead.

How to Make Raspberry Poke Cake

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Prepare cake according to box directions using a 13×9 baking pan. Remove from oven and cool for ten minutes.
Use a serving fork to poke holes an inch or so apart all over the cake.
Add the powdered gelatin to the boiling water and stir until dissolved.
Slowly pour gelatin over the cake.
Refrigerate cake for 45 minutes.
Remove cake from the refrigerator and frost with Cool Whip.
Top Cool Whip with either pie filling or fresh raspberries.
Refrigerate 1-2 hours before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

How do you store raspberry poke cake?

Store raspberry poke cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Can you make raspberry poke cake ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare and frost the cake a day in advance. Keep it covered with foil or an air-tight lid in the refrigerator. If you plan on topping it with pie filling, I would recommend waiting to do so until you are ready to serve it.

Can I use different flavored jello?

Yes, absolutely. You can use whatever flavor you want. Strawberry jello topped with strawberry pie filling is always popular as well as pineapple like we use in our pineapple poke cake!

Can I use a different flavored cake mix?

Yes, you can substitute the white cake mix with chocolate or yellow instead. We like to use white cake mix so you can easily see the pretty streaks of raspberry once sliced.

Pan of Raspberry Poke Cake with slices removed

Serving Suggestions

Garnish your raspberry poke cake with raspberry pie filling or fresh raspberries, it’s amazing either way! The pie filling makes the raspberry flavor stand out even further, whereas a simple topping of raspberries keeps it light and refreshing.

Raspberry poke cake can be enjoyed both chilled and at room temperature. Be sure to keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it, but it’ll be just fine at room temp for about 2 hours if you’re bringing it to a party. After that, store leftovers in the fridge. Enjoy!

More Poke Cake Recipes

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This post originally appeared here on Apr 22, 2014 and has since been updated with new photos and expert tips. You may recognize it from the original photo below.