Lemon poke cake made with cake mix, lemon jello, lemon curd, and cool whip is a deliciously moist cake that packs a big lemon punch!
Our lemon poke cake is the perfect sunshiney dessert to bring a little summer to your meal at any time of year! Try it with other favorites like smoked chicken legs and air fryer french fries.
Lemon Poke Cake
Lemon Poke Cake
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Why you’ll love this lemon poke cake recipe!
📌 Easy to make, perfect for a party!
📌 Great bright lemony flavors.
📌 Versatile and easily customizable based on what you have in your pantry.
Lemon Poke Cake Ingredients
- Cake mix – Lemon flavored cake mix, any brand is fine.
- Jello – Lemon flavored.
- Water – Boiling water.
- Whipped topping – Like Cool Whip; thawed.
- Lemon curd – Homemade lemon curd or store bought is fine. You can also substitute for lemon pudding.
Lemon cake mix (prepared), jello, lemon curd, cool whip.
How to make lemon poke cake with jello (step-by-step directions)
⭐ First, prepare lemon cake mix according to the directions on the box. Allow to cool for a few minutes.
⭐ Next, poke holes all over the top of the cake. Dissolve the Jello mix into the boiling water and pour all over the top of the cake. Refrigerate until completely cooled, at least 1 hour.
⭐ Then, spread lemon curd over cake followed by whipped topping.
⭐ Finally, garnish as desired, slice, and enjoy!
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Bake cake as directed, poke holes and add jello solution, top with lemon curd then cool whip.
Preparation
Lemon pudding or lemon curd in poke cake?
We prefer lemon curd in this recipe as it’s a stronger lemon flavor, but prepared pudding can be substituted if that’s your preference or if you do not have curd on hand.
What kind of frosting for lemon jello cake?
This recipe calls for layer of lemon curd followed by a layer of Cool Whip, but you could also use classic vanilla frosting or even a cream cheese frosting!
This cake is so moist!
Can you make lemon poke cake ahead of time?
You can make the cake ahead of time, but for best results wait to ice it and add garnishes until immediately before serving.
What should you use to poke the holes?
A fork works great for making the holes in your poke cake, but if you want larger holes or your cake is deeper than the prongs of a fork, try using a chop stick or skewer. Even a knife would work in a pinch.
Layers and layers of lemon flavor! 🍋
Storage and leftovers
Do you have to refrigerate the leftovers?
Leftover lemon poke cake should be refrigerated for best results. Otherwise the cool whip may become runny and unappetizing.
How long do leftovers last?
The leftover cake will last in the refrigerator for 2 – 3 days. Keep tightly covered with a lid, plastic wrap, or foil.
Can you freeze poke cake?
To freeze the cake you will want to do so before applying the icing and garnishes. Allow it to cool completely in the refrigerator for at least an hour and then transfer it to the freezer in a covered freezer-safe container.
Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for a few hours before topping.
Will you use whipped topping or white icing?
Tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions
🟢 Try using cream cheese icing instead of cool whip for a richer flavor.
🟢 For extra flavor and texture, try baking a bit of lemon zest directly into the cake.
🟢 Swap the lemon jello for lemon pudding for a super creamy result.
This can be made in a casserole dish or in a more traditional cake pan.
What to eat with our easy lemon poke cake recipe (serving suggestions)
This is a great dessert option for potlucks and get togethers – it’s easy to make and feeds a crowd. Try it together with other party favorites like jalapeno popper dip, roasted tomato salsa, and brownie batter dip.
Will you try this with other flavors?
More delicious lemon recipes
- Strawberry lemonade cookies
- Lemon pasta recipe
- Lemon raspberry muffins
- Lemon raspberry cupcakes
- Homemade lemonade recipe
- See all our lemon flavored recipes!
Other awesome cake recipes
- S’mores ice box cake
- Pineapple bundt cake
- Texas sheet cake recipe
- Pumpkin spice bundt cake
- Classic chocolate cake recipe
- See all our easy cake recipes!
This triple lemon poke cake is ready to make everyone’s day better 🌞
More recipes made with cake mix
- Chocolate sprinkle cookies
- Cranberry upside down cake
- Whole orange cake
- Donuts with cake mix
- See all our recipes made with cake mix!
Other awesome recipes made with Jello
- Creamy strawberry jello pie
- Orange fluff salad
- Strawberry pretzel salad
- See all our recipes made with Jello!
More delicious lemon recipes
- Lemon curd recipe
- Lemon pasta
- Lemon pie
- Lemon pudding cookies
- Lemon bars
- Frosted lemonade
- Lemon mousse
- See all our lemon recipes here!
😍😍😍
Tools we love
- Glass casserole dish – I love when a dish comes with a lid. Perfect for popping leftovers in the fridge.
- Lemon jello – You can use any flavor jello or even a mix of them!
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How to Make Lemon Poke Cake
Lemon Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box lemon cake mix prepared according to box directions
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 package lemon flavored Jello 3 ounces
- 1 cup lemon curd*
- 1 container Cool Whip (8 ounces) thawed
Instructions
- Bake cake in a 9x13 dish, according to box directions.
- Poke holes all over the top of the baked cake with a fork or skewer.
- Dissolve the Jello mix into the boiling water and pour all over the top of the cake. Refrigerate until completely cooled, at least 1 hour.
- Spread the lemon curd evenly over the top of the cake, followed by the cool whip. Top with desired garnishes, slice and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Lemon Poke Cake
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Jessica Burgess says
I love all things lemon, so I knew I had to make this. I wasn’t wrong… haha. Sooo good!
Gina F says
AMAZING!! We love lemon so I knew this was a must make. My son just said he wants it for his birthday cake!
jess says
I love that there is lemon curd in this cake recipe! thank you so much for sharing this amazing cake with us!