Poke cake is made by baking asheet cake, often usingboxed cake mix. After the cake has been baked, holes are poked into the top using a utensil like a fork, wooden spoon handle, straw, or skewer. A liquid topping such as gelatin, pudding, sweetened condensed milk, syrup or pureed fruit is poured over the top of the cake so that it can seep into the holes.[1][2] The cake is often topped with frosting, whipped cream, orCool Whip.[3][4]
The most common variation involves combining gelatin mix and warm water, and then pouring the liquid over a sheet cake.[5] The cake is then refrigerated until it has set.[6]
The recipe was introduced byJell-O in the 1970s as a way to increase sales of its instant gelatin dessert.[7] The earliest versions used white sheet cake covered with various gelatin mixes.[8] They are commonly served atpotlucks andpool parties in the United States.[6][9]
