Lemon Orange JELL-O Poke Cake Recipe

Pin RecipeJump to Recipe

Change up that classic poke cake flavor by making this Lemon Orange JELL-O poke cake! Such a light, refreshing dessert for any time of year!

A slice of lemon orange jell-o cake with white frosting and a lemon slice on top, served on a white plate.

This recipe was originally published in April 2016. The photos and recipe notes were updated in May 2025.

Aimee’s Recipe Notes

Taste & Texture: Light and spongy, packed with lemon and orange flavor and sweet whipped cream on top.

Budget Friendly: Only 3 ingredients needed, feel free to swap out the flavors to YOUR liking.

Time Saving Tips: Bake the cake the day before and add the gelatin up to 24 hours in advance.

Top Tip: Don’t skip the chilling! This allows the jello cake to set up completely, creating the perfect texture.

Ingredient Notes

Top view of ingredients for a lemon orange Jell-O cake: Cool Whip, lemon cake mix, orange gelatin mix, and a cup of water on a wooden surface.
  • Cake Mix – I chose a store bought lemon cake mix, and any brand will do. Follow the directions on the box and bake in a 9×13 pan. You can also use a homemade lemon cake mix if you prefer.
  • Gelatin – I picked an orange gelatin to mix the lemon and orange flavors for this dessert. You can do 1 or 2 gelatins, up to you!
  • Boiling Water – We use boiling water to mix with the gelatin and dissolve it. Don’t add cold water!
  • Cool Whip – This whipped topping is the perfect way to finish off the cake. Or you could use homemade whipped cream if you prefer.

How to Make Jello Cake

*Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card to get the full details.

Two side-by-side lemon orange Jell-O cakes in glass pans, one whole and the other with evenly spaced holes poked on top.

Bake the cake. Make the lemon cake mix according to package directions and bake in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cool completely.

Poke the cake. Poke holes over the cooled cake using a fork or wooden spoon handle. Be sure to get all the way to the edges!

Left: lemon orange jell-o cake with holes and syrup; right: cake in pan topped with white frosting, on wooden surface.

Make the gelatin. In a small bowl, whisk the orange gelatin with boiling water. Stir until the sugar is dissolved then slowly pour the gelatin all over the cake, allowing it to fill the holes in the cake.

Chill the cake. Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

Decorate the cake. Top the cake with the Cool Whip whipped topping. You can also add some mandarin oranges to the top. Enjoy chilled!

A slice of lemon orange Jell-O cake with whipped topping and a lemon slice garnish on a white plate.

Tips and Tricks

  • Cake mix: White cakes work best for most Jello flavors. Today’s recipe used lemon cake which was perfect since I wanted a yellow tint to the cake and a citrus flavor.
  • You could also swap the flavors and use an orange cake mix and a lemon Jello gelatin for this cake.
  • You can use boxed cake mixes or from scratch cakes. Just be sure to bake them in a 9×13 and cool completely.
  • Add pie filling or lemon curd to the top of your poke cake for more flavor and texture! This Lemon Poke Cake has a combination of lemon Jello and lemon curd. SO tasty!
  • Refrigerate overnight. I like to bake the cake the day before and let it chill all night in the fridge. It tastes amazing cold!
  • Wipe your knife after each cut to ensure a beautiful clean slice of cake!

Easy JELL-O Recipes

  • Enjoy the fall Apple harvest with this flavorful Apple Pie Poke Cake. It’s the perfect summer to fall transition recipe!
  • Enjoy this light, refreshing Coconut Cream Poke Cake after dinner tonight! Perfect to bring to a potluck or BBQ this year!
  • This Grasshopper Poke Cake is super easy and over the top delicious. Just a few ingredients and boxed cake mix and you’ll be enjoying this for dessert today!
  • A delicious, easy summer cake recipe: Banana Split Poke Cake. Made with a white cake mix, banana pudding, fresh berries, pineapple and all the fixings. This will go fast at dessert, so make sure you get a big slice before it’s gone!
  • Love easy jello recipes? My strawberry jello pie is a fun, no bake treat packed with strawberry flavor! Or give my walking dessert recipes a try. So many fun options!

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It

Lemon Orange JELL-O Cake Recipe

No ratings yet
By: Aimee
Change up that classic poke cake by making this Lemon Orange JELL-O cake! Such a light, refreshing dessert for any time of year!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Chill Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 box Lemon Cake Mix, prepared with ingredients 18.25 ounce
  • 1 box JELL-O orange gelatin mix 3 ounce
  • 1 cup water boiling
  • 8 ounce Cool Whip thawed

Instructions 

  • Bake cake in a 13×9 baking dish, as directed on box. Cool completely.
  • Poke holes over cooled cake using a fork.
  • In a small bowl, mix gelatin with boiling water. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour gelatin over cake slowly, allowing it to fill the holes in the cake. Refrigerate for 4 hours, or overnight.
  • Top with Cool Whip before serving. ENJOY!

Notes

  • White Cakes work best for most Jello flavors. Today's recipe used lemon cake which was perfect since I wanted a yellow tint to the cake. But if you're making colors for a specific holiday, I would choose to use a white cake mix.
  • You can use boxed cake mixes or from scratch cakes. Just be sure to bake them in a 13×9 and cool completely.
  • Using pudding mix gives this poke cake a whole new flavor profile. For instance, this Coconut Pudding Cake started with a French Vanilla cake mix and is topped with creamy coconut pudding.
  • Add pie filling or lemon curd to the top of your poke cake for more flavor and texture! This Lemon Poke Cake has a combination of lemon Jello and lemon curd. SO tasty!
  • Wipe your knife after each cut to ensure a beautiful clean slice of cake!
  • Can I make Poke Cupcakes? Yes! For cupcakes, bake according to your cake mix package directions for 24 cupcakes. Immediately after baking, poke with a fork all over the top (going about 3/4 way deep). Carefully spoon gelatin over the tops of the cupcakes. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Top with Cool Whip and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 173kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 244mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 18g
Course: Cake
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Lemon Orange JELL-O Poke is an easy summer recipe bursting with citrus flavors!

Avatar photo

About Aimee Shugarman

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

Affiliate Disclosure:**There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I love! Thank you for supporting Shugary Sweets! See my disclosure policy for more info**

Learn How To Become a Better Home Baker
Sign up for the Shugary Sweets FREE Email Course Today—soon you’ll say, "I made it from scratch!"

Categories: ,


Posted on May 31, 2019

Comments & Reviews

  1. I ate a poke cake for the first time two years ago and I loved it! I tried making one and I don’t think it turned out so great, now I need to try this one! Love the flavors!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating