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St. Patrick’s Day always calls for a little green, and this lime Jello poke cake is such a fun and festive way to celebrate! Soft white cake gets infused with bright lime Jello for a beautiful green cake, then topped with a creamy whipped cream cheese frosting.
It’s light, refreshing, and so simple to make—perfect for parties, potlucks, or just a sweet treat at home with your family.
We love jello poke cakes in our house! From our mega popular lemon jello cake to the classic strawberry jello cake, I’ve been looking for the perfect opportunity to try a lime jello cake and St. Patrick’s Day seemed like the perfect time to try it! An easy St. Patrick’s Day dessert is just what every busy mom needs!
Ingredients for a Shamrock Poke Cake
For the Cake
- White Cake Mix: Provides a light, fluffy, neutral base that lets the lime Jello flavor and green color shine. White mix also absorbs the Jello beautifully when poked.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together, add structure, and give richness to the cake.
- Vegetable Oil: Keeps the cake moist and tender while helping it stay soft after chilling.
- Water: Used to make the cake mix and to create the Jell-O.
- Green Food Dye: Don’t use regular! Gel works 100x better.
- Lime Jell-O: Infuses the cake with tart, citrusy flavor and a vibrant green color while adding a fun, moist texture.
For the Frosting
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Whipped to stiff peaks, it gives the frosting a fluffy, light texture.
- Cream Cheese: Adds tangy richness and stability to the frosting, balancing the sweetness of the Jello and powdered sugar.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the frosting and helps achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Salt: A pinch enhances all the flavors, keeping the frosting from tasting overly sweet.
- Vanilla Extract: Brings warmth and depth, softening the sharp citrus notes of the lime.
- Garnishes: Add sprinkles, lime zest, candy, etc. if desired.
How to Make a Poke Cake
- Make the Box Cake: Make the cake batter according to the instructions on the box and pour into a 7×11-inch baking dish. Add a few squeezes of green food coloring and mix it into the batter and then bake.
- Prepare the Jello: Let the cake cool for 15 minutes and make the jello in the meantime. Follow the directions for making the jello using the hot and cold water method.
- Poke and Pour: Once the cake has cooled for 15 minutes, poke it all over with a fork. Carefully pour the liquid jello all over the cake.
- Chill: Place the cake in the refrigerator for the jello to setup for 3-4 hours.
- Frost: Before serving the cake, make the whipped cream frosting and spread it over the top of the cake.
Are Cake Mixes Smaller Now?
The secret to using a cake mix is often in adding a few extra ingredients, but when you just want quick and easy there’s still one tip that will transform your cake… Make it in an 7×11″ pan instead of a 9×13″. This is helpful because while a cake mix used to be 18 ounces they are often 13-15 ounces now. To not end up with a flat cake merely use a slightly smaller baking dish.
Don’t Make This Mistake with Jello Poke Cakes!
On a whim, I decided to buy some green sanding sugar sprinkles at Walmart. It was hands-down, the biggest mistake in this recipe not only do they not sprinkle well, but the color immediately begins to saturate the frosting and it’s not green at all. It is in fact blue.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Jello Poke Cake Recipe
- Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day – It’s a simple but super fun way to celebrate St. Patrick’s day and the kids love it!
- Only a handful of ingredients – You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make both the cake and the frosting.
- Easy to make ahead – You can make the cake up to a day or two ahead of time and just keep it covered in the fridge until you are ready to frost and serve it.
Storage Tips
This St. Patrick’s Day poke cake should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 4-5 days.
It can also be frozen and will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
This St. Patrick’s Day Lime Jello Poke Cake is the kind of dessert that brings smiles to every table. It’s light, refreshing, and just the right amount of fun with its bright green color and creamy topping. Whether you’re celebrating with a big crowd or just making something special for the family, this cake is sure to be a hit. So grab your fork, dig in, and let a little lucky charm sweetness brighten your day!
More Poke Cakes:
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For the Cake
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Prepare cake as directed on the box, adding a few squeezes of the food coloring gel and bake in an 7×11-inch baking dish.
1 Box White Cake Mix, Green Food Dye
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Let cool for 15 minutes on the counter. Using a fork, poke holes about ½-1″ apart on the cake.
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Use the hot and cold water according to Jell-O directions to make the jello in a large glass measuring cup.
3 oz Lime Jell-O, 1 Cup Boiling Water, 1 Cup Cold Water
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Carefully, and slowly pour the liquid Jell-O over the cake until it is all absorbed.
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Chill in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours.
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Top with whipped cream cream cheese frosting.
For the Frosting (see note)
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Beat the whipping cream in a mixing bowl until stiff peaks form.
1 ½ Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
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Combine cream cheese, sugar, salt, and vanilla in a separate large bowl. Beat until smooth, then fold in whipped cream.
8 oz Cream Cheese, 1 Cup Powdered Sugar, 1 Pinch Salt, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Calories: 394kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 53mg, Sodium: 404mg, Potassium: 81mg, Fiber: 0.5g, Sugar: 36g, Vitamin A: 691IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 134mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Carrian Cheney
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