Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake is the perfect dessert for warm days. This cool, creamy and delicious orange cake recipe will not last long when you share it at parties or picnics this year.
What can I say? I couldn’t help myself. I love a good poke cake!!!
This one is my current favorite, but of course, that will change as soon as I make another one. A few weeks ago one of my cute scrapbooking friends was talking about this Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake, and since she doesn’t live close enough for me to just go eat hers, I HAD to make one the very next day.
I didn’t have an exact recipe for it, but Jello poke cakes are pretty easy to figure out.
I love how refreshing a poke cake is on a hot day. There is seriously something so good about eating cold cake when it is warm outside. Please tell me I am not alone in my love of eating things like this Chocolate S’mores Pudding Cake and this Lemon Strawberry Poke Cake.
Luckily our oldest son can’t seem to get enough of these cakes. Either he really likes them, or he is just a teenage boy who eats everything in sight. He is going to be thrilled when I tell him I have plans for at least 3 more of these easy Jello cakes.
Are you guys ready for more poke cake recipes? I promise to space them out. Well, unless I just can’t wait to share them with you. Just have your fat pants ready for the goodness.
What is a poke cake?
Well, a poke cake is exactly what it sounds like. After the cake has finished baking, you use a fork or a wooden spoon handle to POKE holes all over the top of the cake.
This makes holes in the cake for whatever filling you are pouring on top to soak in better.
Here are some of the most common things to pour over poke cakes:
- Jell-O
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Pudding
- Cream of Coconut
- Frosting
- Peanut Butter
- Pureed fruit
Basically any liquid that you can pour and that will soak into the warm cake is fair game.
Tips for making an Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake:
Prepare the batter for a 9×13 cake, but substitute orange juice for the liquid. This helps add a little bit more orange flavor to the cake. You could also add some orange zest too if you really want more orange goodness in it.
Let the cake cool for about 5 minutes, then use a fork to poke holes all over the top of the cake. Don’t go too crazy with the fork because if you have too many holes, you won’t see the orange stripes as well.
Mix together a box of orange Jell-O and hot water, then pour it slowly over the holes in the cake. Place it in the fridge and let it chill completely.
Whisk together a box of vanilla pudding and milk, then fold in an entire container of Cool Whip. Yes, the white stuff. If you are completely against it, you could use a stabilized whipped cream instead.
Spread the fluffy pudding mousse on top of the orange creamsicle cake and chill it again.
Run a sharp knife under hot water and dry it off before cutting a slice. Do this between each cut to keep your squares neat and clean. This is totally optional though.
Right before serving add a fun little orange candy slice to the top of each square. You could also use mandarin orange slices if you like.
More poke cake recipes that you might enjoy:
The pockets of pudding and fresh fruit on this White Chocolate Berry Pudding Cake will have you reaching for another square in a hurry.
This easy Peanut Butter Fudge Poke Cake is topped with a creamy marshmallow frosting, peanut butter cups, and mini marshmallow mallow bits. It’s so dreamy!
A sweet raspberry marshmallow topping makes this Raspberry Hazelnut Poke Cake perfect for spring parties!
This creamy Chocolate Coconut Cake will get rave reviews from the coconut lovers in your life. Make a pan and watch it disappear!
This Raspberry Lemon Cake has a sweet raspberry layer under the light lemon mousse topping. It is a cool and refreshing dessert to bring to picnics and parties.
A layer of fudge and fluffy strawberry topping makes this Strawberry Fudge Poke Cake so pretty and delicious!
Hot fudge and three times the coconut makes this Coconut Fudge Poke Cake disappear in a hurry every single time!
(original photo from June 2013)
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Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake
This Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake is the perfect summer dessert. Â This cool, creamy and delicious cake will not last long when you share it at parties or picnics this year.
Ingredients
- 1 white cake mix
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 (6 ounce) box of orange Jell-O
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1 (3.4 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
- 1 cup milk
- 1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip, thawed
- orange candy slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
- Mix the cake mix according to the back of the box, but substitute orange juice in place of the water called for.
- Bake for the time required on the back of the box. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes.
- Use a fork to poke holes over the top of the cake.
- Dissolve the orange Jell-O in boiling water. Pour the Jell-O over the top of the cake, making sure it goes in the holes. Cool completely in the refrigerator.
- Whisk together the vanilla pudding mix and milk. Fold in the Cool Whip.
- Spread over the top of the cooled cake. Cut into 24 pieces. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
- Garnish with pieces of the orange candy right before serving.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 38Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 27mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for this Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake was originally published June 19, 2013. The post and photos have been updated and republished on February 21, 2019.
The cake looks so good and I cannot wait to make it! I love your recipes and you have so many great ideas. Thanks!
Awwww, thank you so much!!
i make this cake, but I use Duncan Hines Orange cake mix. really good.
What kind of orange juice would be best for this?
It really doesn’t matter, so I would just use your favorite one. I hope you enjoy the cake.
Oh this one is right up my alley!!!
Sweet!! 😉
Mmmm I love the orange flavor and color of this cake!!
Thank you Ashley!! It really is a fun cake!
Oh. My. Yes. Please. This looks amazing!!! Love the thick layer of cool whip on the top of this cake!!!
Yes, the cool whip just makes this cake!! SO good! 😉
I am a huge creamsicle fan – the flavor always takes me back to my childhood and eating creamsicles in the summer! Looks delicious!!
I love creamsicles too, and this dessert really does taste like the real thing!
This cake looks absolutely delicious and refreshing! Perfect combo for a hot Summers day 🙂
Thank you! Perfect combo is right!! 😉
Oh my goodness that sounds delicious. I love orange creamsicles so I definitely need to try this, great job!
Yes, try it!! 🙂
Ooohhh! I’m a fan of orange creamsicle anything!!!
Then you need to try this yumminess pronto!! 😉
What a fun and yummy cake! I love orange creamsicle flavor!
Thank you! It’s pretty darn good if you ask me! 😉
Creamsicle just screams summer to me – this is a great cake!
Thank you! Me too! 🙂
Oh this looks SO delicious. Who doesn’t love Creamsicles?
I know, right?! It is just SO good! 😉
This is a cake perfect for picnics, and /or potlucks.
Absolutely!! 🙂
You do have some very nice cake cutting abilities. Thanks for tip! Now I can be a rock star like you when I make yummy poke cake like this!
Haha! Thanks!! 😉
I have yet to make a poke cake! I’m seeing them everywhere right now too! I guess I’m gonna have to try it out!!! Great tip btw-I’m going to use it!
Oh goodness! You need to get on the poke cake band wagon girl!! They’re soooo good! 😉 And you’re welcome!
Poke cakes are so much fun and I LOVE orange creamsicle (as you know with my muffins last week heehee). This looks awesome! 😀
Thanks!! Yes, creamsicle is the bomb diggity (yes I just said that! ha!)
Your desserts are killing me. My mother in law will love to have you near by so that she could eat all of the dangerous desserts you make 🙂 Great colors!!
Haha, thanks!! My sister always says she wants to live near me too, so I can fatten her up with my yummy baked goods!! 😉
Oh my! This sounds super yummy Jocelyn! I love creamsicles!
Thanks Trish!! 😉
Thank you for this! We love creamsicles!
I have never made or had a poke cake!! All these ones you keep posting are killing me! I must make my own!!! This sounds amazing!
Oh girl, you need to get busy and make one!! They are fantastic!! 😉
Keep the poke cake recipes coming! This one looks divine.
Thanks Nicole!!
Oh yum!! I love orange creamsicle!! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
Thanks Jenna!!
I may be he last person on earth to have tried to make a poke cake! What am I waiting for! I love the creamsicle flavor Jocelyn! Perfect for summer!
Yes, you need to make one!! Try this one, you won’t be disappointed, that’s for sure!! 😉
Yeah for Creamsicle … swirl on top is perfect! Poke cake is always a winner 🙂
Yes it is! 😉 Thanks Brenda!
I was wondering if I can substitute real whipped cream for the cool whip….my husband loves orange cake but hates cool whip. Thank you
You could definitely try it with the real whipped cream, but since I have only made them with Cool Whip I can’t say for sure. I don’t know why it wouldn’t work though.
I am totally loving this poke cake version!
Thanks Deborah!!
This cake is excellent. To make it taste even better, instead of using a white cake mix use the Orange cake mix. I make this often for the girls I work with,
Thanks for the tip Joan. I was looking for an orange cake, but didn’t see one the day I was out shopping. I will keep my eyes open next time 🙂
Eclectic is code for real life, right? I probably shouldn’t admit how many things I serve in a heap on a plate. I’m not even sure this cake would make it to a plate. I love the swirl action you achieved on the top. Very psychedelic. Can’t wait to try it.
Haha, I heap a ton on my plate too! And thank you!!
I love the swirls!!
Thanks!!
Could you substitute orange soda for the orange juice?
I’m sure you could! If you try it, let me know if it works!!
hahaha, you’re awesome. This cake is my dream cake. I adore, adore, adore creamsicles
Thank you so much!! 😉
This looks so dreamy, indeed! Pinning!
Thanks so much!!! 🙂
I love creamsicles or when I was growing up they called them Dreamsicles. I just wrote and article about them in a magazine. I wish I’d seen this post, I would have linked it to this cake. I can’t wait to try this and your other poke cakes. Thanks for sharing.
Oh my goodness, thank you for even wishing you could’ve!! That means a lot!!
My husband would love this cake! All of the cake recipes sound amazing and my husband and I are going to have to try all of them!
Try away!! You will love them all I’m sure!! 🙂
I don’t understand what it means to “fold”
I looked up the terminology. You’re not mixing the pudding and cool whip?
Yes, after you mix the pudding and milk, you will gently fold the Cool Whip into the pudding. Folding is using a spatula to to turn the mixture without stirring. The main reason to fold is to preserve the air bubbles contained in the whipped item. I hope that helps 🙂
Sounds super yummy and looks so pretty!
I made the Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake for a gathering on the Fourth of July. It was a hit! It was so refreshing on such a hot day.
They have a Key Lime Cake right now through Mid-April. I made this cake last year using it with Lime Jello and it is divine! I have one in the oven right now! I bought 5 boxes this year since it is seasonal. We have until October to eat them. That is NOO problem! ☺
I am making the orangecreamsicle cake, my question is…I only have a large box of sugar free vanilla instant pudding (Jell-o). It calls for 3 cups of milk to make it into pudding. You recipe says only 1 cup of milk. What I need to know is did you use a small box or large box of (Jell-o) pudding?
Hi, Karen. In the recipe, it does say 3.4 after the pudding. I added the oz after it to make it clear what size box I added. You could just use half the pudding mix in the box you have.
Thank you, I realized you put 3.4 on the recipe, but the large size box of sugar free vanilla pudding Jell-o brand says it is 1.5 oz. I do not have regular pudding to know what the oz. It has in it. So that was the reason I was asking in the first place. You would know if the box you used was the small one or the larger one.:-)
Sorry about the confusion! I guess I didn’t realize you just need to know small or large…I used the small box 🙂
Thank you very much, I’m sure this recipe will be as goods it looks, thank you for sharing.
it’s about time i crawled out of my blogger cave!!
so honored you called ME “friend”…
love you!! you make the world such a better, happier place!
You will always hold a special place in my heart as one of my first blogging friends! I heart ya! Now I just need to meet you in person!!!
I needed a last minute Orange Creamsicle cupcake recipe for a friend’s Vintage Magic Kingdom birthday party. I tried another recipe but they just weren’t orange tasting! So I decided to try this as cupcakes and it worked quite well. I followed the recipe but made cupcakes instead and kept an eye on them when I put them in the oven since I didn’t have a bake time for them. It made nearly 24 cupcakes I think and I used foil liners to keep them looking pretty and keep any liquids in. These were a hit, especially the frosting!
That is awesome to hear. I love that you made them into cupcakes…good call on the foil liners 🙂 Isn’t that topping dreamy?
Where can I find the Orange Crush topping??
I found it at the grocery store in the ice cream topping aisle. I’m actually not sure if it is available now or not. It is an optional topping, so it won’t affect the cake if you can’t find it. You could top it with orange sprinkles too if you like!
Oooh, i Can’t wait to try this one. Have you had the caramel apple poke cake? It was fantastic, I served it war with vanilla ice cream.
I made this cake for my co-worker’s birthday and glad to say it was a big hit! I was told it was very refreshing and light. People liked the frosting the most. I did look at 3 stores for the orange crush ice cream topper (because it sounds so yummy) and couldn’t find it so used the food coloring. It doesn’t look as good as your picture though. I need to practice my swirling skills more, lol.
Yay for it being a hit with your work. That frosting is so good!!! I think the Orange Crush topping might have been discontinued because I can’t find it anymore either.
I just made this cake last night for my work luncheon. Fingers crossed I’m sure everyone will love it! Looks absolutely devine!
Where can I get the orange crush dessert topper. I ‘ve never heard of it.
Thanks…..
Gee
I think that topping has been discontinued now. You can leave it off as it doesn’t affect the cake. You could also tint a little bit of the pudding topping orange and swirl that on top if you like. I hope you enjoy the cake!
Oh my goodness, this looks absolutely amazing!! YUM!
I seriously love poke cake & creamsicle is the yummiest flavor! So, this combination has to be great!
This looks amazing! My family will love this!
Made this today and my family and I love it! The cake is perfectly moist, the frosting is amazing! Will definitely be making this again!
Just found this Recipe on Pinterest, making this tonight for Father’s Day! Can’t wait to Taste it tomorrow!
Yay for finding new yummy recipes to try! I’m excited to hear how your family likes this cake!!
Hi,
Are you using whole eggs or just the whites in your cake as the box indicates? If just using the whites, then I am assuming the cake has a yellowish tint due to the orange juice, correct?
Thank you so much for your response.
My daughter has requested an orange creme sickle cake for her birthday next week & yours looks yummy.
I made the cake using the whole egg directions on the back of the box and orange juice instead of the water, so the cake does have a slight yellow tint. Happy Birthday to your daughter. I hope she enjoys the cake!