Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake is a refreshing summer dessert. Fluffy vanilla frosting and orange flavor makes this cake taste just like the frozen treats from your childhood. This poke cake recipe is the perfect dessert for summer picnics and potlucks.
Love orange desserts? You need to try this Orange Creamsicle Fudge too.
Orange Creamsicle Cake
Poke cakes are one of the easiest desserts to make when you need a quick dessert. It's so easy to transform a simple box mix into a decadent and dreamy dessert that will wow everyone.
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 S'mores Cake and this Lemon Poke Cake.
A few weeks ago one of my friends was talking about this Orange Creamsicle Cake that she had made. Unfortunately, she doesn't live close enough for me to just go eat hers, so I decided to make an easy Jello cake the very next day.
Jello poke cakes are a delicious way to add flavor and color to a box cake mix.
What is a poke cake?
Well, a poke cake is exactly what it sounds like. After the cake has finished baking, you use the prongs on a fork or the handle on a wooden spoon 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. The flavor possibilities for these chilly moist cakes are endless.
Common things to pour on poke cakes:
- Jell-O
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Instant Pudding
- Cream of Coconut
- Canned Frosting
- Peanut Butter
- Pureed fruit
Basically, any liquid that you can pour and that will soak into the warm cake is fair game.
What You'll Need
This Jello cake comes together with just a few ingredients. Orange gelatin and vanilla pudding give this vintage cake recipe that delicious creamsicle flavor.
- Vanilla Cake Mix - a box mix makes this cake so easy to make
- Orange Juice - adds more orange flavor to the poke cake recipe. BRUCREW TIP: You can also use orange soda.
- Orange Jello - mix the dry Jello powder with hot water to dissolve it
- Instant Vanilla Frosting - makes the frosting thick and sweet
- Milk - whole, 2%, or 1% milk can be used
- Cool Whip - adds a light and fluffy texture to the pudding mix frosting
How to make the Best Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake
This orange Jello poke cake is very easy to make and assemble because it starts with a box cake mix. To add a little bit more orange flavor to the cake use orange juice.
- Prepare the vanilla cake mix using orange juice instead of water.
- Let the cake cool for about 5 minutes, then use a fork to poke holes all over the top of the cake.
- Mix together a box of orange Jello and hot water, then pour it slowly over the holes in the cake.
- Place the orange poke cake in the fridge and let it chill completely.
- Whisk together a box of instant vanilla pudding and milk, then fold in an entire container of Cool Whip. If you are completely against it, you could use this Whipped Cream recipe instead.
- Spread the fluffy pudding mousse on top of the orange creamsicle cake and chill it again.
- Right before serving add a little orange candy slice to the top of each square. You could also use mandarin orange slices if you like.
Recipe Tips:
- Add 2 tablespoons of orange zest to the cake batter to give this orange Jello cake an even stronger orange flavor.
- Do not over poke the dreamsicle cake with your fork. If you have too many holes, you will not see the orange strips very well.
- Make sure you let the orange Jello cake cool for several hours before adding the pudding frosting.
- 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.
- To make a lighter more diet-friendly cake, use sugar-free mixes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a poke cake need to be refrigerated?
Yes, this creamsicle orange poke cake has Jello in the cake and instant vanilla pudding in the frosting, so it needs to be kept in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Can a poke cake be made ahead of time?
A poke cake can be made up to 2 days ahead of time. In fact, it is actually best if it is made early, so the flavors have time to chill and deepen.
More Poke Cake Recipes
- White Chocolate Pudding Cake
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Poke Cake
- Chocolate Coconut Cake
- Chocolate Poke Cake
Other Orange Desserts
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Recipe
Orange Creamsicle Cake Recipe
Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake is a refreshing summer dessert. Fluffy vanilla frosting and orange flavor makes this cake taste just like the frozen treats from your childhood. This poke cake recipe is the perfect dessert for summer picnics and potlucks.
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.
(original photo from June 2013)
*The post for this Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake was originally published June 19, 2013. The photos were updated March 2018 and the post was updated and republished May 8, 2021.
Jenna
Oh yum!! I love orange creamsicle!! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Jenna!!
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry
Keep the poke cake recipes coming! This one looks divine.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Nicole!!
Tieghan
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!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Oh girl, you need to get busy and make one!! They are fantastic!! 😉
Trish - Mom On Timeout
Oh my! This sounds super yummy Jocelyn! I love creamsicles!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Trish!! 😉
Sarah Skaggs
Thank you for this! We love creamsicles!
Eat Good 4 Life
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!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, thanks!! My sister always says she wants to live near me too, so I can fatten her up with my yummy baked goods!! 😉
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
Poke cakes are so much fun and I LOVE orange creamsicle (as you know with my muffins last week heehee). This looks awesome! 😀
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks!! Yes, creamsicle is the bomb diggity (yes I just said that! ha!)
Chels R.
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!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Oh goodness! You need to get on the poke cake band wagon girl!! They're soooo good! 😉 And you're welcome!
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats
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!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha! Thanks!! 😉
Mary.
This is a cake perfect for picnics, and /or potlucks.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Absolutely!! 🙂
marcie@flavorthemoments
Oh this looks SO delicious. Who doesn't love Creamsicles?
Jocelyn Brubaker
I know, right?! It is just SO good! 😉
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
Creamsicle just screams summer to me - this is a great cake!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you! Me too! 🙂
Kristy
What a fun and yummy cake! I love orange creamsicle flavor!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you! It's pretty darn good if you ask me! 😉
Joanne @ Fifteen Spatulas
Ooohhh! I'm a fan of orange creamsicle anything!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Then you need to try this yumminess pronto!! 😉
Happy Valley Chow
Oh my goodness that sounds delicious. I love orange creamsicles so I definitely need to try this, great job!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes, try it!! 🙂
Veronica
This cake looks absolutely delicious and refreshing! Perfect combo for a hot Summers day 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you! Perfect combo is right!! 😉
Leigh Anne@Yourhomebasedmom.com
I am a huge creamsicle fan - the flavor always takes me back to my childhood and eating creamsicles in the summer! Looks delicious!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I love creamsicles too, and this dessert really does taste like the real thing!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
Oh. My. Yes. Please. This looks amazing!!! Love the thick layer of cool whip on the top of this cake!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes, the cool whip just makes this cake!! SO good! 😉
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
Mmmm I love the orange flavor and color of this cake!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Ashley!! It really is a fun cake!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
Oh this one is right up my alley!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Sweet!! 😉
Joan
The cake looks so good and I cannot wait to make it! I love your recipes and you have so many great ideas. Thanks!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Awwww, thank you so much!!
bonnie barr
i make this cake, but I use Duncan Hines Orange cake mix. really good.
Jazmine
What kind of orange juice would be best for this?
Jocelyn
It really doesn't matter, so I would just use your favorite one. I hope you enjoy the cake.