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 c