How to Make Jello Cake

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 17, 2023 References Tested

Do you love cake? Do you love Jello? Have you ever thought about combining your loves? There are two common ways to make a Jello cake. Jello “poke” cake and Jello mousse cake are both easy to make and delicious dessert options for any meal. They are great for festive gatherings and kids' birthday parties. Get creative and combine Jello flavors to make a wildly colorful cake.

Ingredients

White or yellow cake mix
1 egg
1 stick of butter
6 ounce box Jello
3 ounce box Jello (needed for the Jello mousse cake)
3 cups of water
8 ounces tub of cool whip or icing
Candy sprinkles (optional)

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making a Jello “Poke” Cake

1
Prepare a white or yellow cake mix. Follow the box's directions. Use a sheet cake (9x11) baking pan. This is an ideal size as it allows the cake to cook evenly. ^{[1]
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- If you want to get really creative, use different flavors of cake mix too. Some people prefer the taste of angel food cake. Experiment with other flavors to find what you like.
- Every cake's instructions are different, but most can be made in under 30 minutes.
- You can also use a cupcake pan and make individual sized Jello cakes. These are great for kids' parties.^{[2]
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- Let the cake cool for at least 15 minutes. To avoid burning yourself and to help the Jello to congeal on your cake, it should be at room temperature.^{[3]
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2
Poke holes with a fork. This can be done with a fork, chopsticks, or any other pointed cooking utensil. Holes should not go all the way through the cake to the bottom of the pan. Holes should be made every 1/2 - 3/4 inch (1-2 centimeters).^{[4]
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3
Combine 6 oz of Jello with 2 cups of boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved. If you do not dissolve the Jello mix entirely, it will clump and not congeal properly.^{[5]
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- If you decide to make a layered Jello cake, use 1 box of gelatin for each layer. You could coordinate for holidays such as red and blue gelatin for the 4th of July. This is also a good idea, if you are trying to accommodate a lot of people who prefer different flavors.^{[6]
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- For a vegan option, use Weikfield jelly based on agar-agar (a seaweed). It is available in India and in Indian stores worldwide. It works just like Jello for this recipe. Jello is not a vegan dessert. Gelatin is a protein produced by partial hydrolysis of collagen extracted from the various animal parts.^{[7]
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4
Pour liquid Jello evenly over the cake. The holes you made in the cake allow Jello to seep into the cake.^{[8]
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- Most people prefer that the Jello be evenly spread throughout the cake, giving each bite an equal portion of cake and Jello. Feel free to get creative. Maybe spell out a person’s name if it is their birthday. Make elaborate Jello designs. You might even consider combining several flavors of Jello to give your cake a pop of color.
5
Place the cake in the refrigerator. Let sit for about 1 hour or until the gelatin solidifies.^{[9]
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Spread a whipped topping over the top of cake. Decorate with colorful candy sprinkles (optional), fruits, candles, and anything else that helps make the cake more festive. You might consider mixing in some fun food coloring into your whipped topping to give it a splash of color. ^{[10]
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Enjoy your Jello “poke” cake.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Making a Jello Mousse Cake

1
Prepare your choice of cake mix. Follow the instructions and use a 9x11 baking pan, unless otherwise indicated on the box. You might consider a clear baking dish as well. The Jello mousse cake is much prettier from the side than the Jello “poke” cake because it has distinguishable layers. A clear dish will allow your family or guests to see this.
- Most cake mixes take around 30 minutes to make. ^{[11]
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- Allow your cake to cool for at least 15 minutes. To avoid burning yourself and to help the Jello-mousse layer settle without becoming runny, your cake should be at room temperature.^{[12]
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2
Combine Jello and water. Take 6 oz of Jello with 2 cups of boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved. If you do not dissolve the Jello mix entirely, it will clump and not congeal properly.^{[13]
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Let the Jello sit for 20-30 minutes at room temperature. If you need your Jello to set more quickly, place it in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.^{[15]
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Beat in 8 oz of cool whip. Once the Jello starts to thicken, take your cool whip and mix it completely with your Jello. This will give it a mousse-like texture.^{[16]
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Spread mousse over the top of your cake. Make it an even layer. If using a 9x11 pan, your mousse layer should be about 3/4' thick.^{[17]
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Refrigerate for 1 hour. This will allow the mousse to fully set. If you don't refrigerate the mousse, it will stay runny and won't support the next layer of the cake.^{[18]
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Make another batch of Jello for the top layer. Add 3 oz of Jello mix to 1 cup of boiling water and stir. When the gelatin is dissolved (like before), add 1/2 cup of cold water and let cool at room temperature.^{[19]
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- You can combine flavors at this point, if you'd like. For instance, use cherry Jello for the mousse and strawberry Jello for the top layer. Then you'll have a berry Jello mousse cake.
8
Pour Jello over mousse and place in the refrigerator. This layer of Jello should be even as well.^{[20]
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Decorate your cake. A lot of people like to add fruits to this final Jello layer. Pick fruits that compliment your Jello flavors like cherries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or apple slices.^{[21]
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- If you are celebrating a specific occasion, like someone’s birthday, spell out a message with your fruits or sprinkles.
- If you decide to make a several layer Jello mousse cake, make sure to use a deep container as it will tend to slide or sag.
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Enjoy your Jello mousse cake.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I make this without the cake layer so it is wheat-free?

Qamar

Top Answerer

Yes, but then it would just be gelatin.
Question

What should I do if I don't have time to cool the Jello?

Community Answer

Unfortunately, the recipe won't work if the Jello isn't cool.
Question

Why can't I use cold water for the jello?

Community Answer

The water has to be hot in order to dissolve the jello powder.