Description

This festive Halloween Poke Cake combines the rich flavors of a fudge marble cake with a vibrant orange gelatin filling, creating a spooky yet delicious dessert. The cake is poked with holes to absorb the gelatin, making each bite moist and flavorful, then topped with a luscious chocolate buttercream frosting and colorful Halloween sprinkles and candy corn for a fun seasonal touch.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake

1 package fudge marble cake mix (plus ingredients required to prepare the cake)

Gelatin

2 (3-oz) packages orange flavor gelatin
1 cup boiling water
½ cup cold water

Frosting

½ cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
⅓ cup baking cocoa
¼ cup heavy cream (plus a few tablespoons more if needed)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Toppings

Halloween sprinkles
Candy corn

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare Cake: Prepare and bake the fudge marble cake according to the package directions using a 9×13-inch baking pan. Follow all instructions on the cake mix box including adding eggs, oil, and water as required.
Cool Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack for 1 hour.
Dissolve Gelatin: In a small bowl, dissolve both packages of orange gelatin into 1 cup of boiling water, stirring until fully dissolved. Then stir in ½ cup of cold water to cool the gelatin.
Poke Cake and Add Gelatin: Use a meat fork or wooden skewer to poke holes about 2 inches apart all over the cooled cake. Slowly pour the gelatin mixture evenly over the top, allowing it to soak into the holes. Refrigerate the cake for 2 to 3 hours to let the gelatin set.
Make Frosting: In a small mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter until fluffy. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar, baking cocoa, ¼ cup heavy cream, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add additional heavy cream a tablespoon at a time if needed to reach a spreadable consistency.
Frost and Decorate: Spread the chocolate buttercream frosting evenly over the gelatin-filled cake. Top the cake with Halloween-themed sprinkles and candy corn for decoration. Chill briefly if desired before serving.

Notes

Ensure the cake is fully cooled before poking and pouring the gelatin to prevent melting or soaking issues.
Use a meat fork or skewer to create holes spaced evenly for optimal gelatin absorption.
Adjust heavy cream quantity in frosting to get a smooth, spreadable texture.
This cake can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated to enhance flavors.
Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.