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The Delightful Orange Crush Poke Cake

Bright, bubbly, and impossibly moist — the Orange Crush Poke Cake is a fun, retro-style dessert that blends a tender vanilla or yellow cake with fizzy orange soda and a glossy orange gelatin topping. Every bite is juicy and citrusy, and the poking step creates little wells that soak up the soda so the cake stays tender and full of flavor. Perfect for backyard parties, birthdays, or whenever you want a happy, citrus-sunshine dessert.

Yield & timing

Makes: one 9×13-inch pan (about 12–16 servings)
Prep time: 20–30 minutes
Bake time: 25–30 minutes
Chill time (recommended): 2–4 hours (can be served sooner, but chilling helps set the topping and texture)

Ingredients

Cake

1 box yellow cake mix (about 15.25 oz) or use a homemade yellow/vanilla cake batter (see notes).
Ingredients called for on the box: eggs, oil, water (or the equivalents, if you make from scratch).

Soak

12 fl oz (1 can) Orange Crush (or other orange soda). If you prefer less sweetness, use 10–12 fl oz and reduce simple syrup in gelatin step.

Topping (orange gelatin layer)

1 (3 oz) package orange-flavored gelatin (Jell-O or similar)
1 cup boiling water
1 cup cold water (or 3/4 cup cold soda + 1/4 cup cold water for extra fizz/flavor)
Optional: 1–2 tablespoons orange liqueur (for adults) — omit for kids

Whipped topping

8 oz (about 1 container) cool whip-style whipped topping, or
1 1/2 cups heavy cream whipped to soft peaks with 2–3 tablespoons powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Garnish (optional)

Fresh orange slices, zest, or candied orange peel
Sprinkles, shredded coconut, or chopped toasted almonds

Equipment

9×13-inch baking pan
Toothpick or wooden spoon handle (for poking)
Whisk and mixing bowls
Saucepan or kettle (for boiling water)
Spatula
Measuring cups and spoons

Step-by-step method

1 — Bake the cake

Preheat oven to the temperature directed on your cake mix or recipe (usually 350°F / 175°C for a boxed yellow cake).
Prepare the cake batter according to the package directions (or your homemade recipe) and pour it evenly into a greased 9×13-inch pan.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs — typically 25–30 minutes for a 9×13 using box mix. Do not overbake — the cake should be slightly springy.
Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes. It should be warm (not hot) for the next step.

2 — Poke, then soak

Using the handle of a wooden spoon, a large straw, or a skewer, gently poke holes all over the warm cake. Aim for holes about 1 inch apart, going almost to the bottom but not through the pan. You want a grid of wells for the soda to sink into.
Slowly pour the 12 fl oz Orange Crush evenly over the top of the cake. Pour gently and in a few passes so the soda soaks into the holes instead of puddling on top. The cake will seem very moist — that’s perfect.
Let the cake sit for 10–20 minutes at room temperature so the soda fully absorbs into the cake.