The holiday season is here, and 东精影业 News is asking members of the University of Hawaiʻi ʻohana to share their favorite recipes. The hope is these recipes and the short stories that accompany them will give everyone some ideas for the holidays along with some good feelings of the season.
Jace Saplan, dean of liberal arts and sciences at Hawaiʻi Community College, shared his family’s jello poke cake recipe.
“It showed up one year when we needed something simple, reliable and a little joyful. The holidays can be busy and emotional, and that year felt especially full,” Saplan said. “My mom wanted a dessert that did not feel heavy, did not take all day, and would still bring people together. This cake did exactly that.”
The first time his mother Marilyn made the cake, Saplan watched the holiday colors seep into the warm cake, creating something bright without a lot of effort.
“Since then, the cake has become part of how we mark the season. It reminds me that the holidays do not need to be perfect to be meaningful. What matters is that we create small moments that help us sit together, breathe and enjoy being family,” he said. “This cake has become one of those moments for us. Simple. Light. A little nostalgic. Something that shows up every year to remind us that joy can be uncomplicated.”
Christmas Jello Poke Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 box white cake mix (plus eggs, oil, and water according to package)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Jello Layers
- 1 small box cherry or strawberry Jell-O
- 1 small box lime Jell-O
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 cups cold water
Topping
- 1 container Cool Whip or 3 cups whipped cream
- Christmas sprinkles and/or maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Bake the cake in a 9×13 inch pan according to the package instructions. Add the vanilla for a little extra warmth. Let it cool for about 20 minutes.
- Use the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes across the entire cake.
- Prepare each Jell-O flavor in separate bowls by mixing the powder with 1 cup boiling water and 1 cup cold water.
- Pour the red Jell-O into half the holes and the green Jell-O into the rest. Alternate colors so you create a pattern.
- Chill the cake for at least 4 hours. Overnight is ideal.
- Spread Cool Whip or whipped cream on top, then finish with sprinkles or peppermint. Slice to reveal the colors inside.