Easy Fireball Cake Recipe
If you're searching for a unique dessert for your next party, you're going to love this adults-only treat! Made with a boxed cake mix and your favorite cinnamon whisky, this Fireball cake recipe is the perfect dessert for your next get-together. Simply combine the liquor with cherry Jello and top it with Cool Whip to make this flavorful poke cake in a matter of minutes!
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What Do I Need to Make Fireball Cake?
Made with white cake mix and cherry gelatin, this spiked poke cake is perfect for any adult-only celebration! And the best part about whipping up this quick dessert is that it can be prepared with just a few simple ingredients. All you need to make your own Fireball poke cake at home is:
- White cake mix
- Eggs
- Whole milk
- Vegetable oil
- Cherry Jell-o
- Boiling water
- Fireball whiskey
- Cool Whip
- Red Hots (optional)
- Red sanding sugar (optional)
How Do I Make Fireball Cake?
You're going to love how quick and easy this alcohol-infused dessert comes together. That's because you can prep and bake it in around one hour! After that, just give the cake time to chill and add your decorations to create an amazing adult-friendly treat for your next party.
Step One: Bake the Cake
Get ready to bake your white cake by preheating the oven to 325 degrees and greasing a 9x13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Combine the cake mixes, eggs, oil, and milk in a large bowl. Beat the ingredients until combined and no lumps remain. Then, pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and bake for one hour, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Step Two: Prepare the Cake
When the cake is finished baking, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for around 20 minutes. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, make holes every ½ inch to an inch all over the cake. Try not to press the handle to the bottom of the pan to avoid poking holes through the cake.
Step Three: Make the Jell-o
After adding holes to the cake, set it aside to cool some more while you prepare your gelatin. Start by combining the package of cherry Jell-O with the boiling water, stirring until the gelatin is fully dissolved. Then, add the Fireball whiskey to the bowl and stir to mix.
Step Four: Add the Jell-O to the Cake
Transfer the gelatin to a pourable measuring cup and slowly pour the liquid over the cake, making sure to get the gelatin into all the holes. Cover the entire cake with the mixture.
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Step Five: Chill the Cake
Cover the pan with plastic wrap place the cake in the refrigerator to chill and allow the Jell-O to set up. Keep the dessert in the fridge for at least two hours or up to overnight for the most flavor.
Step Six: Decorate Your Fireball Cake
When the Jell-O is fully set, remove the cover and spread the Cool Whip in an even layer over the top of the cake. Decorate the frosting with red sanding sugar and Red Hot candies before serving.
How Do You Store Fireball Poke Cake?
Since this dessert is topped with Cool Whip, it should be kept in the refrigerator when it's not being served. Cover the pan or transfer extra slices to an airtight container for best results. The cake will stay good in the refrigerator for up to five days.
You can also store the cake in the freezer for up to three months. Leave off the sanding sugar and candy for best results when freezing the cake. Simply cover the pan with foil and plastic wrap or in a freezer-safe, airtight container.
Can Kids Eat Fireball Cake?
While some alcohol-infused desserts may be safe for kids to eat, this Fireball recipe probably isn't the best option for a party with little ones. That's because the undiluted liquor is poured directly into the cake, which means it will soak into each bite.
What Flavor is Fireball?
Fireball whisky has a cinnamon flavor, making it a great addition to a cake! The spicy flavor balances perfectly with the sweetness of the white cake and Cool Whip.
Can I Make This Poke Cake with Other Types of Whiskey?
Of course! If you're not a fan of the cinnamon flavor found in Fireball, you can easily replace the alcohol with another type of whiskey. When picking a different alcohol, it's a good idea to substitute a whiskey variety that's on the sweeter side to ensure that it matches the other flavors in the cake.
Fireball Cake Recipe Ideas
This quick and easy dessert is perfect on its own. But that doesn't mean you can't change things up to create a unique treat for your next party. Try these delicious substitution ideas as you prepare your own whiskey cake.
- Use different toppings. There are a variety of topping ideas you can use to give your dessert an amazing look and taste. Try swapping out the Cool Whip for white icing. Or add some maraschino cherries to the top of each piece for another pop of color.
- Try different Jello flavors. Cherry gelatin is a great option for adding a sweetness to your dessert. But you can use a variety of different flavors to make your own cake, including strawberry or raspberry.
Easy Fireball Cake Recipe
Equipment
- Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer
- Pourable Measuring Cup
- Wooden Spoon
- 9x13 Cake Pan
- Cooking Spray
Ingredients
- 2 White Cake Mixes 14.25 ounces
- 6 Large Eggs
- 1 Cup Whole Milk
- 1 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 Box Cherry Jell-O 3 ounces
- 1 Cup Boiling Water
- 1 Cup Fireball Whiskey
- 1 Tub Cool Whip 16 ounces
- Red Hots optional garnish
- Red Sanding Sugar optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees fahrenheit and spray a 9x13 cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mixes, eggs, oil, and milk. Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the mixture until no lumps remain. Do not overbeat.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let rest for about 20 minutes or until cooled.
- Using the handle end of a wooden spoon, make holes in the cake, about every ½ inch to an inch. Do not press it through all the way to the bottom, just a little over halfway through.
- Set the cake aside and place the jello in a medium mixing bowl. Pour the boiling water over the top and stir until the jello is fully dissolved. Add the Fireball and give a slight stir.
- Using a pourable measuring cup (I use a 2-cup size) slowly pour the jello over the cake, covering every inch and ensuring it gets in every hole.
- Cover and place in the fridge for 2 hours or until set.
- Coat the top of the cake with cool whip, then sprinkle with red sanding sugar and red hots, if desired. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
I do not suggest doing this with one cake mix, but if you need to, use a 7x11 cake pan, reduce the cake ingredients by half, do not pour all of the jello over the cake as it’s too much, reduce the baking time to 25 minutes, and adjust the baking temperature to 340 degrees.
The red sanding sugar will melt into the whipped cream, so add it with that in mind.
Do not cook your cake any hotter than 325 degrees. This will cause it to cook unevenly and be a disaster.
Do not overmix your cake batter. This can cause it to rise too quickly and then fall, during the baking process, causing a crater in the middle of your cake. If this happens, you can fill in the crater with cool whip and no one will ever know.
