This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

side view of trick or treat cake with candy corn on the top

I loved making this pretty cake!  It was so fun to create and even more fun to cut into to see the spectacular designs!  Kind of like a snow flake, each cut had a different pretty pattern!  You can change up the stripes and colors by adding more or less to each layer you pour!

I have actually made this cake TWO WAYS!!  You can make it with just the cake and frosting… OR you can create a lovely chocolate orange poke cake!  Both were delicious and I really couldn’t decide which to post so I thought I’d post BOTH!  :)

Keep in mind, if you make the poke cake, the orange jello will turn some of the white orange so you will loose some of the marbling.

Click print here 

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
side view of trick or treat cake with candy corn on the top
5 from 2 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Trick or Treat Cake Two Ways! (Poke Cake!)

You can make it with just the cake and frosting… OR you can create a lovely chocolate orange poke cake!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 12 servings
buy hollys book

Ingredients  

  • 1 box white cake mix plus ingredients required to prepare it
  • 2 boxes orange Jell-O (3oz each) (optional, this is for the poke cake)
  • orange food coloring gel color works best
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Frosting

  • 6 tablespoons butter softened
  • 1 tablespoon shortening
  • 2 ⅔ cups powdered sugar
  • cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • cup milk room temperature
  • 1 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions 

  • Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Grease & flour a 9x13 pan.
  • Divide the batter into 3 bowls, ½ of the batter in one bowl and ¼ in the other two bowls.
  • Add add orange food coloring to ¼ of the batter to reach desired color. (Gel Color works best). Add the cocoa powder to the second bowl with ¼ of the batter. Mix well.
  • Pour about ¼ cup white batter into your pan. Alternate pouring the different colors of batter ¼ cup at a time, one on top of the other. (I did: white, orange, white, brown). Bake according to package directions.
    making trick or treat zebra cake
  • Cool and frost with frosting below or make a poke cake. Poke cake can also be frosted!

To Make Orange Poke Cake

  • Poke holes all over the top of the cooled cake using a skewer or chopstick (or similar).
  • Dissolve Jell-O in 1 cup of boiling water. Once completely dissolved, stir in cold water. Gently pour over cake and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Chocolate Frosting

  • Mix together icing sugar and cocoa. Set aside.
  • Combine shortening and butter in a bowl. Beat shortening and butter until creamed.
  • Combine milk and vanilla.
  • Slowly alternate adding cocoa mixture and milk mixture
  • Beat until combined and fluffy (approximately 3 minutes). Frost cake and serve!
    trick or treat orange, brown and white zebra cake

Notes

Nutrition information is for frosted cake (not a poke cake)
5 from 2 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 342 | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 353mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 188IU | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Categories:

,

Recipes you'll love

About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
See more posts by Holly

Follow Holly on social media:

pinterest facebook twitter instagram

Free eBook!

Subscribe to receive weekly recipes and get a FREE Bonus e-book: Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals!

You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of emails you receive.

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. This will be a Great Treat for the Harvest Festival planned for the children of our Church. Thank you . Keep the treats coming.