Mini Mondays: Mini Jello Poke Cakes

Jello poke cakes are the perfect light dessert for spring and summer.  These little bundt cakes are even lighter because they are made with just cake mix and a can of sprite zero.  This is a tried and true Weight Watchers recipe where you take a box of cake mix and mix it with a can of diet soda (whatever kind you want).  Generally if you're making a darker cake (like chocolate) you want to use a darker diet soda (like diet coke).  I was skeptical about this at first because it sounds pretty crazy, but it totally works.  These little cakes have a slightly gummier texture than if you made them the traditional way (with eggs and oil), and if you're making these as cupcakes or a cake (as opposed to the mini bundt cakes) you'll want to cook them for 2-3 minutes longer than what it says on the box.  

The best part about these cute little cakes?  They clock in at just 2 Weight Watchers points plus!  Of course, that doesn't mean you can eat the entire batch, but you can feel less guilty about indulging in 1 or 2 when you're craving something sweet.

Mini Jello Poke Cakes

What you need:

1 box cake mix (I used white)

1 can Sprite Zero (or another diet lemon lime soda)

1 package jello (I used strawberry)

1 cup boiling water

1/2 cup cold water

Fat free cool whip

What you do:

Preheat the oven to 350*.  Mix the cake mix with the can of Sprite Zero.  If you're making mini bundt cakes you'll bake them for 18 minutes.  If you're making cupcakes or a regular cake add 3 minutes to the recommended cooking time on the cake mix box.  Let them cook completely once you take them out of the oven.  Once they're cook make the jello.  Add the package of jello the boiling water and whisk until the jello is dissolved, then whisk in the cold water.  

Take a bamboo skewer or a fork to poke several holes into the flat side of each mini bundt cake (if you're making cupcakes or a cake just poke holes on the top).  Then spoon some jello over each cake.  Refrigerate the cake for several hours.  Top each mini cake with one tablespoon of fat free Cool Whip.  

I took these to a little dinner party and no one could tell that they were "diet" cakes and neither could Cole or my brother.  I call that a success in my book.  I have a feeling these will be making many more appearances in my kitchen this year.