Raspberry-Hibiscus Poke Cake

Name: Raspberry-Hibiscus Poke Cake
Yield: 12 Servings
Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into pieces, plus more for pan; 3 cups (345 g) cake flour; 1½ tsp. baking powder; 1 tsp. baking soda; ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt; 2 cups (400 g) sugar; 6 large egg whites; 2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; ½ tsp. almond extract; 1½ cups buttermilk; 2 12-oz. bags frozen raspberries, thawed; 1 Tbsp. unflavored powdered gelatin; ½ cup (100 g) sugar; ¼ cup dried hibiscus flowers; 1 10-oz. bag mini marshmallows; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; 1½ cups heavy cream, divided

By Victoria Granof

March 16, 2021

Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Victoria Granof, prop styling by Sophie Strangio

This recipe puts a modern spin on the retro poke cake, a popular 1970s dessert made by poking holes in a sheet cake and pouring in bright Jell-O for a moist, groovy-looking crumb. In this case the gelatin mixture gets its fruit flavor and color from a combination of hibiscus and fresh raspberries, a take on Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger tea. The whole thing is topped off with a marshmallow whipped cream frosting. Chopsticks are the ideal size for poking the holes in the cake, but the slender handle of a wooden spoon or fork will also work. —BA Test Kitchen

Recipe notes

Neapolitan Cake

Inspired by Wayne Thiebaud’s iconic Cake Slice, these three distinct layers start with one simple batter.

Matcha-Berry Frozen Yogurt

Froyo for one, made in a blender and topped with a crackly magic shell.

Double-Chocolate Flourless Brownies

Nutty and deeply chocolatey, these brownies just so happen to be gluten-free.

Coffee Cake Scones

Sour cream scones get treated to a cinnamon-sugar swirl and crunchy streusel crown.

Millionaire’s Shortbread

Our ultimate version of the luxe chocolate-caramel bars.

Summer Berry Stovetop Crisp

This no-oven-needed crisp can be made with almost any fresh berry (we’d avoid raspberries) and comes together within 45 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Cookies With Olive Oil and Sea Salt

Olive oil gives these cookies robust, sophisticated flavor (and makes them secretly vegan).

Dark Chocolate Flax Bark

Crunchy, seedy flax crackers get topped with dark chocolate and a showering of sea salt for the ultimate sweet and salty snack.