Source: Atlas Obscura
In the United States, the Jell-O brand is all about reinvention. Domestic goddesses of the 1940s welcomed iconic, wobbling mounds of gelatinous savory salads. The 1970s presidential scandal practically begged for the brand’s pudding-filled Watergate cake. That very same decade, the company wanted to make it known that Jell-O could fill any void.
And the poke cake was born.The idea was simple: First, create a hole. Then, fill it with Jell-O. No housewife could resist the promise of a slogan like, “More smiles than ever. Introducing moister, fruitier Rainbow Cake.” It offered a familiar and convenient approach, but elevated the finished product in color and (if you liked Jell-O) flavor, without the need for fancy techniques or real fruit. Just bake a cake from your usual boxed mix, then poke a bunch of holes in it with a…