Craving a delightful dessert that's bursting with strawberry flavor? Look no further than this easy strawberry poke cake recipe! This crowd-pleasing treat features a light and fluffy cake mix base studded with fresh juicy strawberries. The strawberry sauce soaks into the poke cake, creating a refreshingly moist and delicious dessert.
This strawberry dessert is perfect for potlucks, summer gatherings, or a delightful anytime treat! Strawberry desserts are my favorite and I love this strawberry upside down cake and this 3 ingredient strawberry dump cake with fresh strawberries! Nothing beats fresh strawberries when they are in season! Oh yes, this lemon poke cake is also perfect for the summer!
Table of contents
Why I love this dessert
Effortlessly Impressive: Strawberry poke cakes deliver show-stopping flavor and visual appeal without requiring complicated techniques. Perfect to impress when you have little time.
Visually Stunning: The vibrant pink cake with fresh strawberry topping is a feast for the eyes and is guaranteed to impress any guest.
Perfect for Any Occasion: Strawberry poke cake is light and refreshing, ideal for potlucks, summer gatherings, or simply as a delightful anytime treat.
Bursting with Strawberry Flavor: It's a double strawberry dessert! Juicy strawberries are on top, and strawberry jello is combined with the cake in the delicious pokes.
Ingredients
Just a quick handful of ingredients to make this impressive colorful poke cake!
Whipped Topping: When I'm short on time, I use a Cool Whip-type topping. You can also use homemade stabilized whip cream.
White Cake Mix - If you find you don't have white cake mix at home, yellow works too. There just isn't as vivid a color contrast. But, it tastes just as delicious!
Vegetable Oil - If I have butter I want to use up, I melt it and cool it before adding to the mix.
Instructions
The vegetable oil, eggs and some water are used as stated on this box of Betty Crocker cake mix. These instructions are based on 14.25 oz package (the smaller size). The content of some cake mixes is being reduced by manufacturers so check the weight and the ingredient amounts on the box. Different brands may also have slight differences.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Either line 9 x 13 pan with parchment paper or spray with no stick spray.
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Step 1
Bake the cake and allow it to cool for a couple of hours before adding the strawberry jello.
To the cake mix, add water, oil and eggs. I use a hand mixer but this isn't that difficult to mix by hand.
Step 2
Bake for 39 - 30 minutes, checking with a toothpick in the center of the cake to see if the cake is done. Let the cake cool before proceeding (at least an hour).
Poke holes evenly spaced. I used the back of a wooden spoon so you can see the holes better. You can also poke with a fork.
Step 3
Mix 1 cup boiling water into the Strawberry jello powder until the powder is dissolved. Allow to cool a little for a few minutes (don't put it in the fridge; it might set—you want it warm and liquid). Pour the strawberry jello evenly over the top of the cake, making sure you get some into each poked hole.
Step 4
Cover with whipped topping and then place a strawberry on top of what will be each piece of cake.
Keep cake refrigerated until ready to serve.
How to Store
I recommend keeping this in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. However, do not add the strawberries until just before serving. Sometimes strawberries don't last 4 days!
I don't recommend freezing because a poke cake is a quick dessert to make, and you don't want to freeze the strawberries. If you are short on time the day you are serving this, bake the cake portion the day before. Assemble the day of in about 10 minutes.
FAQs
You have the option of not adding the yokes. If you don't use the yokes, add 4 egg whites instead of 3 eggs.
No, for this dessert I would stick to fresh strawberries. You don't need may. This 9 x 13 cake was cut into 24 pieces so only needed 12 good looking strawberries (each cut in ½).
Other Delicious Fruit Based Desserts
Easy Strawberry Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 package white cake mix
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs or 4 egg whites
- 1 package Strawberry jello
- 1 cup boiling water to dissolve the jello
- 8 oz whipped topping
- 12 strawberries nice ones, cut in ½
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Either line a 9 x 13 pan with parchment paper or spray it with nonstick spray.
- To the cake mix, add water, oil and eggs. I use a hand mixer but this isn't that difficult to mix by hand.
- Bake for 28 - 30 minutes, checking with a toothpick in the center of the cake to see if the cake is done. Let the cake cool before proceeding (at least an hour).
- Poke holes evenly spaced. I used the back of a wooden spoon so you can see the holes better. You can also poke with a fork.
- Mix 1 cup boiling water into the Strawberry jello powder until the powder is dissolved. Allow to cool for a few minutes (don't put it in the fridge; it might set—you want it warm and liquid). Pour strawberry jello evenly over the top of the cake, making sure you get some into each poked hole
- Cover with whipped topping, and then place a strawberry half on top of each piece of cake.
- I cut a 9 x 13 pan into 24 pieces (4 x 6). Those are smaller pieces but people prefer a small piece and can go for seconds.
Notes
If you will be squeezed for time the day you are serving this, I'd recommend making the cake the night before and assembling everything the day of. The assembling does not take long. Can I use frozen strawberries? I would recommend using fresh strawberries because they look so much nicer on this cake. You only need ½ a slice per piece and if you cut your cake the way I do, you only need 12 nice looking strawberries (for 24 pieces).
Ruth
I used to make poke cakes, but I cannot recall if you make the jello according to package directions? Please fill me in. Years ago, we made raspberry poke cakes for a bridal shower. The garnish was a mint leaf and a fresh raspberry or two on each cake square. It was very well received - "refreshingly delicious," was one of several complements received.
Susan Moncrieff
Hi Ruth,
I updated the recipe to be clearer. You only add 1 cup of hot water to the jello (not everything listed on the back of the box).
Enjoy it! It's a delicious old-time recipe.