Strawberry Poke Cake

4.48 from 19 votes
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This Strawberry Poke Cake—also known as Jello Cake—is a light, fruity dessert that’s perfect for summer! Moist white cake is infused with sweet strawberry Jello and topped with whipped cream and fresh berries for a cool, crowd-pleasing treat.

Poke cakes are one of the easiest and most fun desserts you can make—perfect for when you want something sweet, simple, and a little nostalgic. By poking holes into a freshly baked cake and pouring in a flavored Jello, every bite becomes extra moist and packed with flavor.

Poke cake with strawberry jello and fresh shipped cream in white pate

 

This Strawberry Poke Cake uses a strawberry Jello for the flavoring, but you really can mix it up and use whatever flavor you like! Just top with the appropriate fruit and you will have endless flavor possibilities.

What You’ll Need

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.

  • Vanilla Cake – this starts with a box cake mix that you bake according to the directions. You absolutely can make your own 13×9 white cake if you have a homemade recipe you like.
  • Strawberry Jello
  • Water
  • Heavy Cream
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Fresh Strawberries – these really are optional, but I think they make the cake come together and are a great way to let people know the flavor to expect.
Strawberry poke cake topped with fresh strawberries and fresh whipped cream

How To Make Strawberry Poke Cake

  • Bake Cake. Make a white cake according to the box directions.  Whatever cake and brand you like, just follow the box and bake in a 13×9 inch pan.  
  • Poke Holes. Remove the cake from the oven and let cook for 5-10 minutes before poking holes in the top.  Use the back of a wooden spoon and poke holes every 1-2 inches across the top of the cake. 
  • Jello. Dissolve the packet of jello into a cup of boiling water. Mix a cup of ice cold water into the jello and immediately pour over the cake. Make sure to pour evenly over the cake, so you get a little mixture in all of the holes. 
  • Chill. Let the cake set in the fridge for 3-4 hours for the jello to set up. 
  • Topping. Once the cake has cooled you can make the fresh whipped cream by beating the heavy cream to soft peaks. Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat to stiff peaks. Top the cake with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. 
Poke cake with strawberry jello filling the holes and homemade whipped cream on top

Recipe Tips & Suggestions

  • Poking Holes. You can use a fork or toothpick for smaller holes if that is what you have. I like to use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke the holes.  You want them spaced and inch or two apart so there is place for the filling to go. 
  • Topping. If you don’t want to make your own whipped cream you can use an 8 oz container of whipped topping.
  • Jello. The jello does get dissolved in hot water and then cold water is added. It is immediately poured it over the cake. You don’t want to let the Jello set up in the fridge like the box directs, so do not make it ahead of time.
  • Cake. Traditionally poke cakes are made with a box cake mix, but you can absolutely use any homemade cake recipe that you like. It just needs to be baked in a 13×9 inch pan.

Storage

Store this jello cake in covered and in the fridge. Because of the whipped topping it will need to be refrigerated. It will last for about 4 days.

Poke cake in a pan with homemade whipped cream and lots of fresh strawberries

This jello cake is such a great dessert to serve this summer.  It is light and airy and takes advantage of the fresh berries.  These Strawberry Crumb Bars are one of my favorite strawberries desserts to make.  

So pick up lots of extra berries from the store or farmers market, because there are so many great treats to make!  If you want to stick with creamy desserts this Strawberry Lush get rave reviews every time I make them. 

More Fun Dessert Recipes

Strawberry Poke Cake - a classic poke cake with white cake, strawberry jello, whipped cream and lots of fresh strawberries! 
4.48 from 19 votes

Strawberry Poke Cake

Strawberry Poke Cake – a classic poke cake with white cake, strawberry jello, whipped cream and lots of fresh strawberries! 
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Additional Time: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 16

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350º F.
  • Bake cake according to the package directions in a 13×9 inch pan.
    1 (15.25 oz) box white cake mix
  • Remove from oven and let cook for 5-10 minutes.
  • Using the back of a wooden spoon poke holes ever 1-2 inches across the top of the cake.
  • Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add jello mix and stir until dissolved.
    2 cups water, 3 oz strawberry jello mix
  • Add 1 cup of ice water and mix until well blended. Pour over cake. Place in fridge for 4 hours to set up.
  • Meanwhile, in a stand mixer beat heavy cream on high until you have soft peaks.
    1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • Add powdered sugar and vanilla extra and beat until sift peaks.
    1/4 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Spread evenly over the cake and top with chopped strawberries.
    2 cups fresh strawberries
  • Serve immediately or store in the fridge until ready to serve.

Notes

In place of the homemade whipped cream you can top with 1 (8oz) container of Cool Whip

Nutrition

Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 45mg | Sugar: 9g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Erin Sellin
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Additional Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
Course: Dessert Recipes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16
Calories: 101
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About Erin Sellin

Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and Iโ€™m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, youโ€™ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.

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4.48 from 19 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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