Easy Strawberry Poke Cake With Jello
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This Easy Strawberry Poke Cake makes the perfect fresh and fruity summer dessert! Deliciously sweet and filled with strawberry flavor, it’s a crowd favorite that we love serving for pretty much any occasion!
Strawberry Jello Poke Cake Recipe
There’s nothing better than Jello recipes during the hot summer months! Whether it’s a Strawberry Jello Parfait, Red, White & Blue Jello for the 4th or even Rainbow Jello Shots, I can’t get enough. They’re fun, fruity and perfect for the season!
We even love using Jello to take our cakes to the next level and if you’ve never made a poke cake, you’ve been totally missing out (seriously, this Lemon Jello Cake is to die for)! All you do is poke holes in your cake (hence the name) and pour the Jello right over the top. It fills the holes and makes your cake that much more moist, sweet and flavorful.
Super easy and delicious, I make this Strawberry Poke Cake any chance I get. It’s really great for summer potlucks and parties…show up with one of these, you’re guaranteed to get invited back!
Why We Love this Recipe?
- Easy to make: When it comes to summer desserts, the easier the better! All you need is a box mix and a few other ingredients to make delicious recipe.
- Make ahead dessert: I love that you make this cake ahead of time, then chill. That way dessert is ready and waiting when you need it!
- Strawberry goodness: Between the strawberry Jello and the fresh strawberry sauce, you get double the delicious strawberry flavor.
Ingredients
For The Strawberry Sauce
- Fresh or frozen strawberries
- Fresh lemon juice
- Granulated sugar
For The Cake
- White cake mix, plus all the ingredients need to bake it
- Strawberry Jello
- Strawberry Sauce
- Cool whip
- Fresh Strawberries, sliced
How to Make A Strawberry Poke Cake
Step 1: Bake the cake in a 9×13 cake pan according to the box directions.
Step 2: While the cake is baking, prepare your fresh strawberry sauce. Combine strawberries, sugar and lemon juice in a medium sauce pan. Cook until the mixture thickens, about six minutes. (If using frozen strawberries, it will take a little longer). Once the sauce coats the back of a wooden spoon, pour it into a large bowl and set aside.
Step 3: Once the cake finishes baking, take it out of the oven and let it cool for about 15 minutes. Once cool, use the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes in the cake.
Step 4: Prepare the Jello mixture (3 oz package) with boiling water, using the directions on the back of the box. Pour Jello over the top of your cake, filling in the holes. Spread the strawberry sauce over the top and let cool completely.
Step 5: Top the cake by spreading Cool Whip (or this easy stabilized whipped cream frosting) evenly across the entire cake.
Step 6: Garnish with sliced strawberries and chill for at least three hours. Serve cold and enjoy.
Step 7: Serve cold and enjoy.
Storage Directions
If you’re lucky enough to actually have leftovers, cover the cake tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. It’s best when eaten within 2-3 days.
Variations and Add-ins
- Cake mix: We use a white cake mix so you can see the pretty red color of the Jello. Feel free to substitute yellow cake mix, lemon cake mix or even chocolate cake mix. For triple strawberry flavor, you can use a strawberry cake mix.
- Fruit: Don’t have strawberries on hand? You can make this same cake recipe with other types of berries too! Try blueberries or raspberries for some tasty alternatives.
- Frosting: Add softened cream cheese to the Cool Whip to give it a creamy cheesecake taste.
Recipe FAQs
You can if you plan on serving the whole thing on the same day. Homemade whipped cream tends to melt the longer it sits. However, if you’d like to make it a day in advance, this homemade Stabilized Whipped Cream works great.
Yes, though I love how moist it makes the cake, you can totally skip the Jello if you need to. Just make some extra strawberry sauce and use a strainer to separate the liquid. Pour the liquid into the holes and spread the remaining mixture over the top.
More Delicious Strawberry Recipes
Easy Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 white cake mix plus ingredients listed on box
- 1 cup fresh strawberries sliced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 box strawberry Jello 3 oz size
- 10 oz Cool Whip
- 1 pint fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Bake the cake in a 9×13 cake pan according to the box directions.1 white cake mix
- While the cake is baking, prepare your fresh strawberry sauce. Combine strawberries, sugar and lemon juice in a medium sauce pan. Cook until the mixture thickens, about six minutes. (If using frozen strawberries, it will take a little longer). Once the sauce coats the back of a wooden spoon, pour it into a large bowl and set aside.1 cup fresh strawberries, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Once the cake finishes baking, take it out of the oven and let it cool for about 15 minutes. Once cool, use the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes in the cake.
- Prepare the Jello mixture (3 oz package) with boiling water, using the directions on the back of the box. Pour Jello over the top of your cake, filling in the holes. Spread the strawberry sauce over the top and let cool completely.1 box strawberry Jello
- Top the cake by spreading Cool Whip evenly across the entire cake.10 oz Cool Whip
- Garnish with sliced strawberries and chill for at least three hours. Serve cold and enjoy.1 pint fresh strawberries
- Serve cold and enjoy.
Notes
- If you don’t have white cake mix, you can use yellow instead. For extra strawberry flavor, try this recipe with strawberry cake mix.
- Feel free to substitute homemade whipped cream if you prefer it to Cool Whip.
Nutrition
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Can I make this dessert with a box Angel food cake mix instead of a yellow cake mix?
You can! 😊