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This strawberry poke cake is as fun to make as it is to eat—sweet, simple, and totally irresistible! With a boxed cake mix as the base, it’s super easy, and the strawberry gelatin adds a fruity pop of flavor and a cool, jiggly texture. Top it off with a hint of vanilla, fresh juicy strawberries, and a dreamy cream cheese frosting, and you’ve got a dessert that’s light, luscious, and perfect for any occasion. It does need a little chill time, but trust me—it’s worth every minute!
This strawberry poke cake pairs a sweet, light and airy cake with strawberry gelatin, a rich and tangy cream cheese frosting and a pretty fresh sliced strawberry garnish.
Strawberry fans might also like strawberry pizza, strawberry lemonade bars, strawberry Cool Whip pie, and strawberry shortcake.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: Handy shortcut ingredients like a boxed cake mix and flavored gelatin powder makes this poke cake really straightforward to prepare.
Great flavors: Strawberry and vanilla flavors give this delicious cake a wonderful taste.
A fun recipe: Poking holes in the cake and pouring the gelatin in there can be a lot of fun. Maybe you could get the kids to help with this step!
Great for any occasion: Potlucks, parties, casual get-togethers with friends – there are lots of opportunities to make this strawberry poke cake.
Strawberry Poke Cake with Jello Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
White cake mix: Yellow or chocolate cake would also work for this recipe. Just follow the directions on the cake box of your choosing and you’re good to go.
Strawberry gelatin: Raspberry gelatin gives a similar fruity taste. I use a dye-free generic brand from Aldi so my gelatin is more pink than red. If you use a different brand, you might get a different shade of red in your cake.
Sweetened condensed milk: This can be omitted for a healthier version of the cake, but it adds great flavor to the overall cake.
Powdered sugar: To sweeten the frosting without the graininess of granulated white sugar.
Cream cheese: To make the topping creamy, rich and tangy.
Heavy cream: Make sure your heavy cream is very cold or the whipped cream layer might not set up properly.
Vanilla extract: Use 100% pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
Fresh strawberries: To garnish the finished cake.
How to Make Strawberry Poke Cake
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Make the cake: Follow the directions on the box to make the cake. Let it cool completely.
Make the gelatin: Stir the strawberry gelatin into boiling water until it dissolves. Let it cool slightly.
Add the gelatin to the cake: Poke holes in the cooled cake and pour the strawberry gelatin over it, allowing it to soak into the holes. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the cake too.
Add frosting: Beat the cream cheese and then mix in heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Spread this frosting over the cake.
Chill the cake: Refrigerate the cake for at least a couple of hours before serving to make sure it’s set. Add strawberry slices on top, slice and enjoy.
Substitutions and Variations
Strawberry gelatin: Raspberry gelatin would offer a similar fruity taste.
Vanilla extract: Almond extract provides a slightly nutty twist or you could try something else, perhaps coconut extract for a touch of the tropics!
White cake mix: Use yellow cake mix or even chocolate cake mix. Another idea is strawberry cake mix or strawberry supreme cake mix. (This strawberry cake mix is really good!)
Heavy cream: If you don’t have heavy cream, feel free to use an 8-ounce container of whipped topping and omit the powdered sugar from the recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your meal with miso chicken soup or some blackened salmon sliders.
Main dishes: This easy Instant Pot pork roast would be a tasty main dish, or you could serve Mediterranean shrimp linguine and a lemon parmesan salad.
Dessert: Finish off with a slice of this strawberry poke cake!
How to Store Strawberry Jello Cake
Store: The cake should be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to keep it fresh and moist.
Freeze: Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil before placing in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Thaw: Defrost it overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Top Tips
Making the cake batter: Cake mix brands vary, so read the package instructions carefully to find out what ingredients you need to add to the cake mix and how to cook it.
Poking the holes: The holes in the cake need to be big enough for the gelatin mixture to flow in. The handle of a wooden spoon is perfect for this, or the wide end of a chopstick.
Don’t garnish it too soon: For the freshest result, don’t add the fresh strawberry slices on top until you’re ready to serve the cake.
Strawberry Cake with Jello FAQs
I don’t recommend using frozen strawberries in this poke cake recipe since they are for the garnish so they should be firm and plump. Frozen ones are mushy and won’t look pretty.
If the cake is too soggy, it might be due to adding the gelatin while the cake was still warm, which can cause the cake to absorb more of the gelatin. Make sure the cake is completely cool before poking holes and pouring the gelatin mixture. Also, avoid oversaturating one area—pour the gelatin evenly across the cake. I will sometimes use a spoon to evenly distribute the gelatin into each hole. If you prefer a firmer texture, reduce the amount of gelatin slightly. Refrigerating the cake for several hours before serving will also help it set properly.
Best Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe
Strawberry Poke Cake
Equipment
- Baking Dish 9 x 13-Inch
Ingredients
- 1 Box white cake mix, 15 ¼-Ounce, plus ingredients on box: water, oil and eggs
- 1 Box strawberry gelatin, 3-Ounce
- 1 Cup boiling water
- 1 Cup sweetened condensed milk
For the Topping:
- 8 Ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 ½ Cups heavy cream, very cold
- ¾ Cup powdered sugar
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Cups strawberries, fresh, sliced
To Garnish:
- whipped cream
- strawberries, fresh
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
Make the Cake:
- In a large bowl, prepare the white cake mix according to the package instructions, using water, vegetable oil and eggs.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake according to package directions.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
Make the Gelatin:
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, dissolve the strawberry gelatin in 1 cup of boiling water, stirring until fully dissolved.
- Let the gelatin sit for a few minutes to cool slightly.
Add the Gelatin:
- Once the cake has cooled, use the end of a wooden spoon or a straw to poke holes all over the top of the cake, going about halfway down.
- Slowly pour the prepared strawberry gelatin evenly over the cake, allowing it to soak into the holes.
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top of the strawberry gelatin.
Add the Frosting:
- In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Pour in the cold heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla and beat until the mixture is thick and creamy.
- Carefully spread this mixture over the cooled cake, covering it completely.
Chill the Cake:
- Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours or until fully chilled.
- Before serving, top the cake with the sliced fresh strawberries.
Notes
Poking the holes: The holes in the cake need to be big enough for the gelatin mixture to flow in. The handle of a wooden spoon is perfect for this, or the wide end of a chopstick.
Garnish just before serving: For the freshest result, don’t add the fresh strawberry slices on top until you’re ready to serve the cake.
Nutrition
This mouthwatering and easy strawberry poke cake is so good! It’s so simple to prepare using a box white cake mix and strawberry gelatin mix. Once the cake has chilled and set, you can add a rich and creamy frosting and garnish it with fluffy whipped cream and fresh strawberries. You’ll find this cake perfect for all kinds of occasions, anything from a potluck meal to a get-together with friends. If you love the sweet, fruity flavor of strawberries you’re definitely going to enjoy this lovely cake.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
OMG! The best dessert I’ve had recently. I am into strawberry desserts and this couldn’t have been a better choice. The cream cheese frosting and fresh strawberries on top made it totally irresistible.
I had so much fun making this strawberry poke cake, and eating it was even better! The gelatin soaks right into the cake, making every bite fruity and delicious. It does need a little chill time, but trust me—it’s absolutely worth the wait.
The texture is so fun and the strawberry flavor really pops. I loved how the cream cheese frosting balanced the sweetness too. Super simple to make, and it looks so pretty!