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  1. Food and Cooking
  2. Recipes
  3. Strawberry Poke Cake

Strawberry Poke Cake

The secret ingredient is boxed cake mix!

By Ree DrummondPublished: May 24, 2025
Star FillStar FillStar FillStar FillStar Fill
5
2 Ratings
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best potluck dessert recipes
David Malosh
Yields:
12 - 16 serving(s)
Prep Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 30 mins
best potluck dessert recipes

Summer and strawberries go hand in hand, don't they? So what’s better than a cake that tastes like fresh berries and cream? This scrumptious strawberry poke cake requires just a handful of simple ingredients. Thanks to a few kitchen shortcuts—like boxed cake mix and Jell-O—you can whip up a stunning marbled cake bursting with juicy berry flavor. Top it off with a fluffy homemade frosting, and it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. If you find yourself on a poke cake kick, try a raspberry Jell-O poke cake or Irish cream poke cake next!

What is poke cake?

Oh, let me tell you—poke cake is the ultimate dessert for anyone who loves a moist and flavorful cake that's also ridiculously easy. It is exactly what it sounds like: a cake you bake, poke holes into (yes, it’s as fun as you'd think!), then soak with a colorful filling like strawberry Jell-O that gives every bite tons of fruity flavor.

How can you decorate strawberry poke cake?

I love the simplicity of the fluffy strawberry whipped cream spread over this cake, but if you're serving it for a special occasion and want to dress things up a bit, there are plenty of options. Decorate the cake with thinly sliced fresh berries or edible flowers, or add a pretty pink drizzle of strawberry sauce or glaze. To make things really festive, you can add your favorite colorful sprinkles, crushed candies, or sparkling sugar to match the celebration.

How do you store poke cake?

You can make this cake a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator overnight, covered with plastic wrap. Any leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Love this recipe? Try one of these next!
  • Irish Cream Poke Cake
  • Strawberry and Cream Sheet Cake
  • Strawberry Ice Cream Cake
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Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil, for the baking dish

  • 1

    (13- to 16-ounce) box yellow cake mix, plus necessary ingredients

  • 1

    (3-ounce) package strawberry gelatin

  • 1 cup

    boiling water, plus 1 cup cold water

  • 1 1/2 cups

    cold heavy cream

  • 1/2 cup

    powdered sugar

Directions

    1. Step 1Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with vegetable oil. Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions. 
    2. Step 2Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake as directed. Place the baking dish on a rack to cool for 5 minutes. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the cake.
    3. Step 3Meanwhile, combine the strawberry gelatin and boiling water in a large measuring cup or bowl. Stir until the gelatin is dissolved, then stir in the cold water. Transfer ¼ cup of the gelatin mixture to a small bowl, cover, and set aside. Slowly pour the remaining gelatin mixture over the cake, ensuring you cover the entire cake and fill in the holes. Allow the cake and reserved gelatin to cool completely, about 1 hour.
    4. Step 4Beat the heavy cream and powdered sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and pour in the reserved gelatin mixture. Increase the speed to medium-high and whip back to stiff peaks, about 30 seconds.
    5. Step 5Spread the strawberry whipped cream over the cake. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
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