Easy Strawberry Jello Poke Cake Recipe

This Strawberry Jello Poke Cake recipe has such an incredible presentation and is the perfect dessert idea for the warmer months. It’s easy to make and tastes both light and airy.

So, how does this all work? Simple enough. Your favorite cake recipe with Jello drizzled through poked holes up and down the entire base. Now, you know where this spring, strawberry dessert got its name!

Easy Strawberry Jello Poke Cake Recipe

There are two things you are going for when creating this strawberry jello poke cake recipe – you want to make sure that your cake is light and fluffy AND you also want to ensure that the flavors are deep and rich. The best way to top off this particular dessert is with some sort of whipped topping. 

You can choose whipped cream or Cool Whip. That is up to you. But I wouldn’t consider options as thick as traditional icing. That would harden this dish and the thickness will take away from the dessert’s sweet and airy form. 

The best part of Strawberry Jello Poke Cake recipe is the airiness of the bite. Let’s keep that in mind as we continue. 

Strawberry Jello Cake Recipe Ingredients:

• 1 box (15.25 oz) white cake mix and ingredients to make the cake (eggs, water, and oil)
• 1 package, (3oz), strawberry jello
• 2 cups water, divided
• 1 tub, (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed

How To Make A Jello Poke Cake Recipe:

Let’s get right into how to make a Jello Pole cake! Prepare and bake a 9×13 cake according to package directions. Give yourself an ample amount of time for this step. You could even make the cake the day before if need be.

Be sure to allow the cake to cool completely. Once the cake has cooled, use a bamboo skewer to poke holes halfway into the cake, about 1/2″ apart. Set aside.

In a small microwave-safe bowl, add 1 cup water. Heat until boiling. Carefully pour in jello and mix well until dissolved. Add 1 cup of cold water and mix again until everything has dissolved.

Slowly pour over cake, filling holes. You will want to make sure that you get the mixture over the entire span of the cake. The Jello mixture will actually change the color of the cake once it soaks in.

You can see in this photo how the cake changes color. This is what your cake should look like. Once you have your cake at this point, be sure to refrigerate it for 1 hour.

After your one hour passes, take the cake out of the refrigerator. Frost your strawberry Jello poke cake with your whipped topping of choice and serve immediately. If you aren’t quite ready to serve this sweet dessert, then cover and store this dish in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

But I would seriously wait to top with your whipped cream or Cool Whip until you are ready to serve your strawberry jello cake. Just my thought. 

This Strawberry Jello Poke Cake recipe makes 18 slices. Something you’d like to try? Would love for you to give it a go. 

If you’d like to add sliced strawberries to your dish for decoration or as a topper, go right ahead! It would be the perfect accessory to this poke cake. 

Related: Butter Pecan Praline Cake Recipe

Can I Use Other Jell-O Flavors Instead Of Strawberry?

You can absolutely use other Jello flavors instead of Strawberry. There are so many flavors of Jello to choose from! It doesn’t matter what flavor type you decide to use to make your Jello desserts. You can use orange, purple, cherry, or lemon. The choice is yours! This strawberry poke cake can quickly become a cherry one with a swap of a box.

You can decide based on flavor or color. It truly all depends on whether you are baking for a holiday or for flavor preference. 

Do I Have To Use White Cake Mix?

No, you do not have to use a white cake mix to make this strawberry jello cake recipe. You don’t even have to use a yellow cake mix.

The classic poke cake recipe requests a white cake mix because it is the lightest flavor, but you can do what you’d like. It’s truly up to you how you want to approach this jello dessert. Make this strawberry jello cake recipe your own!

Can I Buy A Store-Bought Cake And Just Poke Holes In It?

Can I say something honest about Jello desserts? Buying a store-bought cake would save you a ton of time!

If you don’t have the few hours you’ll need to mix, bake, and then cool the original cake, buying a pre-made cake is a great option. Semi-homemade is a great idea when in a bind.  

Does Poke Cake Need To Be Refrigerated?

Yes. Poke cake needs to be refrigerated. This is a step that you absolutely cannot skip. Your cake must be cooled in order to add the Jello.

The cooling also enables the Jello to set and if you don’t set the jello then you don’t have a complete Strawberry Jello Poke Cake recipe. So, temperature truly matters with this recipe. You actually cannot make this recipe without giving it time in the refrigerator.

Can You Make Strawberry Jello Cake Ahead Of Time?

As mentioned above, you can do everything up to the frosting of the whipped cream ahead of time. I would suggest waiting to frost the cake with your whipped topping right before you serve it to your guests. 

So, feel free to bake, mix the Jello, pour the Jello, and then set the Jello ahead of time. But leave that final step of topping the whipped cream out until the very last moment. 

Strawberry Jello Cake Related Posts:

If you’ve enjoyed this recipe for strawberry jello poke cake, please check out these other strawberry treats. I have a thing for fresh strawberries. And I guess using the word strawberries in this last paragraph.

• Strawberry Cheesecake Mini Cupcakes
• Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
• Strawberry and Chocolate Muffins
• Vanilla Strawberry Loaf Bread

• The Perfect Gingerbread Poke Cake For The Holidays