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This Strawberry Jello Poke Cake is one of my easiest desserts for any celebration! The strawberry jello adds sweet strawberry flavor to create a melt-in-you-mouth soft cake with a light and creamy topping. You just need simple, inexpensive ingredients, and about an hour of baking and cooling time.
That’s it! And, if you love the light, fruit taste of this poke cake with strawberry jello, I know you will also adore my Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake, Banana Pudding Poke Cake, and my Lemon Poke Cake.
⭐ READER REVIEW ⭐
“Made this many times with rave reviews. Made it with orange jello and mandarin oranges on the top. It was a hit as well.” – Angela
Why you’ll love this delicious cake made with boxed cake mix!
This one has been on repeat in our house for years. I make it for birthdays, summer holidays, family gatherings, and anytime my kids are craving something sweet.
Just like my Strawberry Delight or Strawberry Pie, this delicious poke cake is packed with plenty of strawberry flavor. But it’s even better as this recipe requires just a few ingredients!
This delicious cake is a fruity crowd favorite that will make everyone want a second slice!
Here is why I love this recipe so much:
⭐ Easy prep and simple ingredients: I use box cake mix, jello, and Cool Whip topping to keep this cake easy. The fresh strawberries are a vibrant addition to the light and fluffy topping.
⭐ Pretty pink slices: The strawberry jell-o adds a beautiful pink color swirled throughout the cake.
⭐ Year-round dessert: While this recipe is the perfect summer dessert, it works well year-round. Serve it for birthdays, holidays, or any time!
⭐ Make-ahead: Because this cake tastes even better chilled, it’s a great choice to make ahead. Prep it the day before and chill in the fridge until you’re ready to serve!
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Need
You will only need a few ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store!
- Cake Mix – You will need 1 box white or yellow cake mix (plus ingredients listed on box — typically vegetable oil plus eggs). Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines are my choice for tried-and-true cake mixes!
- Strawberry Jello – Buy 1 package strawberry gelatin dessert (3 oz). I’ve never used sugar-free Jello for this recipe, so I suggest using regular.
- Whipped Topping – I like to use 1 tub Cool Whip whipped topping because I find it has the best taste and texture out of all the whipped toppings. You can also use 2 cups fresh whipped cream.
- Fresh Berries – I love adding fresh strawberries for garnish as it adds a pop of color and fresh strawberry flavor.
Variations
- Fresh Fruit Garnish: You can use other berries, like raspberries or blueberries, if you don’t want to use strawberries.
- Different Flavors: Try raspberry or cherry Jell-O in place of strawberry. A reader also used orange jello and mandarin oranges with great results!
- Different Bases: Use strawberry cake for even more strawberry flavor. A chocolate boxed cake mix would also work great for a more decadent cake. (Or make this Chocolate Poke Cake recipe!)
How to Make Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
This recipe comes together easily thanks to the boxed cake mix, jello, and whipped topping!
- Bake: Prepare the cake mix according to package instructions. Pour the batter into a 9×13 pan and bake as directed on the box. Let the cake cool on a baking rack for 20 minutes.
- Poke: While slightly warm, poke holes evenly across the baked cake with a fork or skewer.
- Cover with strawberry jello: Dissolve the strawberry jello in boiling water; stir in cold water. Pour gelatin evenly over the whole cake, letting it soak into holes.
- Chill and frost: Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Spread the whipped topping on top of the cake before serving. Garnish with fresh strawberries, if desired.
Recipe FAQs
There is no set number of holes you should poke in a cake. Instead, just make sure to space them out evenly. The holes help absorb the jello liquid to distribute the flavor evenly throughout the cake. Make sure to poke the holes while the cake is still slightly warm.
Let the cake cool before pouring the jello over the top. If you pour the liquid over the cake while it’s still warm, it may cause the cake to fall apart or become too soggy.
This dessert is best served cold. It needs to chill completely to allow the jello to soak into the cake and set. The chill time allows the flavors to meld and creates that delicious flavor you’ll love. Cover and keep the cake refrigerated until serving.
No—yellow or even chocolate cake works. Just follow the box instructions to bake the cake.
Storage and Make Ahead Instructions
Store the assembled cake in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make sure to chill the prepared cake for at least 4 hours so the gelatin sets and the slices hold together.
You can store the entire cake in the fridge covered in plastic wrap or store individual slices in an airtight container.
Make Ahead: You can assemble the day before and refrigerate covered until serving.
More Easy Poke Cake Recipes
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Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix prepared as directed
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 box- 4 serving size Jell-O strawberry-flavored gelatin
- 1 8 oz container Whipped Topping (Cool Whip)
- 12 fresh strawberries cut in half
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 13×9-inch pan with cooking spray. Prepare cake as directed on box.
- Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on cooling rack 20 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, pour boiling water on gelatin and stir until dissolved.
- Add holes to cake with the of a wooden spoon.
- Carefully pour strawberry gelatin evenly over top of cake. Cool completely
- Spread whipped topping over cake.
- Add strawberries to the top of each piece of cake before serving.
Video
Notes
- Cake base: White for classic, yellow for richer, chocolate for bold.
- Gelatin flavors: Raspberry or cherry work too.
- Topping: Cool Whip for stability, whipped cream for fresh flavor.
- Let the cake cool: Don’t forget to let the cake cool before adding the jello mixture or the cake may be soggy. Also be sure to chill the cake in the fridge before serving to allow the flavors to set.
Can I make the cake a head of time then do the jello part later? Does the cake need to be refrigerated?
When I started making this cake in the 1970’s, the topping was a box of jello and a box of vanilla pudding. I used lime jello, everyone loved it. I have no idea how many of these cakes I and my family have made. But the number would be high. Maybe a hundred or more.
I’ve made this cake for 4th of July and on top I used blueberries and strawberries to make an American flag. It’s a huge hit, kids and adults love it!
I would like to fancy this up a bit for my daughter’s wedding shower, has anyone tried removing the cake from the pan after the jello has set? Thinking of doing two round cake pans then stacking them.
Made this many times with reve reviews. Made it with orange jello and mandarin oranges on the top. It was a hit as well.
Haven’t made this yet but excited to try. Just wondering, can I use spray/can ed whipped cream instead of the bowl kind? Just happen to have that on hand so was curious
I let my jello firm up a bit and then poured over cake, it was delicious
We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
Outstanding!!!! Wish I could add a picture!!!
We would love to see it on social media! Or, you can email us as well! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Adrice. 😊
I accidentally put the sweet condensed milk on top of the cake after I poked it and put the Jell-O in and it turned out delicious and also followed it with the cool weapon. Of course the strawberries on top you should give it a try. It’s really good.
We’re so glad it still turned out well for you, Chris! We’d love to know how it goes if you try it again, too. 😊
This cake was delicious my family loved it
this cake was fantastic!!!! For the topping I whipped some cream cheese and a little powered sugar and folded it into the cool whip. So good. Thank you!