Strawberry Poke Cake
87 Comments
Posted: 06/04/19
Updated: 09/04/22
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Strawberry Jello Poke Cake ~ Quick & Easy, But Impressive for Guests! This cake Starts with a box mix and is topped with strawberry Jell-O, vanilla pudding and Cool Whip! Jello Poke Cake is the Perfect Comfort Food Dessert. It’s a quick and easy dessert recipe that is perfect for entertaining guests.
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An Impressive Jello Poke Cake Recipe!
I’ve been thinking I should make this recipe for awhile but I’ve never got around to it. It’s a frequent visitor at meals when I go to other people’s houses. So I made a phone call to my hubby’s stepmom one Sunday morning and requested the recipe.
I needed something simple and fast to make for a dessert and this fit the bill. My mom had hemmed a pair of jeans for the hubby and decided that for her “pay” she wanted to come over for Creamy Chicken Enchiladas. This is the one recipe she refuses to make saying that it’s my “treat” recipe when she’s craving it. I was thinking about making Strawberry Pretzel for dessert, but opt’d instead for this Jello Poke Cake
What is a Poke Cake?
It’s a cake that you poke holes in after baking it. Then those holes get filled with a liquid or filling. Popular items to fill the cake with are condensed milk like in this Gooey Cinnamon Carrot Poke Cake or pureed fruit, chocolate cream or pudding like this Strawberry Jello Poke Cake!
Why is poke cake soggy?
Making your holes in the poke cake to close together can cause the cake to be soggy.
Ingredients for Strawberry Poke Cake with Jello
- box white cake mix
- strawberry jello mix
- instant vanilla pudding
- cool whip
- milk
Easy stuff right? This is so easy to make I know you’ll love this recipe!
How to Make Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
- Following the directions on the box, bake the cake.
- When the cake is done baking, poke holes in it with a the handle end of a wooden spoon, place in the fridge to chill.
- Prepare Jell-O with 1 c. boiling water and 1/2 c. cold water. Mix until jello mix is dissolved. Pour over the cake and refrigerate.
- Prepare the vanilla pudding mixture. Mix vanilla pudding with milk. Let it sit until soft set.
- Smooth over the top of your Vanilla Poke Cake. Top with the cool whip.
How do you make a hole in a poke cake?
To make the perfect sized holes in your poke cake use a handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes through the cake. Make the holes about 1’’ apart.
Does Strawberry Jello Cake Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes! You’ll refrigerate it to get the Jello to set up in the cake and then after that it will need to be refrigerated since there is cool whip on it and you won’t want that to spoil. That is, if there’s any leftovers!
How long does a poke cake have to be refrigerated?
Yes, the Cool Whip layer and vanilla pudding layer need to be refrigerated so the entire cake will need to be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe FAQs
This Poke Cake is really pretty easy to make. You essentially just take a box cake mix and add a little bit to it. You don’t even have to make your own frosting.
I’ve listed some tips and tricks below to make this cake. If you have any additional questions make sure to comment below and we will do the best to answer them!
Can I Change the Flavor of This Cake?
Yes! You can really use any flavor of Jello that you want to mix things up. We love it with orange too!
Do I have to use a white box cake mix?
No, you could also use a white cake mix or a strawberry cake mix to up the strawberry flavor. These two cake mixes are great options in this easy poke cake recipe.
Where did poke cakes originate?
The poke cake originated in the 1970s when Jell-O published a print advertisement to increase sales of their product. This advertisement showed this dessert as a way to combine convenience foods including cake mix, Jell-O and Cool Whip as an easy dessert.
Can you freeze Jello Poke Cake?
Yes! You’ll want to do this after adding the jello and before the vanilla pudding and cool whip layer. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap before freezing it will last one month.
Then defrost it and finish making the cake!
How can I thaw a frozen poke cake?
Place the cake in the refrigerator and allow to thaw overnight. After it has thawed add the vanilla pudding layer and Cool Whip to the top of the cake.
More Poke Cake Recipes!
- White Chocolate Gingerbread Poke Cake – Delicious, Moist Gingerbread Cake Layered with White Chocolate Pudding and Cool Whip!
- Gooey Cinnamon Carrot Poke Cake – Amazingly Moist Cake Stuffed with Carrots, Coconut, Pineapple, Topped with a Buttermilk Glaze and Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting!
- Pineapple Cake – an easy cake mix cake doctored with pineapple juice, crushed pineapples, and a fluffy white topping with coconut!
- Oreo Poke Cake – chocolate cake topped with Oreo pudding, Cool Whip and crushed cookies!
Honestly what’s not to love about a poke cake?!! This cake is easy to make because it comes from a box and topped with light airy toppings, Strawberry Jello Poke Cake is the ultimate comfort food dessert!
More Recipes to Try
- How to Make Spaghetti in a Crock Pot
- How to Roast Broccoli in Air Fryer
- How to Make Alabama Slammer
- Chicken Barbecue Sauce Marinade
- Chicken Green Beans Potatoes Recipe
- Mascarpone Cannoli Dip
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
Vanilla Poke Cake – Quick & Easy, But Impressive for Guests! This Light Cake Starts with a Box Mix and is Topped with Strawberry Jell-O, Vanilla Pudding and Cool Whip! Strawberry Jello Poke Cake is the Perfect Comfort Food Dessert!
servings
Ingredients
- 1 16.25 oz box white cake mix (prepare with ingredients on box)
- 1 box .3 oz strawberry jello mix sugar-free
- 1 ox box instant vanilla pudding mix sugar free
- 1 container 8 oz cool whip
- 1 1/2 c. water
- 2 c. milk
Instructions
- Prepare your cake as it calls for on the box. When the cake is done baking poke holes in the cake with a the handle end of a wooden spoon. Place in the fridge to chill for 3-4 hours.
- Prepare Jell-O with 1 c. boiling water and 1/2 c. cold water. Mix together until jello mix is dissolved. Pour over the cake. This will seem like a lot of liquid but the cake will absorb it and it won’t become mush.
- Place the cake in the fridge while you prepare the vanilla pudding mixture. Mix the vanilla pudding with 2 c. milk. Let it sit until soft set. Smooth over the top of your cake. Top with the cool whip.
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Nutrition Information
Serving: 1, Calories: 226kcal (11%), Carbohydrates: 44g (15%), Protein: 3g (6%), Fat: 3g (5%), Saturated Fat: 2g (13%), Cholesterol: 7mg (2%), Sodium: 644mg (28%), Potassium: 96mg (3%), Sugar: 21g (23%), Vitamin A: 105IU (2%), Calcium: 150mg (15%), Iron: 0.8mg (4%)
Gina says
Is it .3oz of Jello or 3oz?
Julie Evink says
It calls for sugar-free which is .3 oz, but if you use regular that would be a 3 oz box.
Gina says
Thanks Julie! The cake turned out perfect and delicious! I used the 3oz strawberry Jello (with sugar) and 3.4oz vanilla pudding (also with sugar)
Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Julie Evink says
Great to hear Gina!
Judi says
I didn’t have sugar free anything. Still turned out great!
Julie Evink says
Great to hear Judi! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Dee says
I used yellow cake for the mix. After I put the pudding on, I put slices of bananas and strawberries, then spread the whip cream on top. My kids loved it!!
Julie Evink says
That sounds delicious! So glad you enjoyed it!
Jacinta says
I was at the store and asked myself why it had to be jello or pudding, why couldn’t it be both? I’d never made a poke cake, so when I came home I looked at recipes and was so excited to find yours. I Made this sugar free, for work, and they couldn’t stop eating it. No one bothered with whipped cream and even I forgot it was made with sugar free components. I made designs with fresh strawberries on the top, and added some blueberries for color.
Julie Evink says
I’m so glad you found this recipe! Your adaptions sound wonderful!
Tina Voyles says
Do you use regular tubs of cool whip? do you let the cool whip thaw and stir it before putting it on? I can never get my topping like that? Thanks!
Michelle Sperr says
I do use thawed cool whip and just the regular stuff 🙂 Hope you enjoy the recipe Tina!
Birt says
I didn’t have any whipped topping so I made a few changes and it turned out amazing. White cake mix, strawberry jello as directed above. Then for the topping I made vanilla pudding as directed but mixed in strawberry canned icing. Honestly I thought I would have to toss it in the garbage but it turned out very yummy. Thanks!
Julie says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Vanessa says
What size instant pudding do I use 1 ounce or 3.4 ounce?
Julie says
1 ounce box.
Nell Tyre says
Do you use sugar free jelllo? I can tell wIt to try this.
Julie says
Yes, sugar-free jello.
Laura says
Can this be made the night before and still be moist? Don’t want it to dry out!
Julie says
Yes! It should be fine after one night!
Lauren says
A GREAT go-to summer dessert that everyone in the family loves! I love to top it off with fresh strawberries and kiwi!
Julie says
Kiwi sounds great! Glad you loved it!
RGeorge says
Does the jello set up inside cake like gelatin
Julie says
No it doesn’t, it just adds streaks of color and flavor through the cake.
Tracy says
Can you make this in a disposable tin pan so it can be taken to work, or does it have to be in a pyrex glass pan?
Julie says
It should be fine in a disposable tin pan.
Wendy says
I used chocolate cake and raspberry jello in the cake. I used chocolate pudding and folded the cool whip into the pudding to make the topping. Then I place fresh raspberries along with chocolate curls on top.
Julie says
Sounds like a great version!
Wendy says
Can I just combine the jello pudding with the cool whip and then spread it on the cake?
Julie says
That might take away from the light and fluffiness of the cool whip on top but if you want to try it that way, go for it!