Strawberry Jello Poke Cake - White Cake Mix Recipe! All Things Mamma (2024)

If you’re looking for an easy dessert recipe that’s sure to make everyone smile, you’ll love this Strawberry Jello Poke Cake!

This fruity, fun cake made with a white cake mix is perfect for all your spring and summertime celebrations. It’s light, sweet, and made with strawberry jello and cool whip – what’s not to love?!

Top with a few fresh strawberries and this is sure to be one of your favorite poke cake recipes!

(Love strawberry desserts? Try my strawberry lemon cupcakes, Jello Pretzel Salad, and Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake, and Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake too!)

Strawberry Jello Poke Cake - White Cake Mix Recipe! All Things Mamma (1)

An Easy Poke Cake Recipe

Birthday parties, 4th of July block parties, backyard barbecues, pool parties, you name it – every summer celebration is the perfect excuse to make this Strawberry Jello Poke Cake!

One of the best things about this jello poke cake recipe is just how easy it really is to whip up. You only need 5 very simple, inexpensive ingredients, and about an hour of baking and cooling time. Plus, the steps couldn’t be much easier to follow!

This is a foolproof recipe that you’ll want to make over and over again.

The best thing about this entire cake is that it’s made from a boxed cake mix! This will be your little secret because it legit tastes like a homemade cake!

Everyone will love this easy strawberry jello poke cake because of the extra flavor that comes with every bite. Just be sure to follow the box directions on the back of the box so that you’re getting the best results.

(Looking for another classic strawberry dessert? Try my Strawberry Pretzel Dessert too!)

Strawberry Jello Poke Cake - White Cake Mix Recipe! All Things Mamma (2)

INGREDIENTS

  • White Cake Mix – Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines are my choice of tried and true cake mixes! However, there are plenty of other brands that will also work in this strawberry poke cake, and you could even use strawberry cake mix for more berry flavor.
  • Water – For the jello mixture to come out perfect, you’ll need to boil the water. Not just warm it up – fully boil it until there are bubbles!
  • Strawberry Jello – A little tip – when working with jello, it occasionally doesn’t come out perfect. These boxes are cheap, so make sure to buy an extra one just in case the first batch doesn’t provide the desired results.
  • Whipped Topping – It doesn’t get much better than Cool Whip, does it? I don’t think any summertime recipes would be complete without a dollop!
  • Strawberries – Summertime means something very important… The strawberries are fresh and juicy this time of year! Skip the lackluster frozen stuff and buy a container of fresh, juicy strawberries.

This cake will cost you under $10. If you’re on a budget, this recipe will be your new best friend!

Strawberry Jello Poke Cake - White Cake Mix Recipe! All Things Mamma (3)

HOW TO MAKE THIS EASY CAKE MIX RECIPE

STEP 1. PREPARE

Preheat the oven to 350°F. While that’s heating up, spray the bottom of a 13×9-inch pan with cooking spray.

STEP 2. TIME FOR CAKE

Before you start using any of the other ingredients, prepare the cake as directed on the box.

STEP 3. BAKE AND COOL

Bake the white cake for approximately 28 to 32 minutes. The best way to check for doneness is to use the toothpick method! Simply insert the toothpick in the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready to be removed from the oven. If it’s not clean, allow the cake to cook for another 3 minutes or so. When it’s fully cooked, allow the cake to cool for about 20 minutes.

STEP 4. MAKE THE JELLO AND POKE

Pour the boiling water onto the jello powder and stir until the powder is dissolved. Then, add holes to the cooled white cake with the handle of a wooden spoon. Carefully pour the strawberry gelatin evenly over the top of the cake. Let it cool completely!

STEP 4. SERVE AND ENJOY!

Spread the whipped topping evenly over the top of the cake. Cut the cake into squares, then add freshly sliced strawberries on top of each slice. Enjoy your picturesque poke cake!

Strawberry Jello Poke Cake - White Cake Mix Recipe! All Things Mamma (4)

VARIATIONS TO TRY

This jello poke cake is a tried and true classic recipe! However, there are a few fun ways to shake things up a bit. Be sure to try some of these variations!

  • Strawberry is my favorite flavor because it says “summer” like no other flavor to me! However, you can make this poke cake with just about any jello flavor you can get your hands on. Lemon, orange, and cherry jello would all be delicious with this white cake mix recipe.
  • To emphasize the strawberry flavor even more, consider adding a few drops of strawberry extract to the cake mix or whipped cream topping! Be careful, though, because a little strawberry extract goes a long way. You want an additional hint of strawberry, not an overpowering amount of it! Just 3 or 4 drops should do the trick.
  • If you’re making this cake for the 4th of July, toss some blueberries on top of the cake! In fact, you could make an adorable American flag out of whipped cream, strawberries, and blueberries.
Strawberry Jello Poke Cake - White Cake Mix Recipe! All Things Mamma (5)

FAQS

Can you change up the flavor of this cake?

You bet! This is the best part! You can turn this strawberry poke cake recipe into a totally different flavor by using a chocolate cake mix!

How do you store leftover cake?

The best way to store this perfect summer dessert is to have it in an airtight container. It needs to be kept cool in the fridge.

This strawberry jello poke cake is inexpensive, easy to make, and perfectly festive for spring and summer. What are you waiting for?! You have no reason not to treat yourself to this simple, sweet, fruity jello poke cake.

Need more desserts to carry you through a summer full of parties? Here are some of the best easy recipes for summer!

  • Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
  • Fruit Pizza
  • Shark Bait Ice Cream Floats
  • No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake
  • Coconut Cream Cupcakes with Homemade Buttercream Frosting

Strawberry Jello Poke Cake - White Cake Mix Recipe! All Things Mamma (6)

Strawberry Jello Poke Cake

Strawberry Jello Poke Cake is light and fluffy, filled with strawberry jello, and topped with Cool Whip for a delicious summertime treat!

4.41 from 35 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Kasey Schwartz

Servings: 12

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 box white cake mix prepared as directed
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 box 4-serving size Jell-O strawberry-flavored gelatin
  • 1 container 8 oz 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

Nutrition

Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 299mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 18g | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?Mention @kasey_allthingsmamma or tag #allthingsmamma!

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Categories: Cake, Featured, , Recipes

About Kasey Schwartz

For over 15 years, Kasey Schwartz, the mastermind behind All Things Mamma, has been the ultimate go-to for mouthwatering family recipes. Her work has been featured on Today.com, Buzz Feed, Better Homes and Gardens, and more, making her your go-to mom next door for all things delicious and family-friendly.

Read More About Me

Strawberry Jello Poke Cake - White Cake Mix Recipe! All Things Mamma (2024)

FAQs

Why is my poke cake soggy? ›

Make sure the holes aren't too close together or too far apart—if they're too close together, your cake could be too moist; if they're too far apart, there may not be enough filling throughout the cake.

Why do you put Jell-O in cake mix? ›

It's really enhances the flavor. I sometimes add black cherry jello to chocolate cake. Or add any jello to white cake mix to make pretty colored cupcakes. The cakes come out denser with a little coarser texture, but the result is very good.

When did Jell-O poke cake come out? ›

According to Lynne Galia of the Kraft Heinz Company, the Jell-O gelatin poke cake, developed by General Foods Kitchens, first appeared in print advertising and in Jell-O recipe booklets in 1976. The subsequent Jell-O pudding poke cake recipe was introduced in 1981.

When to poke holes in poke cake? ›

Once you've baked the cake and allowed it to cool completely, you'll want to use a wooden spoon handle to poke holes in the cooled cooked cake.

What to do if your cake has a soggy bottom? ›

There are a few things you can do to fix a soggy bottom cake:
  1. Use parchment paper. ...
  2. Grease the pan well. ...
  3. Use a lower oven temperature. ...
  4. Don't overbake the cake. ...
  5. Let the cake cool completely before frosting.
Apr 1, 2020

What does adding mayo to cake mix do? ›

All this means that adding mayonnaise to the cake batter boosts the moisture of the final product—and leaves none of its characteristic taste. Testing showed that using oil or butter instead of mayo made for a drier cake, but keeping the eggs in addition to the mayonnaise improved richness and springiness.

Why add sour cream to boxed cake mix? ›

Sour cream is one of the fattiest dairy products; the extra fat content (for example, adding sour cream to a cake instead of milk) will make the cake moister and richer, says Wilk. "Fat, in any form (butter, lard, cream, etc.) shortens gluten strands, which essentially leads to the most tender baked goods," she adds.

What makes a cake mix more moist? ›

To get an extra rich and moist cake, stir in two extra egg yolks along with the eggs the recipe calls for. Add sugar and flour to the dry mix. Add 1/4- 1 cup sugar and flour to your cake mix. Use coffee instead of water for chocolate cakes.

Why was Jell-O so popular in the 60s? ›

“Gelatin was very easy to prepare by mid-century cooking standards, and storing foods suspended within gelatin helped those foods stay fresh longer,” explains Ruth Clark, author and blogger at Mid Century Menu.

Why was Jell-O so popular in the 70s? ›

It's cheap, aesthetically pleasing (by the standards of the day), and relatively easy to prepare.

What is the oldest Jell-O? ›

The original gelatin dessert began in Le Roy, New York, in 1897, when Pearle Bixby Wait trademarked the name Jell-O. He and his wife May had made the product by adding strawberry, raspberry, orange, and lemon flavoring to sugar and granulated gelatin (which had been patented in 1845).

Why is my vegan cake soggy? ›

You could try different ones or try reducing the water and/or oil content a little. If you're adding things like fruit to the batter it can release juices during baking that can make cakes soggy. I usually reduce my water and oil content a little when I bake these types of cakes.

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