STRAWBERRIES & CREAM POKE CAKE

Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake is made with a cake mix, seeped with Jello and topped with sweet cream and strawberries. This easy to make Jello Poke Cake is perfect for get-togethers!

This Strawberries Poke Cake recipe is the perfect light and sweet Jello dessert, great for any gathering with family and friends. It is easy to see why this Strawberry Poke Cake is a family favorite, it is delicious and beautiful!

Strawberries & Cream Poke Cake is a wonderful dessert that I knew my daughter would love – she loves strawberries! This recipe is so simple to make, with just a few ingredients you and your family can be enjoying this tasty and stunning treat!

What is a Poke Cake?

Poke Cakes became popular back in the 1970’s and people have loved experimenting with different flavors ever since. These cakes were given their name, Poke Cake, because after the cake has been baked, holes are poked all through out it before adding some type of filling into the holes. It really is a fun spin on a standard cake, you get added flavor for a delightful dessert. For this cake recipe, we are using Strawberry Jello.

Ingredients needed for Strawberries & Cream Poke Cake:

Here’s what you’ll need to make the Cake:

-Cake Mix: You will need 1 box of white cake mix for the base of this treat. Pick your favorite brand, anyone will be great.

-Water: Using ¾ cup boiling water will be used to make the Jello for this cake.

-Jell-O: You will need 1 box of Strawberry flavored Jell-O to achieve the delicious strawberry flavor.

-Cold Water: You need ½ cup cold water to complete the Jell-O recipe needed for this cake.

Here’s what you’ll need to make the Frosting:

-Cool Whip: You need 1 tub of cool whip non-dairy whipped topping for the fluffy creamy goodness on the cake.

-Almond extract: You will need 1 tsp of almond extract to give the whipped topping added flavor.

-Frosting: Use 1 tub of ready-made frosting to add a thicker and creamier texture to the cake topping.

-Strawberries: You will need some fresh strawberries to add to the top of the cake for added deliciousness.

How to make Strawberry & Cream Poke Cake:

Cake baking

To start, bake the cake as directed on the back of the box. Follow the directions for a 9×13 pan.

If you want to make boxed cake mix taste a little better, swap out milk for the water and add an additional egg – or egg white in this case!

After the cake has cooked, let it cool for 20 minutes. Then “poke” the cake with a large fork. I space my pokes about 1/2″ apart, covering the entire surface of the cake.

Jell-O time

First, in a medium sauce pan boil ¾ cup of water.

Once it boils, in a mixing bowl combine the boiling water and the Jell-O mix and stir until the Jell-O is completely dissolved.

Then, pour in ½ cup cold water and continue to stir, then pour over the cake.

Lastly, cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about three hours.

Making the topping

In a medium size bowl, combine the Cool-Whip and frosting together, stirring gently.

Add in almond extract and mix until fully combined.

Spread the mixture on top of cake gently, be careful not to tear the cake.

Next, wash, core and slice/dice the fresh strawberries. You can even use a fancy strawberry slicer if you’d like! Layer them on top of the cream when ready to serve. Store cake in fridge.

Serve cool and enjoy!

Can poke cake be made ahead of time?

Yes, you can make poke cake 1-2 days before you plan on serving it! I actually think poke cakes are even better the next day because the yummy filling has more time to seep into the cake! Just store it covered in the fridge.

Can you freeze poke cake?

You can freeze poke cake! You can freeze the entire cake, or freeze slices in airtight containers. Just thaw it in the fridge for 2-3 hours before serving.

Can you replace the Cool Whip in Strawberries & Cream Poke Cake?

Cool Whip is the best “whipped topping” to use in this recipe. However, if you can’t find Cool Whip where you live or you prefer not to use it in recipes, you can use stabilized whipped cream instead. If you just use regular whipped cream, the consistency will be too light and the cream will not hold up very well when mixed into the jello salad. It’s very simple to make your own stabilized whipped cream and it just takes a few minutes!

See Homemade Whipped Cream recipes here.

How do you make stabilized whipped cream?

To make stabilized whipped cream, you will need the following ingredients:

-4 ounces of cream cheese (softened to room temperature)

-1/3 cup powdered sugar

-1 tsp vanilla extract

-1 cup heavy whipping cream.

How to make stabilized whipped cream

Start by beating the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft and smooth.

In a separate bowl, beat the whipping cream just until soft peaks form.

Add the cream cheese mixture to the whipped cream and beat until stiff peaks are formed. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

A little tip for making whipped cream faster. Use a metal bowl for whipping the cream and place the bowl in the freezer for about 30 minutes before you make the whipped cream. This will significantly decrease the amount of time that you will need to beat the whipped cream – the process will go much faster!

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Strawberries & Cream Poke Cake is the perfect light and sweet dessert, perfect for any gathering with family and friends. A delicious poke cake recipe that is so pretty!