I love this strawberry poke cake recipe all year round, but with springtime just around the corner, it’s time to pull out your fruit cake recipes and this recipe is one of the best! Strawberry cake recipes virtually announce spring and all the wonderful things the season brings. Beautiful warm weather, long lazy days, picnics, potlucks, and poke cake recipes are some of my fondest springtime memories. I can almost hear the birds chirping now.
When it comes to desserts, the flavor of the strawberry is one of my favorites! Like my easy Strawberry Triple Decker Cake, Berry Chantilly Cake, or my Strawberry Sheet Cake. I promise all of these are showstoppers that will make you look like a baking rockstar!
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What I Love About This Recipe
- An easy virtually no-fail recipe
- Lots more strawberry flavor compared to other versions of this recipe
- Picnic and potluck ready
- Always a huge crowd pleaser
How To Make Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe
This recipe is super simple. Just bake the cake and mix up the Jello while it cools. Poke holes in the cake, pour the warm Jello over it and slide it into the fridge.
You can’t really mess this up because after the cake has cooled a bit you top it with strawberry pie filling and cool whip.
Strawberry Cake Recipe Notes
This cake starts with preparing a box cake according to the directions (and, YES, you need to use the other ingredients the box instructions require like eggs, oil, and water) then cooling on a wire rack.
Making The Holes: I just use the round handle of a wooden spoon to poke the holes. Space about an inch apart all over the top of the cake (see photos above). If you prefer smaller holes, then a fork works fine too. If you use a fork, however, you won’t be able to press any pie filling into the holes, so you will end up with just a layer on top of the cake.
Slicing The Cake: Use my Grandma’s trick of dipping a knife in a tall glass of hot water then wiping off the water with a paper towel, between cuts. This will give you much prettier cake slices.
Garnish: while this cake can be made ahead of time, it is best to garnish right before you serve. Fresh fruit can weep and water down the frosting
Jello Poke Cake Ingredient Notes
Cake Mix – I like to use a white cake mix for this recipe because it allows the strawberry flavor to really shine. You can use a yellow cake mix or other flavors if you’re putting your personal spin on things.
Cool Whip – You’ll want it thawed (overnight in the fridge) but still cold.
Pie Filling – This gives my recipe a unique twist on a standard poke cake and really gives you tons of strawberry flavor.
Storing Tips
Keeping this cake fresh and yummy means storing it in the icebox. It needs to stay chilled because of the cool whip topping. I think it tastes better chilled anyway. Just wrap it tightly with plastic wrap for best results.
Can You Freeze This?
Yes! Make the cake per the instructions without topping with the garnish of whole strawberries. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap then with aluminum foil.  I like to let my poke cake slow thaw in the fridge overnight and then garnish with strawberries for a beautiful presentation.
Strawberry Jello Cake Make Ahead Tips
Since this freezes nicely, making it ahead of time is a snap. If you’re going to serve this in the next couple of days, then there’s no need to freeze it. Just wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and slide it into the fridge for a day or two. Then add your deliciously gorgeous toppings before serving.
How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge?
This strawberry poke cake recipe will stay refreshingly scrumptious for up to 4 days in the fridge if it’s stored properly.
Recipe Variations
Can I Use Banana Instead?
If you’re a banana fan you can always change things up a bit and make a banana poke cake instead. For a super moist intensely delicious twist you can also go with a banana pudding poke cake. No Nilla wafer cookies here but you won’t miss them one little bit! I’ve also been known to whip up a banana pound cake on occasion. When the flavor of banana collides with a moist yummy pound cake something delightful happens and I love to taste it.
Can I Add Chocolate?
If you’re looking for chocolate then my Quadruple Chocolate Poke Cake is the answer for you! This cake is crazy moist and uber chocolatey! Oreo poke cake, Boston cream poke cake, and Baileys poke cake, are all super yummy too!
Can I Make This In A Bundt Pan?
This recipe is best made in a 9X13 inch baking dish. If you’re looking for a fruity bundt cake try my Peach Pound Cake (one of my all-time most popular recipes), or my Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake! I have an amazingly delish Strawberry Pound Cake that I can’t wait to share with you. I will post it asap! Harvey Wallbanger Cake is another option! It’s a throwback vanilla cake with plenty of citrus flavors and fragrant herbal undertones. -And it’s the perfect bundt cake recipe.
A Few More Strawberry Cakes Just For You
One of my favorite flavor combinations is strawberry and cream cheese. Which is exactly what my Strawberry Cream Cake has! It too is a showstopper that everyone loves! Bisquick strawberry shortcake is another quick dessert with a light refreshing flavor! Speaking of that, don’t miss my Strawberry Shortcake Cake! This cake has sweet strawberries between layers of a delicate buttermilk-infused cake and perfectly whipped cream.
Strawberry Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix PLUS ingredients on the cake box
- 1 (3-ounce) box strawberry jello
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 (21-ounces) cans strawberry pie filling
- 1 (8-ounce) container cool whip thawed
- 2 pint fresh strawberries sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9X13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Prepare the cake according to box instructions. Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set the pan on the wire baking rack and cool for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together jello and boiling water, until jello is completely dissolved.
- Using the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes into the cake, every inch. Carefully pour jello mixture evenly over top of the cake. Wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Spread pie filling evenly over top of cooled cake. Using the back of a rubber spatula, gently press the pie filling into the holes. Spread with a cool whip over the top. When ready to serve, top decoratively with sliced strawberries and serve!
Fans Also Made:
More Fruit Cake Recipes
Fruit cakes aren’t always like the proverbial fruitcake we enjoy during the holiday season. Some are a light refreshing fruity blend that helps usher in springtime and welcome the summer months. Here are some of my best cakes with fruits for you to try.
- Caramel Apple Sheet Cake
- Lemon Buttermilk Cake
- Peach Pound Cake
- Grandma’s Fruit Cocktail Cake
- Pineapple Sheet Cake
Conclusion
This cake is potluck and picnic-ready.  It’s a strawberry cake – only more perfect! It’s crazy simple to make and practically a no-fail recipe. If you try my strawberry poke cake recipe please leave a comment below! Happy baking friends ♥
Wonderful cake
Thank you, Cathy! 🙂
Can you use fresh strawberries instead of canned strawberries???
Hi, Ruth. I haven’t tried that. Here are some of my strawberry sheet cakes that use fresh strawberries you may want to try:
Strawberry sheet cake
Strawberry jello cake
I hope you like them!