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Strawberry Jello Poke Cake Recipe is the perfect dessert to bring to family gatherings, pot lucks, holidays and more. With just a few ingredients, this cake is super easy to make and even the kids can help.

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This strawberry Jello Poke Cake is loaded with flavor and made easily with simple ingredients. The entire family will love this easy cake recipes for the creamy and delicious texture.

This is the perfect and easy Valentines Day Recipe, 4th of July Cake or for any occasion. You may even like to make this Paula Deen Strawberry Cake Recipe, Easy Jell-O Popsicles, or these Pink Velvet Cupcakes.

Why This Recipe Works

These tips will help you show you the tips and tricks on how to make a poke cake. This easy dessert recipe is perfect for your summertime BBQ or for an easy Christmas Recipe. Top with your favorite fresh berries for a crowd pleasing dessert.

If you have been making our recipes for awhile, you know I am a big fan of using what we have or can get on sale at the grocery store. So, I love recipes that are versatile and easy to make work lots of different ways.

Ingredients

  • White Box Cake Mix and any ingredients listed on box
  • Jello Mix (We used strawberry but you can use any flavor.)
  • Cool Whip – You can also use Homemade Whipped Cream

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

We typically use a white cake mix for this recipe. But here are some of my favorite cake flavors that would work with this recipe:

  • Yellow Cake
  • Angel Food
  • Lemon Cake
  • Strawberry Cake
  • Chocolate Cake Mix

Feel free to also change the flavor of Jello Mix to what you prefer. You can make this recipe with cherry jello, lime jello, or lemon jello.

How to Make Jello Cake

  • Step 1 – First, prepare the cake mix as directed on the box and bake. Let the cake cool completely.
Poking holes in the cake

Step 2 – Now, it is time for the fun part. Poke the cake all over.

Mixing Jello Mix with water and boiling water

Step 3 – Next, prepare the jell-o as directed. Mix the Jell-O into the boiling water.

Pouring the jello mix over the cake with a spoon

Step 4 – Then spoon over cake mix until you have used all of the mixture.

Spreading the cool whip over the strawberry cake

Step 5 – Chill the cake and top with whipped cream.  We also added fresh strawberries.

Recipe Tips

  • Cool Cake – Before topping the cake with whipped cream, make sure it has cooled completely.
  • Gelatin – The strawberry gelatin needs to cool before pouring on the cake, so make sure to plan accordingly.
  • Poke Holes – Poke holes evenly over the cake so the jello mixture evenly distributes throughout the cake.
  • Toppings – You can use cool whip to top the cake or frost the cake with store bought frosting. We have even topped with a strawberry sauce for a delicious cake.
  • Cupcakes – This recipe can easily be made into cupcakes. Pour cake batter into paper liners in the muffin pan. Then poke holes in the cupcakes to pour the jello mixture. This makes the perfect individual dessert at your next BBQ.

How to Poke Holes in a Cake

  • You can use a fork to poke the cake
  • The end of a wooden spoon also works as well.
  • Another idea is to use a toothpick.

This is such an easy recipe so just use what you have and make this amazing cake.

Does Poke Cake need to be Refrigerated?

Yes, refrigerate the cake until ready to serve. This is the best cake and so easy to make with just a few ingredients.

This is cake is perfect to make ahead of time. Then I cover and refrigerate until I am ready to serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store

Storing leftovers is so easy with this cake. I cover with saran wrap and place in the refrigerator. It will stay good for about 3-5 days.
It normally doesn’t last that long in my house.

Can you Freeze Jello Poke Cake?

You can freeze the cake but I would do so before adding the whipped topping and berries on top of the cake. You can freeze the cake and then add your toppings when ready to serve.

More Poke Cake Recipes

Other Easy Dessert Recipes 

We love to hear from you. If you make this Jello Poke Cake Recipe, please leave a comment or a star review.

Jello Poke Cake Recipe

4.97 from 79 votes
Jello Poke Cake Recipe is the perfect dessert to bring to family gatherings, holidays and more. With just a few ingredients, this cake is so easy to make.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chill 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 25 minutes
Servings 9
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 281

Ingredients

  • 1 white cake mix box and any ingredients listed on box
  • 3.3 oz jello mix strawberry (you can also use raspberry, cherry )
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1 tub Cool Whip
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Instructions

  • Prepare cake mix as directed and bake in a 9×13 pan. Let cool for 15 minutes.
  • Poke cake with fork at ½ inch intervals.
  • Prepare jell-o as directed. Spoon over cake mix until jell-o liquid is all gone.
  • Chill 3 to 4 hours and top with whipped cream. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

You can easily make this recipe with your favorite Jello flavor. 

Nutrition Facts

Calories 281kcal, Carbohydrates 63g, Protein 5g, Fat 4g, Saturated Fat 2g, Cholesterol 5mg, Sodium 512mg, Potassium 70mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 29g, Vitamin A 55IU, Calcium 160mg, Iron 1mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

4.97 from 79 votes (59 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Carrie Barnard says:

    Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing!

  2. Beverly Hollar says:

    5 stars
    I have made poke cakes using a podwered sugar and milk. I poke holes in the cake while still warm. Next I pour the sugar glaze over the warm cake. It soaks in nicely.

  3. Carrie Barnard says:

    So glad you loved it and yes, I have that problem too!

  4. Sue Phillips says:

    5 stars
    I used lemon jello and grated lemon zest on top the cool whip.. itโ€™s so good, light, and refreshing! The only bad thing with this cake is itโ€™s so light you could eat 1/2 the cake in one sitting! ?

  5. Carrie Barnard says:

    Yes, I think that would be great.

  6. Kathy says:

    Can I use pineapple cake mix for this cake

  7. Tina Y. Hall says:

    5 stars
    So delicious! Enjoyed preparing this dessert. Love it!

  8. arnell cook says:

    5 stars
    It was easy to make and very delicious! Thank you for these awesome recipes!

  9. Carrie says:

    Oh that sounds delicious! I’m so glad you enjoy this cake.

  10. Fay says:

    5 stars
    My family loves this cake. I poked cake, poured lime jello and added a heavy spinkle of unsweetened coconut before topping with cool whip. If you like coconut you’ll love this.

  11. Ruth Meyer says:

    5 stars
    When I was a kid my Mom used to make this for Sunday dinner desertโ€ฆit was amazing then and still is amazing. So glad that I found the recipe again. It was one of my favorite cakes.

  12. Ruth Meyer says:

    5 stars
    When I was a kid my Mom used to make this for Sunday dinner desert…it was amazing then and still is amazing. So glad that I found the recipe again. It was one of my favorite cakes.

  13. annette C (fabri) Peterson says:

    5 stars
    Loved It – Next time I’m am going to try it with Lime Jello and tint the Col Whip green. Great for Christmas or St. Patrick’s Day./

  14. Jo Ann Hammond says:

    5 stars
    Five ?? ???????? For Sure!
    This is one of the most moist cakes you will ever eat! My family loves it. My husband is not big on icing, but this cake is his favorite.

  15. Jo Ann Hammond says:

    This is one of the most moist cakes you will ever eat! My family loves it. My husband is not big on icing, but this cake is his favorite.

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