Incredibly light and delicious Strawberry Jello Poke Cake! This white cake is filled with strawberry jello and topped with fresh whipped cream and strawberries.
This Strawberry Jello Poke Cake is a classic cake I’m sure you’ve either had or heard of before. Am I right? Jello Poke Cakes have been around forever because they are so dang delicious.
I think it was my Mom that first introduced me to jello poke cakes, and of course I fell in-love at first bite. They are moist and packed with so much flavor- the only problem is that you’ll have a hard time stopping at just one piece. This cake is not rich by any means so it is easy to devour and go for seconds! (If that’s a bad thing, I guess.) 😉
Another thing I love about this cake is how simple it is to prepare. You can use any box cake mix (I prefer white so the color of the jello really shows) and I’ve made it with yellow. Both are amazing. You can always try a homemade cake and I’m sure it would be even better.
The second part is the topping. I use cool whip and I am not ashamed in any way. Homemade whipped cream is even better (duh), so when I have time I will whip up the good stuff, but we are happy campers with cool whip too. Either way, this cake is a winner. 🙂 It is so simple, light and absolutely delicious.
CAN I USE OTHER FLAVORS OF JELLO INSTEAD OF STRAWBERRY?
Yes! You can definitely swap the strawberry jello for any flavor you prefer. Some great options are lemon, peach, raspberry and cherry jello!
DO I HAVE TO USE WHITE CAKE MIX?
Not at all. Yellow cake mix and even chocolate cake mix are delicious alternatives. I think a chocolate cake with strawberry jello would be amazing!
MORE DELICIOUS CAKE RECIPES YOU MAY LIKE:
Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box (15 ounces) white cake mix
- (eggs, oil and water called for on cake mix package)
- 1 box (3 ounces) Strawberry Jello mix
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 container (8 ounces) cool whip, thawed
- sliced strawberries for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare and bake cake in a 9×13 inch baking pan, according to package directions. Remove cake from oven. Let cool 30 minutes.
- Using the back of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cake.
- Mix together jello powder and boiling water until jello dissolves. Carefully pour mixture evenly over the top of cake. Cover and place in fridge to chill for a few hours.
- When ready to serve, spread cool whip evenly over the top of cake. Cut in pieces and serve with sliced strawberries. Enjoy!
Notes
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Have you ever used this using chocolate cake? Or, would the chocolate flavor overpower the taste of the jello?
Try it with a black cherry or raspberry jello. Very good.
Fabulous with any cake mix
Also just enough boiling water yo dissolve, then add cold sodas or fruit juice
Be sure the combinations go well together. I love the chocolate cake mix with black cherry jello and Dr.Pepper the combination is out of this world
I have found to make it fruitier I mix a small box of jello in a container of cool whip and ice the cake with that. It is a hit with the family.
You said to let it chill for a few hours? How quick can you serve it… I’m not wanting to wait a few hours
You want the jello mixture to get really cold within the cake, so I would say at least 2 hours.
After a half hour in the freezer it is perfect to serve
For the hello mix, do you just add the boiling water.. Or do you add the cool water as well as if you’re actually making jello
Was wondering the same thing!
Just the boiling water. After it has dissolved, fill the poke holes.
Just boiling water. You can also use dream whip icing. I use cream cheese pudding dream whip and about 1 1/2 cups milk.
I made the strawberry jello poke cake today, it was a HUGE hit with everyone, it didn’t take long for half of the cake to disappear. I think I found my new go to cake for all the birthdays, holidays, Sunday’s well I think you get the implication. Thanks for sharing.
Didn’t the original cake have a layer of instant pudding before the whipped cream? I’m making this this week.
I always put prepared vanilla pudding whipped into the cool whip and then frost the cake.
DONNA I DO WHAT YOU DO SOOOOOO YUMMY
You made the pudding mix with milk and than added to the cool whip
I’m loving all these recipes on here,already wrote down like 4 lol but I love to cook n bake .. thank you for sharing
Do you need to keep leftovers refrigeratorate?
Yes, extremely well, I might add. My cake lasted almost two weeks the first time around.
Yes, cover and refrigerate any leftovers 🙂
I love this recipe and have made it twice in the past 2 months. The first time, I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out great, but as any home cook will tell you, adding your own twist is what really makes it your own. So, for the second time, I did the following…I made the cake and jello portion to the exact measurements, but I added Chef John’s strawberry sauce to the poke holes and instead of topping it with whole strawberries, I chopped up mine and sprinkled them all over for more coverage and flavor. It turned out brilliantly. I ended up eating half the cake myself, lol.
how do you half a recipe like Strawberry poke cake and others
I would make two round cakes. Put half the jello in one and half in the other. Use the one for what you were going to and give the other away.
Or make one round cake and use half the Jello. Then add water to the rest of the jello until you like the flavor and refrigerate and make Jello out of it.
I made this using the Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cake Mix.
It turned out good. Topped with whipped cream and strawberries and it was a simple light dessert. Thank you.
When making the jello to put in the cake do I only use half the water and just dissolve it
Hi am wondering, with the jello making the cake warm should I wait a while so the heat wont kill my fridge?
OMG!!! My cake is chilling and I’m reading the reviews and stupid me made the jello with the COLD WATER TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
I started making this jello poke cake in the late 70’s. It was always made by topping the cake first with vanilla jello then cool whip. I see they are making a frosting that combines the pudding and cool whip together. I still prefer the instant pudding made with milk layered on first then the cool whip. Try it!
I frost mine with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting in a can. Then I decorate it with strawberries.
Thank you for this! My mom used to make this when i was a child and now she cant remember how to do it. I am so happy to have found this! Thank you!
I like using the raspberry flavored gelatin and after frosting it I sprinkle with coconut flakes and it tastes like zingers.
Making orange jello poke cake with cutie mandarin orange sections all over real whipped cream. Dreamsickle….yum!
How close to serving time to do you cover the cake with whipped cream? Can you do it 3-4 hours ahead of time?
Any time before is fine!
Yes, you can put the whipped topping on hours before serving 🙂
I am making this tonight for the first time and Can’t wait to taste it!! Thanks for the recipe!
This looks awesome, Holly Lofthouse! My boys would swoon if I brought this to the table – and it sounds like even I could manage it:) Thanks so much for sharing – pinned of course. And thanks for being part of this hop, friend!
Simple to make an eye-catching cake recipe! Pinned, I have to do it as soon as possible. Thank you!
I made this for Thanksgiving, but I was wanting to try it with a banana pudding twist. Was wondering if banana or vanilla pudding would work in the chocolate mixture? Thanks so much force sharing this awesome recipe!
Poke Cake is probably one of my favorite types of cake because you get all that yummy goodness down in all the holes of the cake. I might have to make it for Christmas.
It’s so yummy! I have to make it right now
My son has Celiac disease so I’m always looking for fun recipes for him and something the entire family will enjoy. I use a Gluten Free white or yellow (white is my favorite) cake mix to make this cake. The jello is gluten free and it a favorite dessert at my house.
Can i make the cake a day ahead then next day do the jello then refrigerate
Sorry to respond so late Deborah. But yes, you can make the cake a day in advance. 🙂
Yummy! I was drooling when I saw it
Will never ignore this formula, I will do it for my family and friends, but I have a question, can I do it, then leave the refrigerator for days?
Thanks
My family likes it with blueberry pie filling spread over the cake after the jello is poured on. After chilling I add the cool whip
I mix the whipped cream with cream cheese and powdered sugar, like a fruit dip. Oh my!!!
I make this cake with lemon cake mix and lime jello. I frost it whith coolwhip, 1 cup milk and 1 pkg instant lemon pudding combined.
Love it. I’ve seen recipes with 1 cup water, 1 1/2 cups water and 2 cups water added to the jello. Any thoughts on whayt is best?
It looks very delicious. I will try this. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome! Cannot wait to try this.
Can I apply this recipe with other kinds of fruits? I like strawberry but I want to try with different fruit. Anyway that’t nice of you share this post.
Yes mary! You can use any other jello flavor you prefer. Cherry, peach and lemon are great options!
I made a white cake with peach jello and topped it with dream whip frosting (1 envelope of dream whip, 1 box of vanilla pudding 1 1/2 c milk, 1tsp of vanilla) the frosting was so light. The cake was gone in a day and 1/2
Just made this yesterday and it turned out soo good!
Help! May seem silly but at what point do you remove the cake from the pan? Seems that when pouring the jello it would run? I’ve seen pictures where it is left in the pan and those of the cake removed.
You leave the cake in the pan. You never remove it except for slicing it and serving 🙂
This jello cake is my favorite, I always feel pleasured to have it with a cup of coffee. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
This is so good, I made it last week but I didn’t use whipping cream, just cake with fresh strawberries, my family like it . Thanks.
Your strawberry cake is really delicious. I try to make it for my daughter and she loves to eat so much. Thank you so much for your experiences and sharing.
Hi! I’d love to try this but I’m wondering if there’s a vegetarian option for the jello I can use instead? Thank you for all of your lovely recipes Holly.
You can use kosher “gelatin”, some of which use agar agar as the gelling agent
I’ve been making this cake for years! My mom used to make it all the time and then I took over. I make my with a few different variations. For the jello, I use 3/4 cup boiling water and 1/2 cup cold water. I actually prefer to double the recipe for the jello and use 2 boxes (so double the water too). More jello mixture to pour into the holes makes it even more flavorful and moist. I use a funnel to get it all in each hole). For the topping I use the vanilla pudding and Dream Whip combination. I like to double that recipe too, 2 boxes of Jello Vanilla instant pudding and 2 envelopes dream whip along with 3 cups cold milk and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Beat for about 7 minutes. Top the cake with in and REFRIGERATE. It’s such a delicious cake and a hit with everyone
Can u use redi whip?
I don’t recommend it. It’s not as thick as cool whip so I don’t think it will work.
For my frosting i mix whipping cream , powered sugar and i use frozen strawberries that i blended in blender, its oh so yummy!
Many years ago I made this but it was called a soda pop cake. Bake your cake and to jello w/1 cup boiling water, add 1 cup of same FLAVOR soda.
Then follow directions. For topping, make 1 box of instant vanilla pudding and fold in 1 tub of cool whip. So much better than plain cool whip!
Thank you for sharing. It looks so yummy.
I made this cake tonight and added a Homemade Strawberry Whipped Icing and it was delicious.
I make this as our easter bunny cake. Using a butter cake miX wIth raspberry jello. Frost with cool ehip and Sprinkle with coconut. Family love it say it reminds them of ZINGERS only better.
I make this all the time! i use strawberry cake mix, the other thing i add is strawberry pie filling on top before adding the whipped cream,, its delicious! Right now I am making a white cake , raspberry jello, raspberry pie filling and then top with the cool whip and fresh raspberries, think this one will be awesome too!
My family loves jello poke cakes es in the summer. Their favorite is RASPBERRY although they love strawberry too.
Just wanted to tell you what i do for the “frosting”. I take a small box of instant vanilla pudding mixed with only 1 cup of cold milk. It stiffens up pretty fast. Then i fold and mix an 8 oz tub if Cool WhiP into it. It is SO SO GOOD. IF YOU TRY IT LET ME KNOW HOW YOU LIKE IT. I’ve been enjoying your recipes for quite a whike.
Before I top with cool whip I put a layer of surgered strawberries on top of the cake. It’s always a big hit.
Have you used strawberry cake mix or french vanilla?
No, but i’m sure either would be great!
the cake mix I used called for 5 egg whites. of course I didn’t see that until after it was mixed and used the whole eggs. it still turned out delicious!