This Strawberry Jello Poke Cake is super moist, flavorful and so easy to make using my white doctored cake mix recipe! With its pretty marbled appearance and bright berry flavor, it's always a crowd favorite.
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Why We Love This Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
This strawberry Jello cake is based on the white sheet cake and white wedding cupcake recipes that so many of you love! Here's why it ranks as one of our favorite summer desserts:
- Easy to make! And not only is it easy to make, it's also oddly satisfying to poke the cake with holes and pour Jello over the top.
- Bakery-style cake...but easier! The white wedding sheet cake base makes this strawberry poke cake taste like it came from your favorite bakery...you'd never know it starts from a boxed cake mix!
- Light summer dessert! Add some fresh strawberries on top and you've got yourself the perfect light dessert for spring or summer get-togethers. Move over strawberry pie!
What You Need to Make Strawberry Jello Cake With Cool Whip
- White cake mix – I prefer Pillsbury Moist Supreme
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Water
- Sour cream – This is the secret to a super moist cake! Don't use greek yogurt for this.
- Egg whites
- Strawberry jello powder – Combine this with a cup of water
- Whipped cream (I used Cool Whip)
- Optional: fresh strawberries for garnishing
Jello Poke Cake Frosting
Cool Whip isn't the only option for topping your Jello cake! While strawberry Jello cake with cream cheese icing is amazing, I definitely love using a simple whipped cream because it makes this taste like strawberry shortcake—but so much easier since you make it in a 9x13 baking pan! Here are a few more ideas for strawberry Jello cake icing:
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Buttercream Frosting
- Strawberry Frosting (substitute the freeze-dried raspberries for strawberries from my white chocolate raspberry cookie cake!)
How to Make Jello Poke Cake:
Step 1: Make the Cake Batter
Mix the dry ingredients, then add the vanilla, water, sour cream, and egg whites. Pour the batter into a greased or parchment-lined 9x13-inch metal baking pan and bake for 28 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick or fork come out clean.
Tip: By doctoring a boxed cake mix, you'll end up with a white sheet cake even better than Betty Crocker! Make sure you follow the instructions in the recipe card below, though, not the ones on the box of cake mix.
Step 2: Poke Holes and Pour Jello
Once the cake has cooled, poke holes all over, about a half-inch apart. Mix the strawberry Jello according to the directions on the package (but only use 1 cup of water!). Spoon the Jello and water mixture over the cake, letting it soak in.
Tip: Use a fork or wide straw to poke the holes in the cake.
Step 3: Refrigerate
Refrigerate the cake for 3 to 4 hours, or until the Jello sets. Don't rush it!
Tip: You can pop the cake in the freezer for 30 minutes to speed up the process if needed.
Step 4: Decorate and Cut
Spread the whipped cream or frosting over the strawberry Jello poke cake, then refrigerate until ready to serve. If you have time, refrigerating it for another 1-2 hours will ensure that both the cake and the whipped topping will slice cleanly.
Tip: Garnish with fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, chocolate shavings, or festive sprinkles!
Storage & Freezing
How long does poke cake last in the fridge?
This Jello cake recipe will last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Just be sure to cover with plastic wrap to ensure it doesn't dry out.
Can strawberry Jello poke cake be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze this Jello poke cake, but don't add the whipped topping before freezing. Instead, let the cake thaw in the refrigerator before serving, then add the whipped topping.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can use a fork, wide straw, or wooden skewer to poke holes in this strawberry poke cake.
This recipe uses my white wedding cake doctored cake mix recipe for a cake that tastes better than boxed. It's dense like a bakery cake and super moist!
Absolutely! Lemon, raspberry, and orange Jello all make amazing poke cakes. They're great birthday cake recipes or just a 9x13 dessert recipe for whenever you're in the mood for something sweet!
Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 ounce box white cake mix I prefer Pillsbury Moist Supreme
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups water
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 4 large egg whites equal to ½ cup if using liquid carton egg whites
- 3 oz box strawberry Jello mixed with 1 cup of water
- 8 oz frozen whipped topping
- Strawberries for garnishing
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
Make the Cake:
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, whisk together the boxed white cake mix (15.25 ounces), all-purpose flour (1 cup), and granulated sugar (½ cup).
- Once incorporated, add in the vanilla extract (1 teaspoon), water (1 ½ cups), sour cream (¾ cup), and egg whites (4 large) one at a time until combined. Do not whip cake mix, just mix until everything is incorporated.
- Pour batter into greased 9×13 metal pan and bake for 28-30 minutes or until toothpick or fork come out clean.
- Allow to cool completely before moving onto the next step.
Add the Jello and Frost:
- Use a fork, wooden skewer, or wide straw to poke holes all over, about a half-inch apart.
- Mix the strawberry Jello (3 ounce box) according to the directions on the package (but only use 1 cup of water!). Spoon the Jello and water mixture over the cake, letting it soak in.
- Refrigerate the cake for 3-4 hours to allow the jello to set. You can also pop the cake in the freezer for 30 minutes to speed up the process.
- Spread the whipped topping (8 ounces) on the top of the cake. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- If desired, garnish with sliced or whole stawberries for serving (don't add ahead of time or the strawberries will bleed).
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Nutrition
If you make these strawberry jello poke cake, be sure to leave a comment below and tag me on Instagram @designeatrepeat. I LOVE seeing what you made!
Kl says
Really good thought it may rise a bit more but nonetheless it was good! Different.
Melissa says
Thank you so much for leaving a review!
Kathy Joyner says
This is a delicious light and fruity cake! It was so easy to make and I love the texture of it! Definitely a keeper! Thank you for sharing!
Melia Williams says
I love it!
Deborah Sanchez says
When you say use only one cup of water does that mean 1/2 hot and 1/2 cold total?
Melissa says
Yes, correct! Thanks for asking, I’ll clarify that in the post :)
Lisa says
Can you make this in 2 8 or 9 inch round cake pans?
Melissa says
Yes, that would work just fine! Just bake a little less than what the recipe says.
Stephanie says
I am planning on making this in a 12x18x2 pan. Would I need to double the recipe?
Melissa says
Yes I would double it! You may not need the complete 2x batch but the single would definitely be pretty thin for that size pan.
PnkGrl says
Too funny, I was looking for a bigger white cake recipe to use for a lemon poke cake....when I was on your white sheet cake recipe site, it led me to the fruity strawberry version....and here! So happy I used this mix and it's exact recipe!
Ty! L😋VE
Melissa says
Talk about good timing! I am glad that you enjoyed it and thank you for leaving a review!
Cindi Pippen says
This cake is fabulous. Will be my Go-To recipe from now on. It is not only delicious (love the texture) but so easy to make.
Melissa says
So glad you loved it, Cindi! You win the award for the quickest bake of my new recipe, as I just posted this yesterday haha!
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!