Indulge in the ultimate summer dessert that combines the classic flavors of strawberries and cream in one spectacular cake. This luscious strawberry poke cake transforms a simple box mix into an extraordinary dessert that looks as beautiful as it tastes. What sets this Strawberry jello poke cake apart is the creamy vanilla pudding layer, which adds richness, and the natural strawberry flavor that comes from real frozen berries. Each bite delivers the perfect balance of moist cake, juicy strawberries, silky pudding, and fluffy whipped topping that will have your guests asking for the recipe.
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What Makes Poke Cakes So Special
Poke cakes revolutionize ordinary sheet cakes by creating channels for extra flavor and moisture. After baking, holes are strategically poked throughout the cake, then filled with delicious liquids that infuse every bite with concentrated taste. This technique creates an incredibly moist, flavorful dessert that’s nearly impossible to achieve with traditional frosting methods. The result is a cake that stays fresh longer and delivers maximum impact with minimal effort.
Why You Will Love This Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe
If you like strawberry shortcake, you are going to love this strawberry poke cake with vanilla pudding. Here are more reasons why:
- It’s quick and easy to make.
- It’s always a hit at parties and for those special occasions.
- It’s kid-friendly, which means not only will kids enjoy eating it, but they’ll enjoy helping you make it. What fun to let them poke the holes in it!
Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe – Ingredients You Will Need
Strawberries enhance each pretty slice of this lovely cake, which is easily made from a convenient boxed cake mix. It’s the perfect Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker strawberry poke cake for a light dessert! Here are the simple ingredients:
Cake Foundation:
- French vanilla cake mix – Creates a tender, flavorful base with rich vanilla notes
- Frozen strawberries – Provide natural fruit flavor and beautiful color throughout
Creamy Layers:
- French vanilla pudding mix – Adds luxurious creamy texture and enhances vanilla flavor
- Cool Whip – Creates a light, fluffy topping that balances the rich pudding layer
Optional Garnish:
- Fresh strawberries – For beautiful presentation and extra fresh fruit flavor
How to Make Strawberry Poke Cake
This Duncan Hines strawberry poke cake is so easy to make, and no one will ever guess that this delicious poke cake began with a box mix! Here’s what to do:
- Bake the cake in a 9×13-inch baking dish in the oven and allow it to cool completely.
- With the cake still in the pan, poke holes in it.
- Pour the thawed strawberries and juice on the cake and into the holes.
- Prepare the pudding and spread it over the berries.
- Spread Cool Whip over the pudding.
- Place sliced strawberries on top of the cake and refrigerate until serving.
Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe Tips
- Using butter instead of oil and milk instead of water in a boxed cake mix makes your cake taste more homemade.
- The best way to poke a poke cake is to use the end of a wooden spoon. However, there is a simple rule to keep in mind: poke the holes about one inch apart. If you poke them too close, the dessert will be too moist; if you poke them too far, the filling won’t be proportionally absorbed.
- Avoid poking the holes through to the bottom of the cake.
Recipe Variations
There are several customizable components to this cake – the flavor of the cake (white, yellow, chocolate, red velvet, etc.) or different frozen fruit, e.g., peach for a peach poke cake or raspberries for a raspberry poke cake. You can also choose a different pudding flavor and use store-bought or homemade whipped topping; the options are endless!
- Use fresh strawberries. Wash, hull, and chop 2 pints of strawberries. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of sugar over them and refrigerate them overnight. This will create a fresh strawberry sauce for pouring into the cake.
- You can use a different boxed cake mix. For instance, you can make strawberry poke cake with yellow cake mix or white cake mix if you can’t find the French vanilla flavor. You could also go with lemon, angel food cake, or chocolate.
- For an adult version, you could add some rum or a liqueur to the strawberries before pouring them into the cake. If you find the idea intriguing, read more on using drunken strawberries.
- Another idea is to use strawberry jam or strawberry pie filling as a substitute for frozen strawberries.
- Chocolate Strawberry Poke Cake – Use a chocolate cake mix and pudding mix. You can also sprinkle chocolate chips over the strawberries before covering them with the pudding.
How to Make Your Own Fresh Whipped Cream
Yes, Cool Whip is convenient, but you might want to try your hand at making your own whipped cream.
Whipped Cream Ingredients
- 2 cups cold, full-fat, heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whipped Cream Instructions
- Starting with the mixer on medium speed, beat all the ingredients together until they become foamy.
- Increase the speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form.
What to Serve With Strawberry Poke Cake
This is an easy dessert that can follow a wide variety of main courses, such as:
Can You Make This Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe Ahead of Time?
You can prepare this strawberry poke cake with vanilla pudding up to 2 days ahead, but reserve the whipped cream topping until you are ready to serve.
How to Store Strawberry Poke Cake Leftovers
- Refrigerator Storage: Store covered in refrigerator for up to 4 days. The cake improves in flavor and texture after the first day as layers continue to meld.
- Make-Ahead Method: Prepare the cake up to 2 days ahead, but add the whipped topping just before serving for optimal texture and appearance.
- Freezing: Freeze individual slices wrapped in plastic for up to 3 months. Transfer directly from the refrigerator to the freezer to maintain the whipped topping texture. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
Love Strawberries? Try These Recipes!
- Strawberries Romanoff
- Strawberry Frappuccino
- Strawberry Pie
- Strawberry Soup
- Wendy’s Strawberry Frosty
Popular Cake Recipes
- Banana Split Cake
- Dump Cake with Peaches
- Hershey Bar Cake
- Mandarin Orange Cake
- Pound Cake From Cake Mix
- Scandinavian Almond Cake
- Sock-It-To-Me Cake
- Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake
Check out more of my easy cake recipes and the best desserts for any occasion here on CopyKat!
Thanks to Ginger Husch for this wonderful recipe.
Strawberry Poke Cake with Vanilla Pudding
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounces French Vanilla Cake Mix
- 8 ounces Frozen Strawberries
- 1 3.4-ounce box French Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix
- 12 ounces Cool Whip
Instructions
- Bake the cake in a 9×13-inch pan according to package instructions.
- Cool the cake completely. Do not remove the cake from the pan.
- After the cake has cooled, poke holes in cake (the handle of a wooden spoon works well).
- Pour the thawed strawberries and juice on the cake so the berries and juice go into the holes. Spread them around until the cake is covered.
- Prepare the pudding according to the package instructions.
- Spread the prepared pudding over the berries.
- Spread Cool Whip over the pudding.
- Keep the cake refrigerated for best flavor.
I really thought this would be a WOW cake. Although good, what’s not to like about strawberries and vanilla pudding, I probably won’t make it again.
Using butter in a boxed cake mix makes it taste more homemade. Your replacing the oil with butter and the water with milk. Makes it yummy.
RECIPE CALLS FOR 1/2 CUP MARGARINE. IF YOU’RE MAKING A CAKE FROM A BOX WHY WOULD’T YOU FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ON THE BOX? LOOKING AT PICTURE – IT IS BAKED IN A 9 X 13″ PAN.
I am not sure your comment went to this recipe. I don’t see a 1/2 cup of margarine in this recipe.