Our Strawberry Poke Cake (Strawberries and Cream) is an incredibly light and super refreshing dessert. It’s a moist vanilla cake that’s oozing with delicious white chocolate and strawberry filling in every bite. Topped off with creamy whipped topping and fresh strawberries for the perfect fruity summer dessert.

strawberry poke cake hero image
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Strawberry Poke Cake Recipe

I made this delicious Strawberry Poke Cake for a family gathering a few weeks ago, and it was a total hit with everyone from the kiddos to grandma and grandpa. The light and fresh strawberry flavors are irresistible and the delicious filling made of white chocolate chips, sweet and condensed milk, and strawberry jello is so good!

If you’re looking for a quick and easy dessert for your next get-together or special occasion, I can’t recommend this one enough. It only takes about 30 minutes to prep, and then you simply leave it to chill until you are ready to serve. It’s so simple and delicious, and your family or friends will love it.

strawberry poke cake

Why we love Strawberry Poke Cake

  • Easy to make using a box cake mix base
  • Oozing with white chocolate strawberry filling in every bite
  • Light and refreshing strawberry dessert
  • Can be made ahead and stored in the fridge until serving
  • Poke cake filling keeps cake super moist
  • Great way to use up strawberries in the fridge
  • Can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months
strawberry poke cake

Strawberry Jello Poke Cake ingredients

  • 1 box vanilla or white cake mix
  • 4 egg whites
  • Vegetable oil
  • White chocolate chips
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 box strawberry gelatin
  • Strawberry pie filling
  • Whipped topping
  • Fresh strawberries
a slice of strawberry poke cake

Strawberry Jello Cake variations

  • FOOD COLORING: If you want a darker red strawberry filling, you can add 4 – 6 drops of red food coloring.
  • GELATIN: You can use any flavored gelatin.
  • FRUIT TOPPING: You could also swap out the fruit topping! For example, if you’re going to use raspberry-flavored gelatin, you can use raspberry fruit as the topping.
  • PIE FILLING: You can omit the strawberry pie filling, or you can use a premade strawberry glaze.

SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW

How to Make Strawberry Poke Cake with sweetened condensed milk

  1. Bake the cake according to the instructions on the box. Using a fork or wooden spoon handle poke holes in the warm cake.
    Pro-tip: It’s best to make the holes in the cake while it is still slightly warm because as it cools the crust on top of the cake will crumble more easily.
    bake cake and poke with wooden spoon
  2. Microwave the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk until smooth.
    melted chocolate chips and milk
  3. Combine strawberry gelatin and water and stir until dissolved. Pour gelatin over the white chocolate mixture and mix.
    mixing ingredient strawberry poke cake
  4. Evenly pour this mixture over the cake and allow the cake to chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.
    Pro-tip: When you’re pouring the mixture into the holes, tap the pan on the counter a few times to get rid of any air bubbles and make sure the sauce fills the holes completely.
    pour the mixture over the cake
  5. Spread the strawberry pie filling over the cake and chill for 4 hours or overnight.
    spread strawberry filling on top
  6. Spread the whipped topping over the cake.
    spread whipped topping on top of strawberry filling
  7. Lay the sliced strawberries over the top of the whipped topping.
    strawberry poke cake top view

How to store this Strawberry Poke Cake with Sweetened Condensed Milk

Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the cake without the sliced strawberries. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and then cover with aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Allow the cake to thaw, then top with the sliced strawberries.

Strawberry Poke Cake with Jello FAQs

What is a poke cake?

Poke cakes are made using a box cake, poking it with holes after it comes out of the oven, and filling the holes with a liquid such as pudding or jello. In this case, the filling is made of white chocolate and condensed milk mixed with strawberry jello. The poke cake technique creates a cake where every bite is oozing with a delicious flavor.

How to poke holes in a poke cake?

Using the back of a wooden spoon works well to make holes that are a bit bigger, but you could also use a fork. If using a fork you will want to make more pokes since the holes are much smaller.

How do you keep strawberries fresh on a cake?

To keep strawberries fresh on a cake, it’s best to add them shortly before serving. You can slice the strawberries and arrange them on top of the cake just before serving to ensure they stay fresh. Alternatively, you can keep the strawberries refrigerated separately and add them individually to each slice of cake as it is served.

a slice of strawberry poke cake on a plate

More Poke Cake Recipes

5 from 9 votes
Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake feature image

Strawberry Poke Cake

Serves — 16
Incredibly light and super refreshing, Strawberry Poke Cake is a moist vanilla cake that’s oozing with delicious white chocolate and strawberry filling in every bite.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Chill time 4 hours
Total Time 5 hours

Video

Ingredients
  

Vanilla Cake

  • 1 15.25 ounce box vanilla or white cake mix
  • 4 egg whites
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup vegetable oil

Strawberry Filling

  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 ounce box strawberry flavored gelatin
  • cup boiling water
  • 21 ounce can strawberry pie filling

Topping

  • 12 ounce tub whipped topping thawed
  • 12 fresh strawberries washed, capped and sliced thin

Instructions
 

Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with Baker’s Joy or a generic baking spray. Set it aside.
  • Using a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the boxed cake mix, water, vegetable oil and egg whites until completely combined.
  • Evenly pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 28 – 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Remove the cake from the oven. Using either a fork or the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes in the warm cake, spacing 1 inch apart. Allow the cake to completely cool.

Strawberry Filling

  • Using a medium-size heat-safe bowl, add the white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Microwave for 40 seconds. Stir the mixture until the chips are melted and smooth.
  • Using a small heat-safe bowl, combine the boiling water and the strawberry flavored gelatin. Stir until all the sugar in the gelatin is dissolved.
  • Pour the gelatin over the white chocolate mixture. Stir until completely combined.
  • Evenly pour the white chocolate mixture over the cake, smoothing with a silicone spatula.
  • Allow the cake to chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the cake from the refrigerator and spread the strawberry pie filling over the top of the white chocolate topping. Tightly cover and chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours to overnight.

Topping

  • Remove the cake from the refrigerator, evenly spread the whipped topping over the cake.
  • Lay the sliced strawberries on top of the whipped topping. Slice the cake in 2×2 slices.

Jenn’s Notes

Storage :
Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the cake without the sliced strawberries. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and then cover with aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Allow the cake to thaw, then top with the sliced strawberries.
Tips:
  • It’s best to make the holes in the cake while it is still slightly warm because as it cools the crust on top of the cake will crumble more easily.
  • When you’re pouring the mixture into the holes, tap the pan on the counter a few times to get rid of any air bubbles and make sure the sauce fills the holes completely.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 247mg | Potassium: 172mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 86IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 1mg

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Comments

  1. This will my new desert for over the Christmas Holidays as it is so quick and easy to make also nice and light after everything else we will be eating.🎄