Description
This Strawberry Jell-O Poke Cake is a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing dessert that practically screams summertime. Starting with a convenient boxed cake mix, it is transformed into an incredibly moist, flavor-packed treat by infusing it with bright, fruity strawberry gelatin. Topped with a fluffy white frosting and crowned with fresh strawberries, every slice reveals beautiful red stripes inside. It is the ultimate refreshing make-ahead dessert for potlucks, barbecues, and family gatherings.
Ingredients
- 1 box (15.25 oz) Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ White Cake Mix
- Water, vegetable oil, and egg whites (as called for on the cake mix box)
- 1 box (3 oz / 4-serving size) Strawberry-flavored gelatin
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 tub (12 oz) Betty Crocker™ Whipped Fluffy White Frosting
- 12 fresh strawberries, cut in half for garnish
Instructions
Bake the Cake
Preheat your oven to 350°F (or 325°F for dark/nonstick pans). Prepare the cake batter according to the package directions using the water, oil, and egg whites. Pour into a greased 13×9-inch pan and bake as directed until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool Slightly
Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for exactly 20 minutes.
Prepare Gelatin
While the cake cools, whisk the strawberry gelatin powder with 1 cup of boiling water for 2 minutes until fully dissolved. Note: Do not add the cold water mentioned on the Jell-O box.
Poke
Use the round handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes across the surface of the cake about every inch. Crucial: Only poke about halfway down. Do not poke to the bottom of the pan to prevent the Jell-O from pooling and making the base soggy.
Infuse
Slowly pour the warm liquid gelatin over the cake, ensuring it fills the holes.
Chill
Refrigerate the cake for at least 1 hour until completely cool and the gelatin has set.
Frost
Spread the whipped white frosting over the cooled cake in an even layer.
Garnish
Cut into 12 squares and top each piece with a fresh strawberry half right before serving.
Notes
The “Wait” Rule: Never frost a warm poke cake. If the cake hasn’t cooled 100%, the frosting will melt and become a runny mess.
Overnight Magic: This cake actually tastes better on day two! Making it 24 hours in advance allows the gelatin to fully saturate the crumb for a pudding-like texture.
Clean Slices: For the most beautiful red stripes, wipe your knife clean between every cut.
Garnish Timing: Wait to add the fresh strawberries until serving; otherwise, the fruit juices may bleed into the white frosting while sitting in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking / Infusing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Square
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 34g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: strawberry poke cake, jello cake recipe, easy summer desserts, potluck cake ideas, betty crocker cake mix recipes, refreshing strawberry dessert, 4th of july cake