This Strawberry JELLO Poke Cake recipe is one of those retro recipes that will never go out of style.
Fun to make and impressive to serve for any occasion.
A dessert recipe that will have everyone excited to bite into a piece of strawberry flavored cake smothered in a layer of Cool Whip Topping.
If you poke around on my site you will see how much I love old vintage recipes.
I even have a Vintage Recipe Project where I remake old family recipes from my collection of recipe cards and cookbooks that my mother-in-law has passed down to me.
If you'd like to check out the vintage recipes you can click on the Vintage Recipes category for a full list of all the vintage recipes I have updated or made in the past.
We all have recipes that bring back fond childhood memories. Jello played a big part in my childhood.
I can remember how excited I would get when my mom made jello. Sometimes it would be plain jello and whipped cream.
Other times it might be a beautiful jello dessert with fruit cocktail mixed in and I would dig around in my bowl hoping I got a cherry half.
What a disappointment it was when there was no cherry to be found in my bowl!
What fun Jello dessert did you eat as a child?
Ingredients
- 1 box of white cake mix or your favorite homemade white cake recipe
- ingredients to make cake
- 2 - 3 oz. boxes of Strawberry Jello
- 2½ cups of water, divided
- 1 tub Vanilla Kraft Cool Whip Frosting
Poke Cake Directions
- Bake the white cake mix as directed.
- Cool for 1 hour.
- Using a wooden spoon poke holes all around the top of the cake.
Jello
- After the cake has cooled boil 2 cups of water.
- Stir in the two boxes of jello.
- Stir until Jello has dissolved.
- Add the remaining ½ cup of cold water and stir.
- Pour the jello over the cooled cake.
- Chill at least 3 hours or overnight.
Frosting the cake
- Frost the poke cake with Vanilla Cool Whip Frosting or vanilla cake frosting.
More Jello Recipes
Strawberry Jello Poke Cake Retro Recipes
Ingredients
Ingredients to make boxed white cake
- 4 whole egg whites
- 1 box Pillsbury Cake Mix Moist Supreme Classic White cake mix (or your favorite homemade white cake recipe)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 ¼ cups water
Ingredients needed to make JELLO Poke Cake
- 2 3 oz. boxes of Strawberry Jello
- 2 ½ cups water (divided)
Ingredients to make Cool Whip Frosting
- 1 cup Cool Whip
- 16 oz. can Vanilla frosting
Instructions
Make the Cake
- Make the cake mix as directed on the box.
- Bake in two 8 inch round cake pans following the directions on the box.
- Cool for 1 hour.
- Using the handle of a wooden spoon poke holes all around the top of the cake.
Jello Portion of recipe
- After the cake has cooled boil 2 cups of water.
- Stir in the two boxes of jello.
- Stir until Jello has disolved.
- Add the remaining ½ cup of cold water and stir.
- Pour the jello over the cooled cake.
- Chill at least 3 hours or overnight.
Cool Whip Frosting
- Scoop the can of frosting into a bowl.
- Add the Cool Whip to the bowl and whisk or mix together until combined.
Frosting the cake
- Unmold one cake layer and place it on a plate or cake stand.
- Spread a thick layer of frosting over the top of the cake.
- Unmold the second cake layer and place it on top of the bottom cake layer on the plate.
- Spread a thick layer of frosting over the top of the cake and on the sides of the cake.
- Chill the cake until ready to serve.
- Cut the cake and serve.
- 10 to 12 servings.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Nutritional values do not include the boxed cake mix.
Nutrition
Mandy Jones
Thanks soooooo much for posting the original frosting recipe! I used to make this cake with that frosting and cannot find my recipe or find it on the internet !! Thank you, thank you!! Nothing can compare to that original homemade frosting!! Thanks!!
Kendra
My favorite!! I like to add Pop Rocks on top of the cool whip for "sprinkles"!!
Arlene Mobley
Kendra what a fun idea. My grandkids would love that!
Jamie@photographer Norwich
This is the second time I tired the recipe and to be honest it tastes delicious but it doesn't look anything like your creative design. Hopefully, the next time its not only going to taste good but also will look good.
Sireen@arabic kids
Very nice recipe.. I will have a go at making it this weekend. Looks very tasty . Retro cooking at it's finest!
Leen@florist cambridge
Your photographs are amazing!!! I just came across your blog while looking for recipes. I am newly married and to be honest I am not the best cook. I wanted to surprise my husband and I decided to go with your recipe. Well, Thank you so much!!! I cannot describe in words how happy he was. He gained confidence in me that i will be able to cook. I know it takes years but I will definitely wait for your new posts for new surprises:)
Randy
I'm very curious about how you did the poke cake to get two layers. Did you do the poke & jello before removing the layers from the pans? If so, how did you get the layers out? We have always served a poke cake out of the baking pan.
Flour On My Face
Randy
Yes I did poke the individual cakes before removing them from the pan.
rebecca@bridal hair accessories
It looks so yummy. Can't wait for this Sunday. My kids will be so surprised, as i don't bake cakes that often but this recipe worth's a try. Thank you for sharing your talent.
howard @ photographer Yorkshire
I came across your recipe while i was looking for a cake recipe to bake for my wife's birthday. You just brought back great memories. I am definitely going to prepare this for my wife's 37th birthday. thank you for sharing. i love your retro style blog and recipes.
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Howard
That is so sweet! Thanks for stopping by. I hope your wife has a great birthday.
angie
How about the old recipe?? I have some that don't like the whip icing. Thanks.
Flour On My Face
Hi Angie
I will be posting a recipe with a cream cheese frosting this week that might make your family happy. Have you tried the cool whip frosting yet?
angie
I haven't made the cool whip frosting myself. I was just curious as to what the original recipe was.
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Angie
Sorry for the confusion. I never had an original cool whip frosting recipe. I came across that info while researching Jello recipes. I do believe Cool Whip did sell a boxed frosting mix many years ago. Maybe that was used but I am not sure of that is available any more.
Amanda @ MarocMama
This could have so many variations - great easy dessert.
Flour On My Face
Amanda thanks for stopping by. My head is spinning with ideas for a new Jello Poke cake coming up soon!
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
Yum! This cake looks divine, as do your beautiful photos. That looks like retro summer on a plate.
Flour On My Face
Nancy thank you so much!
Renee
So all I can think of is the possibilities of colors and flavors with the different Jellos. How fun! You can make one for any season...team colors...and more.
Flour On My Face
Renee I know........ this is such a versatile cake.
Dessert Lover
looks yummy and the recipe seems easy enough to try! thanks for sharing.
Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories)
Oooh, I have a tub of the Cool Whip Frosting in my freezer right now....would be a fun way to use it and I haven't made a Jell-o poke cake in forever! yum!
Donna
I'm not a big fan of Jello, but I have a nostalgic fondness for poke cake. I remember one that had both blue and red Jello in a white cake for Fourth of July that was pretty, with the red and blue stripes. Thanks for reminding me of this!
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Donna
They sure do make pretty cakes. I've seen the red white and blue one and it is so pretty.
Danyelle Franciosa
That tastes really so good! I love strawberries especially a strawberry cake. By the way I love this one I love to try this at home.
Thanks!
Wendy (The Weekend Gourmet)
I used to LOVE when we had this cake when I was a kid. There's a version made with Jello pudding that's really good too!!
Flour On My Face
Wendy I loved the pudding poke cakes. I'm planning to post one of those soon!
Laura Hunter | Small Wallet Big Appetite
This almost looks too good to eat. I did say almost. 🙂
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere
That is one decadent poke cake! Looks divine!
Jennie @themessybakerblog
This is one fun cake! And, it's gorgeous.
Conni Smith
I remember the very first time my mom made this. We were so impressed with the little waves of color in the cake. Such memories! 🙂 I'm glad you made this one!
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Conni
Thanks so much! It is a fun cake to make.
Shannon @VillageGirlBlog
OMGoodness! I forgot about these. Oh now I want one! lol The pics are beautiful!
Flour On My Face
Shannon Thank you!
Alaiyo Kiasi
What a beautiful cake! A stunner. As a child, I loved jello squares.
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Alaiyo
Thank you. Jello is such a fun dessert when we were kids.
TheNinjaBaker
Your Jello Poke Cake recipe is a keeper! Thank you for sharing this gem.
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen
That´s such a pretty cake, and fun to make! It is a great recipe to make with kids. Great idea for a party!
Flour On My Face
Paula thank you. It would be great for a kid party.
Jenne
Very pretty! I like to use whipping cream and powdered sugar for ice cream cakes just like cool whip basically. I didn't know they have the new product out.
Flour On My Face
Jenne thank you. You have got to try the new Cool Whip frosting. It is so good.
Karen Hartzell (@InTheKitchenKP)
7 days on South Beach with no sweets and I was fine until I saw this cake! Holy flashback batman! The thought of that gooey jell-o soaked bottom of the cake is making me twitch. lol Gorgeous photos!
Flour On My Face
Karen thank you so much! Your comment cracked me up. Good luck with the diet.
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
I have never made a poke cake before. Looks so pretty with the different colors!
Sarah
Oh, this just brought back so many memories of the Corn Roast our school used to hold. Good times! I always liked the lemon/cherry one
BusyWorkingMama
The presentation is just to die for. Love the white frosting on the colorful interior!
Flour On My Face
Thanks so much for visiting!
Katie
Yum! Your cake is such a gorgeous pink color...it would be perfect for Valentine's Day!!!
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Katie
Thank you!
Tara
I made this in the summer for the first time and it was a huge hit for Canada Day. Your cake looks divine!!
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Tara
Thanks so much. It does taste so good!
Jen @JuanitasCocina
I STILL make this during the summer for 4th of July...every year! So classic and so good!
Heather@girlichef
I don't know if I should admit it, but I STILL love Jello Poke Cake! This totally takes me back...but it's much taller and prettier than the 9x13's of my childhood... 😉
Renee - Kudos Kitchen
You brought back a flood of memories to me with you jello poke cake! Love your pictures too. Very retro looking1 Well done 🙂
Flour On My Face
Thank you Renee.
Nicole @ The Daily Dish
Such a fun retro recipe. My kids and I still make this all the time, because well - I just don't think it's ever going to stop being a fun cake for kids (and adults... I will admit).
Yours looks delicious!
Flour On My Face
Thank you Nicole. Anything with Jello is fun for the kids. My grand daughter loved it.
Sherron@SimplyGourmet
I remember jello poke cakes. I had a friend and her Mom always made them. I could never get my Mom to try them though. When I had sleepovers at this friends home we would try and convince her Mom that this cake was necessary. Some times it worked and some times it did not. Thanks for reintroducing a childhood favorite back into my line up recipes to make this year.
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Sherron
You're welcome. Sounds like your friend had one of those moms everyone loved to visit!
Helene Dsouza I Masala Herb
Such a gorgeous looking cake, the pink/red shades are to die for. The recipe sounds easy when using cake mix. Unfortunately we don't get cake mixes here. Thanks for sharing!
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Helene
A homemade cake mix would work great! Thanks for stopping by!