This Strawberry JELLO Poke Cake recipe is one of those old fashioned vintage 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 frosting.
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.
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 Jell-O. Sometimes it would be plain Jell-O 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 Jell-O 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 in 2 eight inch round cake pans.
- Cool for 1 hour.
- Using a wooden spoon poke holes all around the top of each of the cakes.
Jell-O Filling
- 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.
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Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
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
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.
Flour On My Face
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.
Flour On My Face
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!
Flour On My Face
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!
Flour On My Face
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!