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Fresh Strawberry Poke Cake

Fresh Strawberry Poke Cake

Published: April 14, 2019 Last Updated: June 22, 2020

This post may contain affiliate links.  For more information, read my disclosure policy here.   

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This Fresh Strawberry Poke Cake is light, refreshing and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor.  It’s an easy dessert that’s always a crowd favorite.

Fresh strawberry poke cake on a pink plate with a fork and napkin

Why This Strawberry Poke Cake Works

This easy Strawberry Poke Cake makes you dream of warm summer breezes and fun family get togethers. Every spring we head to our local strawberry farm and stock up on all of the fresh strawberries we can carry. I use them to make jam, pies, Strawberry Salsa and this Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing.

This Strawberry Cake recipe works so well because it is easy. It starts with a box cake mix! But you would NEVER  know it because adding all the fresh ingredients give it that homemade taste that always impresses and it tastes incredible.

How to Make Fresh Strawberry Poke Cake – Step by Step

This strawberry cake takes only a few ingredients and comes together really fast so you can make it in a jiffy.

  • Step One: First, preheat oven to 350 ºF. Then grease and flour a 13×9-inch pan. Next, prepare the cake following the package instructions. (Photo 1 below)
  • Step Two: Then, place the Cake batter in the pan and bake following the package directions. (Photo 2 below)
  • Step Three: Once the cake has completely cooled. Then poke holes in the cake roughly one inch apart with the back of a wooden spoon or drinking straw. (Photo 3 below)

Step by step instructions for making fresh strawberry poke cake

  •  Step One: Meanwhile, in a food processor, place the thawed strawberries.(Photo 1 below)
  •  Step Two:  The next step is to puree strawberries until they are smooth. (Photo 2 below)
  • Step Three: Spoon the pureed strawberry mixture over the make, allowing it to soak into the holes.(Photo 3 below)

Step by step instructions for making fresh strawberry poke cake

  • Step One: Finally, for topping, prepare pudding mix according to package directions using 1 cup milk.
    (Photo 1 below)
  • Step Two: Place the whipped topping into pudding mixture. (Photo 2 below)
  • Step Three: Next, fold whipped topping into pudding mixture.Spread over cake. Lastly, garnish with fresh strawberries.Refrigerate at least 4 hours.(Photo 3 below)

Step by step instructions for making fresh strawberry poke cake

What is a Poke Cake?

A poke cake is a regular cake that you poke holes into after baking and then pour a liquid onto it and into the holes. It can be anything from puree, pudding, jello, syrup or even alcohol. Not only does it visually look appealing, but it also infuses extra flavor and moisture into each bite!

Fresh strawberry poke cake on a white plate

How Can I pick the Best Strawberries for this Fresh Strawberry Cake Recipe?

I hate getting strawberries and they are hard, tasteless and not ripe. In other words, not very tempting.
But it is easy to find the best fruit if you follow these tips to pick the best berries.

  •  Look for the right color. Bright red and plump. Don’t worry about the size. If you see white at the top, it probably was picked before its prime.
  • Buy local. Check your area for farmers markets, fruit stands or even pick our own farms.
  • Use fruit that is in season. It will be fresher and wont be shipped in from far away.

Fresh strawberry poke cake on a fork

Expert Tips for Making the Best Easy Strawberry Cake Recipe

This cake is amazing.  Nevertheless, there are ways to change it up if you like.

  • Freeze Dried Fruit: Try chopping up pieces of Freeze Dried Strawberries and add them to the mix before baking, or grind them into a powder and add to the pudding layer to make this cake extra special.
  • Use Different Fruit: This is a great recipe for any fruit cake. Use whatever is in season, Try adding Blueberries for a festive 4th of July cake.
  • Add Chocolate: Dip some of the strawberries in chocolate and drizzle a little melted chocolate on top!
  • Use Fresh: This cake recipe is great because it uses fresh strawberries and frozen strawberries. You can, however, swap out the frozen strawberries for an equal amount of fresh strawberries that have macerated in sugar for a little while.

Recommended Tools for Making this Fresh Strawberry Poke  Cake

  • Cake Pan
  • Strawberry Slicer
  • Strawberry Huller
  • Rubber Spatula <= MY FAVORITE!

More Recipes You Might Like

  • Strawberry Amaretto Pastries
  • Strawberry Pecan Quinoa Salad
  • Balsamic Grilled Chicken with Strawberry Salsa
  • Strawberry Chiffon Pie
  • Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pie

Looking for more? Check out all of the Fresh Strawberry Desserts on It Is a Keeper.

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⭐ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below! ⭐

Fresh Strawberry Poke Cake

This Fresh Strawberry Poke Cake is light, refreshing and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor.  It's always a crowd favorite.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Chill Time4 hrs
Total Time45 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake, poke cake, strawberry
Servings: 12
Calories: 212kcal
Author: Christina Hitchcock
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
4 from 9 votes

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 box Strawberry Cake Mix
  • 10 ounces frozen sliced strawberries - thawed

Topping

  • 1 3.4 oz package instant vanilla pudding
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 cups frozen non-dairy whipped topping
  • Fresh strawberries
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 ºF. Grease and flour 13x9-inch pan.
  • For cake, prepare, bake and cool according to package directions.
  • Poke holes 1 inch apart in top of cake using handle from wooden spoon (or a drinking straw).
  • Puree thawed strawberries in blender.
  • Spoon evenly over top of cake allowing mixture to soak into holes.
  • For topping, prepare pudding mix according to package directions using 1 cup milk.
  • Fold whipped topping into pudding mixture.
  • Spread over cake.
  • Garnish with fresh strawberries.
  • Refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Notes

This cake is amazing. Nevertheless, there are ways to change it up if you like.
Freeze Dried Fruit: Try chopping up pieces of Freeze Dried Strawberries and add them to the mix before baking, or grind them into a powder and add to the pudding layer to make this cake extra special.
Use Different Fruit: This is a great recipe for any fruit cake. Use whatever is in season, Try adding Blueberries for a festive 4th of July cake.
Add Chocolate: Dip some of the strawberries in chocolate and drizzle a little melted chocolate on top!
Use Fresh: This cake recipe is great because it uses fresh strawberries and frozen strawberries. You can, however, swap out the frozen strawberries for an equal amount of fresh strawberries that have macerated in sugar for a little while.

Nutrition

Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 265mg | Potassium: 81mg | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 13.9mg | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 0.7mg
Did You Make This Recipe?Show me on Instagram! Mention @itsakeeperblog or tag #itisakeeper! I'd love to see what you're up to in the kitchen!
Helpful Tips for All Recipes on It Is a Keeper
  • Want to scale a recipe up or down? Simply type in a new serving amount and the recipe will automatically adjust! 
  • When a recipe call for House Seasoning Blend, you can use this recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.  
  • I always use unsalted butter in my recipes.
  • I always use a meat thermometor to test for doneness when cooking meat.  This one is my favorite.  
  • When a recipe is made in the oven, it should be pre-heated to the temperature in the recipe, unless otherwise noted.
  • The nutritional information provided in this recipe is an estimate.  Learn more on how I calculate nutritional information for my recipes.

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Comments

  1. Jaclyn Shimmel says

    May 13, 2019 at 10:35 am

    Yum! I love baking with fresh strawberries and this poke cake is the perfect way to enjoy them!

    Reply
  2. Natalie says

    May 13, 2019 at 10:32 am

    So delicious and refreshing for summer! I love poke cakes!

    Reply
  3. Kelsey Apley says

    May 13, 2019 at 10:31 am

    We have made this so many times, it is absolutely delicious and perfect for summer entertaining!

    Reply
  4. Patricia @ Grab a Plate says

    May 13, 2019 at 10:29 am

    I love easy dessert recipes like this one! So pretty, and so perfect for the season. Lovely!

    Reply
    • Christina Hitchcock says

      May 13, 2019 at 10:47 am

      It’s one of our faves for sure!

      Reply
  5. Karen Cortinas says

    April 11, 2015 at 1:00 pm

    Very delicious!!! <3 Nummy, nummy, nummy

    Reply
  6. Pat says

    July 2, 2014 at 7:23 pm

    I wish you had a recipe box on your site to save the recipes that We would like to make.

    Reply
    • Christina says

      July 9, 2014 at 12:06 am

      I will definitely add that to my to-do list! Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Verna says

    April 5, 2014 at 11:40 am

    The Strawberry Cake is wonderful. Its the easiest and best recipe that I have.

    Reply
  8. baker says

    March 17, 2013 at 8:52 pm

    Looks yummy! Can’t wait until strawberry season. I’m always on the lookout for quick potluck ideas
    Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Reply
    • Christina says

      March 18, 2013 at 1:36 pm

      I can’t wait for strawberry season either! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

      Reply
  9. FoodLover says

    August 30, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    Recipe? Recipe??
    This is not making a dessert, this is combining prefabricated items!
    Of 6 ingredients, 4 are readymade products.

    Looked great until I read it’s artifical flavoring and coloring all trough.

    FAIL!

    Reply
  10. Schauttuck says

    August 30, 2011 at 4:17 am

    Looks like a total piece of crap. I would never make anything that involves ‘whipped topping’ or has as its base two pre-packaged mixes.

    FAIL

    Reply
  11. Debbi Does Dinner Healthy says

    August 15, 2011 at 6:41 am

    It DOES look prett! Delicious, too!

    Reply
  12. Lori says

    August 14, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    Looks fantastic! I may have to make this tomorrow for our “first day of school celebration dinner!”

    Reply
    • Christina says

      August 14, 2011 at 9:15 pm

      Can’t believe it’s back to school time already! Enjoy!

      Reply
  13. Lisa says

    August 14, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    Looks so good and a great recipe! I can’t wait to try the icing too…thanks 🙂

    Reply

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