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strawberry cheesecake poke cake recipe featured
Avatar photoSara Khalid

Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake Recipe

This strawberry cheesecake poke cake recipe features a moist white cake soaked with strawberry Jell-O for juicy bursts of flavor, topped with a creamy no-bake cheesecake layer and fresh berries. It's the ultimate easy party dessert that's fun, forgiving, and always a hit with crowds.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 289
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • FOR THE CAKE:
  • 1 (15.25 oz) box white cake mix
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 egg whites
  • FOR THE STRAWBERRY POKE:
  • 1 (3 oz) package strawberry gelatin
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • FOR THE CHEESECAKE TOPPING:
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 8 oz Cool Whip, thawed
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking pan
  • Hand mixer
  • Wooden spoon (for poking)
  • Mixing bowls

Method
 

  1. strawberry cheesecake poke cake recipe recipeCard1
  2. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 pan. Prepare cake mix with water, oil, and egg whites per box, pour in pan, bake 23-28 minutes until toothpick clean. Cool 20 minutes.
  3. Step 2: Poke holes 1-inch apart halfway deep with wooden spoon handle across cake surface.
  4. Step 3: Dissolve gelatin in boiling water 2 minutes, add cold water, pour evenly over cake filling holes. Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight.
  5. Step 4: Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla until smooth; fold in Cool Whip gently.
  6. Step 5: Spread topping over set cake, garnish with strawberries, chill 1 hour.
  7. Step 6: Slice and serve cold; store covered in fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 289 | Carbohydrates: 44 | Protein: 3 | Fat: 11 | Fiber: 1 | Sugar: 30

Notes

STORAGE: Refrigerate covered up to 5 days. Freeze slices up to 2 months, thaw in fridge.
MAKE AHEAD: Bake and poke cake day before, add topping same day as serving.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Sugar-free gelatin and light cream cheese cut calories; fresh strawberry puree for Jell-O if preferred.
PRO TIPS: Poke while warm for best absorption. Soften cream cheese fully. Chill fully before topping to avoid melt.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Serve chilled in pan potluck-style; pair with vanilla ice cream or lemon sorbet. Garnish extra berries for pop.
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