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Strawberries And Cream Poke Cake

This Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake is filled with a cheesecake filling and topped with billows of whipped cream and fresh strawberries. It’s certain to be the belle of your dessert party.

Strawberries And Cream Poke Cake

Easy Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake Recipe

What is a poke cake? Poke cakes were made famous in the early 1970’s when the recipe showed up in an ad for Jello-O. Fast forward and poke cake recipes run the full gamut in flavors and fillings made with various flavors of jello, pudding and beyond. Since I love making desserts in a 13 x 9 inch pan poke cakes are often on our dessert menu. It’s perfect potluck fare for which I’m quite partial. These desserts typically store and travel well, so for me that’s a win. That said, if you choose to recreate this cake just as decorated in the images, finish the top just before serving so it stays pretty. How to make Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

  • Cake – Prepare the white cake in a 13×9 inch baking pan per the instructions on the packaging using the recommended amount of eggs, oil and water called for.
  • Poke Holes – Remove from the oven and use the back of a wooden spoon or to similar poke holes all over the cake.
  • Filling – Whip together the sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese and vanilla for 2 minutes. Whip until fluffy and fully blended. Whip in Cool Whip, add a few drops of food coloring, if desired to make it pink.
  • Spread onto Cake – Spread half of the whipped cream cheese filling onto the warm cake pressing gently into the holes.
  • Strawberries – Hull and cube enough strawberries to equal 2 cups and set aside the desired amount of whole berries to decorate the top.
  • Add to the Filling – Mix the cubed strawberries into the remaining cream cheese mixture by hand then spread on top. Place the cake into the fridge for 4 hours.
  • Frost the Top – Just before serving, frost with remaining whipped cream or Cool whip and decorate as desired. Cut and serve.
southern-strawberry-cake-recipe

How to Make the BEST Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake Recipe

  • Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake: One box white cake mix (plus water, oil and eggs called for on the package), fresh strawberries, softened cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, whipped topping or whipped cream and white chocolate bar.
  • Kitchen tools you’ll need: Stand mixer or hand mixer, large bowl, measuring cups and spoons, strawberry huller, sharp knife and cutting board.
  • Do you have to use a cake mix for this Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake?  You can begin this cake with a cake mix or if you prefer to bake from scratch use my recipe for my White Buttermilk Cake.
  • The filling for this strawberry cake is made using cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk along with vanilla extract. It’s cheesecake-like flavor is the perfect match for the creamy topping. It’s important for the cream cheese to be given enough time to soften so it will combine with the condensed milk thoroughly.
  • Half of the filling is spread onto the cake while it’s warm and half is mixed with fresh berries and spread on top. It’s meant to melt just a bit into the holes poked into the freshly baked cake nd it’s important to gently press it to help it fill them fully.
  • Can I use Cool Whip for the frosting? You can use fresh whipped cream or Cool Whip for the topping. Please note that a frozen whipped topping will remain more stable than sweetened fresh whipped cream.
  • You can decorate the top of this cake as simple or as fancy as you like. The truth is, no matter how you choose to decorate the top one bite of this masterpiece and no one will care it’s so darn tasty.
  • Store Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake covered and chilled in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How To Make Strawberries And Cream Poke Cake

More Strawberries and Cream Desserts to Make

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

Strawberries And Cream Poke Cake

Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Chilling time4 hours
Total Time5 hours
Course: Cakes, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: strawberries-and-cream-poke-cake
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 412kcal
Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

  • 1 15.25 oz box white cake mix plus eggs, oil and water to prepare [See Cook’s note]
  • 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 8 oz block cream cheese softened
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 quarts fresh strawberries divided
  • 4 cups sweetened fresh whipped cream OR 16 oz frozen whipped topping thawed, divided use
  • 4 oz white chocolate grated
  • few drops pink or red food coloring [optional]

Instructions

  • Prepare the white cake mix according to the package instructions using the amount of water, eggs and oil called for in a 13×9 inch baking pan.
  • Remove from the oven and use the back of a wooden spoon or to similar poke holes all over the cake.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium size mixing bowl use a mixer to whip together the sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese and vanilla. Whip for 2 minutes or until fluffy and fully blended.
  • To the filling add 1 cup of sweetened whipped cream OR Cool Whip. Add a few drops of food coloring, if desired to make it pink. Whip to combine.
  • Spread half of the whipped cream cheese filling onto the warm cake pressing gently into the holes.
  • Hull and cube enough strawberries to equal 2 cups and set aside the desired amount of whole berries to decorate the top.
  • Mix the cubed strawberries into the remaining cream cheese mixture by hand then spread on top. Place the cake into the fridge for 4 hours.
  • Just before serving frost with remaining whipped cream or Cool Whip and decorate as desired with grated white chocolate and the reserved whole strawberries.
  • Cut and serve. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

1) To prepare the cake from scratch use White Buttermilk Cake recipe here.
2) To decorate the cake as pictured additional fresh whipped cream or whipped topping will be needed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 412kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 327mg | Potassium: 202mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 16IU | Vitamin C: 70mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

 

 

38 Comments

    1. Sure, 1 pint (2 cups) heavy cream. Whip using a mixer with 1 tsp pure vanilla and gradually add 1/4 cup sugar while beating. You can adjust sweetness to your taste. Whip until stiff peaks form being careful not to overbeat.

  1. Just starting to make this beauty and wondering if you could use buttermilk instead of water in the box mix?

    1. Yes ma’am EVEN BETTER. I often do that when I use a boxed cake mix to add more flavor. Go for it!

  2. This looks so pretty and tasty ! I will try it. Thanks, where do you find the buttermilk cake recipe? Please

    1. Thanks Linda, if you’ll click on the highlighted words “white buttermilk cake” in the narrative it will take you to the recipe. Otherwise, search the archives.

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