Strawberry Poke Cake happens to be one of my new favorite cakes! Every hole in this cake is filled with creamy and decadent sweetened condensed milk and strawberry sauce! Then there’s a layer of whipped topping! It’s made with a cake mix, which means it’s super easy, and it’s best if it’s made ahead of time!
Today has been a crazy day of being stuck in the office. I have no idea what I’ll come up with for a quick dinner idea. It has to be something easy…I’m looking at you Pizza Sliders or Microwave Beef Burritos! Who cares what we are having for dinner anyway, the important question is what are we having for dessert?
This strawberry poke cake recipe is what on tap for dessert and I couldn’t be more excited!
Usually, I’m a chocolate dessert-only kind of girl. Let’s be honest for a minute if a dessert has fruit it should really be called breakfast! Please don’t judge me!
There really is something magical about a strawberry poke cake with sweetened condensed milk! Think along the lines of tres leches cake!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to make poke cakes video
Strawberry Poke Cake with Cake Mix Ingredients:
- Strawberry Cake Mix + Ingredients to Make It– any brand, if you don’t have a strawberry cake mix use vanilla or white cake mix. Chocolate cake mix would make a delicious Chocolate Strawberry Poke Cake! I use Duncan Hines or Pillsbury {affiliate link}
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – be sure to use sweetened condensed milk and not evaporated milk. I used Eagle Brand
- Strawberry Topping – find it near the ice cream toppings or from Amazon {affiliate link}. You can also use strawberry pie filling {affiliate link}
- Heavy Whipping Cream – I’m a dairy farmer so I always use fresh whipped cream. If you really need to you can use cool whip.
Little Dairy on the Prairie Pro Tip: This strawberry poke cake doesn’t have strawberry gelatin or strawberry Jell-O in it. This sauce is really creamy and decadent!
How to make a strawberry poke cake
STEP 1: Make and bake the cake in a 9 x 13 pan according to directions on the box.
STEP 2: While the cake is still warm, poke holes about an inch apart with the end of a wooden spoon. Some people poke holes with a fork, but I like using something a little bigger so there’s more room for the sweetened condensed milk really settle down in the cake!
STEP 3: Mix sweetened condensed milk and strawberry topping together. It will be runny.
STEP 4: Pour sweetened condensed milk mixture over the cake. Make sure it fills the holes as much as possible.
STEP 5: Cool. In the fridge or at room temperature.
STEP 6: Whip cream with sugar until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped topping over cake.
STEP 7: Refrigerate for 2 or more hours. My family likes this cake best the next day.
Tips for making and storing poke cakes
- Poke cakes are best if they are made ahead of time! Yay! The sauce has time to do its thing and helps make the cake extra moist!
- Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes in the top of the cake. Make sure the handle of the spoon is thick, at least 1/4 inch in diameter. I’m not exactly sure what happened to my wooden spoon so I use a plastic one. It works fine too. Just make sure it’s a fat one!
- Poke holes in the cake while it’s still warm. Pour the sweetened condensed milk, Jello, or pudding over the cake while it’s still warm.
- For sweetened condensed milk poke cakes, let the cake sit at room temperature while it continues to cool. The runny mixture will set up as it cools and if you put the cake in the fridge it will cool too quickly before the runny mixture has a chance to settle in all the little nooks and crannies. Jell-O poke cakes need to be refrigerated to set up properly.
- Always use real whipped cream. That frozen stuff isn’t really cream! It’s worth the little extra effort in my opinion!
- Keep leftovers in the refrigerator.
- I’ve never tried freezing a poke cake. It’s so quick and easy to make I think it’s worth making fresh!
Toppings for poke cakes
If you want to customize your own poke cake here are some fun suggestions!
Topping
- Whipped Cream – easy and delicious
- Pudding – mix prepared pudding with whipped cream
- Cream Cheese – for a cheesecake version mix 8 ounces softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and 2 cups whipped cream together
Garnishes
- Chocolate curls – use a vegetable peeler to make curls, white or milk chocolate
- Chocolate shavings – grate on the fine side of a cheese grater
- Sprinkles – red, white, and blue for the 4th of July, heart-shaped sprinkles for Valentines Day, or red ones for Christmas
- Fresh Fruit – fresh strawberries, raspberries, lemon slice, etc.
- Chopped Nuts – match them to the flavor of your cake (almonds, pistachios, walnuts, peanuts, pecans)
- Candy Pieces – toffee chips, mini candy-coated chocolate pieces, mini chocolate chips, chopped candy bars
- Chopped Cookies – chocolate sandwich cookies, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, etc.
- Dessert Sauce – drizzle chocolate hot fudge sauce, homemade raspberry sauce, or caramel sauce
More Easy Dessert Recipes:
Like I said earlier, who cares what’s for dinner. The important thing to know is what is for dessert! Here are a few more recipes that are as easy as poke cake.
Other Cake Mix Recipes
- Peppermint Bark Poke Cake – A Christmas favorite
- Raspberry Filled Chocolate Cupcakes – easy and impressive
- Ganache Filled Chocolate Cupcakes – three kinds of chocolate
- Red Velvet Cream Cheese Cupcakes – a cupcake stuffed with cheesecake filling
- Red Velvet Bar Cookies – gooey and decadent
- Rhubarb Cobbler – the best of cake and cobbler
Easy Strawberry Recipes
- Strawberry Cookies – with cream cheese
- Cake Mix Strawberry Banana Bread – use it for strawberry shortcake
- Virgin Strawberry Sangria – it’s a mocktail
- Strawberry and Cream Bark – cute candy treat
I love it when you make my recipes and give me feedback! If you have a minute please comment below and leave a star ranking! Also, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook!
Recipe for Strawberry Poke Cake:
Strawberry Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 ounce strawberry cake mix Made according to package directions
- 14 ounce sweetened condensed milk
- 11.75 ounce strawberry topping (it’s by the ice cream toppings in the grocery store)
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 Tbsp sugar
Garnish
- Sprinkles, chocolate curls, strawberries, etc.
Instructions
- Make and bake the cake in a 9 x 13 pan according to directions on the box.
- Mix sweetened condensed milk and strawberry topping together.
- While cake is still warm, poke holes in it every inch with the end of a wooden spoon.
- Pour sweetened condensed milk mixture over the cake making sure it fills the holes as much as possible.
- Let the cake cool.
- Whip cream with sugar until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped topping over cake.
- Garnish as desired.
- Refrigerate for 2 or more hours. My family likes this cake best the next day.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Andrea says
This cake is amazing! Very easy to make too! It’s going to be a go to recipe!
Amy Engberson says
Yay! I’m so glad you love this recipe! It’s so easy, yet so yummy!
Kimberly says
That looks so yummy, I’d love a big slice of it now!
Amy Engberson says
Oh my goodness! It’s just right for summer!
Jessica says
Looks like the perfect dessert this Summer!
Amy Engberson says
It’s such an easy, yet decadent dessert!
Abeer says
OMG! Gorgeous! This cake looks so moist!
Amy Engberson says
All that sweetened condensed milk and strawberry sauce make every bit decadent and moist! It’s almost makes me feel guilty!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
This looks SO good! My kids love strawberry! They’ll surely enjoy this!
Amy Engberson says
Stawberries are begging to be enjoyed all spring and summer long! This cake is such a crowd pleaser!
Dee says
This looks yummy AND gorgeous! I can’t wait to try it!
Amy Engberson says
Thanks! Like I said, I’m usaually a chocolate girl all the way and I’m totally in love with this cake! It’s that good!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Look how moist that cake is!! It is also a gorgeous cake!
Amy Engberson says
That sweet strawberry sauce is so yummy I could eat it with a spoon! It’s pretty good drizzled over the cake too!
Amanda says
This looks so tasty, my kids will love this!
Amy Engberson says
My kids and their friends gobbled it up! I bet your kids will love it too!
MW says
Much better the second day. Mine came out nothing like the picture – the sweetened condensed milk and strawberry topping mixture was extremely thick and I actually had to push it into the holes. It just sat there. It sort of soaked in overnight but not as much as I thought it would. Still tasted good. Made me think of strawberry shortcake. I would be tempted to try either jam or preserves next time. One, I would like flavor better than the ice cream topping (might just be the brand used) and two, would like the chunks of fruit. Overall it was quite good and will attempt again.
Amy Engberson says
I’m glad it tasted yummy! I’m wondering if the brand of topping is making the difference. My sweetened condensed milk and strawberry ice cream topping was pretty thin and did have small chunks of fruit in it. I used Smuckers. Jam might be really sweet, but then again that’s not always a bad thing! 😉
MW says
I used Coldstone. Didn’t even taste like strawberry. Will not buy again. The store was out of Smuckers but will try to find. Cake was still good despite the issue. Will make again.
Amy Engberson says
I just bought a jar of Smuckers the other day and I’m planning on making this cake again and creating a vidoe of it so everyone can see exactly what it looks like!
Sheena says
I love making poke cakes I will be trying this one very soon it looks delicious
Amy Engberson says
Poke cakes are fantasitcally easy and incredibly delicious! This one is so yummy, especially for spring and summer!
Melissa Hurd says
I apsolutely love anything strawberry. And I love cooking. But my passion is baking. Do u have a reciepe using homemade Carmel sauce made from sweetened condensed milk??? Stuffed cupcakes/ or a filling in a poke cake or a layered cake? Thank you and GOD BLESS U ALL
Amy Engberson says
Hi Melissa! I don’t have a homemade caramel sauce on my site but it would be delicious! I have a Red Velvet Cupcake that’s filled with cream cheese https://pitchforkfoodie.com/red-velvet-cupcakes-cream-cheese-surprise-inside/. I also have a Strawberry Cream Poke Cake that’s delicious! https://pitchforkfoodie.com/strawberry-poke-cake/ Happy Baking!
Mkb says
Remove the labels from the can .
Place them in water unopened boil for 3 hours. Remove let stand for 30 minutes before opening. Pour out your caramel. Enjoy!
Kimberly Koehler says
I can’t wait to try it! I made this tonight and used the correct size portions but had a lot of excess sweetened condensed milk/strawberry mixture. Is this normal? Not sure if i did something wrong, and debated whether to use it all, thinking it may soak in. I used it, so we shall see. I’m sure it will be delicious either way!
Amy Engberson says
Hi Kimbererly! I did use the entire amount of sweetened condensed milk mixture! I does seem like overload but it makes the cake moist and so decadent! Hope you loved it!
Jessaca says
Made this today for my sons 11th birthday (he asked for a strawberry cake). Only bad part of this particular recipe is, the prep time & cook time doesn’t state the 2-3 hour set time. So I seen that and thought we would be fine to start in a couple hours before the party. 🙁 I hope it still works out good. Followed recipe to a ‘T’ except the cool whip topping. I made a cool whip-cream cheese frosting instead. Thanks for the great recipe. Cant wait to taste it!
Amy Engberson says
Cream cheese frosting sounds like a great choice. And yes, it should still taste good even if it doesn’t sit quiet as long as the recipe states! Happy Birthday to your son!
Cathy Trochelman says
This looks really delicious! I can see why it’s a favorite!
Amy Engberson says
It’s so easy and surprisingly just as yummy as chocolate versions! I never thought I would say that!
Danai says
Could I use a white cake mix?
Amy Engberson says
You could use a white cake mix but you won’t get that pretty pink color or quite as much of that scrumptious strawberry flavor! I think it would still taste fantastic though because there is quite a bit of strawberry flavor in that gooey sauce you pour over the top! Let me know how it goes!
carrie @ frugal foodie mama says
Wow! This cake looks and sounds amazing! 🙂 You just can never go wrong with a good old fashioned poke cake.
Amy Engberson says
They are so easy, and so yummy! So much to love about them!
Sabrina says
Strawberry is my favorite fruit to bake with! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Amy Engberson says
Who could resist strawberries this time of the year? So yummy!
Katerina @ diethood .com says
What an incredible dessert for Valentine’s Day!
Amy Engberson says
Thanks! It’s crazy a recipe that’s so easy could taste so yummy!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
What a delicious looking treat! It’s time I try poke cake.
Amy Engberson says
Erin if you haven’t tried a poke cakes yet you’ve got to! You won’t be disappointed!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
What a perfect spring time treat!
Amy Engberson says
Thank goodness it’s spring! Bring on the strawberries!
Erren says
I wish someone would make me one of these for Valentine’s Day!
Amy Engberson says
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone else did the cooking once in awhile?