Strawberry Lemonade Poke Cake Recipe

Everyone loves a nice glass of strawberry lemonade in the summertime. Now you can get that same amazing flavor in the form of a cake! This strawberry lemonade poke cake is a lot of fun to make. Start with a white cake mix, then add a strawberry jello filling and lemonade cream cheese layer. All together it’s irresistable! Serve this cake for a summertime dessert, for a festive Easter dessert, Valentine’s dessert, or any time you need a beautiful cake that everyone will love.

Ingredients List

Here are a few notes and tips to keep in mind. Check the recipe card for the full ingredients list.

Frozen Strawberries – I prefer frozen strawberries for the filling because they create a better consistency (and they’re more convenient). Frozen Lemonade Concentrate – You’ll need this for the filling, the cake, and the cream cheese layer (1 cup total). So 1 can of this should be enough (they’re usually about 12 oz.). Strawberry Gelatin – Use the dry gelatin powder/mix to add into the filling. Cake Mix – A box of white cake mix is the base for this strawberry lemonade cake. Cream Cheese – Allow the cream cheese to soften at room temperature. Cool Whip – You’ll need a tub of this for the topping, or you can use heavy whipping cream. Yellow Sanding Sugar – This is used to decorate and finish off the cake. It’s not necessary if you don’t have it, but it looks beautiful!

How to make Strawberry Lemonade Poke Cake

You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!

How do you poke holes in a poke cake?

I recommend using a wooden spoon with a thin, rounded handle for this. After you bake the cake, let it cool completely. Then use the spoon handle to poke holes all over the top of the cake (about 35-40 holes). I try to leave about an inch between holes, but it doesn’t have to be exact. Poke about 3/4 of the way through the cake; you don’t want a hole all the way through it.

Does jello poke cake need to be refrigerated?

This strawberry lemonade poke cake is made with a gelatin filling, as well as a cream cheese layer. So it should be refrigerated before and after serving.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! This cake should be refrigerated before serving, so it’s the perfect dessert to make ahead of time. Bake and assemble the cake according to the instructions in the recipe card. Then cover the cake in plastic wrap and store in the fridge up to 2 days before serving. This strawberry lemonade poke cake is so easy, fun, and delicious. Serve it up with as much cool whip as you like!