What Is Poke Cake?
If you don’t live in the south, you might be asking this question… What (the heck) is a poke cake recipe? A Poke Cake is a very popular type of sheet cake in the southern United States. Poke Cake refers to any type of cake recipe where holes are poked into the surface of the cake. Then some sort of filling is poured over the cake to fill in the holes. The holes can be filled with chocolate, caramel, cream, or fruit filling. They create marbling or stripes throughout each slice of cake. The cake is frosted so that the unique pattern is a surprise when you lift each piece of cake out of the pan!
Jello Cake Recipe… The Best Kind Of Poke Cake
Although I’m a big fan of chocolate, caramel, and cream fillings, I believe Jello Cakes make the very best Poke Cakes, because the filling sets in place, so it doesn’t continue to saturate and disintegrate the cake. Once the liquid jello is poured over the cake, it should be refrigerated so the jello immediately solidifies in the holes. You can add any flavor of fruity gelatin to a poke cake. Or mix flavors to create tantalizing combinations like we did today! Jello Cakes must be refrigerated. However, it’s best to let them warm at room temperature before serving, for the best taste and texture.
Strawberry Poke Cake
Strawberry Poke Cake is probably the most popular version of Jello Cake, followed closely by Coconut Poke Cake and Pineapple Poke Cake. Although we love classic Strawberry Jello Cake, we thought it would be fun to play mixologist with this quirky cake and combine all the most-loved flavors. After all, what do you get when you blend strawberry, coconut, and pineapple? Strawberry-Coladas!
Our Best Poke Cake Recipe
When you look at the gelatin section at the grocery store, you will notice there is no such thing (yet) as Strawberry-Colada Jello. I had to do some doctoring to create this flavor combination. I used half a box of Strawberry Jello and half a box of Pineapple Jello for the filling. I then added coconut milk to the cake batter mixture and the jello mixture to get a deep coconut flavor. Notice, we’re just using a boxed white cake mix here. Although I’m a firm believer in making cakes from scratch, there is so much going on in a Jello Cake, making the batter from scratch is not really worth the extra effort. Our Best Jello Cake Recipe starts with a light coconut cake. Then strawberry-pineapple-coconut jello mix is poured over the top to fill in the holes. Most easy Poke Cake recipes just have Cool Whip spread over the top. Yet I felt we needed something a little more tangy and decadent… Like Homemade Cream Cheese Whipped Cream! It’s not cream cheese frosting. And it’s not just fresh whipped cream. It’s a thick luxurious blend of sweetened cream cheese, beaten into homemade whipped cream. The topping is my favorite part of the cake, don’t skip it!
Strawberry Pineapple Poke Cake Ingredients
For the Poke Cake
White cake mixThick coconut milk EggsCoconut oil, melted
For the Strawberry Jello Cake Filling
Strawberry Jello mixPineapple Jello mix Boiling waterThick coconut milk
For the Cream Cheese Whipped Topping
Heavy cream (cold)Cream cheese, softenedPowdered sugarVanilla extractToasted coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)Fresh strawberries, halved
How To Make Poke Cake
What Do You Use To Poke Holes In A Cake?
The best option is normally a fork. That is what should be used for a Jello Cake. However, when using a thicker filling you might want to use a chopstick to create larger holes.
What Does Gelatin Do In A Cake?
In the case of Poke Cakes, the gelatin fills in the holes, creating color and flavor variation, in unique marbled patterns. It also creates sections with a slightly denser texture. Yet because the gelatin absorbs into the cake, it does not leave true pockets of firm Jello.
Does Poke Cake Need To Be Refrigerated?
Yes, Poke Cake is definitely a Refrigerator Cake. However, it tastes best at room temperature, so make sure to let it sit out and warm 20-30 minutes before serving.
How Long Does A Jello Cake Last?
You can keep the Jello Cake in the refrigerator for up to one week. If you wrap the cake well in plastic, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Then thaw the cake at room temperature before serving.
Love Strawberry Cake? Check Out Our Other Options!
Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Bundt Cake Homemade Strawberry Layer CakeStrawberry Lemonade CakeAngel Food Cake with Balsamic StrawberriesRicotta Crepe Cake with Strawberry Sauce
Share This Recipe With Friends!
