Strawberry Bundt Poke Cake with Jello

We may be weeks away from the start of spring but the weather around here has me longing for daffodils, longer days and fresh ripe fruit.  My sweet mama has always made a wonderful Strawberry Jello Cake.  The cake is always light and fresh which is perfect as the weather starts to warm up.  I of course wanted to put my spin on it and that included baking the cake in a Bundt pan.  My love of Bundt cakes is no secret.  They are so gorgeous with very little effort and this Strawberry Jello Bundt Poke Cake is no exception!

Do you love Bundt Cakes?  Try this Blueberry Pound Cake!

Strawberry Jello Poke Cake

I am so in love with a Strawberry Jello Cake because they are so refreshing.  Serving the cake cold gives it a nice and dense but super moist texture.  However, it is the sweet stripes of strawberry inside that really make it shine.

A poke cake is wonderful because you get pockets of the jello, along with pieces of the cake.  It is the perfect combination!  Then it is topped with cool whipped topping and fresh strawberries for the perfect ending!

Although making a Jello Poke Cake in a regular cake pan is good, making a Jello Poke Cake in a Bundt pan is spectacular.  It makes an otherwise unassuming cake seem sophisticated and extra fun.

Ingredients for your Strawberry Bundt Poke Cake

• Vanilla Cake Mix-The perfect starting point for any cake, a vanilla cake mix has everything you need for a wonderfully moist and delicious cake.
• Eggs-Added for structure, flavor and added leavening.
• Oil-Vegetable oil is added to the cake batter to keep your cake super moist.
• Sour Cream-A fun ingredient to add to a cake mix recipe for added moisture and a bit of tang which helps with balancing sweetness.
• Jello Mix-A box of jello is transformed into a mixture that is poured over the top of the baked cake, it then sets up to create a wonderfully flavorful cake.
• Whipped Topping-The perfect addition to the top of the cake.

How to make a Strawberry Jello Bundt Poke Cake

1. Combine the vanilla cake mix, eggs, oil, water and sour cream in a large bowl.  Mix using a hand held mixer until you have a thick cake batter.  Pour the batter into a Bundt pan that has been liberally sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few crumbs {but not any raw cake batter}.  Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes in the pan.
3. After 15 minutes, invert the cake onto a serving plate with the wide part {normally the bottom} as the top of the cake.  Allow the cake to cool completely.  Once the cake is cool, use a skewer to poke holes all over the cake {but not through the cake}.
4. To make the Jello mixture, add 1 cup of boiling water to a 3 ounce package of strawberry jello.  Whisk until the jello is dissolved.  Add the cold water, mix to combine and then SLOWLY pour the mixture over the top of the cake to fill the holes.  NOTE:   You will not use all of the Jello mixture.  If some of the Jello mixture goes over the sides of the cake it can easily be cleaned up with a wet paper towel.  Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

How to Serve a Strawberry Bundt Poke Cake

While serving a piece of the cake alone would be fabulous, you know we can’t stop there.  This Strawberry Jello Poke Cake is best topped with whipped topping and fresh strawberries. 

Then all you need to do is cut the Bundt cake into wedges and serve cold.  Yum!!

6 Top Tips for the BEST Strawberry Jello Poke Cake in a Bundt Pan

• Make sure your Bundt cake is completely cooled before you add the Jello mixture to the cake.  
• Remember we are using the bottom of the Bundt cake as the top.
• Poke enough holes in the cake that the Jello mixture will go inside them.  
• Don’t poke all of the way through the cake or else the Jello mixture will not stay inside the cake.
• Be sure you cool the cake for at least one hour before serving.  The Jello mixture needs ample time to set up.
• Serve this Strawberry Jello Poke Cake cold.

Recipe Variations

There are a few obvious variations that you can make to this Poke Cake really easily.  Switching out the cake and Jello flavor for something different would be easy to do because it wouldn’t change the recipe directions at all.

A chocolate cake with cherry jello would be a great combination but the possibilities are endless!

You could also change out the whipped topping for a frosting.  This delicious Strawberry Buttercream would be delicious but there are awesome store bought varieties. 

Another option would be to add a can of pie filling to the top of the cake before adding the whipped topping.  This would add another delicious layer to this already amazing cake!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this recipe in a 9×13 baking pan?

Yes, you can absolutely use a 9×13 baking pan for this cake recipe.  To do so you would not invert the cake out of the pan and you would use all of the Jello mixture.  Otherwise the recipe would be exactly the same!

How do I store a Poke Cake?

The best way to store a Poke Cake is in the refrigerator.  Cover tightly with plastic wrap and it will keep nicely for up to 4 days.  This cake can also be frozen without the toppings for up to 3 months.

Do I have to use a vanilla cake mix?

No, any kind of cake mix would work great.  The sky’s the limit!  If you use a different cake mix, follow the recipe directions on the back of the box for the cake and add an additional 1/4 cup of sour cream.

Can I use other Jello flavors?

Yep!  Any Jello flavor would work.  Follow your tastebuds and get creative.  Just be sure you are using a 3 ounce package.

Do you love easy Bundt cakes?  Try these recipes…

• Better Than Bundt Cake Recipe
• Black Bottom Bundt Cake Recipe
• Easy Bundt Cakes: Lemon Pound Bundt Cake Recipe with a Cake Mix
• Easy Bundt Cake Recipes: Churro Bundt Cake Made with a Cake Mix
• White Texas Sheet Cake Bundt Cake Recipe
• Easy Kentucky Butter Bundt Cake Recipe Made with a Cake Mix