Description
Summer’s sweetest Strawberry Lemonade Poke Cake delivers a refreshing twist on classic desserts, blending zesty citrus with luscious strawberry swirls. Creamy layers and bright flavors invite you to savor each delightful bite of this crowd-pleasing treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Base:
- 1 (15 ¼ ounces / 432 grams) box lemon cake mix
- ¾ cup (177 milliliters) vegetable oil
- 5 eggs
- 1 (3.4 ounces / 96 grams) box vanilla instant pudding
- ¾ cup (177 milliliters) lemonade
Gelatin and Liquid Layer:
- 1 (3.4 ounces / 96 grams) box strawberry Jell-O
- 1 ¼ cups (296 milliliters) lemonade
Topping and Garnish:
- 2 (12 ounces / 340 grams) tubs buttercream frosting
- 1 pint (473 milliliters) fresh strawberries, sliced or halved
- 1 lemon, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 325°F and positioning a parchment-lined 13×9-inch pan with a light cooking spray coating.
- Combine cake mix and pudding mix in a large mixing bowl, creating a smooth base by incorporating lemonade, oil, and eggs until the batter achieves a uniform consistency.
- Transfer the cake batter into the prepared pan, ensuring an even distribution across the surface.
- Bake the cake for approximately 45 minutes, verifying doneness by inserting a toothpick that comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack, which typically takes around 30 minutes.
- Create the strawberry filling by gently heating lemonade in a saucepan, then removing from heat and thoroughly dissolving strawberry Jell-O until the mixture is smooth.
- Let the Jell-O mixture cool to room temperature for about 10 minutes.
- Using a wooden spoon handle, carefully create approximately 24 evenly distributed holes across the cake’s surface.
- Slowly pour the cooled Jell-O mixture into the prepared holes, ensuring thorough coverage.
- Refrigerate the cake for a minimum of 6 hours, ideally overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and set properly.
- Remove the cake from the refrigerator and generously spread buttercream frosting across the entire surface.
- Complete the dessert by artfully garnishing with fresh strawberries and delicate lemon slices just before serving.
Notes
- Adjust sweetness by using sugar-free pudding mix and low-sugar cake mix for a lighter version that’s perfect for those watching their sugar intake.
- Create a gluten-free alternative by selecting a gluten-free cake mix and ensuring all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Enhance the fruity flavor by adding fresh lemon zest to the cake batter for an extra citrusy punch that brightens the entire dessert.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 40 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg